Helically winding an extruded web to form a wall of a heated hose about a central axis, extruding a bead of plastics material around a heating wire such that the extruded bead comprises the heating wire at a first location within a cross-section of the extruded bead, helically winding the extruded bead onto the wall of the hose to provide a support helix, and exerting tension on the heating wire to draw down the heating wire toward the central axis such that the heating wire migrates radially inward from the first location to a second location within the cross-section of the extruded bead.

A module for a vacuum pumping and/or abatement system includes a top side, a bottom side, a front side, a rear side, and two opposing lateral sides, which together define a space. The module comprises an apparatus located wholly within the space and one or more connection points coupled to the apparatus. Each of the connection points is for receiving an input for the apparatus or receiving an output from the apparatus. The one or more connection points are located at the top side. The module has a maximum size in a first system dimension that is equal to a first integer multiple of a fixed system value, the first system dimension being a dimension between the lateral sides. For each connection point, a distance between that connection point and each lateral side in the first system dimension is a respective second integer multiple of the fixed system value.

A module for a vacuum pumping and/or abatement system includes a top side, a bottom side, a front side, a rear side, and two opposing lateral sides, which together define a space. The module comprises an apparatus located wholly within the space and one or more connection points coupled to the apparatus. Each of the connection points is for receiving an input for the apparatus or receiving an output from the apparatus. The one or more connection points are located at the top side. The module has a maximum size in a first system dimension that is equal to a first integer multiple of a fixed system value, the first system dimension being a dimension between the lateral sides. For each connection point, a distance between that connection point and each lateral side in the first system dimension is a respective second integer multiple of the fixed system value.

A vacuum pumping and/or abatement system for evacuating and/or abating fluid from an entity, the system comprising: a first module comprising a vacuum pumping apparatus for pumping the fluid from the entity and/or an abatement apparatus for abating the fluid evacuated from the entity; and a second module arranged adjacent to the first module in a first system dimension; wherein the first and second modules each have a maximum size in the first system dimension that is a respective integer multiple of a common fixed system value.

A vacuum pumping and/or abatement system for evacuating and/or abating fluid from an entity, the system comprising: a first module comprising a vacuum pumping apparatus for pumping the fluid from the entity and/or an abatement apparatus for abating the fluid evacuated from the entity; and a second module arranged adjacent to the first module in a first system dimension; wherein the first and second modules each have a maximum size in the first system dimension that is a respective integer multiple of a common fixed system value.

A vacuum system pipe coupling includes a first coupling member defining a through passage, a second coupling member defining a through passage and a securing unit. The first coupling member has a first end portion having a first lengthways extending axis, a second end portion having a second lengthways extending axis that is laterally offset with respect to the first lengthways extending axis and a first connecting portion connecting the first and second end portions. The second coupling member has a third end portion having a third lengthways extending axis, a fourth end portion having a fourth lengthways extending axis that is laterally offset with respect to the third lengthways extending axis and a second connecting portion connecting the third and fourth end portions. The securing unit is configured to secure the first end portion to the third end portion with the first and third lengthways extending axes in alignment.

A vacuum system pipe coupling includes a first coupling member defining a through passage, a second coupling member defining a through passage and a securing unit. The first coupling member has a first end portion having a first lengthways extending axis, a second end portion having a second lengthways extending axis that is laterally offset with respect to the first lengthways extending axis and a first connecting portion connecting the first and second end portions. The second coupling member has a third end portion having a third lengthways extending axis, a fourth end portion having a fourth lengthways extending axis that is laterally offset with respect to the third lengthways extending axis and a second connecting portion connecting the third and fourth end portions. The securing unit is configured to secure the first end portion to the third end portion with the first and third lengthways extending axes in alignment.

Apparatus and methods for establishing sterile or disinfected/decontaminated connections or conduits between separate fluid path sub-assemblies. Each section of the fluid path to be connected include one or multiple heatable or heating surfaces, and a sterile volume or chamber defined by at least one of the heatable or heating surfaces. Prior to establishing a sterile access or connection between separate sections of a fluid path, the heatable or heating surfaces are sterilized or disinfected/decontaminated by means of heat. Such means may include ohmic resistive heating, inductive heating, and/or self-heating through an exothermic reaction. All surfaces establishing the connection or conduit are therefore sterile or disinfected/decontaminated, and a sterile connection or conduit is established.

Apparatus and methods for establishing sterile or disinfected/decontaminated connections or conduits between separate fluid path sub-assemblies. Each section of the fluid path to be connected include one or multiple heatable or heating surfaces, and a sterile volume or chamber defined by at least one of the heatable or heating surfaces. Prior to establishing a sterile access or connection between separate sections of a fluid path, the heatable or heating surfaces are sterilized or disinfected/decontaminated by means of heat. Such means may include ohmic resistive heating, inductive heating, and/or self-heating through an exothermic reaction. All surfaces establishing the connection or conduit are therefore sterile or disinfected/decontaminated, and a sterile connection or conduit is established.

The present invention relates to a metal heater system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a metal heater system which is characterized in that a plurality of metal heaters is coupled to the surface of the lower end of a pipeline at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the pipeline and PTC heating elements inside the metal heaters conduct heat to local portions of the pipeline. Due to these characteristics, convection is generated in a fluid inside the pipeline because of the heat conducted to the local portions and thus the overall pipeline is maintained at a constant temperature, thereby efficiently preventing the freezing and bursting of the pipeline in winter.