For heating fluids by means of gas permeable heat generating members

Claim 2

In apparatus for heating a fluid; means defining a first heating chamber; an inlet to said first chamber and an outlet from said chamber; a passage leading to said first chamber from said inlet; an electrical resistance fluid-permeable heat generating member; said heat generating member being interposed between said passage and said first chamber such that the fluid to be heated must pass through the heat generating member before entering said first chamber; a second heating chamber; said outlet leading from the first chamber into the second chamber; a passage leading from said second heating chamber to an outlet from said second chamber; a second heat generating member located between said second heating chamber and the passage leading from said second heating chamber; said inlet and outlet and passages providing for effecting movement of fluid to be heated therethrough and through said members; and means for supplying said members with electrical current to effect electrical resistance heating thereby by passing of the current therethrough.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, including another passage leading from said inlet to said first mentioned heating chamber, a second heat generating member located between said second passage leading to said first mentioned chamber and such chamber, another passage leading from said second chamber, and another heat generating member located between said second chamber and said another passage.

Claim 4

Apparatus for heating a fluid, comprising: means defining a first heating chamber and a second heating chamber with an inlet for fluid to be heated communicating through a first branch passage with the first heating chamber, a second branch passage leading from said second heating chamber to an outelt, with a passageway effecting communication between said first and second heating chambers; a first electrical resistance, fluid-permeable heat generating member located between said first passageway and said first chamber; a second electrical resistnace fluid-permeable heat generating member located between said second chamber and said second passage leading therefrom; means for supplying said heat generating members with electrical current to effect electrical resistance heating thereof by passing of the current therethrough; and means for effecting movement of fluid to be heated through said inlet and successively through said first passage and said first heat generating member to said first heating chamber, then through said passageway into said second heating chamber and therefrom through said second heat generating member and said second passage to said outlet.

Claim 5

Apparatus for heating a fluid, comprising: means defining a first heating chamber and a second heating chamber with an inlet for fluid to be heated communicating through a first branch passage with the first heating chamber, a second branch passage leading from said second heating chamber to an outelt, with a passageway effecting communication between said first and second heating chambers; a first electrical resistance, fluid-permeable heat generating member located between said first passageway and said first chamber; a second electrical resistnace fluid-permeable heat generating member located between said second chamber and said second passage leading therefrom; means for supplying said heat generating members with electrical current to effect electrical resistance heating thereof by passing of the current therethrough; and means for effecting movement of fluid to be heated through said inlet and successively through said first passage and said first heat generating member to said first heating chamber, then through said passageway into said second heating chamber and therefrom through said second heat generating member and said second passage to said outlet.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first passage has a plurality of branches communicating with said first chamber, each of said branches having one of the heat generating members located between it and said first heat chamber, said second passage having a plurality of branches leading from said second chamber, and each of said second passage branches having one of the heat gEnerating members located between it and said second heat chamber.