HEATING DEVICE FOR FLUIDS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A HEATING DEVICE

Abstract

A method and a heating device (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100) for fluids are provided. The device includes a tubular metal jacket (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 1001, 1101), a heating element (102, 202, 302, 312, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1002, 1102) and a control/regulating element (103, 203, 303, 403, 420, 503, 620, 720, 803, 903, 1003, 1103) for the heating element. The heating element and the control/regulating element are arranged at least partially within the tubular metal jacket and are embedded at least partially in a metal powder or granular metal (109, 209, 309, 409, 509, 609, 709, 809, 909, 1009, 1109) within the jacket. The heating element is a heating cartridge, a hollow cartridge, a tubular heating body or a coiled tube cartridge. The control/regulating element is electrically insulated from the metal powder or granular metal.

Claims

1. A heating device for fluids, the heating device comprising: a tubular jacket surface formed of metal; at least one heating element comprising a heating cartridge, a hollow cartridge, a tubular heating body or a coiled tube cartridge; at least one control/regulating element comprising at least one control element or regulating element or both at least one control and regulating element for the at least one heating element, wherein the at least one heating element and the at least one control/regulating element are arranged at least partially within the tubular jacket surface; and metal powder or granular metal within the tubular jacket surface, wherein the at least one heating element and the at least one control/regulating element are embedded at least partially in the metal powder or granular metal and the at least one control/regulating element is electrically insulated from the metal powder or granular metal.

2. A heating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one control/regulating element is electrically insulated from the metal powder or granular metal by the at least one control/regulating element being arranged within a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is arranged at least partially within the tubular jacket surface and is at least partially embedded in the metal powder or granular metal within the first jacket surface.

3. A heating device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the sleeve is adapted to a shape of the heating element such that it is in contact at least in some sections with a surface of the heating element, which is formed by the tubular jacket of the heating cartridge, of the hollow cartridge or of the coiled tube cartridge.

4. A heating device in accordance with claim 3, wherein: the sleeve extends, at least in some sections, around the surface of the heating element; and the surface of the heating element is formed by the tubular jacket of the heating cartridge, hollow cartridge or coiled tube cartridge.

5. A heating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one control/regulating element is configured as a fuse, platinum measuring resistor, NTC, bimetallic release or as any combination of a fuse, platinum measuring resistor, NTC and bimetallic release.

6. A heating device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the sleeve is adapted to an outer contour of the control/regulating element at least in some sections.

7. A heating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heating device is uncompacted.

8. A heating device in accordance with claim 1, wherein in an axial direction of the heating device, the heating device has at least one section in which the cross section through the tubular jacket extends through both compacted areas and uncompacted areas or through areas having different degrees of compaction.

9. A method for manufacturing an electric heating device comprising a tubular jacket surface formed of metal, at least one heating element, at least one control/regulating element comprising at least one control element or regulating element or both at least one control and regulating element for the at least one heating element, the method comprising the steps of: providing the at least one heating element in the form of a heating cartridge, a hollow cartridge, a tubular heating body or a coiled tube cartridge; providing the at least one control/regulating element such that the at least one control/regulating element is electrically insulated against an area surrounding the at least one control/regulating element; positioning at least sections of the at least one heating element and positioning at least sections of the at least one control/regulating element in an interior of a tubular jacket surface; and filling a remaining inner volume of the tubular jacket surface with a metal powder or granular metal.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the control/regulating element is insulated against the area surrounding the control/regulating element by being arranged in the interior space of a sleeve such that the control/regulating element is electrically insulated against the outer sides of the sleeve.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the control/regulating element is arranged in the interior space of the sleeve such that the control/regulating element is electrically insulated against the outer sides of the sleeve and the electrically insulated sleeve is pulled over the control/regulating element and is subsequently deformed by a forming process such that the electrically insulated sleeve is adapted to an outer contour of the control/regulating element at least in some sections.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the control/regulating element, which is arranged in the interior space of a sleeve such that the control/regulating element is electrically insulated against the outer sides of the sleeve with the control/regulating element being arranged in the interior space of the sleeve and the remaining interior space then being filled with electrically insulating powder or granular material.

13. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the control/regulating element, which is arranged in the interior space of a sleeve such that the control/regulating element is electrically insulated against the outer sides of the sleeve, is provided by the control/regulating element being arranged in the interior space of the sleeve and the remaining interior space then being filled with a casting compound in the form of epoxy resin or silicone rubber.

14. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein prior to positioning in the interior of the metal tubular jacket surface, the electrical connection is established between the corresponding electric terminal and the control/regulating element.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the electrical connection is established, after which the sleeve is pulled over the control/regulating element and the remaining inner volume of the sleeve is subsequently to be minimized either by deforming the sleeve or by filling with an electrically insulating material in order to thus arrange the control/regulating element in the interior space of a sleeve electrically insulated from the outer side of the sleeve in conjunction with the electric heating element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] In the drawings:

[0046] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of a heating device;

[0047] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of a heating device;

[0048] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment of a heating device;

[0049] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a variant of the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 1 with an additional control and/or regulating element;

[0050] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a variant of the arrangement of the control and/or regulating element at the ends of the heating element, which variant is applicable to the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 through 4;

[0051] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a sixth exemplary embodiment of a heating device;

[0052] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a seventh exemplary embodiment of a heating device;

[0053] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an eighth exemplary embodiment of a heating device;

[0054] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a ninth exemplary embodiment of a heating device;

[0055] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a tenth exemplary embodiment of a heater; and

[0056] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an eleventh exemplary embodiment of a heating device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0057] Referring to the drawings, identical reference numbers are used for identical components of the same exemplary embodiments in all figures.

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of a heating device 100. A tubular jacket surface 101 configured as a cylindrical dummy pipe is seen. A heating element 102 bent in a U-shaped manner, embodied here as a tubular heating body, and two control and/or regulating elements (control/regulating elements) 103, which are connected via contact points 104 on one side to electric terminals 105 of the heating element 102 and on the other side to connection lines 106, are arranged within the tubular jacket surface 101.

[0059] The control and/or regulating elements 103 are arranged each individually in a respective sleeve 107, which is preferably configured as a copper pipe. It is, however, also possible to arrange a plurality of control and/or regulating elements 103 in a common sleeve 107, in which case it is irrelevant whether the corresponding control and/or regulating elements 103 are connected to the same or different electric terminals 105 of the heating element 102.

[0060] The sleeves 107 are configured in the embodiment being shown such that they are in contact by one section with the surface of the heating element 102, enclosing the latter. Due to the control and/or regulating element 103 being arranged within the sleeves 107, damage to the control and/or regulating elements 103 is avoided even in case of a high compaction and rapid response of the control and/or regulating elements 103 is achieved.

[0061] The heating element 102, the control and/or regulating elements 103 and the sleeves 107 are all embedded in a powder or granular material, and it should be noted that different powders or granular materials are involved, which it also recognized from the circumstance that the powder or granular material 108 is represented by a different shading in the area within the sleeves 107 than the powder or granular material 109 in the area outside the sleeves 107. Outside the sleeves 107 and the tubular jacket of the tubular heating body 102, there is a metal powder or granular metal 109 to guarantee good heat transport to the control and/or regulating elements 103 and to keep the response time of said control and/or regulating elements low even without compaction or with slight compaction of the electric heating cartridge 100.

[0062] By contrast, an electrically insulating filler, which may be configured especially as an MgO powder or granular MgO, is provided within the sleeves 107.

[0063] To guarantee strain relief of the contact points 104, the sleeves 107 are equipped each with optional closing plates 110, through which the connection lines 106 are led, and an additional optional closing plate 111, through which the connection lines 106 are likewise led, is provided for closing the dummy pipe. Further, an optional cover plate 112, with which a container, not shown, in which the heating device 100 shall be arranged, can be closed, is also provided on the side of the heating device 100 on which the connection lines 106 exit.

[0064] The exemplary embodiment of the heating device 200 according to FIG. 2 with tubular jacket surface 201, heating element 202 bent in a U-shaped pattern, control and/or regulating elements 203, contact points 204, electric terminals 205, connection lines 206, sleeves 207, MgO powder or granular MgO 208, metal powder or metal granules 209, closing plates 210, 211 and cover plate 212 differs from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 only in that the sleeves 207 are arranged only partially within the tubular jacket surface 201 and pass through the optional closing plate 211. A shorter type of construction of the heating device 200 can be obtained hereby if it is essential for the heating device 200 to be able to provide good heating output in its area located opposite the connection lines 206 as well.

