US3673385A - Electric heating assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A heating assembly of the type wherein a plurality of metal sheathed electric heating elements are arranged in a cluster, each having one end connected to a flange member, the elements being elongated and cantileverly extending from the flange member, and means for holding end portions of said heating elements in predetermined laterally spaced relation, comprising a sheet metal band for each heating element having sockets for receiving and holding the end portions, the sheet metal bands being connnected together. In a preferred form, the sheet metal band is of rectilinear formation with socket portions formed at the four corners to receive respective ends of the legs of a heating element. The sheet metal bands are connected to each other so that their socket portions hold the pairs of legs of all elements in spaced relation.

Description

United States Patent Drugmand et al.

[ 1 June 27, 1972 [541' ELECTRIC HEATING ASSEMBLY [72] Inventors: Lester D. Drugmand; Sidney J. Temple,

both of Pittsburgh, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis, Mo. [22] Filed: Dec. 4, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 95,250

[52] US. Cl ..2l9/335,219/306,219/316, 219/320, 219/376, 219/523, 219/539, 338/315 [51] t Cl ..II05b 3/02, F24h 1/10 [58] Field ofSearch ..219/306,310,312,315-323, 219/331, 335-338, 350, 355, 357, 374-376, 520, 526, 532, 534, 536, 537, 539,539, 541, 542, 544, 546, 548; 338/228, 229, 240, 241, 326, 315, 320,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,102,185 8/1963 Boyd et a1. ..219/374 X 3,440,400 4/1969 Cotts ...219/539 X 3,191,718 6/1965 Haywood ..219/306 2,133,838 10/1938 Abbott ..219/316 X 2,658,798 11/1953 Meltzer et a1. .219/375 UX 3,446,940 5/1969 Morgan ..219/318 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 566,373 11/1958 Canada ..219/523 515,082 11/1939 Great Britain.. .....219/532 1,102,994 3/1961 Germany ..2l9/526 Primary Examiner-A. Bartis Attorney-Michael Williams [57] ABSTRACT A heating assembly of the type wherein a plurality of metal sheathed electric heating elements are arranged in a cluster, each having one end connected to a flange member, the elements being elongated and cantileverly extending from the flange member, and means for holding end portions of said heating elements in predetermined laterally spaced relation, comprising a sheet metal band for each heating element having sockets for receiving and holding the end portions, the sheet metal bands being connnected together.

In a preferred form, the sheet metal band is of rectilinear formation with socket portions formed at the four comers to receive respective ends of the legs of a heating element. The

sheet metal bands are connected to each other so that their socket portions hold the pairs of legs of all elements in spaced relation.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJUHN I972 SHEET 10F 2 HIIHHII mvsmoxs Les-FER D. DRUGMAND zfl SsDNET J.TEMPLE.

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sum 2 or 2 INVENTOR5 LEsTER D. DRUGMAND y 5IDNET J TEMPLE.

0 FL I y' I k 1 waxed 1 ELECTRIC HEATING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY The present invention is particularly suitable for use with elongated, metal-sheathed heating elements disposed within a container for heating the contents of the latter. In order to provide suflicient heating capacity, a plurality of elongated elements are usually arranged in a cluster and supported from a flange which provides a cover for the container, with the element legs extending from the flange in cantilever fashion.

l-Ieretofore, difficulties have been experienced in providing a low-cost yet efficient means, for holding the element legs from contacting each other and the walls of the container, and for providing physical support of the element legs to minimize sagging thereof or strain on the connection between individual elements and the flange cover.

Such physical support is desirable during transportation and handling of the container and also prevents intercontact so as to prevent rattling of the elements. Further, it is desirable to hold the element legs against interengagement during operation since such interengagement causes excessive heating thereat and may effect the usefulness of the engaged heating elements. Interengagement will also cause deposits to form thereat, such as carbon deposits if the substance being heated is oil or the like, or lime deposits if the substance heated is water from the usual mains.

Our invention overcomes the disadvantages above mentioned and the principal object of our invention is to provide new and improved electric heating assemblies of the character described.

Our invention relates to an electric heater of the type wherein a plurality of metal sheathed tubular elements of double loop formation each has the ends of a pair of legs connected to a flange member with the legs cantileverly extending therefrom in side-by-side relation. A sheet metal member is provided for each heating element, each sheet metal member being in the form of a closed loop of rectangular formation with socket portions formed in the four corners for receiving respective ones of the legs of one heating element. The sheet metal members are connected so that their socket portions hold all pairs of legs of all elements in spaced relation.

