Heating device

Claim 2

A heating device comprising mounting means including connector blocks having outwardly projecting tapered studs and coolant channels for distributing a coolant through them so that heat conducted to the blocks is dissipated into the coolant, a heat insulative reradiating pad mounted on and supported by the mounting means, an electrically conductive heating element including a strip positioned in front of the reradiating pad and legs extending from the strip toward the reradiating pad, the legs having reduced neck portions and extending inwardly behind the strip from the neck portions, the legs further having sockets extending generally perpendicular to the strips and receiving the tapered studs which frictionally engage the legs within the sockets.

Claim 3

A heating device comprising mounting means including connector blocks having outwardly projecting studs; a heat insulative reradiating pad mounted on and supported by the mounting means; an electrically conductive heating element including a plurality of spaced strips arranged in side-by-side relation in front of the reradiating pad, and legs on the ends of the strips and extending toward the reradiating pad, the legs having sockets which extend generally perpendicular to the strips and receive the studs such that the studs frictionally engage the legs within the sockets, each leg further having a reduced neck portion and extending inwardly behind at least one of the strips from the reduced neck portion; each pair of adjacent strips having a common leg only at one end of such pair of strips, the common legs supporting adjacent strips in side-by-side relation and electrically connecting them, whereby a generally serpentine electrical path exists through the heating element.

Claim 4

A heating device comprising mounting means including connector blocks having outwardly projecting studs; a heat insulative reradiating pad mounted on and supported by the mounting means; an electrically conductive heating element including a plurality of spaced strips arranged in side-by-side relation in front of the reradiating pad, and legs on the ends of the strips and extending toward the reradiating pad, the legs having sockets which extend generally perpendicular to the strips and receive the studs such that the studs frictionally engage the legs within the sockets, each leg further having a reduced neck portion and extending inwardly behind at least one of the strips from the reduced neck portion; each pair of adjacent strips having a common leg only at one end of such pair of strips, the common legs supporting adjacent strips in side-by-side relation and electrically connecting them, whereby a generally serpentine electrical path exists through the heating element.

Claim 5

A heating device comprising mounting means including connector blocks which project outwardly and have coolant channels for distributing a liquid coolant through them, an electrically conductive heating element including at least one carbon strip engaged with and supported on the connector blocks only at its ends and being free of support and spaced from the mounting means intermediate its ends, the carbon strip being constructed to conduct an electrical current from end to end so that its temperature will rise with the passage of current through it, and a heat insulative reradiating pad mounted on and supported by the mounting means, the reradiating pad being spaced from and positioned behind the carbon strip so that heat absorbed from the strip is radiated back toward and beyond the strip, the reradiating pad being further formed from a material capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures and having a myriad of interstices throughout so that it insulates the mounting means from the heat produced by the heating element.

Claim 6

A heating device comprising mounting means including connector blocks which project outwardly and have coolant channels for distributing a liquid coolant through them, an electrically conductive heating element including at least one carbon strip engaged with and supported on the connector blocks only at its ends and being free of support and spaced from the mounting means intermediate its ends, the carbon strip being constructed to conduct an electrical current from end to end so that its temperature will rise with the passage of current through it, and a heat insulative reradiating pad mounted on and supported by the mounting means, the reradiating pad being spaced from and positioned behind the carbon strip so that heat absorbed from the strip is radiated back toward and beyond the strip, the reradiating pad being further formed from a material capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures and having a myriad of interstices throughout so that it insulates the mounting means from the heat produced by the heating element.

Claim 7

A heating device comprising mounting means, an electrically conductive heating element including further least one carbon strip supported on the mounting means only at its ends and being free of support and spaced from the mounting means intermediate its ends, the carbon strip being constructed to conduct an electrical current from end to end so that its temperature will rise with the passage of current through it, and a heat insulative reradiating pad mounted on and supported by the mounting means, the reradiating pad being spaced from and positioned behind the carbon strip so that heat absorbed from the strip is radiated back toward and beyond the strip, the reradiating pad being further formed from carbon and having a myriad of interstices throughout so that it insulates the mounting means from the heat produced by the heating element.

