Electrical heating device for use with aerosol containers

Claim 2

An electrically and heat insulated heater comprising: a. a heat exchanger, b. means forming a heating element cavity within a portion of said heat exchanger, c. electric heating element means in said heating element cavity in thermal contact with said heat exchanger, d. temperature control means, including a low mass, sealed thermostat mounted upon and in thermal contact with said heating element means and substantially free of contact with said heat exchanger, to control the supply of electrical current to said heating element for controlling the temperature of said heat exchanger, e. an electrically and heat resistant material sealing said heating element and said thermostat in said cavity to insulate and isolate them electrically and from electrically conductive fluids, and f. a heating element cover plate mounted on said heat exchanger between said electrical heating element means and said heat resistant material, said cover plate being free from contact with said thermostat.

Claim 3

The heater of claim 1 wherein said heat resistant material is a polymer covering, and further comprising micro-balloons imbedded therein to enhance the insulation properties of said heat resistant material.

Claim 4

The heater of claim 1 wherein said heating element means further comprises: a. a card wound resistance heating element, b. mica cover sheets on both major surfaces of said card wound resistance heating element, and c. heat resistant inorganic cement means bonding said cover sheets to said heater card to form a heating element sandwich, said thermostat being mounted upon said sandwich in thermal contact with one of said mica cover sheets.

Claim 5

The heaTer of claim 1 further comprising an injection molded polymer encapsulation means around at least part of said heat exchanger to provide electrical and heat insulation, and to seal and isolate said heating element means and electrical connections between at least said heating element means and said thermostat from contact with electrically conductive fluids.

Claim 6

An electrically and heat insulated heater comprising: a. a heating element assembly case, b. means forming a heating element cavity within said case, c. formable, relatively non-elastic wall means on the periphery of said cavity, d. electric heating element means in said cavity in thermal contact with said case, e. temperature control means, including a low mass, sealed thermostat mounted upon and in thermal contact with said heating element means and substantially free of contact with said case, to control the supply of electrical current to said heating element for controlling the temperature of said case, f. a heating element cover plate in said heating element cavity over said heating element means and in thermal contact therewith, said heating element cover plate retaining said heating element means in said cavity and being free from contact with said thermostat, and said wall means being formed in retaining and heat conducting relationship onto said cover plate to retain said heating element means and said cover plate in said cavity and to conduct at least part of the heat from said heating element means into and through said cover plate into said wall means and said case, g. a heat resistant coating on at least a portion of the exterior of said case, heating element means, thermostat, and cover plate to provide electrical and heat insulation and to seal and isolate said heating element means from contact with electrically conductive fluids, h. means forming a heat exchanger on said heating element assembly case, and i. means forming a heating passage in said heat exchanger and separate from said heating element cavity, said heating passage having an inlet and an outlet.

Claim 7

An electrically and heat insulated heater comprising: a. a heating element assembly case, b. means forming a heating element cavity within said case, c. formable, relatively non-elastic wall means on the periphery of said cavity, d. electric heating element means in said cavity in thermal contact with said case, e. temperature control means, including a low mass, sealed thermostat mounted upon and in thermal contact with said heating element means and substantially free of contact with said case, to control the supply of electrical current to said heating element for controlling the temperature of said case, f. a heating element cover plate in said heating element cavity over said heating element means and in thermal contact therewith, said heating element cover plate retaining said heating element means in said cavity and being free from contact with said thermostat, and said wall means being formed in retaining and heat conducting relationship onto said cover plate to retain said heating element means and said cover plate in said cavity and to conduct at least part of the heat from said heating element means into and through said cover plate into said wall means and said case, g. a heat resistant coating on at least a portion of the exterior of said case, heating element means, thermostat, and cover plate to provide electrical and heat insulation and to seal and isolate said heating element means from contact with electrically conductive fluids, h. means forming a heat exchanger on said heating element assembly case, and i. means forming a heating passage in said heat exchanger and separate from said heating element cavity, said heating passage having an inlet and an outlet.

Claim 8

The heater of claim 5 wherein said heat resistant coating includes a thermo-setting epoxy, and further comprising micro-balloons imbeded therein to enhance the insulation properties of said coating.

Claim 9

The heater of claim 5 wherein said heating element means further comprises: a. a card wound resistance heating element, b. mica cover sheets on both major surfaces of said card wound resistance heating element, and c. heat resistant inorganic cement means bonding said cover sheets to said heater card to form a heating element sandwich, said thermostat being mounted upon said sandwich in thermal contact with one of said mica cover sheets.