Provision is also made for holding the legs of a cluster of heating elements in spaced relation, wherein one heating element is at the center and the other elements are grouped thereabout. A metal ring-like member encompasses the sheet metal member for the center element and is secured thereto, and the sheet metal members for the grouped elements are secured to the ring-like member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings accompanying this description and forming a part of this specification, there is shown, for purpose of illustration, an embodiment which our invention may assume, and in these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a broken, longitudinal sectional view through a fluid heating container, showing a preferred embodiment of our invention,

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a somewhat exaggerated perspective view of a heating element used in the assembly of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view corresponding to the line 4-4 of FIG. I, the container being omitted,

FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose variations of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are detail views illustrating methods of maintaining the assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With particular reference to FIG. 1, our invention may be utilized with a cluster or metal-sheathed electric heating elements disposed within a container 10 for heating the contents of the same, which contents are usually liquid in form. Spaced tubes 11 and 12 lead into the container and one may function as an inlet while the other may function as an outlet for the liquid to be heated. A flange 14 supports the heating elements and forms a closure for the container, the flange having openings 15 through which bolts (not shown) may pass and may either be threaded into a flange 16 on the container or pass through holes in the flange 16 for the reception of nuts (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows a type of heating element preferably used in the assembly. This element is of the double loop type and comprises a pair of legs 17 and 18 extending from the flange 15 in cantilever fashion. The legs 17 and 18 extend through openings in the flange and have terminal portions 17a, 18a (see FIG. 1) extending outwardly of the flange and provided with terminal pins 17b, 18b for connection to a source of electrical energy.

As seen in FIG. 3, the leg 17 extends in rectilinear manner to a bight l9 and continues back toward the flange in a return portion 20 which is spaced from but aligned with the leg 17. The leg 18 also extends in rectilinear manner to a bight 21 and continues back toward the flange in a return portion 22 which is spaced from but aligned with the leg 18. The return portion 22 extends to a cross-over bight 23 which connects with the return portion 20 of the leg 17.

The alignment of the legs 17, and 18 with their respective return portions 20, 22, and the cross-over bight 23 is seen in FIG. 2. A cluster of three double loop heating elements is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 and such elements are disposed equidistantly about the longitudinal center of the housing 10. Although the double loop heating elements are preferred, it will be appreciated that two hair-pin elements may be utilized, one element including the leg 17, the bight l9 and the return portion 20 extending to the flange 14 to provide the other leg. In like manner, the other hair-pin element would be formed by the leg 18, the bight 21 and the return portion 22, and in such case there would be no crossover loop 23 between the elements.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, means are provided to hold the end portions of the heating elements in laterally spaced relation and such means comprises one or more assemblies 24 which may be inserted over the bight portions I9 and 21 and slid longitudinally along the elements in a direction toward the flange 14.

As best seen in FIG. 4, each assembly 24 comprises a plurality of tubular members 25, each preferably formed as a rectangular shaped band of sheet metal, with pockets 26 formed at the comers to receive the legs 17 and 18 and their return portions 22, 23. A pair of inwardly extending loop por tions 27 is formed in each member 25 to constitute part of the pockets 26 and to maintain respective legs 17 and return portions 22, and legs 18 and return portions 20, in spaced relation. The loop portions also provide a degree of flexibility to permit each member 25 to be slightly deformed, if necessary, to assist in sliding the members over the bights 19, 21.

.The three members 25 are joined in any suitable manner, such as by tack welds 23, to maintain their assembly. Thus, with the heating elements so interconnected, they reenforce each other and eliminate concentration of stresses on any one of their connections with the flange 15. In some cases, only one assembly 24 may be needed near the bights 19, 21, but in cases where the heating elements are relatively long, more than one assembly 24 is preferred.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the further utility of our invention and disclose constructions where a cluster of more than three heating elements is used to heat the contents of the container.

FIG. 5 shows a cluster of six heating elements, with a centrally disposed heating element 30 and five heating elements 31 spaced thereabout. Tubular members 25a are provided which may be similar or identical to the members 25 heretofore described. In this case, a circular band 32 is disposed about that band 250 which encompasses the central heating element 30, and all encircling bands 25a are tack welded together as shown at 33. The central band 25a has its corners tack welded to the circular band 32, as at 34, and flat portions of the encircling bands 25a are tack welded to the circular band 32, as at 35. As shown in the upper portion of FIG. 5, the heating elements need not be circular in cross section, but may be of triangular or other non-circular cross section.

