Electric heater for heating lubricating oils

Claim 2

An oil heater for heating lubricating oils having infrared energy absorption peaks within infrared wavelengths ranging from 2.5 μ to at least 15 μ comprising: a. an oil cock having a top section and a bottom section, said bottom section being adapted to sealingly engage an opening in the wall of an oil reservoir; and b. an electrical infrared heating element coupled to said oil cock and adapted to contact said oil contained within said oil reservoir when said cock engages said opening in the wall of said reservoir, said heating element having an infrared emission spectrum at 400°C ranging from 2.5μ to at least 15μ to match the infrared absorption spectrum of the oil contained in the reservoir and in which the relative strength of the radiation emitted between the wavelengths 5μ-15μ averages at least approximately 50% of the relative strength of the radiation emitted between 2.5μ and 4μ.

Claim 3

An oil heater as recited in claim 1 wherein said heating element comprises: an insulative hollow bobbin having an inside and an outside surface; b. at least one turn of resistive electrical heating wire coiled on the outside surface of said bobbin; and c. a layer comprised of at least one ceramic infrared emissive material engaging the inside and outside surfaces of said bobbin, said layer of ceramic material being capable of emitting infrared radiation from 2.5μ to at least 15μ at temperatures higher than 30°C; and said layer completely covering the at least one turn of resistive heating wire and forming a surface which engages a recess contained in said oil cock.

Claim 4

An oil heater as recited in claim 2 wherein: a. said ceramic materials are chosen from the group consisting of boron carbide, beryllium carbide, chromium carbide, hafnium carbide, molybdenum carbide, niobium carbide, silicon carbide tantalum carbide, thorium carbide, titanium, carbide, uranium carbide, vanadium carbide, tungsten carbide, zirconium carbide, boron nitride, beryllium nitride, chromium nitride, hafnium nitride, niobium nitride, silicon nitride, tantalum nitride, thorium nitride, titanium nitride, uranium nitride, vanadium nitride, zirconium nitride, chromium boride, hafnium boride, molybdenum boride, niobium boride, tantalum boride, thorium boride, molybdenum boride, niobium boride, tantalum boride, thorium boride, titanium boride, uranium boride, vanadium boride, tungsten boride, zirconium boride, boron oxide, beryllium oxide, chromium oxide, hafnium oxide, silicon oxide, tantalum oxide, thorium oxide, titanium oxide, oxide, silicon oxide, tantlum oxide, thorium oxide, titanium oxide, uranium oxide, vanadium oxide, zirconium oxide, calcium oxide, iron oxide, manganese oxide, nickel oxide, strontium oxide, molybdenum oxide, magnesium oxide, iron sulfide, candium sulfide, chromium sulfide, cobalt sulfide, strontium sulfide, and selenium sulfide.

Claim 5

An oil heater as recited in claim 1 wherein said heating element comprises: a. at least one turn of resistive electrical heating wire wound in a coiled configuration; b. a layer covering the resistive electrical heating wire, and forming a surface which engages said oil cock, said layer comprising a mixture of at least one ceramic material and an insulating and heat resistive adhesive, said layer of ceramic material being capable of emitting infrared radiation from 2.5μ to at least 15μ at temperatures higher than 30°C; and wherein c. said heating element is disposed in a recess located in said bottom section of said oil cock.

Claim 6

An oil heater as recited in claim 4 wherein: a. said ceramic materials are chosen from the group consisting of boron carbide, beryllium carbide, chromium carbide, hafnium carbide, molybdenum carbide, niobium carbide, silicon carbide, tantalum carbide, thorium carbide, titanium carbide, uranium carbide, vanadium carbide, tungsten carbide, zirconium carbide, boron nitride, beryllium nitride, chromium nitride, hafnium nitride, niobium nitride, silicon nitride, tantalum nitride, thorium nitride, titanium nitride, uranium nitride, vanadium nitride, zirconium nitride, chromium boride, hafnium boride, molybdenum boride, niobium boride, tantalum boride, thorium boride, titanium boride, uranium boride, vanadium boride, tungsten boride, zirconium boride, boron oxide, beryllium oxide, chromium oxide, hafnium oxide, silicon oxide, tantalum oxide, throium oxide, titanium oxide, uranium oxide, vanadium oxide, zirconium oxide, calcium oxide, iron oxide, manganese oxide, nickel oxide, strontium oxide, molybdenum oxide, magnesium oxide, iron sulfide, cadium sulfide, chromium sulfide, cobalt sulfide, strontium sulfide, and selenium sulfide; b. said insulating and heat resistive adhesive being chosen from the group consisting of organic adhesives, inorganic adhesives, furan resins, phenolic resins, and ammonium phosphate.

Claim 7

An oil heater as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a. a recess disposed in said bottom section of said oil cock; b. a pair of electric leads coupled to said heating element and extending through the top section of said cock to a point external to the oil reservoir; and c. a layer of heat resistant filling material disposed in said recess, said layer being located between said heating element and said top section of said oil cock.

Claim 8

An oil heater as recited in claim 6 further comprising: a. a recess disposed in said top section of said cock; b. a section of polymeric fixing material inserted into said recess in said top section of said cock; and c. a layer of heat resistant adhesive joining said section of polymeric fixing material to said recess in said top section of said cock.

Claim 9

An oil heater as recited in claim 15 further comprising: a. a recess disposed in said top section of said cock; b. a cover of polymeric material inserted into said recess in said top section of said cock; and c. a layer of heat resistant adhesive joining said cover of polymeric material to said recess top section of said cock.

Claim 10

In an oil heater as recited in claim 9 further comprising: a. a time switch having an input and an output; b. a battery having first and second electrodes; c. said first electrode being coupled to the input of said time switch; and d. a pair of output leads electrically coupled to said electrical infrared heating element, one of said output leads being coupled to the output of said time switch, the other output lead being coupled to said second electrode.