Claim 10

The heater of claim 5 further comprising: a. means forming a thermostat opening in said heating element cover plate, said thermostat being located in said opening free of contact with said cover plate, and b. thermostat oven means over said thermostat and in said cover plate thermostat opening, said thermostat oven means being in thermal contact with said heating element sandwich and being free of contact with said cover plate.

Claim 11

The heater of claim 5 further comprising: a. a housing means enclosing and supporting said heating element assembly case and heat exchanger, b. means for attaching said housing to a fluid source, and c. heat insulation means mounted between said heat exchanger and the fluid source.

Claim 12

The heater of claim 9 wherein said heat insulation means includes a foam insulation.

Claim 13

The heater of claim 10 further comprising: a. means forming a space between said foam insulation means and said heat exchanger, and b. fiber heat shield means on at least a portion of said foam insulation means.

Claim 14

An electrically and heat insulated heater comprising: a. a heat exchanger, b. means forming a heating element cavity within a portion of said heat exchanger, c. formable, relatively non-elastic wall means on the periphery of said cavity, d. an electric card wound resistance heating element in said heating element cavity and in thermal contact with said heat exchanger, e. mica cover sheets on both major surfaces of said card wound resistance heating element, f. heat resistant inorganic cement bonding said cover sheets to said heater card to form a heating element sandwich, g. a heating element cover plate in said heating element cavity over said heating element sandwich and in thermal contact therewith, said heating element cover plate retaining said heating element sandwich in said cavity, and said wall means being formed in retaining and heat conducting relationship over said cover plate to retain said heating element and said cover plate in said cavity and to conduct at least part of the heat from said heating element into and through said cover plate into said wall means and into said heat exchanger, h. temperature control means, including a low mass, sealed thermostat mounted upon and in thermal contact with said heating element sandwich, to control the supply of electrical current to said heating element for controlling the temperature of said heat exchanger, i. means forming a thermostat opening in said heating element cover plate, said thermostat being located in said opening free of contact with said cover plate, j. thermostat oven means over said thermostat and in said cover plate thermostat opening, said thermostat oven means being in thermal contact with said heating element sandwich and being free of contact with said cover plate, k. at least one additional mica sheet mounted between said heating element sandwich and said heating element cover plate and located at least in part between said oven means and said cover plate, l. means forming an open, generally labyrinthine heating passage adjacent a surface of said heat exchanger separate from said heating element cavity, said heating passage having an inlet and an outlet, m. a plenum cover plate over said heating passage to retain fluids within said passage, n. means forming external inlet and outlet connections connecting with said heating passage inlet and outlet, o. a heat resistant polymer and micro-balloon coating on the exterior of said heat exchanger, said heating element cover plate, and said plenum cover plate to seal said cover plates on said heat exchanger, to provide electrical and heat insulation, and to seal and isolate said heating element from contact with electrically conductive fluids, p. housing means enclosing and supporting said heat exchanger, q. an aerosol can adapter engageable with said housing means, said adapter having a circular cutout therein adapted to engage a lip on an aerosol can in friction tight relation to retain said aerosol can adapter and said heater on the aerosol can, said aerosol can adapter also including at least one stress relief slot therein extending susbstantially radially from said cutout to facilitate attachment and removal of said can adapter to and from an aerosol can, r. valve actuation means for actuating a valve on the aerosol can and directing the fluid issuing therefrom to said heating passage inlet in response to movement of said heater toward said aerosol can adapter, s. resilient foam insulation means mounted on said heater between said heater and said adapter and resiliently engageable in spring-like fashion with said aerosol can adapter to bias said heater away from the aerosol can, t. means forming an electrical connection space in said housing adjacent said heating element cover plate, and u. electrical, water, and heat resistant foam substantially filling said electrical connection space to insulate electrical connections therein and to prevent contact thereof with electrically conductive fluids.

