U.S. patent application number 13/105529 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-17 for high-performance flow heater.
Invention is credited to Andreas SCHLIPF.
Application Number | 20110280554 13/105529 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42629330 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110280554 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCHLIPF; Andreas |
November 17, 2011 |
HIGH-PERFORMANCE FLOW HEATER
Abstract
A flow heater (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800) with a
metal section (101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801), with at
least one tube (103, 104, 203, 204, 303, 304, 403, 503, 603, 604,
705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810) for
passing through a fluid to be heated is mounted and preferably
pressed, at least in some sections, into the metal section (101,
201, 301, 401, 501, 601, 701, 801). At least one tubular heating
body (102, 202, 209, 210, 302, 402, 409, 410, 502, 602, 702, 703,
704) that is arranged outside the tube interior space, is mounted
in and preferably pressed into, the metal section (101, 201, 301,
401, 501, 601, 701, 801) at least in some sections. The at least
one tubular heating body (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802)
is surrounded by the one tube or by a plurality of the tubes (103,
104, 203, 204, 303, 304, 403, 503, 603, 604, 705, 706, 707, 708,
709, 710, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810) for passing through a fluid
to be heated. A process for manufacturing such a flow heater is
also provided.
Inventors: |
SCHLIPF; Andreas;
(Tuttlingen, DE) |
Family ID: |
42629330 |
Appl. No.: |
13/105529 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
392/478 ;
53/473 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/4285 20130101;
Y10T 29/49002 20150115; F24H 1/142 20130101; H05B 3/48 20130101;
D06F 39/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
392/478 ;
53/473 |
International
Class: |
F24H 1/10 20060101
F24H001/10; B65B 1/04 20060101 B65B001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 12, 2010 |
DE |
20 2010 006 739.1 |
Mar 1, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 012 770.4 |
Claims
1. A flow heater comprising: a metal section; a tube arrangement
with a tube interior space for passing through fluid to be heated,
said tube arrangement being pressed into said metal section at
least in some sections; and a tubular heating body arranged outside
said tube interior space, said tubular heating body being at least
one of mounted in and pressed into said metal section at least in
some sections, said tubular heating body being surrounded, at least
in some sections, by said tube arrangement for passing through
fluid to be heated.
2. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said metal
section forms a hollow section or comprises a component of a
composite hollow section, in which said tubular heating body and
said tube arrangement are arranged and pressed in, at least in some
sections, together with a sealing compound, in which at least one
of said tubular heating body and said tube arrangement are embedded
at least partly.
3. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said metal
section is a hollow section or comprises a component of a composite
hollow section, in which said tubular heating body and said tube
arrangement are arranged and pressed in, at least in some sections,
together with a powder or granular material, in which said tubular
heating body and/or said tube arrangement are embedded at least
partly.
4. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said hollow
section comprises two metal sections connected to one another.
5. A flow heater in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said tube
arrangement has a wall section; and said hollow section comprises a
composite hollow section and said wall section forms a component of
said composite hollow section and said metal section forms a
component of said composite hollow section.
6. A flow heater in accordance with claim 5, wherein: said tube
arrangement comprises at least two tubes for passing fluid to be
heated, each of sad tubes having a wall section to provide wall
sections; said composite hollow section comprises another metal
section to provide metal sections; said composite hollow section is
formed from said wall sections and said metal sections, which metal
sections connect said wall sections of the tube arrangement to one
another.
7. A flow heater in accordance with claim 2, wherein said tube
arrangement comprises at least one tube directly in contact, at
least in some sections, with said heating body.
8. A flow heater in accordance with claim 3, wherein said metal
section is formed of a material that has a lower thermal
conductivity than said powder or granular material.
9. A flow heater in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a
measuring and/or regulating element arranged on an outside of said
metal section or embedded in said powder or granular material or
embedded in said metal section or embedded in a metal jacket of
said tubular heating body.
10. A flow heater in accordance with claim 9, wherein said
measuring and/or regulating element is connected in series with a
resistance wire winding of said tubular heating body.
11. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tube
arrangement comprises a tube having varying cross sections in
contour including a crescent-shaped cross sectional portion and a
round cross sectional portion in said end area in the direction in
which it extends.
12. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tube
arrangement comprises a tube that is pushed over said tubular
heating body.
13. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said metal
section comprises a tensioning mechanism for generating a pressure,
which brings about a pressing of said tube arrangement into said
metal section.
14. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said metal
section comprises a solid body comprising at least one of a steel,
an aluminum and a brass body, in which said tube arrangement and
said tubular heating body are at least one of mounted and
pressed.
15. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tube
arrangement includes a tube with a wall section which faces said
tubular heating body and has a shape adapted to a section of a
shape or geometry of a surface of said tubular heating body.
16. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tube
arrangement includes a tube with a wall section which faces away
from said tubular heating body and has a shape adapted to a shape
or geometry of a surface of said metal section, which said surface
of said metal section faces away from said tubular heating
body.
17. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said metal
section has at least one web, via which a surface of said metal
section, which said surface faces away from said tubular heating
body, is connected to said tubular heating body.
18. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tube
arrangement comprises two tubes for passing through fluid to be
heated, said two tubes overlapping each other, in said at least in
some sections in which said tubular heating body is surrounded,
viewed from said tubular heating body in a direction at right
angles to the direction in which said said tubular heating body
extends.
19. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said tube
arrangement comprises a tube for passing through fluid to be
heated; and said tube encloses said tubular heating body.
20. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said tube
arrangement comprises plural tubes for passing through fluid to be
heated; and at least one of said tubes is directly in contact with
the surrounded said tubular heating body.
21. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a
heat transport tube surrounding said tubular heating body wherein:
said tube arrangement comprises plural tubes for passing through
fluid to be heated; and at least one of said tubes is in contact
with said heat transport tube.
22. A flow heater in accordance with claim 21, wherein said heat
transport tube is formed of a material with a higher thermal
conductivity and/or a higher elasticity and/or a lower hardness
and/or a better deformability than a material of an outer metal
jacket of said tubular heating body.
23. A flow heater in accordance with claim 14, wherein said tubular
heating body is mounted in a hole in said metal section.
24. A flow heater in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tubular
heating body comprises unheated sections which come into direct
contact with fluid to be heated, said unheated sections being not
mounted in or not pressed into said metal section.
