Grounding system for a heated hose
AssigneeSykes Hollow Innovations, Ltd.
InventorWilliam Ferrone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sturdy electrical power circuit and grounding circuit for an electrically-heated hose is formed by electrically connecting a grounding wire extending along the length of the hose to a pair of fluid couplings fitted on opposite ends of the hose. The grounding wire is mechanically clamped against the inner wall of the hose by radially-outwardly expanding a tube on each coupling against the grounding wire to secure the grounding wire in place while simultaneously forming an electrical connection between the grounding wire and the fluid couplings.
Claims15
A heated hose assembly, comprising:
- a flexible hose body having an inner wall, an outer wall, a first end portion and a second end portion;
- first and second heating wires extending axially along said hose body;
- a hose ground wire extending axially along said hose body, said hose ground wire having first and second end portions;
- a first fluid coupling provided on said first end portion of said flexible hose body and comprising a stem inserted into said first end portion of said flexible hose body and radially clamping said first end portion of said hose ground wire against said inner wall of said flexible hose body;
- and
- a power cord electrically connected to said first and second heating wires and to said hose ground wire.
A heated hose assembly comprising:
- a flexible hose body having an inner wall, an outer wall and an internal flow path;
- first and second heating wires extending along said hose body, each heating wire having opposed free end portions;
- an electrical ground wire extending along said hose body and having first and second opposed free end portions;
- a tube inserted into said internal flow path and clamping said first free end portion of said ground wire against said inner wall;
- a ring provided on said outer wall and surrounding said tube;
- a cover tightly surrounding said ring and covering said first end portions of said first and second heating wires;
- and
- a power cord connected to said first and second heating wires and said ground wire.
A method of forming an electrical circuit in a heated hose comprising a pair of heating wires and a ground wire, wherein said method comprises:
- positioning a free end of the ground wire into one end of the hose;
- inserting a tube into the one end of the hose;
- positioning a ring around the outer surface of the one end of the hose and aligning the ring over and around the tube;
- and
- radially-outwardly expanding the tube against the free end of the ground wire so as to clamp the ground wire against the hose and between the tube and the ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.