US 11,946,583 B1
Flexible conforming silicone rubber heater for complex geometry fluid lines and method
Jason S. Smith, Crystal Lake, IL (US); Nicholas V. Hein, Woodstock, IL (US); and Morgan J. Schultz, McHenry, IL (US)
Assigned to Durex International Corp., Cary, IL (US)
Filed by Jason S. Smith, Crystal Lake, IL (US); Nicholas V. Hein, Woodstock, IL (US); and Morgan J. Schultz, McHenry, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/206,006.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/991,522, filed on Mar. 18, 2020.
Int. Cl. F16L 53/00 (2018.01); F16L 53/34 (2018.01); F16L 59/02 (2006.01); F16L 59/153 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 59/028 (2013.01) [F16L 53/34 (2018.01); F16L 59/026 (2013.01); F16L 59/029 (2013.01); F16L 59/153 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for contact heating a fluid transmission line, said device comprises:
a first oblong body which comprises:
a block of resiliently compressible, conforming material having a first surface and a second surface separated by a thickness;
said first surface being oriented to contact said fluid transmission line;
a silicone rubber support layer bonded to said second surface;
a heater element layer supporting an electrical heater element; wherein said heater element layer is superimposed over said silicone rubber support layer; and
a shim reinforcement layer between said silicone rubber support layer and said heater element layer.