25. A process for manufacturing a flow heater comprising the steps
of: providing a metal section, a tube arrangement with a tube
interior space for passing through fluid to be heated and a tubular
heating body arranged outside the tube interior space; and filling
at least part of the interior space of the hollow section with a
sealing compound, a powder or granular material.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119 of German Utility Model DE 20 2010 006 739.1 filed
May 12, 2010 and German Patent Application DE 10 2011 012 770.4
filed Mar. 1, 2011, the entire contents of each of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention pertains to a flow heater with a metal
section, with at least one tube for passing through fluid to be
heated, which is mounted in and preferably pressed into the metal
section at least in some sections, and with at least one tubular
heating body, which is arranged outside the tube interior space and
is mounted in and preferably pressed into the metal section at
least in some sections.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Such flow heaters are used to heat fluids (i.e., especially
liquids and/or gases) and are used, for example, in dishwashers,
steam cookers or washing machines and are known, for example, from
DE 42 26 325 C1.
[0004] Prior-art flow heaters usually have a metal section, in
which a tube for passing through a fluid to be heated is mounted.
One or more adjacent tubular heating bodies, which are likewise
mounted in the metal section, are arranged around the tube outside
the tube interior space thereof. To guarantee a direct and close
contact between the metal section and tubular heating body, on the
one hand, and the metal section and tube for passing through a
fluid to be heated, on the other hand, the arrangement is usually
fully or partly compressed.
[0005] The requirement on the performance of such flow heaters has
noticeably increased over the last few years. It was found that the
flow heaters of conventional design, as they are known from the
state of the art, reach their limits with the use of tubular
heating bodies of ever-increasing performance, because sufficient
heat transfer into the fluid is no longer guaranteed. This leads to
an unacceptably high temperature on the outside of the flow heater
and in the extreme case to melting of the metal section.
[0006] In a second type of flow heaters, which are known, e.g.,
from DE 10 2005 036 816 A1, a tubular heating body is arranged in
the interior of a tube for passing through a fluid to be heated.
Thus, it is in direct contact with the fluid, which significantly
increases the risk of failure of the tubular heating body as a
consequence of the interaction thereof with the fluid, because
local deposits, for example, calcifications, which hinder the
dissipation of heat and lead to destruction of the tubular heating
body, occur in the systems used in practice in a number of
applications. If corrosive media are heated, the direct contact
with the fluid may likewise damage the tubular heating body. In
addition, especially if they are used with high surface loads and
low flow velocities, such flow heaters may cause bubbling in
liquids to be heated, which will likewise lead to a local hindrance
of the dissipation of heat and entail the risk of destruction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The object of the present invention is consequently to
provide a high-performance but nevertheless compact flow heater,
which can be used in situations with limited availability of space
and whose outer temperature remains limited and which ensures good
heat transfer to the fluid, while the tubular heating body is at
the same time protected from the fluid.
[0008] According to the invention, a flow heater is provided with a
metal section, with at least one tube for passing through fluid to
be heated, which is mounted in and preferably pressed into the
metal section at least in some sections, and with at least one
tubular heating body. The tubular heating body is arranged outside
the tube interior space and is mounted in and preferably pressed
into the metal section at least in some sections. The tubular
heating body is surrounded at least in some sections by one or more
of the tubes for passing through a fluid to be heated.
[0009] The flow heater according to the present invention has a
metal section, with at least one tube for passing through a fluid
to be heated or a plurality of fluids to be heated, which is
mounted, at least in some sections, in the metal section and is
preferably pressed in, and at least one, preferably pressed-in
tubular heating body, which is arranged outside the tube interior
space and is mounted at least in some sections in the metal
section. Consequently, the tube extends adjacent to the tubular
heating body, which does not absolutely require a direct contact,
but it does express the fact that the tube extends separately from
the tubular heating body but does so in the vicinity thereof or
directly adjoining same.
[0010] The term "tubular heating body" is to be defined very
broadly in the context of this patent specification; in embodying
the present invention, it is possible to use as the tubular heating
body, in principle, any heating element with a metal (outer)
jacket, i.e., even a heating cartridge, a flat heating element or a
hollow cartridge.
[0011] It is essential for the present invention that at least one
tubular heating body is surrounded by a tube arrangement of at
least one tube or a plurality of the tubes for passing through
fluid (a fluid or fluids) to be heated at least in some sections,
so that it is ensured that the heat released by the tubular heating
body is released mostly into the fluid to be heated.
[0012] Consequently, an essential idea of the present invention is
to abandon the current design principle, in which it was important
to maximize the introduction of heat into the fluid by providing a
tube surrounded by a tubular heating body (arranged, e.g., in a
coiled or meandering pattern around the tube) or by a plurality of
tubular heating bodies for passing through a fluid to be heated,
utilizing the larger outer surface of the tube for passing through
a fluid to be heated. This design principle abandonment is based on
the discovery that the provision of one or more tubes for passing
through the fluid to be heated, which surrounds/surround the
tubular heating body or tubular heating bodies, effectively
utilizes the capacity of the tubular heating body and hereby
prevents excessive heating of the outer surface of the metal
section along with a simultaneous good heating capacity.
[0013] It is pointed out for clarification that the terms
"surround" and "enclose" are to be clearly distinguished within the
framework of the present invention. "Surround" means that when
viewed at right angles to the direction in which the surrounded
tubular heating body extends, sections of one or more tubes for
passing through a fluid to be heated are arranged in a plurality of
directions, which especially also form angles exceeding 90.degree.
relative to one another. Only the term "surround" is used in the
sense that when viewed at right angles to the direction in which
the surrounded tubular heating body extends, sections of one or
more tubes for passing through a fluid to be heated are arranged in
all directions.
[0014] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the
metal section is a hollow section or it forms a component of a
composite hollow section. A hollow section is present if a hollow
space is defined by the metal section, optionally in conjunction
with additional wall sections, which may be formed, for example, by
wall sections of a tube for passing through a fluid to be heated. A
hollow section may be, in principle, open or closed. An example of
an open hollow section is a tube; if the openings of the tube are
closed with covers, an example of a closed hollow section is
obtained.
[0015] The tubular heating body and the tube arrangement with the
at least one tube for passing through a fluid to be heated are
arranged and preferably pressed in at least in some sections in the
hollow section, i.e., in the interior of the hollow space, together
with a sealing compound or with a powder or granular material, in
which the heater, the at least one tube for passing through a fluid
to be heated or the heater and the at least one tube for passing
through a fluid to be heated are embedded at least partly.
