Electrically conductive conduit assembly

• US 10,396,500 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2017
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norma US Holding LLC (Norma U.S. Holding)
• Original Assignee: Norma US Holding LLC (Norma U.S. Holding)
• Inventors: Lyall, Brant, Peterson, David, Ignaczak, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas, Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US15/689,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20180062322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 439100
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/127 electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 53/35 Ohmic-resistance heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6485 Electrostatic discharge protection in general H05F1/00, for electric apparatus H05K9/0067
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/655 with earth brace
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2214/04 Heating means manufactured by using nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/146 Conductive polymers, e.g. polyethylene, thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/54 flexible

Abstract

A conduit assembly with a tube formed from a polymeric material with a nanoparticulate component. The polymeric material has an electrical conductivity in a range between 1×10⁻¹⁴ and 4.7×10⁶ (S/m) at 20° C. An electrical contact is electrically coupled with the conduit assembly to receive electrical current. A ground is electrically coupled with the conduit assembly to ground the electrical current passed through the conduit assembly.

Claims

1. A conduit assembly comprising:

a tube and at least one connector connected with the tube;

the tube and at least one connector are formed from a polymeric material including a chain with a nanoparticulate component incorporated into the chain of the polymeric material, the polymeric material having an electrical conductivity in a range between 1×

10<sup>−

14</sup> and 4.7×

10⁶ (S/m) at 20°

C.;

an electrical contact electrically coupled with the conduit assembly for receiving electrical current; and

a ground electrically coupled with the conduit assembly for grounding the electrical current, the electrical current electrically passes through the tube while the conduit assembly is heated by the electrical current.

2. The conduit assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical current flows through the at least one connector and tube.

3. The conduit assembly of claim 1, wherein the conduit assembly is a urea tube system.

4. A method of passing electric current through a conduit assembly comprising:

providing a conduit assembly formed from a polymeric material including a chain with a nanoparticulate component incorporated into the chain of the polymeric material;

providing an electrical contact electrically coupled with the conduit assembly;

providing a ground electrically coupled with the conduit assembly;

passing electrical current into the electrical contact and electrically through the conduit assembly to the ground; and

heating the conduit assembly with the electrical current.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the conduit assembly having an electric conductivity in a range of 1×

10<sup>−

14</sup> to 4.7×

10⁶ (S/m) at 20°

C.

6. A conduit assembly comprising:

a tube, the tube is formed from a polymeric material including a chain with a nanoparticulate component incorporated into the chain of the polymeric material, the polymeric material having an electrical conductivity in a range between 1×

10<sup>−

14</sup> to 4.7×

10⁶ (S/m) at 20°

C.;

an electrical contact coupled with the tube for receiving electrical current; and

a ground coupled with the tube for grounding, the electrical current electrically passing through the tube.

7. The conduit assembly of claim 6, wherein the tube has a hollow bore enabling passage of fluid.

8. The conduit assembly of claim 6, wherein the tube is solid enabling passage of the electrical current.

9. The conduit assembly of claim 7, wherein the tube heats fluid in the hollow bore.

10. A conduit assembly for electrostatic discharge comprising:

a tube, the tube is formed from a polymeric material including a chain with a nanoparticulate component incorporated into the chain of the polymeric material, the polymeric material having an electrical conductivity in a range between 1×

10<sup>−

14</sup> to 4.7×

10⁶ (S/m) at 20°

C.; and

a ground coupled with the tube for grounding the electrostatic charge present in the tube by enabling the electrostatic charge to electrically pass through the tube.

11. The conduit assembly of claim 10, wherein the tube has a hollow bore enabling passage of fluid.