Claim 15

An electrically and heat insulated heater comprising: a. a heat exchanger, b. means forming a heating element cavity within a portion of said heat exchanger, c. formable, relatively non-elastic wall means on the periphery of said cavity, d. an electric card wound resistance heating element in said heating element cavity and in thermal contact with said heat exchanger, e. mica cover sheets on both major surfaces of said card wound resistance heating element, f. heat resistant inorganic cement bonding said cover sheets to said heater card to form a heating element sandwich, g. a heating element cover plate in said heating element cavity over said heating element sandwich and in thermal contact therewith, said heating element cover plate retaining said heating element sandwich in said cavity, and said wall means being formed in retaining and heat conducting relationship over said cover plate to retain said heating element and said cover plate in said cavity and to conduct at least part of the heat from said heating element into and through said cover plate into said wall means and into said heat exchanger, h. temperature control means, including a low mass, sealed thermostat mounted upon and in thermal contact with said heating element sandwich, to control the supply of electrical current to said heating element for controlling the temperature of said heat exchanger, i. means forming a thermostat opening in said heating element cover plate, said thermostat being located in said opening free of contact with said cover plate, j. thermostat oven means over said thermostat and in said cover plate thermostat opening, said thermostat oven means being in thermal contact with said heating element sandwich and being free of contact with said cover plate, k. at least one additional mica sheet mounted between said heating element sandwich and said heating element cover plate and located at least in part between said oven means and said cover plate, l. means forming an open, generally labyrinthine heating passage adjacent a surface of said heat exchanger separate from said heating element cavity, said heating passage having an inlet and an outlet, m. a plenum cover plate over said heating passage to retain fluids within said passage, n. means forming external inlet and outlet connections connecting with said heating passage inlet and outlet, o. a heat resistant polymer and micro-balloon coating on the exterior of said heat exchanger, said heating element cover plate, and said plenum cover plate to seal said cover plates on said heat exchanger, to provide electrical and heat insulation, and to seal and isolate said heating element from contact with electrically conductive fluids, p. housing means enclosing and supporting said heat exchanger, q. an aerosol can adapter engageable with said housing means, said adapter having a circular cutout therein adapted to engage a lip on an aerosol can in friction tight relation to retain said aerosol can adapter and said heater on the aerosol can, said aerosol can adapter also including at least one stress relief slot therein extending susbstantially radially from said cutout to facilitate attachment and removal of said can adapter to and from an aerosol can, r. valve actuation means for actuating a valve on the aerosol can and directing the fluid issuing therefrom to said heating passage inlet in response to movement of said heater toward said aerosol can adapter, s. resilient foam insulation means mounted on said heater between said heater and said adapter and resiliently engageable in spring-like fashion with said aerosol can adapter to bias said heater away from the aerosol can, t. means forming an electrical connection space in said housing adjacent said heating element cover plate, and u. electrical, water, and heat resistant foam substantially filling said electrical connection space to insulate electrical connections therein and to prevent contact thereof with electrically conductive fluids.

Claim 16

The heater of claim 12 wherein said polymer is a thermo-setting epoxy resin, and further comprising: a. meAns forming a space between said foam insulation means and said heat exchanger, and b. fiber heat shield means on at least a portion of said foam insulation means.

Claim 17

An electrically and heat insulated heater comprising: a. a heating element assembly case, b. means forming a heating element cavity within said case, c. formable, relatively non-elastic wall means on the periphery of said cavity, d. electric heating element means in said cavity in thermal contact with said case, e. temperature control means, including a low mass, sealed thermostat mounted upon and in thermal contact with said heating element means and substantially free of contact with said case, to control the supply of electrical current to said heating element for controlling the temperature of said case, and f. a heating element cover plate in said heating element cavity over said heating element means and in thermal contact therewith, said heating element cover plate retaining said heating element means in said cavity and being free from contact with said thermostat, and said wall means being formed in retaining and heat conducting relationship onto said cover plate to retain said heating element means and said cover plate in said cavity and to conduct at least part of the heat from said heating element means into and through said cover plate into said wall means and said case.

Claim 18

An electrically and heat insulated heater comprising: a. a heating element assembly case, b. means forming a heating element cavity within said case, c. formable, relatively non-elastic wall means on the periphery of said cavity, d. electric heating element means in said cavity in thermal contact with said case, e. temperature control means, including a low mass, sealed thermostat mounted upon and in thermal contact with said heating element means and substantially free of contact with said case, to control the supply of electrical current to said heating element for controlling the temperature of said case, and f. a heating element cover plate in said heating element cavity over said heating element means and in thermal contact therewith, said heating element cover plate retaining said heating element means in said cavity and being free from contact with said thermostat, and said wall means being formed in retaining and heat conducting relationship onto said cover plate to retain said heating element means and said cover plate in said cavity and to conduct at least part of the heat from said heating element means into and through said cover plate into said wall means and said case.

