CHEMICAL HEATING DEVICE FOR COLD ENVIRONMENT HEATING UTILITY USE

• US 20070151547A1
• Filed: 01/04/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Poje
• Original Assignee: Mark Poje
• Inventors: Poje, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,832,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/557
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/18 Heating or cooling the filters
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/30 characterised by heating means

Abstract

A strap-like support includes means for removably affixing chemical heating elements to one side of the support and means for removably securing the ends of the support whereby the support can be removably attached to the fuel filter of a diesel engine. Alternatively, the strap-like support component is configured to wrap around a fuel line, fuel pipe, or other conduit. Alternatively, the heating device is devised of a sheet-like support component having means for removably affixing one or more chemical heating elements to one side of the support component and means for removably securing the edges of the support component to a surface whereby the component can be removably attached to the oil pan or fuel tank of an engine or with a self-contained, individual meal product of conventional manufacture. The heating device is temporarily attached to the meal product container to heat the food contents.

Claims

1. A chemical heating device configured to be wrapped about the fuel filter housing or canister of a diesel engine, the canister having a diesel fuel filter disposed within it, the filter being of the type that is susceptible to flow restriction during cold weather congealing of the diesel fuel, and the fuel filter canister also having a fuel inlet line and a fuel outlet line, comprising

a flat support member having a front face, a first end and a second end,

a plurality of chemical heating elements,

means for temporarily securing the plurality of chemical heating elements within the front face of the support member, the front face of the support member and plurality of chemical heating elements being disposed adjacent the fuel filter canister, and

means for attaching together the first end and the second end of the support member,

wherein the device is wrapped about the fuel filter canister to apply heat to it.

2. The chemical heating device of claim 1 wherein the means for temporarily securing a plurality of chemical heating elements within the front face of the support member comprises a support member having a first edge and a second edge and further comprises a plurality of retainers, each retainer being a strap-like member having a first end and a second end, and each retainer being attached at its first end to the first edge of the support member and at its second end to the second edge of the support member.

3. The chemical heating device of claim 2 wherein each strap-like retainer is made of a stretch fabric that allows the length of the retainer to be stretched such that a heating element can be placed beneath it.

4. The chemical heating device of claim 1 further comprising a secondary support member, the secondary support member being attached to the second edge of the support member by means of an attaching strap.

5. The chemical heating device of claim 4 wherein the secondary support member comprises a perimeter edge that is generally circular in shape and is configured to overlay the top portion of the fuel filter canister.

6. The chemical heating device of claim 5 wherein the fuel filter canister includes a top portion and further includes the head of a retention bolt that is used to hold the top portion of the fuel filer canister to the canister, the secondary support member comprising a pair of straps that extend between two points of the perimeter edge of the secondary support member, one strap being located to either side of the bolt head, and secondary heating elements secured within each strap.

7. The chemical heating device of claim 1 wherein the support member has a rear face and further comprises an insulated layer wherein the insulated layer directs heat generated by the heating elements towards the diesel fuel filter canister.

8. The chemical heating device of claim 4 wherein the secondary support member has a top surface and further comprises an insulated layer wherein the insulated layer directs heat generated by the heating elements towards the diesel fuel filter canister.

9. A chemical heating device which comprises

a rectangular-shaped and sheet-like support member having a front face and a rear face, the front face comprising at least one strap-like retainer that is attached at one end to one edge of the support member and at a second end to a second edge of the support member, and

at least one chemical heating element.

10. The chemical heating device of claim 10 wherein each of the at least one retainer is made of a stretch fabric that allows the length of the retainer to be stretched such that a single heating element can be placed beneath the retainer.

11. The chemical heating device of claim 10 wherein the device is configured to be secured to a metal surface, such as the oil pan of a piece of equipment or machinery by the use of a number of magnets that are secured within retainers that are disposed at the edges of the support member.

12. The chemical heating device of claim 11 wherein the support member further comprises a rear face and an insulated layer, the insulated layer directing heat generated by the heating element towards the oil pan of a piece of equipment or machinery.

13. A chemical heating device configured to be wrapped about the fuel lines of a diesel engine which comprises

a support member having a front face and a rear face,

means for varying the length of the device, the device comprising a plurality of segments or sections, the number of sections used being determined by the user'"'"'s specific application,

a plurality of chemical heating elements,

means for temporarily securing the plurality of chemical heating elements within the front face of the support member,

wherein the device is wrapped about the fuel line.

14. The chemical heating device of claim 13 wherein the front face of each section of the support member includes a plurality of attachment means in the form of strap-like retainers, the retainers being attached transversely across the support member and secured at one edge of the support member and at a second edge of the support member.

15. The chemical heating device of claim 14 wherein the retainers are made of a stretch fabric that allows the length of the retainer to be slightly stretched such that a heating element can be placed longitudinally along the support member and beneath the retainers.

16. The chemical heating device of claim 15 wherein the rear face of the support member further comprises an insulated layer, the insulating layer being filled with a suitable material having insulating properties.

17. The chemical heating device of claim 16 wherein the means for attaching the first edge and the second edge of the support member to one another is one or more from a group consisting of the following:

a hook and looped fabric material,

magnets,

hooks and loops,

elastomeric tethers,

fabric ties, and

snap-fit fasteners.

18. A chemical heating device configured to be attached to food product containers, such containers comprising pouch-like and flat pan-like structures, comprising

a rectangular-shaped, shallow upside-down, pan-like structure having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion and the bottom portion being sealed at a peripheral edge,

a chemical heating element contained within the pan-like structure,

means for temporarily attaching the device to a food product container.

19. The chemical heating device of claim 18 wherein the chemical heating element is air actuated and air accesses the chemical heating element by means of a plurality of apertures defined within the top portion of the pan-like structure.

20. The chemical heating device of claim 19 wherein the apertures are covered by a film-like cover having a tab for grasping the cover and pulling it away from the device.

21. The chemical heating device of claim 20 wherein the cover is adhered to the top portion of the heating device by means of an adhesive layer.