Container with a combined electric heater and thermostat unit

Claim 2

A combined electric heater and thermostat unit comprising a metal case, a tubular insulating core in said case and extending axially thereof, an electric heater coil mounted on said core, said metal case having an initially open end, said core having a pair of opposed slots formed in the end thereof adjacent said case open end, a thermostat including a heat conducting casing positioned in said case with opposite end portions received in said slots to position the thermostat to extend across the bore of said core, closure means closing the end of said case, electrical connector means connecting said thermostat to said heater coil, and electrical leads extending through said closure means.

Claim 3

A combined electric heater and thermostat unit as in claim 1 where said means closing the end of said case abut on the end of said core and retain said thermostat in engagement with said core.

Claim 4

A combined electric heater and thermostat unit as in claim 1 where said metal case has a positioning flange thereon defining a plane adjacent its initially open end, and said thermostat is above but Adjacent the plane defined by said flange to sense the temperature of any water in a container in which said unit is positioned, said unit being adapted to be operatively engaged with a wall of any such container.

Claim 5

A combined electric heater and thermostat as in claim 1 where insulation means is positioned intermediate the ends of said thermostat and said metal case.

Claim 6

A combined electric heater and thermostat unit as in claim 4 where said insulation means comprises a mass of resilient elastomer engaging said thermostat and said core.

Claim 7

A unit as in claim 1 where said thermostat has a portion thereof operatively frictionally engaging the side walls of one of said slots to secure said thermostat in position.

Claim 8

A unit as in claim 6 including an air gap extending transversely of the heater intermediate said thermostat and an end plate comprising the means for closing the end of the case.

Claim 9

In combination, a container having an opening in the bottom thereof and a combined electric heater and thermostat unit comprising a metal case, a tubular insulating core in said case and extending axially thereof, an electric heater coil mounted on said core, said metal case having an initially open end with a positioning flange thereadjacent, said core having a pair of opposed slots formed in the end thereof adjacent said case open end, a thermostat including a metal casing positioned in said case and received in said slots to extend across the bore of said core electrical connector, means connecting said thermostat to said heater coil, said positioning flange engaging said container bottom, end portions of said metal case extending radially outwardly to engage said container bottom; an insulating base and closure means secured to said container; and electric leads extending through said base and closure means, said thermostat having a portion thereof frictionally engaging the side walls of one of said slots to secure said thermostat in position.

Claim 10

In combination, a container having an opening in the bottom thereof and a combined electric heater and thermostat unit comprising a metal case, a tubular insulating core in said case and extending axially thereof, an electric heater coil mounted on said core, said metal case having an initially open end with a positioning flange thereadjacent, said core having a pair of opposed slots formed in the end thereof adjacent said case open end, a thermostat including a metal casing positioned in said case and received in said slots to extend across the bore of said core electrical connector, means connecting said thermostat to said heater coil, said positioning flange engaging said container bottom, end portions of said metal case extending radially outwardly to engage said container bottom; an insulating base and closure means secured to said container; and electric leads extending through said base and closure means, said thermostat having a portion thereof frictionally engaging the side walls of one of said slots to secure said thermostat in position.

Claim 11

In a combination as in claim 8 and comprising masses of insulation means engaging end portions of said thermostat to position it.