Vessel preheating method and apparatus

Claim 1

A space heating apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a long arc column forming plasma generator having an internal electrode and a gas directing nozzle located forward of and insulated from said internal electrode and having appropriate gas, cooling liquid and electrical supply means, said generator being adapted to form an internal pilot arc and with an appropriate forwardly spaced external electrode in circuit therewith being adapted to transfer the pilot arc and form a long transferred plasma arc column extending from said nozzle to said external electrode; b. an external movable electrode mounted proximate said generator and adapted for rectilinear bi-directional movement along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said generator, said external electrode having a tip portion oriented perpendicular to and residing in a plane through which passes said generator axis; c. means adapted to linearly and selectively position said external electrode with respect to the nozzle of said generator whereby upon creation of said pilot arc said external electrode may be positioned adjacent said nozzle and have said pilot arc transferred thereto and then positioned to a more remote position forward of said nozzle to create a said long column arc; and d. means adapted to temporarily secure said generator with respect to the space to be heated whereby said long column arc may effect said heating while said external electrode remains fixed in said forward remote position.

Claim 6

The method of heating a vessel space, comprising the steps: a. removably securing within the space a liquid cooled, gas fed and electrically energized long arc column generator having an external electrode mounted for adjustable positioning in the path of the column and mounted so as to have the long arc column generated by the generator surrounded by the space to be heated; b. establishing a pilot arc with said generator; c. moving the generator external electrode to a position adjacent the nozzle of the generator to effect transfer of the pilot arc to the said external electrode; d. moving the said external electrode to a position forward and remote from the generator nozzle to create a long arc column; and e. heating said space with the heat from said column.

Claim 7

The method of heating a vessel space, comprising the steps: a. removably securing within the space a liquid cooled, gas fed and electrically energized long arc column generator having an external electrode mounted for adjustable positioning in the path of the column and mounted so as to have the long arc column generated by the generator surrounded by the space to be heated; b. establishing a pilot arc with said generator; c. moving the generator external electrode to a position adjacent the nozzle of the generator to effect transfer of the pilot arc to the said external electrode; d. moving the said external electrode to a position forward and remote from the generator nozzle to create a long arc column; and e. heating said space with the heat from said column.