[0016] By providing a hollow section, in which the heater and/or
the at least one tube for passing through a fluid to be heated are
arranged together with a powder or granular material, in which the
heater and the at least one tube for passing through a fluid to be
heated are embedded at least partly, and are preferably pressed in
at least in some sections, it becomes unnecessary to prepare
grooves or holes in the metal section, because the thermal contact
is established via the powder or granular material, which not only
saves costs and ensures a more reliable thermal contact, but also
permits a more flexible shaping of the heater and tubes, because
the sealing compound or the powder or granular material can be
filled in later. It becomes possible, for example, to use tubes or
heaters with a one-sided connection, which makes possible a more
compact installation.
[0017] An especially simple and cost-effective flow heater is
obtained if the hollow section comprises two metal sections
connected to one another. This makes it possible to simply provide
a metal section as a bottom, to insert the heater and tubes in said
bottom and then to attach another metal section as a cover, which
is then connected to the bottom, for example, by soldering or
welding. If the cover and bottom form an open hollow section, the
"profiled tube" formed may be filled with powder or a granular
material, e.g., in a forging die, optionally compacted and
optionally provided with front-side closing surfaces. A closed
hollow section is formed if the cover and/or bottom have side walls
each, which define a closed space in the connected state when the
heater and tubes are inserted, and the powder or granular material
must be inserted in this case before the cover and bottom are
connected to one another.
[0018] An especially compact design of the flow heater is obtained
by the hollow section being composite and by at least one section
of the wall of the at least one tube for passing through a fluid to
be heated forming, besides the at least one metal section, a
component of the composite hollow section, because this avoids a
complete "building around" the tubes. Especially simple here is a
design in which at least two tubes for passing through a fluid to
be heated are present and the hollow section is formed from
sections of the walls of the tubes for passing through a fluid to
be heated and metal sections, which connect these sections of the
wall of the tubes. The simplest design thus formed would be an open
hollow section, i.e., one formed from a cover formed by a metal
section and a bottom formed by a metal section.
[0019] It is especially preferred because of this good heat
conduction that can thus be achieved if the powder or granular
material consists of metal, especially aluminum, copper, brass or a
mixture thereof.
[0020] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one tube for passing
through a fluid to be heated is directly in contact at least in
some sections with the heater in the form of the tubular heating
body, which makes possible an especially direct heat transport. In
particular, a tube can extend, led around a tubular heating body,
such that the tube surrounds the tubular heating body on all sides,
for example, if a tube coiled around the tubular heating body is
used.
[0021] Another advantageous embodiment of the flow heater is
characterized in that the metal section consists of a material that
has a poorer thermal conductivity than the powder or granular
material. As a result, the temperature prevailing on the surface of
the flow heater at a given power consumption of the flow heater can
be markedly reduced at equal outside dimensions compared to
prior-art flow heaters, in which the heat transport takes place
from the heater to the tube via the metal section, which must
therefore be manufactured from a material with good thermal
conductivity, and the use of metal sections with poor conductivity,
e.g., those made of Cr--Ni steel, is made possible. In addition,
the material costs for the metal sections can thus be reduced.
[0022] A control and/or regulating element is advantageously
provided at the flow heater. Manufacturing losses are avoided in
case of pressure-sensitive control and/or regulating elements if
the control and/or regulating element is arranged on the outside of
the metal section. Embedding of the control and/or regulating
element in the powder or granular material makes regulation
possible on the basis of data that are detected with very high
accuracy close to the site of heat transfer. In embodiments without
the use of powder or granular material, this effect can also be
achieved if the measuring and/or regulating element is embedded at
a suitable point of the metal section or of the metal jacket of the
tubular heating body.
[0023] The measuring and/or regulating element is preferably
connected in series with at least one resistance wire winding of
the tubular heating body in order to guarantee fast response
times.
[0024] Another advantageous variant of the present invention makes
provisions for at least one tube for passing through a fluid to be
heated to have cross sections varying in contour in the direction
in which it extends. Provisions are made in an advantageous variant
for selecting crescent-shaped tube cross sections in the middle
area, which makes good adaptation to the geometry of the tubular
heating body possible, and for passing over in the end areas of the
tubes to round cross sections, which can be connected especially
easily. This possibility was not available until now due to the
necessity of providing a groove or hole, into which the heater had
to be inserted, and this led to an appreciable limitation of the
design parameters for the flow heater. In particular, the present
invention makes it possible for at least one tube for passing
through a fluid to be heated to be shaped such that it can be
pushed over the heater, but good transfer of the heat from the
areas of the heater at which the tube is not directly in contact to
the tube can be ensured at the same time via the powder or granular
material. The heater can be operated with a higher output because
of the heat dissipation thus improved.
[0025] The process according to the present invention for
manufacturing such a flow heater comprises the following steps:
[0026] Providing a one-piece hollow section designed as a metal
section or composed of a plurality of components, containing at
least one metal section, with a heater arranged at least in some
sections in the interior space of the hollow section and at least
one tube for passing through a fluid to be heated, which is
arranged at least in some sections in the interior space of the
hollow section; [0027] Filling at least part of the interior space
of the hollow section with a sealing compound, a powder or granular
material; and preferably pressing in, at least in some sections, of
the heater and of the at least one tube into the hollow
section.
[0028] It should be borne in mind, in particular, that depending on
how the hollow section is designed, the step of filling may be
carried out after providing the hollow section or it may be
integrated in the providing step.
[0029] Structuring of the metal section, which was hitherto
necessary, can be avoided due to this process just as completely as
the laborious insertion of the heater and tubes for passing through
a fluid to be heated, which leads to an especially simple and
cost-effective manufacture with more degrees of freedom in
design.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the process, a metal section is
made available as a bottom element for providing a hollow section
composed of a plurality of components containing at least one metal
section. The heater and the at least one tube for passing through a
fluid to be heated are arranged on or at the bottom element. This
may also be carried out, for example, in fitted openings of the
bottom element, which brings about an especially reproducible
arrangement of the elements of the flow heater relative to one
another.