Claim 8

A heating device comprising mounting means, an electrically conductive heating element including further least one carbon strip supported on the mounting means only at its ends and being free of support and spaced from the mounting means intermediate its ends, the carbon strip being constructed to conduct an electrical current from end to end so that its temperature will rise with the passage of current through it, and a heat insulative reradiating pad mounted on and supported by the mounting means, the reradiating pad being spaced from and positioned behind the carbon strip so that heat absorbed from the strip is radiated back toward and beyond the strip, the reradiating pad being further formed from carbon and having a myriad of interstices throughout so that it insulates the mounting means from the heat produced by the heating element.

Claim 9

A heating device comprising mounting means including a rigid supporting surface and a coolant channel in heat transFer relationship with the supporting surface for conveying heat away from the surface, an electrically conductive heating element including at least one carbon strip supported on the mounting means only at its ends and being free of support and spaced from the mounting means intermediate its ends, the carbon strip being constructed to conduct an electrical current from end to end so that its temperature will rise with the passage of current through it, and a heat insulative reradiating pad supported by and having one of its surfaces in contact with the rigid surface of the mounting means whereby heat from the pad is transferred to the coolant in the coolant channel, the opposite surface of the reradiating pad being presented toward and positioned behind the carbon strip so that the reradiating pad is spaced from the strip and heat absorbed from the strip is radiated back toward and beyond the strip, the reradiating pad being further formed from a material capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures and having a myriad of interstices throughout so that it insulates the mounting means from the heat produced by the heating element.

Claim 10

A heating device comprising mounting means including a rigid supporting surface and a coolant channel in heat transFer relationship with the supporting surface for conveying heat away from the surface, an electrically conductive heating element including at least one carbon strip supported on the mounting means only at its ends and being free of support and spaced from the mounting means intermediate its ends, the carbon strip being constructed to conduct an electrical current from end to end so that its temperature will rise with the passage of current through it, and a heat insulative reradiating pad supported by and having one of its surfaces in contact with the rigid surface of the mounting means whereby heat from the pad is transferred to the coolant in the coolant channel, the opposite surface of the reradiating pad being presented toward and positioned behind the carbon strip so that the reradiating pad is spaced from the strip and heat absorbed from the strip is radiated back toward and beyond the strip, the reradiating pad being further formed from a material capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures and having a myriad of interstices throughout so that it insulates the mounting means from the heat produced by the heating element.

Claim 11

A heating device according to claim 24 wherein the heating element is carried by connecting blocks having coolant channels for conveying a coolant, whereby heat from the element is dissipated and the blocks are maintained relatively cool.

Claim 12

A heating device according to claim 4 wherein the supporting surface is on a plate, and the coolant channel in heat transfer relationship with the supporting surface is a coolant coil extending across the plate.

Claim 13

A heating device according to claim 3 wherein the heating element has tapered sockets at the ends of the strip; and wherein the connector blocks have tapered studs which fit into the tapered sockets and frictionally engage the heating element within the socket, the heating element being secured to the mounting means only by the frictional engagement between the studs and the heating element.

Claim 14

A heating device according to claim 3 wherein the heating element further includes carbon legs formed integral with the strip at the ends of the strip and extending toward the reradiating pad, the legs having reduced neck portions where they merge into the strip; and wherein the connector blocks engage the legs and support the heating element such that the strip is spaced from the reradiating pad.

Claim 15

A heating device according to claim 9 wherein the inwardly presented sides of the legs extend inwardly beneath the strip.

Claim 16

A heating device according to claim 10 wherein the outwardly presented sides of the connector blocks are squared off so that two heating devices can be positioned close to each other.

Claim 17

A heating device according to claim 9 wherein the legs are provided with tapered sockets and the connector blocks are provided with tapered studs which fit into the tapered sockets; and wherein the heating element is held to the mounting means by the frictional engagement between the studs and the legs within the sockets.

Claim 18

A heating device according to claim 9 wherein the mounting means further comprises a plate presented toward but spaced from the backside of the strip, the plate having a coolant channel extending along it for distributing the liquid coolant along the plate, the reradiating pad extending across the plate and being interposed between the plate and the carbon strip for insulating the plate.

Claim 19

A heating device according to claim 4 wherein the pad is formed from carbon fibers.