FIG. 6 shows a cluster of five heating elements, with a centrally disposed heating element 36 and four heating elements 37 disposed thereabout. Tubular members 25b are provided and in this case a circular band 32b encompasses the band 25b for the central heating element 36 and the four corners of this band 25b are tack welded to the circular band 32b, as at 40. A comer of each ofthe encircling bands 25b is tack welded to the circular band 32b, as at 41.

in most cases, frictional contact between the bands 25 (or 25a, 25b) and the legs of the respective heating elements is sufficient to hold an assembly 24 in desired position. However, it may be necessary to further insure that an assembly does not move from desired position and in such cases a flat portion of one or more bands 25 may be deformed inwardly, as shown at 42 in FIG. 7. This inward deformation may be formed by a tap of a hammer or by a suitable squeezing tool. Further, the inward deformation may be formed by the construction shown in FIG. 8, wherein a bolt 43 passes through a hole in one flat leg of a band 25 and is threaded into the opposite leg.

' We claim:

1. In an electric heater of the type wherein a plurality of metal sheathed tubular elements of double loop formation of the character described each has the ends of a pair of legs connected to a flange member and with the legs cantileverly extending therefrom in side-by-side relation, the improvement comprising means for holding the pairs of legs of one element in lateral spaced relation with respect to each other and with respect to the pairs of legs of the other elements, comprising a sheet metal member for each heating element, each sheet metal member being in the form of a closed band of rectangular formation with socket portions formed in the four corners for receiving respective ones of the legs of one heating element and holding the same in spaced relation, said sheet metal members being connected to each other so that their socket portions hold the pairs of legs of all elements in spaced relation.

2. The construction of claim 1 wherein a corner of one sheet metal member is connected to a corner of another member.

3. The construction of claim 1 wherein a flat side of at least one sheet metal member is defonned inwardly to tighten the grip of said member on the legs in its socket portions.

4. In an electric heater of the type wherein a cluster of metal sheathed tubular elements of double loop formation of the character described each has the ends of a pair of legs connected to a flange member and with the legs cantileverly extending therefrom in side-by-side relation, and wherein one element is at the center and the other elements are grouped thereabout, the improvement comprising means for holding the pairs of legs of one element in laterally spaced relation with respect to each other and with respect to the pairs of legs of the other elements, comprising a sheet metal member for each heating element, each sheet metal member having socket portions for receiving respective ones of the pair of legs of one heating element and holding the same in spaced relation, a metal ring-like member encompassing the sheet metal member for the center tubular element and secured thereto, and the sheet metal members for the tubular elements grouped about said center element being connected to said ring-like member at spaced points along its periphery.

5. The construction of claim 4 wherein each sheet metal member is a closed band of rectangular fonnation with socket portions formed in the four comers.

6. The construction of claim 5 wherein the sheet metal members for the tubular elements grouped about said center element each has a comer secured to the periphery of said ring-like member.

7. The construction of claim 5 wherein the sheet metal members for the tubular elements grouped about said center element each has a flat portion secured to the periphery of said ring-like member.

s e a e

Claims (7)

1. In an electric heater of the type wherein a plurality of metal sheathed tubular elements of double loop formation of the character described each has the ends of a pair of legs connected to a flange member and with the legs cantileverly extending therefrom in side-by-side relation, the improvement comprising means for holding the pairs of legs of one element in lateral spaced relation with respect to each other and with respect to the pairs of legs of the other elements, comprising a sheet metal member for each heating element, each sheet metal member being in the form of a closed band of rectangular formation with socket portions formed in the four corners for receiving respective ones of the legs of one heating element and holding the same in spaced relation, said sheet metal members being connected to each other so tHat their socket portions hold the pairs of legs of all elements in spaced relation.

2. The construction of claim 1 wherein a corner of one sheet metal member is connected to a corner of another member.

3. The construction of claim 1 wherein a flat side of at least one sheet metal member is deformed inwardly to tighten the grip of said member on the legs in its socket portions.

4. In an electric heater of the type wherein a cluster of metal sheathed tubular elements of double loop formation of the character described each has the ends of a pair of legs connected to a flange member and with the legs cantileverly extending therefrom in side-by-side relation, and wherein one element is at the center and the other elements are grouped thereabout, the improvement comprising means for holding the pairs of legs of one element in laterally spaced relation with respect to each other and with respect to the pairs of legs of the other elements, comprising a sheet metal member for each heating element, each sheet metal member having socket portions for receiving respective ones of the pair of legs of one heating element and holding the same in spaced relation, a metal ring-like member encompassing the sheet metal member for the center tubular element and secured thereto, and the sheet metal members for the tubular elements grouped about said center element being connected to said ring-like member at spaced points along its periphery.

5. The construction of claim 4 wherein each sheet metal member is a closed band of rectangular formation with socket portions formed in the four corners.

6. The construction of claim 5 wherein the sheet metal members for the tubular elements grouped about said center element each has a corner secured to the periphery of said ring-like member.

7. The construction of claim 5 wherein the sheet metal members for the tubular elements grouped about said center element each has a flat portion secured to the periphery of said ring-like member.

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