[0031] In the further course of the process, the metal section
provided in this embodiment as a bottom element is connected to at
least one additional metal section, especially a cover element
and/or at least one section of the wall of a tube for passing
through a fluid to be heated in order to provide the hollow
section. The filling of at least part of the interior space of the
hollow section is preferably performed in this procedure before all
the components of the hollow section are completely connected to
one another.
[0032] An alternative advantageous embodiment of the metal section
is obtained if the metal section is a tensioning mechanism for
generating a pressure, which brings about the pressing into the
metal section. The metal section may optionally additionally ensure
the holding together of the tubular heating body and tubes. Flow
heaters of this embodiment are especially compact and can be
manufactured in a cost-effective manner. Another advantage of this
embodiment is that very strong pressing-in pressures can be
permanently applied, which leads to an especially intimate thermal
contact of the components of the flow heater and thus permits good
heat transmission. Tightening straps, tensioning clips or
preformed, pressed sections are especially suitable for use as
tensioning mechanisms. However, it is also possible to provide a
tensioning mechanism by soldering or welding the tubes in the
compressed state, after which the metal section can be seen in the
soldered joints and/or weld seams.
[0033] Another, especially robust, alternative embodiment of the
metal section is obtained if the metal section is a massive body,
especially an aluminum or brass body, in which the pipe and tubular
heating body are mounted and embedded, preferably pressed in. To
facilitate the assembly of such an arrangement, holes may be
provided in the metal section. In particular, it is also possible
that the holes for the tubular heating body and tubes for passing
through a fluid to be heated pass over into each other, so that the
metal section forms the "frame" for these recesses. This
facilitates the assembly of the flow heater.
[0034] The shape of the wall of at least one of the tubes for
passing through a fluid to be heated, which said tubes surround the
at least one tubular heating body, or of the tube for passing
through a fluid to be heated, which said tube surrounds the tubular
heating body, wherein said wall faces the tubular heating body, is
adapted in an especially advantageous embodiment to a section of
the surface of the tubular heating body. Especially good and
homogeneous heat transfer is guaranteed hereby.
[0035] An adaptation in the sense of the present invention is
already present if the same geometric shape is present, especially
if the surface sections adapted to one another extend at constant
distance from each other; there do not need to be mutually covering
fitting surfaces. For example, surface segments of two concentric,
cylindrical jacket surfaces with markedly different radii are thus
fitted surface sections in the sense of the present invention.
[0036] It is advantageous, furthermore, if the shape of the wall of
at least one of the tubes surrounding the at least one tubular
heating body or of the tube surrounding the tubular heating body,
which said wall faces away from the tubular heating body, is
adapted to a section of the surface of the metal section facing
away from the surrounding tubular heating body. This entails an
especially homogeneous heat distribution on the surface of the flow
heater.
[0037] If a metal section is provided, which has at least one web,
via which the surface of the metal section, which said surface
faces away from the tubular heating body, is connected to the
tubular heating body, the advantage is gained that regulating and
securing elements arranged on the outside of the flow heater can
respond and effectively prevent overheating or even melting of the
metal section. It is especially favorable if at least two tubes for
passing through a fluid to be heated are provided, which overlap
each other, when viewed from the surrounding tubular heating body
in a direction at right angles to the direction in which it
extends, at least in some sections, because homogeneous heat
distribution is thus brought about on the surface of the flow
heater.
[0038] An alternative advantageous embodiment of the flow heater
makes provisions for a tube for passing through the fluid to be
heated to enclose at least one tubular heating body. This leads to
an especially homogeneous heat distribution, but is associated with
a greater design effort.
[0039] An especially efficient heat transfer can be achieved in a
situation in which the requirements of the space available for
installation require an especially compact design if at least one
of the tubes for passing through a fluid to be heated, which said
tubes surround the at least one tubular heating body, is directly
in contact with the surrounded tubular heating body.
[0040] If the smallest possible design is not absolutely necessary,
a heat transport tube may be arranged on the tubular heating body.
The size of the heated tube inner surface can thus be varied. This
measure creates an additional degree of freedom for coordination
between the desired fluid throughput and the needed heat output at
a given length of the flow heater. Moreover, the thermal contact
between the tubular heating body and tube for passing through a
fluid to be heated can be improved by selecting a material with
higher elasticity and/or lower hardness and/or better deformability
compared to the material of the metal jacket of the tubular heating
body, especially if the material of the heat transport tube has a
higher thermal conductivity than the material of the metal jacket
of the tubular heating body.
[0041] Provisions are made in an alternative variant of the flow
heater to this, which is especially favorable in terms of
manufacturing technology, for the tubular heating body being
mounted in a hole in the metal section. Especially cost-effective
flow heaters are obtained if the at least one tube for passing
through a fluid to be heated is a drawn special section tube.
[0042] Especially good connection possibilities are obtained for
the flow heater if adapter pieces are provided on at least one of
the tubes for passing through a fluid to be heated.
[0043] Especially high safety against failure is achieved with a
flow heater in which the tubular heating body is essentially
unheated in the sections in which it can come into direct contact
with the fluid to be heated, especially in sections which are not
mounted in, preferably not pressed into, the metal section. This
can be achieved, e.g., by means of areas in which the resistance
wire is not arranged in a coiled or meandering pattern or is led
through these areas over as direct a route as possible. Damage to
the tubular heating body, which may be possible due to the contact
with the fluid, and leads to the failure thereof, is thereby. For
example, heat dissipation from the tubular heating body may be
locally hindered in case of water due to the buildup of a layer of
lime, which may lead to overheating and failure of the tubular
heating body.
[0044] Another, especially advantageous form of the flow heater has
a tube arrangement with at least two tubes for passing through
fluid to be heated, which are intended to be connected to different
fluid circuits. The various features of novelty which characterize
the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims
annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and
specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred
embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] In the drawings:
[0046] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
[0047] FIG. 1a is a sectional view along line A-A of the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 1;
[0048] FIG. 1b is a sectional view along line B-B of the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 1;
[0049] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0050] FIG. 2a is a sectional view along line A-A of the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 2;
[0051] FIG. 2b is a sectional view along line B-B of the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 2;
[0052] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, corresponding to the section in FIG.
1b;
[0053] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, corresponding to the section in FIG.
2b;
[0054] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a fifth exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, corresponding to the section in FIG.
1b;
[0055] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a sixth exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, corresponding to the section in FIG.