[0065] The exemplary embodiment of the heating device 300 according to FIG. 3 with tubular jacket surface 301, heating elements 302, 312, control and/or regulating element 303, contact points 304, electric terminals 305, 315, connection lines 306, 316, sleeve 307, MgO powder or granular MgO 308, metal powder or granular metal 309, closing plate 311 and cover plate 317 differs from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 only in that the control and/or regulating element 303 is arranged on the side of the heating device 300 located opposite the connection lines 306, 316 within the jacket surface 301 thereof and connects the two heating elements 302, 312 configured as tubular heating bodies. This embodiment is likewise very compact and has the advantage over the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 that the sleeve 307, which is hot during the operation, does not project out of the jacket surface 301.

[0066] The exemplary embodiment of the heating device 400 according to FIG. 4 with tubular jacket surface 401, heating element 402 bent in a U-shaped pattern, control and/or regulating elements 403, contact points 404, electric terminals 405, connection lines 406, sleeves 407, MgO powder or granular MgO 408, metal powder or granular metal 409, closing plates 410, 411 and cover plate 412 differs from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2 only by an additional control and/or regulating element 420, which is arranged within a sleeve 421, which is closed with a closing plate 422, and is electrically insulated from the metal powder or granular metal 409, into which the sleeve 421 is embedded at least in some sections, due to embedding in an electrically nonconducting material 423, which does, however, preferably have good heat conduction. A specific positioning of the control and/or regulating element 420 at a desired location in the electric heating device 400 is possible in this manner.

[0067] The connection area of the heating device 500, which is shown as a detail in FIG. 5, illustrates a variant of the arrangement of the control and/or regulating elements 503 at the heating element 502, which variant is applicable especially to the electric heating devices 100, 200, 300, 400 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. The reference numbers used are correspondingly obtained from reference numbers used there by replacing the hundred digit by 5. The essential difference in this variant is that the sleeves 507 are adapted to the contour of the control and/or regulating elements 503, which can be achieved, for example, by a forming process. To nevertheless ensure an electrical insulation against the metal powder or granular metal 509, the sleeves 507 must, however, consists of an electrically insulating material.

[0068] The exemplary embodiment of the electric heating device 600 according to FIG. 6 with tubular jacket surface 601, with the heating element 602, which passes through the electric heating device in the direction in which the latter extends, with the control and/or regulating element 620, with electric terminals 605, sleeve 621, MgO powder or granular MgO 608, metal powder or granular metal 609, closing plates 610, 611 and cover plate 612 as well as the bottom plate 622 differs from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 by the shape of the electric heating element 602, which is shown, moreover, cut open as an example in this view. As is seen in FIG. 6, the electric heating element 602 has a tubular jacket 630 with a heating wire coil 631, which is arranged in the interior space of said tubular jacket and which is held clamped between the electric terminals 605 and is embedded in compacted MgO powder or granular MgO 632.

[0069] The exemplary embodiment of the heating device 700 according to FIG. 7 with tubular jacket surface 701, heating element 702 bent in a U-shaped pattern, control and/or regulating element 720, connection line 706, sleeve 721, MgO powder or granular MgO 708, metal powder or granular metal 709, closing plates 710 and cover plate 712 differs from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 in that no additional control and/or regulating elements are provided here at the connection lines 706 of the electric heating element 702.

[0070] The exemplary embodiment of the heating device 800 according to FIG. 8 with tubular jacket surface 801, heating element 802 bent in a U-shaped pattern, control and/or regulating element 803, contact points 804, electric terminals 805, connection lines 806, sleeve 807, MgO powder or granular MgO 808, metal powder or granular metal 809, closing plate 810 and cover plate 812 shows a possibility, as an alternative to the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 4 and 7, for arranging the control and/or regulating element 803 in a desired position in the interior of the electric heating device 800. The electric terminal 805, at which the control and/or regulating element is arranged, is not led directly out of the electric heating device 800, but it extends first to the position at which the sleeve 807 with the control and/or regulating element 803, which is arranged therein insulated from the metal powder or granular metal 809, shall be arranged for monitoring, for example, the local temperature.

