Angled heat tube for use in a fluid storage tank
AssigneeOnken GmbH
InventorDonald R. Onken
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heating device for a fluid storage tank is provided. The heating device comprises a heat tube including first and second elongate hollow legs which are joined together at an angle relative to each other so as to enable fluid flow therebetween. The first and second hollow legs being at least partially filled with a heat transfer fluid and being adapted to be disposed in a fluid storage tank with one leg extending generally longitudinally relative to the tank and one leg extending generally transversely relative to the tank adjacent a bottom wall of the tank. A heater is arranged in an aperture adjacent one end of the first elongate hollow structure. A safety relief valve can also be arranged on the heat tube so as to enable venting of an excess pressure condition of the heat transfer fluid.
Claims18
A heating device for use in a fluid storage tank comprising a heat tube structure having first and second legs connected together, said legs being disposed at an angle to each other and being hollow so as to enable fluid flow therebetween, a first aperture disposed in said first leg near an end thereof, said first aperture receiving and securing a heater therein, a second aperture disposed in said heat tube structure near an end of either said first or second leg, said second aperture receiving a safety valve therein, and said first and second legs being at least partially filled with a heat transfer fluid, whereby said first and second legs are adapted to be disposed inside a storage tank so as to warm the contents thereof to a fluid state.
An apparatus for heating the contents of a fluid storage tank having a bottom wall comprising:
- a heat tube having a hollow interior for receiving a heat transfer fluid, the heat tube including first and second elongate hollow legs which are interconnected so as to enable fluid flow therebetween, the first and second hollow legs being disposed at an angle relative to each other and being dimensioned such that the heat tube is mountable inside the storage tank with the first leg extending generally longitudinally and the second leg extending generally transversely relative to the tank adjacent the bottom wall of the tanks,
- a heater arranged adjacent an end of the heat tube for heating a heat transfer fluid which is contained in the first and second hollow legs, and
- a safety valve arranged on the heat tube so as to be in fluid communication with the interior of the heat tube.
An apparatus for heating the contents of a fluid storage tank having a bottom wall comprising:
- a heat tube having a hollow interior for receiving a heat transfer fluid, the heat tube including first and second elongate hollow legs which are interconnected so as to enable fluid flow therebetween, the first and second hollow legs being disposed at an angle relative to each other and being dimensioned such that the heat tube is mountable inside the storage tank with the first leg extending generally longitudinally and the second leg extending generally transversely relative to the tank adjacent the bottom wall of the tank, and
- a heater arranged adjacent an end of the heat tube for heating a heat transfer fluid which is contained in the first and second hollow legs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.