1b;
[0056] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a seventh exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0057] FIG. 7a is a sectional view along line B-B of the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 7;
[0058] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an eighth exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0059] FIG. 8a is a sectional view along line A-A of the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 8;
[0060] FIG. 8b is a sectional view along line B-B of the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 8;
[0061] FIG. 9a is a perspective view of a ninth exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0062] FIG. 9b is a cross section of the exemplary embodiment from
FIG. 9a;
[0063] FIG. 10a is a perspective view of a tenth exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0064] FIG. 10b is a cross sectional view through the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 10a;
[0065] FIG. 11a is a perspective view of an eleventh exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0066] FIG. 11b is a partially sectional view showing the interior
of the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 11a;
[0067] FIG. 12a is a perspective view showing a twelfth exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0068] FIG. 12b is a perspective view showing the components of the
exemplary embodiment from FIG. 2a before assembly;
[0069] FIG. 12c is a sectional view along line B-B of the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 12a;
[0070] FIG. 13a is a perspective view of a thirteenth exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0071] FIG. 13b is a perspective view showing the components of the
exemplary embodiment from FIG. 13a before assembly;
[0072] FIG. 13c is a sectional view along line B-B of the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 13a;
[0073] FIG. 14a is a perspective view of a fourteenth exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0074] FIG. 14b is a cross sectional view through the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 14a along line A-A; and
[0075] FIG. 14c is a cross sectional view along line A-A in a
variant of the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 14a.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0076] Referring to the drawings in particular, identical reference
numbers are used in all figures for identical components of the
same exemplary embodiments.
[0077] FIG. 1 shows a flow heater 100 according to the present
invention with a metal section 101 designed as a solid body, with a
tubular heating body 102, which passes through the metal section
101 and is mounted and embedded and preferably pressed into the
metal section 101 at least in some sections, and with a tube
arrangement comprising two tubes 103, 104 for passing through a
fluid to be heated, which pass through the metal section 101 and
are mounted and preferably pressed into the metal section 101 in
some sections. Adapter pieces 104, 105, 106, 107 are arranged at
the ends of the tubes 103, 104 for passing through a fluid to be
heated.
[0078] Based on the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 1a along
line A-A, the course of the tubular heating body 102 and of the
tubes 103, 104 for passing through a fluid to be heated as well as
the embedding thereof in the metal section 101 are seen especially
clearly.
[0079] The section shown in FIG. 1b along line B-B shows especially
clearly how the tubes 103, 104 for passing through a fluid to be
heated surround the tubular heating body 102. This view shows the
plane at right angles to the direction in which the tubular heating
body 102 extends. Beginning from the tubular heating body 102, a
section each of a tube 103, 104 for passing through a fluid to be
heated is arranged in a plurality of directions between the tubular
heating body 102 and the surface of the metal section 101, which
surface faces away from the tubular heating body. The tubes 103,
104 thus surround the tubular heating body 102 in the sense of the
present invention. However, the tubular heating body 102 is not
enclosed, because webs 111, 112 connect the surface of the metal
section 101 facing away from the tubular heating body 102 to the
tubular heating body 102 in two directions.
[0080] Furthermore, FIG. 1b shows that in the tubes 103, 104, the
wall facing the tubular heating body 102 or wall section 114, 113
facing said tubular heating body extends at a constant distance
from a section of the surface of the tubular heating body 102. The
wall sections 114, 113 are therefore adapted to the corresponding
section of the surface of the tubular heating body 102.
[0081] Furthermore, this view shows as an example a typical inner
structure of the tubular heating body 102, which is known per se,
which has here, for example, within a metal section, a coil of a
heat conductor embedded in an insulating material or a resistance
wire.
[0082] FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b show a second embodiment of the present
invention with a flow heater 200, a metal section 201, tubular
heating bodies 202, 209, 210 a tube arrangement with tubes 203,
204, adapter pieces 205, 206, 207, 208 and webs 211, 212. Walls
facing the tubular heating body are designated 213 and 214. The
second embodiment differs from the view in FIGS. 1, 1a and 1b only
in that the two additional tubular heating bodies 209, 210 are
provided outside the tubes 203, 204. The additional tubular heating
bodies 209, 210 can bring about an increase in the heating output
of the flow heater 200 compared to flow heater 100. However, their
output is limited, because they are not surrounded by tubes for
passing through a fluid to be heated and may thus lead to an
undesired heating of the surface of the flow heater 200. Because of
the very good utilization and dissipation of the output of the
central tubular heating body 202 by the tubes 203, 204 surrounding
these, it is still possible to provide a limited additional heating
output thanks to the present invention.
[0083] FIG. 3 shows a cross section as in FIG. 1b through a third
embodiment of the present invention with a flow heater 300, a metal
section 301, a tubular heating body 302, a tube arrangement with
tubes 303, 304 and webs 311, 312. Walls facing the tubular heating
body are designated 313 and 314. The third embodiment differs from
the view in FIGS. 1, 1a and 1b only by the shape of the tubes 303,
304 for passing through a fluid to be heated. The embodiment
according to FIG. 3 has tubes, whose respective wall 315, 316
facing away from the tubular heating body 302 is adapted to a
section of the surface of the metal section 301, which said surface
faces away from the tubular heating body 302.
[0084] FIG. 4 shows a cross section as in FIG. 2b through a fourth
embodiment of the present invention with a flow heater 400, a metal
section 401, tubular heating bodies 402, 409, 410 a tube
arrangement with only one tube 403 and web 411. A wall facing the
tubular heating body is designated 413. The fourth embodiment
differs from the view in FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b only in that the
surrounding, according to the present invention, of a tubular
heating body 402 is achieved only by means of a tube 403, which is
placed nearly completely around the tubular heating body 402, but a
web 411 still continues to connect the surface of the metal section
401, which said surface faces away from the tubular heating body
402, to the tubular heating body 402.
[0085] FIG. 5 shows a cross section as in FIG. 1b through a fifth
embodiment of the present invention with a flow heater 500, a metal
section 501, a tubular heating body 502, a tube arrangement with
tubes 503, 504 and webs 511, 512. Walls facing the tubular heating
body are designated 513 and 514. The fifth embodiment differs from
the view in FIGS. 1, 1a and 1b only by the shape of the tubes 503,
504 for passing through a fluid to be heated. The embodiment
according to FIG. 5 has tubes 503, 504 for passing through a fluid
to be heated, which not only surround the heat conductor 502--this
would be achieved by the tube 503 alone--but together enclose it.
