Metal pipe heating apparatuses and associated systems and methods
OwnerJimmie Ray Gatlininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Metal pipe heating apparatuses and associated systems and methods are disclosed. For example, a heating apparatus comprises a flexible sheath configured to hold one or more heat sources within a lumen of the sheath. The flexible sheath includes one or more magnetic elements coupled to the flexible sheath. The flexible sheath is configured to couple to a portion of a pipe and/or pipe system via the magnetic force of the magnetic elements. Once the flexible sheath is adhered to the portion of the pipe via the magnetic elements, heat sources contained within the flexible sheath can apply heat to the portion of the pipe, increasing the temperature of the pipe, piping system, and/or substance transported by the pipe/piping system.
Claims20
A heating system comprising:
- a pipe;
- and
- a flexible sheath including:
- one or more heat sources contained within at least a portion of the flexible sheath;
- and
- one or more magnetic elements coupled to a surface of the flexible sheath, wherein the one or more magnetic elements are configured to couple the flexible sheath to a portion of the pipe;
- wherein the one or more heat sources are configured to increase a temperature of the portion of the pipe.
A heating apparatus comprising:
- a flexible hollow cylinder;
- one or more electric heating elements within a portion of the flexible hollow cylinder;
- and
- one or more magnetic elements coupled to the flexible hollow cylinder;
- wherein the flexible hollow cylinder is configured to couple to a ferrous surface of a pipe via a magnetic force of the one or more magnetic elements.
A method of heating a portion of a pipe, the method comprising:
- coupling a flexible sheath to the portion of the pipe via one or more magnetic elements, the flexible sheath holding one or more heat sources;
- and
- applying heat to the portion of the pipe via the one or more heat sources.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.