Liquid heater including wire mesh heating segment

Abstract

There is provided a liquid heater including: a conduit; a circuit for carrying a DC current; and a wire mesh segment disposed in the conduit and configured to receive the current, wherein the wire mesh segment has a conically shaped surface. There is provided a liquid heater kit including: a DC power supply; and a wire mesh segment configured to be disposed in a conduit and to receive a current from the DC power supply, wherein the wire mesh segment has a conically shaped surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid heater comprising:
 a conduit;   a circuit for carrying a DC current; and   a wire mesh segment disposed in the conduit and configured to receive the current, wherein the wire mesh segment has a conically shaped surface.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid heater of  claim 1 , wherein the DC current is supplied by a voltage source having a potential less than 24 Volts. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid heater of  claim 1 , wherein the wire mesh segment comprises multiple wire mesh segments disposed in the conduit. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid heater of  claim 3 , further comprising a relay for cycling the current connection to each of the multiple wire mesh segments, and a control circuit for controlling each of the relays. 
     
     
         5 . The radiant oven of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a control circuit for controlling current to each of the multiple wire mesh segments by cycling on and off at a duty ratio in response to a user input, or automatically in response to a measured parameter indicting a condition of a liquid.   
     
     
         6 . The liquid heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a voltage control circuit configured for varying the voltage of each of the multiple wire mesh segments. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid heater of  claim 1 , wherein the wire mesh segment comprises multiple wire mesh segments disposed in the conduit, and electrically connected to a DC power supply in a parallel circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid heater of  claim 1 , wherein the conical surface comprises ridges and dips. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid heater of  claim 8 , wherein the ridges and dips form a sinusoidal shape. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid heater of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor to generate a liquid temperature signal; and   a controller to sense the liquid temperature signal, wherein the circuit for carrying the DC current is enabled when the liquid temperature signal indicates a temperature less than a desired temperature.   
     
     
         11 . The liquid heater of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flow sensor to generate a liquid flowing signal; and   a controller to sense the liquid flowing signal, wherein the circuit for carrying the DC current is enabled when the liquid temperature signal indicates liquid flow.   
     
     
         12 . The liquid heater of  claim 1 , wherein the wire mesh segment comprises a broad ring configured to be connected to a positive electrode of a DC power supply. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid heater of  claim 1 , wherein the wire mesh segment comprises a narrow ring configured to be connected to a negative electrode of a DC power supply. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid heater of  claim 1 , wherein the wire mesh segment comprises a wire mesh cloth comprising wire strands having a diameter less than 0.5 mm and a spacing between the wire strands of less than 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid heater of  claim 14 , wherein the wire strands crisscross and form an electrical short at an intersection. 
     
     
         16 . The liquid heater of  claim 1 , wherein the wire mesh segment comprises a hydrophilic coating. 
     
     
         17 . A liquid heater kit comprising:
 a DC power supply; and   a wire mesh segment configured to be disposed in a conduit and to receive a current from the DC power supply, wherein the wire mesh segment has a conically shaped surface.   
     
     
         18 . The liquid heater kit of  claim 17 , further comprising a conduit, wherein the wire mesh element is disposed in the conduit. 
     
     
         19 . The liquid heater kit of  claim 18 , wherein the controller and the wire mesh are of a unitary construction. 
     
     
         20 . The liquid heater kit of  claim 17 , further comprising a controller and a temperature sensor.