Viewed from the surrounded tubular heating body 502, sections of
the tubes 503, 504 for passing through a fluid to be heated are
arranged in all directions at right angles to the direction in
which the surrounded tubular heating body 502 extends. However,
webs 511, 512 are still present, which connect the surface of the
metal section 501, which surface faces away from the tubular
heating body 502, to the tubular heating body 502. Thus, monitoring
of the temperature of the metal section 501 in the interior thereof
continues to be possible.
[0086] FIG. 6 shows a cross section as in FIG. 1b through a sixth
embodiment of the present invention with a flow heater 600, a metal
section 601, a tubular heating body 602, a tube arrangement with
tubes 603, 604 and webs 611, 612. Walls facing the tubular heating
body are designated 613 and 614. The sixth embodiment differs from
the view in FIGS. 1, 1a and 1b slightly by the shape, but mainly by
the arrangement of the tubes 603, 604 for passing through a fluid
to be heated. The embodiment according to FIG. 6 has tubes 603,
604, whose respective wall 614, 613 facing the tubular heating body
602 is not only adapted to a section of the tubular heating body
602, but is in direct contact with same, which leads to an
especially direct heat transfer to the fluid to be heated.
[0087] FIG. 7 shows a flow heater 700 according to the present
invention with a metal section 701 and three tubular heating bodies
702, 703, 704, which pass through the metal section 701 and are
mounted in and preferably pressed into the metal section 701 in
some sections, and with a tube arrangement comprising six tubes
705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710 for passing through a fluid to be
heated, which pass through the metal section 701 and are mounted
and especially pressed into the metal section 701 in some sections.
Adapter pieces 711, 712, 713, 714 are arranged at the ends of the
tubes 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710 for passing through a fluid to
be heated. The adapter pieces 711, 712, 713, 714 are designed in
this case such that when one of their ends is connected to a fluid
supply, not shown here, a connection of three tube ends with the
fluid supply is established via their other end by means of the
adapter piece 711, 712, 713, 714, which makes possible an
especially simple connection of the flow heater 700.
[0088] The section shown in FIG. 7a along line B-B shows especially
clearly how the tubes 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710 for passing
through a fluid to be heated surround the tubular heating body 702.
This view shows the plane at right angles to the direction in which
the tubular heating body 702 extends. Beginning from the tubular
heating body 702, a section each of one of the tubes 705, 706, 707,
708, 709, 710 for passing through a fluid to be heated is arranged,
namely, centrically symmetrically to the center of the cross
section through the tubular heating body 702, in a plurality of
directions between the tubular heating body 702 and the surface of
the metal section 701, which said surface faces away from the
tubular heating body. The radial distance between the tubes 705,
706, 707, 708, 709, 710 is equal.
[0089] Thus, the tubes 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710 surround the
tubular heating body 702 in the sense of the present invention.
However, the tubular heating body 702 is obviously not enclosed
here, either, because a web 715, 716, 717, 718, 719 720 each of the
metal section is present between two adjacent tubes.
[0090] The additional tubular heating bodies 703, 704 can bring
about an increase in the heat output of the flow heater 700
compared to the flow heater 100. However, the output of the
additional tubular heating bodies 703, 704 is limited, because they
are not surrounded by tubes for passing through a fluid to be
heated and may thus lead to an undesired heating of the surface of
the flow heater 700. It is still possible to provide a limited
additional heat output thanks to the present invention because of
the very good utilization and dissipation of the output of the
central tubular heating body 702 by the tubes 705, 706, 707, 708,
709, 710 surrounding said tubular heating body.
[0091] FIG. 8 shows a flow heater 800 according to the present
invention with a metal section 801, with a tubular heating body
802, which passes through the metal section 801 and is mounted and
especially pressed into the metal section 801 in some sections,
and, as can be seen only on the basis of FIG. 8b, with six tubes
805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810 for passing through a fluid to be
heated, which pass through the metal section 801 and are mounted in
and especially pressed into the metal section 801 in some sections.
Respective adapter pieces 803 and 804, through which the tubular
heating body 802 passes, are arranged at the respective first and
second ends of the tubes 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810 for passing
through a fluid to be heated. It is essential in this connection
that the tubular heating body 802 has, in the areas in which it is
passed through the adapter pieces 803, 804, essentially unheated
areas, in which the resistance wire, in particular, is not arranged
in a coiled or meandering pattern. Damage to the tubular heating
body, which may be possible due to contact with the fluid and leads
to the failure thereof, is avoided hereby. For example, heat
dissipation from the tubular heating body may be locally hindered
in case of water due to the buildup of a layer of lime, which may
lead to overheating and failure of the tubular heating body. All
sections of the tubular heating body, which are not mounted in the
metal section 801, are essentially unheated in an especially
preferred embodiment of the flow heater.
[0092] It is seen especially clearly from the cross-sectional view
shown in FIG. 8a along line A-A that the adapter pieces 803, 804
are in connection with all tubes 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810 for
passing through a fluid to be heated. This is especially favorable
in terms of connection technology and permits the use of large
cross sections in the feed areas 803a, 804a of the adapter pieces
803, 804. In addition, this contributes to a more uniform flow
through the tubes 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810 for passing through
a fluid to be heated. The adapter pieces 803, 804 are directly in
contact with the metal section 801 in the exemplary embodiment
according to FIG. 8, which leads to an especially compact design,
but an arrangement, not shown, in which they are arranged at spaced
locations from the metal section 801, is possible as well.
[0093] Furthermore, the course of the tubular heating body 802 and
of the tubes 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810 for passing through a
fluid to be heated as well as the embedding thereof in the metal
section 801 are seen.
[0094] The section shown in FIG. 8b along line B-B shows especially
clearly how the tubes 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810 for passing
through a fluid to be heated surround the tubular heating body 802.
This view shows the plane at right angles to the direction in which
the tubular heating body 802 extends. Beginning from the tubular
heating body 802, a section each of one of the tubes 805, 806, 807,
808, 809, 810 for passing through a fluid to be heated is arranged
in a plurality of directions between the tubular heating body 802
and the surface of the metal section 801, which said surface faces
away from the tubular heating body. Thus, they surround the tubular
heating body 802 in the sense of the present invention. However,
the tubular heating body 802 is not enclosed, because webs 811,
812, 813, 814, 815, 816 connect the surface of the metal section
801, which the surface faces away from the tubular heating body
802, to the tubular heating body 802.