Claim 19

The heater of claim 14 further comprising a heat resistant coating on at least a portion of the exterior of said case, thermostats and cover plate to provide electrical and heat insulation and to seal and isolate said heating element means from contact with electrically conductive fluids.

Claim 20

The heater of claim 14 wherein said heating element means further comprises: a. a card wound resistance heating element, b. mica cover sheets on both major surfaces of said card wound resistance heating element, and c. heat resistant inorganic cement means bonding said cover sheets to said heater card to form a heating element sandwich, said thermostat being mounted upon said sandwich in thermal contact with one of said mica cover sheets.

Claim 21

The heater of claim 14 further comprising: a. means forming a thermostat opening in said heating element cover plate, said thermostat being located in said opening free of contact with said cover plate, and b. thermostat oven means over said thermostat and in said cover plate thermostat opening, said thermostat oven means being in thermal contact with said heating means and being free of contact with said cover plate.

Claim 22

The heater of claim 5 further comprising an injection molded polymer encapsulation means around at least part of said case and cover plate to provide electrical and heat insulation, and to seal and isolate said heating element means and electrical connections between at least said heating element means and said thermostat from contact with electrically conductive fluids.

Claim 23

An electrically and heat insulated heater comprising: a. a heat exchanger, b. means forming a heating element cavity within a portion of said heat exchanger, c. electric heating element means in said heating element cavity in thermal contact with said heat exchanger, d. temperature control means, including a low mass, sealed thermostat mounted upon and in thermal contact with said heating element means and substantially free of contact with said heat exchanger, to control the supply of electrical current to said heating element for controlling the temperature of said heat exchanger, e. an electrically and heat resistant material sealing said heating element and said thermostat in said cavity to insulate and isolate them electrically and from electrically conductive fluids, and f. thermostat oven means over said thermostat and in thermal contact with said heating means.

Claim 24

An electrically and heat insulated heater comprising: a. a heat exchanger, b. means forming a heating element cavity within a portion of said heat exchanger, c. electric heating element means in said heating element cavity in thermal contact with said heat exchanger, d. temperature control means, including a low mass, sealed thermostat mounted upon and in thermal contact with said heating element means and substantially free of contact with said heat exchanger, to control the supply of electrical current to said heating element for controlling the temperature of said heat exchanger, e. an electrically and heat resistant material sealing said heating element and said thermostat in said cavity to insulate and isolate them electrically and from electrically conductive fluids, and f. thermostat oven means over said thermostat and in thermal contact with said heating means.

Claim 25

An electrically and heat insulated heater comprising: a. a heat exchanger, b. means forming a heating Element cavity within a portion of said heat exchanger, c. electric heating element means in said heating element cavity in thermal contact with said heat exchanger, d. temperature control means, including a low mass, sealed thermostat mounted upon and in thermal contact with said heating element means and substantially free of contact with said heat exchanger, to control the supply of electrical current to said heating element for controlling the temperature of said heat exchanger, e. an electrically and heat resistant material sealing said heating element and said thermostat in said cavity to insulate and isolate them electrically and from electrically conductive fluids, and f. means forming a heating passage in conjunction with said heat exchanger and separate from said heating element cavity, said heating passage having an inlet and an outlet.

Claim 26

An electrically and heat insulated heater comprising: a. a heat exchanger, b. means forming a heating Element cavity within a portion of said heat exchanger, c. electric heating element means in said heating element cavity in thermal contact with said heat exchanger, d. temperature control means, including a low mass, sealed thermostat mounted upon and in thermal contact with said heating element means and substantially free of contact with said heat exchanger, to control the supply of electrical current to said heating element for controlling the temperature of said heat exchanger, e. an electrically and heat resistant material sealing said heating element and said thermostat in said cavity to insulate and isolate them electrically and from electrically conductive fluids, and f. means forming a heating passage in conjunction with said heat exchanger and separate from said heating element cavity, said heating passage having an inlet and an outlet.

Claim 27

The heater of clain 20 further comprising: a. a housing means enclosing and supporting said heat exchanger, b. means for attaching said housing to a fluid source, and c. heat insulation means mounted between said heat exchanger and the fluid source.

Claim 28

The heater of clain 20 further comprising: a. a housing means enclosing and supporting said heat exchanger, b. means for attaching said housing to a fluid source, and c. heat insulation means mounted between said heat exchanger and the fluid source.