Electric heating system for asphalt equipment

Claim 2

A heating system for use with a storage tank for fluids such as asphalt or other similar fluids which are solid or viscous under unheated conditions, comprising a tank, a first heating means extending generally horizontally within the tank for delivering heat to a heating zone within the tank, a conduit means providing a flow path for the flow of a fluid, said conduit means extending generally horizontally within the tank and having a substantial portion positioned above and proximate to said first heating means and within the vertical confines of saId heating zone whereby the fluid passing through said conduit means is in effective heat exchange relationship with said first heating means and the contents of the tank within said heating zone, and second heating means extending generally horizontally within the tank associated with said conduit means for applying heat to said fluid passing through said conduit means, said first and second heating means and said conduit means being structurally interconnected at the ends of their horizontal extent so as to form a unitary assembly for installation within the tank.

Claim 3

A heating system for use with a storage tank for fluids such as asphalt or other similar fluids which are solid or viscous under unheated conditions, comprising a tank, a first heating means extending generally horizontally within the tank for delivering heat to a heating zone within the tank, a conduit means providing a flow path for the flow of a fluid, said conduit means extending within the tank and having a substantial portion positioned above and proximate to said first heating means and within the vertical confines of said heating zone whereby the fluid passing through said conduit means is in effective heat exchange relationship with said first heating means and the contents of the tank within said heating zone, and second heating means associated with said conduit means for applying heat to said fluid passing through said conduit means, said first heating means comprising a plurality of spaced elongated heating members located at the bottom of the tank, said heating members defining the border of said heating zone whereby said heating zone has a substantial width and length, said conduit means having an elongated portion adapted to be heated directly by second heating means and a portion cooperating with said elongated portion to form at least one loop which extends across said heating zone.

Claim 4

A heating system for use with a storage tank for fluids such as asphalt or other similar fluids which are solid or viscous under unheated conditions, comprising a tank, a first heating means extending generally horizontally within the tank for delivering heat to a heating zone within the tank, a conduit means providing a flow path for the flow of a fluid, said conduit means extending within the tank and having a substantial portion positioned above and proximate to said first heating means and within the vertical confines of said heating zone whereby the fluid passing through said conduit means is in effective heat exchange relationship with said first heating means and the contents of the tank within said heating zone, and second heating means associated with said conduit means for applying heat to said fluid passing through said conduit means, said first heating means comprising a plurality of spaced elongated heating members located at the bottom of the tank, said heating members defining the border of said heating zone whereby said heating zone has a substantial width and length, said conduit means having an elongated portion adapted to be heated directly by second heating means and a portion cooperating with said elongated portion to form at least one loop which extends across said heating zone.

Claim 5

A heating system according to claim 2 wherein said elongated portions of said conduit means comprises an inner pipe and an outer pipe defining an annular flow path for the fluid which flows through the space between said pipes.

Claim 6

A heating system according to claim 2 wherein said first and second heating means are comprised of electrical heating elements.

Claim 7

A heating system according to claim 2 wherein said first heating means comprises electrical heating elements.

Claim 8

A heating system according to claim 2 wherein said second heating means comprises electrical heating elements.

Claim 9

A heating system for use with a storage tank for fluids such as asphalt or other similar fluids which are solid or viscous under unheated conditions, comprising a tank, a first heating means extending generally horizontally within the tank for delivering heat to a heating zone within the tank, a conduit means providing a flow path for the flow of a fluid, said conduit means extending within the tank and having a substantial portion positioned above and proximate to said first heating means and within the vertical confines of said heating zone whereby the fluid passing through said conduit means is in effective heat exchange relationship with said first heating means and the contents of the tank within said heating zone, and second heating means associated with said conduit means for applying heat to said fluid passing through said conduit means, said first heating means comprising a plurality of spaced elongated heating members, said heating members defining the border of said heating zone whereby said heating zone has a substantial width and length, said conduit means having a pair of spaced elongated portions adapted to be heated directly by said second heating means and a conduit portion joining said elongated portions and including a coil at least one loop which extends across said heating zone.

Claim 10

A heating system for use with a storage tank for fluids such as asphalt or other similar fluids which are solid or viscous under unheated conditions, comprising a tank, a first heating means extending generally horizontally within the tank for delivering heat to a heating zone within the tank, a conduit means providing a flow path for the flow of a fluid, said conduit means extending within the tank and having a substantial portion positioned above and proximate to said first heating means and within the vertical confines of said heating zone whereby the fluid passing through said conduit means is in effective heat exchange relationship with said first heating means and the contents of the tank within said heating zone, and second heating means associated with said conduit means for applying heat to said fluid passing through said conduit means, said first heating means comprising a plurality of spaced elongated heating members, said heating members defining the border of said heating zone whereby said heating zone has a substantial width and length, said conduit means having a pair of spaced elongated portions adapted to be heated directly by said second heating means and a conduit portion joining said elongated portions and including a coil at least one loop which extends across said heating zone.

Claim 11

A heating system according to claim 7 wherein said coil formed by said conduit means comprises portions located directly above said tank heating members of said first heating means.

Claim 12

A heating system acCording to claim 7 wherein said elongated portions of said conduit means comprises an inner pipe and an outer pipe, the fluid being arranged to flow in the space between said pipes, said second heating means being located within said inner pipe, and wherein said conduit means extends horizontally across said heating members of said first heating means and including elongated sections directly above and in contact with each of said elongated heating members of said first heating means.

Claim 13

A heating system for use with a storage tank for fluids such as asphalt or other similar fluids which are solid or viscous under unheated conditions, comprising a tank, a first heating means extending generally horizontally within the tank for delivering heat to a heating zone within the tank, a conduit means providing a flow path for the flow of a fluid, said conduit means extending within the tank and having a substantial portion positioned above and proximate to said first heating means and within the vertical confines of said heating zone whereby the fluid passing through said conduit means is in effective heat exchange relationship with said first heating means and the contents of the tank within said heating zone, and second heating means associated with said conduit means for applying heat to said fluid passing through said conduit means, said first and second heating means comprising a plurality of heating elements extending horizontally across the bottom of the tank and said conduit means comprising a plurality of elongated elements extending horizontally across the bottom of the tank above said first heating means, and including means for structurally interconnecting said first and second heating means and said conduit means in supporting relation to one another.

Claim 14

A heating system for use with a storage tank for fluids such as asphalt or other similar fluids which are solid or viscous under unheated conditions, comprising a tank, a first heating means extending generally horizontally within the tank for delivering heat to a heating zone within the tank, a conduit means providing a flow path for the flow of a fluid, said conduit means extending within the tank and having a substantial portion positioned above and proximate to said first heating means and within the vertical confines of said heating zone whereby the fluid passing through said conduit means is in effective heat exchange relationship with said first heating means and the contents of the tank within said heating zone, and second heating means associated with said conduit means for applying heat to said fluid passing through said conduit means, said first and second heating means comprising a plurality of heating elements extending horizontally across the bottom of the tank and said conduit means comprising a plurality of elongated elements extending horizontally across the bottom of the tank above said first heating means, and including means for structurally interconnecting said first and second heating means and said conduit means in supporting relation to one another.