High pressure electric fluid heater

Claim 1

A heater for heating fluid materials passing therethrough comprising a cylindrical core, an electrical heating element enclosed by said core and having a pair of leads adapted to be connected to a power supply for energizing the heating element, a continuous spiral groove in the outer surface of said core, a cylindrical cover having open ends disposed around and in axially slidable engagement with the cylindrical surface of said core, said cover and said groove defining a closed ended spiral passageway for fluid materials, inlet means in said cover aT one end thereof communicating with one end of said passageway, outlet means in said cover at the other end thereof communicating with the other end of said passageway, a control box secured to one end of the core and having an annular abutment facing said cover, a cap removably secured to the other end of said core and covering an open end of said cover, said cover having its other end held in engagement by said cap with said annular abutment and being removable from said core upon removal of said cap, a pair of current limiting fuses connected in series with respective leads of said heating element, temperature responsive fuse means located in heat exchange relationship with said heating element and connected in series with one of said leads, and a thermostat in circuit with the heating element responsive to the temperature of the core.