US3745640A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of installing an elongated, flexible, electric heater into a material storage tank, and heater construction for the same
Assignee: Emerson Electric Co
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Filing: 1971-12-10
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1991-12-10
Abstract
Abstract Methods of installing an elongated, flexible, electric heater into a material storage tank comprising attaching flexible cables to opposite ends of the heater while the same is disposed exteriorly of the tank, and utilizing such cables to guide the heater to a selected position within the tank. The invention also includes novel heater construction which is particularly useful in carrying out the methods.
Inventors
- 👤 S Caroleo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:31
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24H; F24H9/00; F24H9/18; F24H9/1809; F24H9/1818; H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/40; H05B3/54; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49838; Y10T29/49904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A method relating to the assembly of an electric heater within a fluid storage tank; wherein said tank has a manhole opening in a defining wall, and wherein said heater is an elongated flexible heater comprising a metal sheath formed of flexible tubing such as corrugated metal tubing, said sheath containing an elongated electric heating element which is insulated from the sheath but permitted to flex therewith, said sheath having one end closed and an opposite end which is also closed except for the passage of a power supply line adapted to connect said heating element to a source of electrical power: the improved method of displacing said flexible heater from a position exteriorly of said tank to a selected position within and along the lowermost portion of the tank, comprising: attaching first and second flexible cables respectively to said one end and said opposite end of said heater, longitudinally moving said flexible heater relative to said tank and bending it along its longitudinal axis and entering it into said tank with said one end foremost, and permitting said flexible heater to settle toward the lowermost portion of said tank while controlling pulling force on said first and second cables to guide said heater to selected position within said tank.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
210 words
A method relating to the assembly of an electric heater within a fluid storage tank; wherein said tank has a manhole opening in a defining wall, and wherein said heater is an elongated flexible heater comprising a metal sheath formed of flexible tubing such as corrugated metal tubing, said sheath containing an elongated electric heating element which is insulated from the sheath but permitted to flex therewith, said sheath having one end closed and an opposite end which is also closed except for the passage of a power supply line adapted to connect said heating element to a source of electrical power: the improved method of displacing said flexible heater from a position exteriorly of said tank to a selected position within and along the lowermost portion of the tank, comprising: attaching first and second flexible cables respectively to said one end and said opposite end of said heater, longitudinally moving said flexible heater relative to said tank and bending it along its longitudinal axis and entering it into said tank with said one end foremost, and permitting said flexible heater to settle toward the lowermost portion of said tank while controlling pulling force on said first and second cables to guide said heater to selected position within said tank.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
281 words
A method relating to the assembly of an electric heater within a fluid storage tank: Wherein said tank has a manhole opening in a defining wall and a further opening in such wall, said openings being spaced a substantial distance, and wherein said heater is an elongated flexible heater comprising a metal sheath formed of flexible tubing such as corrugated metal tubing, said sheath containing an elongated electric heating element which is insulated from the sheath but permitted to flex therewith, said sheath having one end closed and an opposite end which is also closed except for the passage of a power supply line adapted to connect said heating element to a source of electrical power: the improved method of displacing said flexible heater from a position exteriorly of said tank to a selected position within and along the lowermost portion of the tank, comprising: attaching first and second flexible cables respectively to said one end and said opposite end of said heater, threading said first cable through said manhole opening and into said tank, through said tank and through and outwardly of said further opening, longitudinally moving said flexible heater relative to said tank and bending it along its longitudinal axis and entering said one end into said tank through said manhole opening, pulling on said first cable to pull the remainder of said flexible heater into said tank while holding onto said second cable to restrain and guide said opposite end through said manhole opening, and permitting said flexible heater to settle toward the lowermost portion of said tank while controlling pulling force on said first and second cables to guide said heater to selected position within said tank.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
281 words
A method relating to the assembly of an electric heater within a fluid storage tank: Wherein said tank has a manhole opening in a defining wall and a further opening in such wall, said openings being spaced a substantial distance, and wherein said heater is an elongated flexible heater comprising a metal sheath formed of flexible tubing such as corrugated metal tubing, said sheath containing an elongated electric heating element which is insulated from the sheath but permitted to flex therewith, said sheath having one end closed and an opposite end which is also closed except for the passage of a power supply line adapted to connect said heating element to a source of electrical power: the improved method of displacing said flexible heater from a position exteriorly of said tank to a selected position within and along the lowermost portion of the tank, comprising: attaching first and second flexible cables respectively to said one end and said opposite end of said heater, threading said first cable through said manhole opening and into said tank, through said tank and through and outwardly of said further opening, longitudinally moving said flexible heater relative to said tank and bending it along its longitudinal axis and entering said one end into said tank through said manhole opening, pulling on said first cable to pull the remainder of said flexible heater into said tank while holding onto said second cable to restrain and guide said opposite end through said manhole opening, and permitting said flexible heater to settle toward the lowermost portion of said tank while controlling pulling force on said first and second cables to guide said heater to selected position within said tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method according to claim 1, wherien said heater has a plurality of feet connected to said sheath at spaced places longitudinally of the latter for supporting the sheath in spaced relation from the lowermost portion of said tank, said method including the steps of supporting said heater exteriorly of said tank with said one end adjacent to said manhole opening and with the heater inverted so that said feet are uppermost, and bending said heater longitudinally within said tank by pulling force applied to said cables to right said heater and thus bring said feet lowermost by the time said heater settles to the lowermost portion of said tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said heater has a plurality of feet connected to said sheath at spaced places longitudinally of the latter for supporting the sheath in spaced relation from the lowermost portion of the tank, each foot providing a weight, said method including the step of utilizing the weight of said feet to assist in the settling of said heater to the lowermost portion of the tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 2 wherien said tank is disposed within its longitudinal axis horizontal and wherein said manhole opening and said further opening are in the uppermost portion of the side wall of said tank, the method including the step of supporting said heater longitudinally and exteriorly of said tank with said one end adjacent to said manhole opening, prior to insertion of said heater into said manhole opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said tank is disposed with its longitudinal axis vertical and wherein said manhole opening and said further opening are in the upper end wall of said tank, including the step of entering said one end of said heater into said tank by moving it vertically through said manhole opening until sufficient heater length is disposed within said tank to permit said heater to be bent longitudinally by a pulling force applied to said first cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said tank is disposed with its longitudinal axis vertical and wherein said manhole opening and said further opening are in the side wall of said tank with said manhole opening uppermost, and wherein said heater has a plurality of feet connected to said sheath at spaced places longitudinally of the latter for supporting the sheath in spaced rElation from the lower end wall of said tank, said method including the steps of supporting said heater exteriorly of said tank with the heater inverted so that its feet are uppermost, entering said heater one end into said tank by moving it horizontally through said manhole opening until sufficient length is disposed within said tank to permit said heater to be bent longitudinally by pulling force applied to said cables, and controlling such pulling force to right said heater and to thus bring said feet lowermost by the time said heater settles to the lower end wall of said tank.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |