Bath temperature maintenance heater
AssigneeAlpha-Western Corporation
InventorGary P. Rochelle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temperature maintenance heater assembly for maintaining the temperature of a heated fluid circulating through piping of a bath, including a pipe section, a base plate, a control assembly, a heater assembly cover, and a heating element. The heater element is mounted within the pipe section. The control device assembly is electrically connected to the heater element and to a source of power. The control assembly includes a flow switch operable to interrupt the supply of power to the heater element under certain operating conditions, such as when the fluid flow through the pipe section is less than a pre-selected threshold value. By interrupting the supply of power to the heating element under certain operating conditions, the temperature maintenance heater assembly provides operational safety measures to the user.
Claims40
A temperature maintenance heater assembly for maintaining the temperature of a previously heated fluid circulating through piping of a bath, comprising:
- a heating element having first and second electrical contacts, and a predetermined maximum power rating, wherein the predetermined maximum power rating of the heating element is selected such that the temperature maintenance heater assembly maintains the fluid immediately upstream of the heating element within a specified safe temperature range with the heating element operating continuously at its maximum power rating;
- a flow switch having an open state and a closed state, the flow switch being electrically connectable to a power supply and at least one electrical contact of the heating element for supplying electricity therebetween, wherein the flow switch acts to interrupt the supply of electricity to the heating element when a threshold value of fluid flow through the piping is not met, the control assembly continuing the supply of electricity to the heating element whenever the threshold value of fluid flow is met;
- and
- absence of a control device that controls the electricity supplied to the heating element based on the temperature of the heated fluid.
A heater assembly for heating fluid circulating through piping of a bath, comprising:
- a pipe section having an outer wall, an inlet, and at least one outlet, wherein the fluid is circulated through the pipe section between the inlet and the outlet;
- a mounting structure attached to the outer wall of the pipe section, the mounting structure having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a flow switch mounted to the mounting structure, the flow switch including a pivoting actuator, a portion of which partially extends into the interior of the pipe section;
- and
- a heating element having a first and second electrical contact and a maximum power rating, the heating element being partially housed within the pipe section between the inlet and the outlet, at least one of the electrical contacts being conductively connected to the flow switch;
- wherein the flow switch is operable to interrupt the supply of electricity to the heating element when a threshold limit of fluid flow through the pipe section is not met, and continuing the supply of electricity to the heating element whenever the threshold limit of fluid flow is met;
- and
- wherein the maximum power rating of the heating element is selected such that the heater assembly maintains the fluid immediately downstream of the heating element within a specified safe temperature range with the heating element operating continuously at its maximum power rating.
A temperature maintenance heater assembly of a bath having a fluid capacity, the temperature maintenance heater assembly operable for maintaining the temperature of a heated fluid circulating through piping of the bath, the temperature maintenance heater assembly comprising:
- a pipe section with an outer wall, an inlet, and at least one outlet;
- a heating element being housed partially in the pipe section, the heating element having a first and second electrical contacts and a maximum power rating, wherein the maximum power rating of the heating element is selected based on the fluid capacity of the bath;
- and
- a control assembly coupled to the pipe section, the control assembly including a flow switch, the flow switch including first and second electrical terminals and a switch actuator pivotally movable from an at-rest position, wherein the flow switch is in an open position, to at least one different position remote from the at-rest position, wherein the flow switch is in a closed position, the control assembly being conductively connected to at least one of the electrical contacts of the heating element:
- wherein the maximum power rating of the heating element is further selected such that the heater assembly maintains the fluid in the bath within a specified safe temperature range with the heating element operating continuously at its maximum power rating.
A pipe section for a heater assembly of a bath comprising:
- a center pipe segment sized and configured to accept a heating element therein;
- and
- a pipe branch selectively coupled to the center pipe segment, the pipe branch extending transverse from the center pipe segment and fluidly communicating with the center pipe segment when coupled thereto, the pipe branch including an end flange.
A method of maintaining the temperature of a heated fluid circulating through a bath having associated piping, comprising:
- circulating the heated fluid through a pipe segment of the associated piping by a pump, the pipe segment including an inlet, at least one outlet, and a heating element housed partially within the pipe section, wherein the pump is adapted to be connected in fluid communication to at least one exit port of the bath;
- transferring heat from the heat element to the heated fluid circulating through the pipe segment, the heating element receiving power from a power source and having a pre-determined maximum power rating, wherein the predetermined maximum power rating of the heating element is selected such that the fluid in the bath is maintained within a specified safe temperature range with the heating element operating continuously at its maximum power rating;
- and
- supplying power continuously to the heating element so that the heating element operates at its maximum power rating absent abnormal operating conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.