[0095] Furthermore, this view shows as an example a typical inner
structure of the tubular heating body 802, which is known per se,
which has here, for example, within a metal section, a coil of a
heat conductor embedded in an insulating material or a resistance
wire.
[0096] FIG. 9a shows a flow heater 900, which has a tube
arrangement comprising two tubes 905, 906 for passing through a
fluid to be heated, which are arranged such that they surround a
tubular heating body 903. As can be seen especially clearly from
FIG. 9b, the sections of the walls of the tubes 905, 906, which
said sections face the tubular heating body 903, are adapted to the
shape of the tubular heating body 903 and are in direct contact
with the surface thereof.
[0097] Furthermore, metal sections 901 in the form of tensioning
mechanisms are seen at three points of the flow heater 900, but it
is also possible to use more or fewer such points as needed. These
tensioning mechanisms bring about the pressing in of tubes 905, 906
and tubular heating body 903 in the metal sections 901.
[0098] This embodiment of the present invention is characterized,
on the one hand, by an especially compact design and a very
cost-effective manufacture, and, on the other hand, it also
permanently ensures an intimate thermal contact, because the
pressing-in pressure is continuously maintained by the metal
sections 901.
[0099] The tenth exemplary embodiment of the present invention,
which is shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b comprises a flow heater 1000, a
metal section 1001, a tubular heating body 1002, a tube arrangement
with tubes 1005, 1006. The tenth exemplary embodiment differs from
the embodiment according to FIGS. 9a and 9b, to the description of
which reference is made in view of the identical features, only in
that, as can be seen especially clearly from FIG. 10b, an
additional jacket tube is pushed in the tenth exemplary embodiment
as a heat transport tube 1017 over the tubular heating body 1002,
so that the thermal contact between the tubes 1005, 1006 and the
tubular heating body 1002 is indirect, taking place via the heat
transport tube 1017. This measure creates an additional degree of
freedom for coordination between the desired fluid throughput and
the needed heat output at a given length of the flow heater 1000,
so that the size of the heated tube inner surface can be varied.
Moreover, the thermal contact between the tubular heating body 1002
and the tubes 1002, 1003 for passing through a fluid to be heated
can be improved by selecting a material with higher elasticity
and/or lower hardness and/or better deformability compared to the
material of the metal jacket of the tubular heating body 1002,
especially if the material of the heat transport tube 1017 has a
higher thermal conductivity than the material of the metal jacket
of the tubular heating body.
[0100] Prefixing of the components relative to one another, e.g.,
by a soldered connection or another connection, may be optionally
carried out in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9a, 9b, 10a and 10b.
However, the metal section is essential for ensuring the needed
pressing-in pressure, which is essential for achieving the desired
intimate thermal contact between the tubular heating body and
tube.
[0101] FIG. 11a shows an eleventh exemplary embodiment of a flow
heater 1100. A hollow section 1101 made of metal, which is designed
as a cylindrical tube, is seen. End sections of a tube 1102 for
passing through a fluid to be heated project from the wall of the
hollow section 1101. A heater 1103 in the form of a tubular heating
body has electric terminals 1104, 1105, which project on the front
side, which are not shown in the view of the other embodiments for
reasons of clarity, and are arranged concentrically in the
cylindrical tube 1101. The inner volume of the hollow section 1101,
which is not filled out by the heater 1103 and tube 1102 for
passing through a fluid to be heated, is filled with a powder or
granular material 1106, but this cannot be seen in FIG. 11a,
because it is covered by the hollow section 1101 and a front-side
closing plate 1107.
[0102] FIG. 11b shows a view into the interior of the exemplary
embodiment from FIG. 11a, which is seen when cutting open the
hollow section 1101 along a diameter of the cross-sectional area,
removing the part facing the viewer and removing the powder or
granular material 1106 up to the cut surface. Thus, this is not, in
particular, a cross-sectional view, because neither the tube 1102
for passing through a fluid to be heated nor the heater 1103 are
shown in sectional views. It is clearly seen in FIG. 11b that the
tube 1102 for passing through a fluid to be heated is wound around
the heater 1103 in coils such that the two ends of the tube are
arranged at the same end of the flow heater 1100. Any other desired
shape of the tube 1102 for passing through a fluid to be heated is
possible, in principle, e.g., it may be wound in a meandering
pattern or designed such that the two ends of the tube are arranged
at different ends of the flow heater 1100. The powder or granular
material may become self-supporting due to compaction, so that the
front-side closing plates 1107, 1108 optionally provided on the
front sides of the flow heater 1100 in this exemplary embodiment
are not absolutely necessary.
[0103] The considerable advantages of the manufacture according to
the present invention of the flow heater can also be easily
illustrated on the basis of the view in FIG. 11b. It was always
necessary in hitherto ordinary flow heaters to ensure good thermal
contact between the heater 1103 and tube 1102 for passing through a
fluid to be heated by high-precision manufacture and/or by pressing
in strongly. This applied especially to embodiments in which the
shape of the tube 1102 for passing through a fluid to be heated
prevents insertion into a groove of an extruded section, as this is
the case in the example shown in FIG. 11b, because the heat
transfer must now be guaranteed completely by the direct contact
between the heater 1103 and tube 1102, which cannot be guaranteed
solely by simply attaching the tube 1102 for passing through a
fluid to be heated to the heater 1003.
[0104] By contrast, only the hollow section 1101, tube 1102 and
heater 1103 must be provided to manufacture the flow heater shown
in FIGS. 11a and 11b, where the heater 1103 and tube 1102 are
arranged at least in some sections in the interior space of the
hollow section 1101, which is achieved by these components being
either first attached to each other and then inserted into the
interior space of the hollow section 1101 or by one of the
components being arranged first in the interior of the hollow
section 1101 and the second being then attached.
[0105] The filling of at least part of the interior space of the
hollow section 1101 with a powder or granular material 1106 may
subsequently take place, for example, in a forging die, and the
heater 1101 and/or the at least one tube is then advantageously
optionally mounted and preferably pressed into this.
[0106] Good thermal contact is ensured with this procedure by the
powder or granular material 1106 even at points where inaccuracies
due to the manufacturing technology or even the clearance necessary
for pushing the tube 1102 over the heater 1103 have hitherto
impaired this contact.
