APPARATUS FOR HEATING A VISCOUS LIQUID

• US 3,824,364 A
• Filed: 06/07/1973
• Issued: 07/16/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John F. Cachat
• Original Assignee: John F. Cachat
• Inventors: Cachat, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartis, A.
• Application Number:
  US05/367,867
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 219/10.49,10.51,523,277,278 222/146R,146HS,146HE 166/57,60,61,302,303 239/133,134,135
• US Class Current: 219/629
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/20 with immersed heating elements, e.g. electric elements or furnace tubes

Abstract

An open ended tubular heating unit is provided which is comprised of a stainless steel tube surrounded by an induction heating coil which is disposed in magnetically coupled relationship with the tube. The tube and coil are encapsulated in insulating material, and the unit is submersible in a viscous liquid such as oil which is disposed in a vessel and the temperature of which liquid inhibits pumping thereof from the vessel. The unit is adapted to be supported in suspension and the coil energized to inductively heat the stainless steel tube, whereby the liquid inside and surrounding the unit is heated to elevate the temperature thereof and reduce the viscosity thereof. A driven impeller may be provided within the tubular unit to impel liquid flow therethrough, and a driven pump may be provided within the unit to pump the heated liquid from the vessel.

Claims

1. A tubular induction heating device for use in recovering a viscous liquid from a vessel in which the liquid is at a temperature which inhibits pumping of the liquid from the vessel comprising, a single tubular metal member having axially opposed open ends, induction heating coil means surrounding the exterior of said member between said opposite ends and disposed in magnetically coupled spaced relationship therewith, insulating material enclosing said coil means and tubular metal member and filling the space between said coil means and tubular member, the portion of said insulating material within said tubular member defining an axial passageway through said device, said device being submersible in said liquid, means to support said device in said liquid from a location remote from said vessel, and means to connect said coil means across a source of alternating current at said location for said coil means when energized to inductively heat said tubular member to raise the temperature of the liquid.

2. The device according to claim 1, and further including a motor driven impeller supported by said tubular member within said passageway and radially spaced from the inner surface of said passageway to impart movement to said liquid from one end thereof toward the other, and support means interconnecting said motor driven impeller and said tubular member.

3. The device according to claim 1, and further including motor driven pump means supported by said tubular member within said passageway, said pump means being radially spaced inwardly from the inner surface of said passageway, and support means interconnecting said pump means and said tubular member.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said pump means has an inlet for liquid within said passageway and an outlet, and conduit means connected to said outlet for delivering pumped liquid from said vessel.

5. The device according to claim 4, and a motor driven impeller supported within said passageway by said tubular member to impel liquid flow through said device, said motor driven impeller being radially spaced inwardly from the inner surface of said passageway.

6. An induction heating device for use in recovering a viscous liquid from a vessel in which the liquid is at a temperature which inhibits pumping of the liquid from the vessel comprising, a single cylindrical steel tube having axially opposed open upper and lower ends, an induction heating coil surrounding the exterior of said tube and disposed in magneticaLly coupled relationship therewith, insulating material enclosing said coil and tube and filling the space between said coil and tube, the portion of said insulating material within said tube defining an axial passageway through said device, said device being submersible in said liquid, means for supporting said device in said liquid from a location remote from said vessel and in a generally vertical disposition, said support means including axially open support arm means extending across said passageway and connected to said steel tube adjacent said upper end thereof, and means for connecting said coil across a source of alternating current at said location for said coil when energized to inductively heat said steel tube to raise the temperature of liquid within said passageway and promote circulation of liquid in the direction from said lower end of the tube toward said upper end.

7. The device according to claim 6, and motor driven impeller means connected to said support arm means and supported in said passageway adjacent said upper end of said tube to impel liquid through said passageway in said direction.

8. The device according to claim 6, and motor driven pump means connected to said support arm means and supported in said passageway adjacent said upper end of said tube, said pump means having a liquid inlet opening and a liquid outlet, and conduit means connected to said outlet for delivering pumped liquid from said vessel.

9. The device according to claim 6, including a pump, an impeller and drive means therefor in said passageway and radially spaced from the inner surface thereof, said support arm means supporting said pump, impeller and drive means within said passageway, said impeller being operable to circulate liquid through said passageway in said direction, said pump having an inlet port for liquid and an outlet port, and conduit means connected to said outlet port for delivering pumped liquid from said vessel.