[0071] The exemplary embodiment of the heating device 900 according to FIG. 9 with the tubular jacket surface 901, heating element 902 in the form of a heating cartridge, in which heating cartridge the two ends of the heating wire coil 930 thereofwhich heating wire coil is not actually visible because it is surrounded by the tubular jacket but is nevertheless drawn as a line for illustrationleave the tubular jacket on the same side; with control and/or regulating elements 903, contact points 904, electric terminals 905, connection lines 906, sleeves 907, MgO powder or granular MgO 908, metal powder or granular metal 909, closing plates 910, 911 and cover plate 912 illustrates that the electric heating element 902 may be configured such that it fills out essential parts of the interior space of the tubular jacket surface 901. This contributes to the possibility of achieving sufficiently good heat conduction even in case of large inner volumes of the tubular jacket surface 901 even at low compaction, because the electric heating element 902 can be provided separately and especially also in a compacted state.

[0072] In the exemplary embodiment of the heating device 1000 according to FIG. 10 with tubular jacket surface 1001 with bottom, control and/or regulating elements 1003, contact points 1004, electric terminals 1005, connection lines 1006, electrically insulating powder or granular material 1008, which may especially be in the form of MgO powder or granular MgO, metal powder or granular metal 1009, and cover plate 1012, the electric heating element 1002 is formed by a heating cartridge, which is embedded in the metal powder or granular material 1009 and in the interior of which the control and/or regulating elements 1003 are integrated. The metal jacket of the electric heating element 1002 thus represents at the same time a sleeve 1007, which surrounds the control and/or regulating elements 1003 and in which these are embedded together with the heating wire coil 1050 of the electric heating element 1002 in the MgO powder or granular MgO 1008.

[0073] In the exemplary embodiment of the heating device 1100 according to FIG. 11 with tubular jacket surface 1101 with bottom, control and/or regulating element 1103, electric terminal 1105, connection lines 1106, metal powder or granular metal 1109, and cover plate 1112, the electric heating element 1102 is likewise formed by a heating cartridge embedded in the metal powder or granular metal 1109. However, the control and/or regulating element 1103 is configured here as an electrically insulating element against the area surrounding it, which can be achieved by extrusion coating with an electrically nonconducting material, so that direct embedding in the metal powder or granular metal 1109 can be carried out.

[0074] In addition, it should be noted that in all sectional views with the exception of FIGS. 6 and 10, the respective heating devices 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 700, 800, 900, 1100 are shown with their cylindrical tube-shaped jacket surfaces 101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 701, 801, 901, 1101 cut open along their symmetry axes and with the electrically insulating powder or electrically insulating granular material 108, 208, 308, 408, 423, 508, 708, 808, 908, 1108 or metal powder or granular metal 109, 209, 309, 409, 509, 709, 809, 909, 1109 removed up to the section plane, and the control and/or regulating elements 103, 203, 303, 403, 420, 503, 720, 803, 903, 1103 and the heating elements 102, 202, 302, 312, 402, 502, 702, 802, 902, 1102 are shown as elements that are not cut open.

[0075] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

APPENDIX

List of Reference Numbers

[0076] 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 Heating device [0077] 101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801, 901, 1001, 1101 Tubular jacket surface [0078] 102, 202, 302, 312, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1002, 1102 Heating element [0079] 103, 203, 303, 403, 420, 503, 620, 720, 803, 903, 1003, 1103 Control and/or regulating element [0080] 104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 804, 904, 1004 Contact point [0081] 105, 205, 305, 315, 405, 505, 605, 805, 905, 1005 Electric terminal [0082] 106, 206, 306, 316, 406, 506, 606, 706, 806, 906, 1006, 1106 Connection line [0083] 107, 207, 307, 407, 421, 507, 621, 721, 807, 907, 1007 Sleeve [0084] 108, 208, 308, 408, 608, 708, 808, 908, 1008 Electrically insulating powder or granular material [0085] 109, 209, 309, 409, 509, 609, 709, 809, 909, 1009, 1109 Metal powder or granular metal [0086] 110, 111, 210, 211, 311, 410, 411, 422, 610, 710, 810, 910, 911 Closing plate [0087] 112, 212, 317, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912, 1012, 1112 Cover plate [0088] 622 Bottom plate [0089] 630 Tubular jacket [0090] 631, 1050 Heating wire coil