[0107] FIG. 12a shows a view of a twelfth exemplary embodiment of a
flow heater 1200 according to the present invention with a hollow
section 1201, whose cross section is essentially rectangular. Two
tubes 1202, 1204 for passing through a fluid to be heated, which
are mounted at least in some sections in the inner volume of the
hollow section, are provided in this exemplary embodiment. A heater
1203, which is designed as a tubular heating body, is arranged
between the tubes 1202, 1204 for passing through a fluid to be
heated. Two optional measuring or regulating elements 1207, 1208,
which monitor the flow heater 1200 during operation and collect
data for regulating same and/or convert those data into control
commands, with which, e.g., the flow velocity of the fluid or heat
output, which is made available by the heater 1203, can be
regulated, are provided on the outside of the hollow section.
[0108] As can be seen especially clearly from the sectional view
along line B-B according to FIG. 2c, the tubes 1202, 1204 for
passing through a fluid to be heated and the heater 1203 are
embedded in a powder or granular material in the area in which they
extend within the hollow section 1201, as a result of which good
thermal contact is ensured. It can also be seen especially clearly
in FIG. 2c that the tubes 1202, 1204 for passing through a fluid to
be heated have wall sections 1202a, 1204a, whose shape is adapted
to the shape of the wall section of the heater 1203 located
closest, as a result of which an especially good heat transfer can
be ensured.
[0109] FIG. 12b shows the components of the exemplary embodiment
from FIG. 12a before assembly. As a consequence of the embedding of
the tubes 1202, 1204 and of the heater 1203 in a powder or granular
material, the tubes 1202, 1204 for passing through a fluid to be
heated can be inserted with the desired section into the hollow
section 1201 in a simple manner and heater 1203 can then be placed
between the tubes 1202, 1204, even though the shape of the tubes
1202, 1204 itself is such that direct insertion into a groove of an
extruded section, as is known from the state of the art, would not
be possible. The assembly unit thus provided can then with filled
with a powder or granular material, optionally preferably compacted
and, if desired, optionally closed with front-side closing plates,
not shown.
[0110] FIG. 13a shows a view of another exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. A flow heater 1300 with two tubes 1302, 1304 for
passing through a fluid to be heated and with a heater 1303 are
seen. One of two metal sections 1301, 1305, which are connected to
wall sections of the tubes 1302, 1304 and represent components of a
hollow section formed together with these wall sections, can be
seen in the view in FIG. 13a.
[0111] As can be seen especially clearly in the sectional view
according to FIG. 13c, the inner volume of the flow heater, which
is defined by the metal sections 1302, 1305 and the wall sections
1302a, 1304a of the tubes 1302, 1304 for passing through a fluid to
be heated, is filled with a powder or granular material 1306, in
which, when viewed in the cross section, the tubes 1302, 1304 are
thus partly embedded and in which heater 1303 is completely
embedded. As described above in connection with FIG. 12c, wall
sections of the tubes 1302, 1304 are adapted to the outer contour
of heater 1303.
[0112] FIG. 13b shows the components of the exemplary embodiment
from FIG. 13a before assembly. The hollow section is provided in
this case by the tubes 1302, 1304 being fastened to one of the
metal sections 1301, 1305. Front-side closing plates 1307, 1308 are
fastened to the same metal section 1302, 1305 before or after the
heater 1303 was pushed in between them. The inner volume can then
be filled with a powder or granular material before fastening the
second metal section 1305, 1301 and an optional compaction may be
subsequently carried out.
[0113] FIG. 14a shows an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, which differs from the design according to FIGS. 10a and
10b only in that the tensioning means are formed here by tensioned
metal sections 1401, 1401a rather than being arranged only locally,
as can be seen in FIG. 10a, but they extend essentially over the
entire effective length of the flow heater, as is shown in FIG.
14a.
[0114] The two variants of this embodiment, which are shown in
FIGS. 14b and 14c, differ in that the space between the tips of the
crescents remains free between the tubes 1402, 1404 with
crescent-shaped cross section in the embodiment according to FIG.
14b, so that, for example, a measuring and/or regulating element,
e.g., in the form of a thermocouple, can be provided there, whereas
the variant according to FIG. 14c has projections of the metal
section 1401a at these points, which leads to a more homogeneous
dissipation of heat.
[0115] In all embodiments, which have more than one tube for
passing through a fluid to be heated, different fluid circuits can
be supplied with the different tubes. The possibility of providing
different amounts of fluid with a flow heater, which is made
possible by the design according to the present invention, is
pointed out in this connection, in particular.
[0116] Features that can be found only in some of the embodiments
can be combined with the other embodiments shown unless they
contradict features of these embodiments.
[0117] 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.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0118] A-A Section line [0119] B-B Section line [0120] 100, 200,
300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 Flow heater [0121] 101, 201, 301, 401,
501, 601, 701, 801 Metal section [0122] 102, 202, 209, 210, 302,
402, 409, 410, 502, 602, 702, 703, 704, 802, 902, 1002 Tubular
heating body [0123] 103, 104, 203, 204, 303, 304, 403, 503, 603,
604, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 810,
905, 906, 1005, 1006 Tube [0124] 105, 106, 107, 108, 205, 206, 207,
208, 711, 712, 713, 714, 803, 804 Adapter piece [0125] 111, 112,
211, 212, 311, 312, 411, 511, 512, 611, 612, 715, 716, 717, 718,
719, 720, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816 Web [0126] 113, 114, 213,
214, 313, 314, 413, 513, 514, 613, 614 Wall facing tubular heating
body [0127] 315, 316 Wall facing away from tubular heating body
[0128] 1017, 1417 Heat transport tube [0129] 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400
Flow heater [0130] 1101, 1201, 1401, 1401a Hollow section [0131]
1102, 1202, 1204, 1302, 1304, 1402, 1404 Tube [0132] 1202a, 1204a,
1302a, 1304a Wall section of tube [0133] 1103, 1203, 1303, 1403
Tubular heating body [0134] 1104, 1105 Electric terminals [0135]
901, 1001, 1301, 1305 Metal section [0136] 1106, 1206, 1306 Powder
or granular material [0137] 1107, 1108, 1307, 1308 Front-side
closing plate [0138] 1207, 1208 Measuring or regulating element
* * * * *