Internally heated hose

Abstract

A temperature control unit includes a fitting, a heating wire, a first temperature sensor, and a housing, which contains the first temperature sensor and portions of the fitting and the heating wire. The fitting includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a flow channel extending from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, and a passage extending through a wall of the fitting to the flow channel. The heating wire extends through the passage and into the flow channel. The first temperature sensor is secured to an external surface of the fitting opposite the flow channel and is electrically connected to the heating wire.

1 . A temperature control unit comprising:
 a fitting comprising:
 a fluid inlet; 
 a fluid outlet; 
 a flow channel extending from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; and 
 a passage extending through a wall of the fitting to the flow channel; 
   a heating wire, wherein the heating wire extends through the passage and into the flow channel;   a first temperature sensor, wherein the first temperature sensor is secured to an external surface of the fitting opposite the flow channel and wherein the first temperature sensor is electrically connected to the heating wire; and   a housing, wherein the first temperature sensor and portions of each of the fitting and the heating wire are contained within the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature control unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature sensor has a control temperature set point, and wherein the first temperature sensor is configured to close an electrical circuit with the heating wire to allow electrical power to be supplied to the heating wire when a temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is below the temperature set point, and wherein the first temperature sensor is configured to open the electrical circuit with the heating wire thereby interrupting the supply of electrical power to the heating wire when a temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is at or above the temperature set point. 
     
     
         3 . The temperature control unit of  claim 2  and further comprising:
 a second temperature sensor, wherein the second temperature sensor is secured to the external surface of the fitting opposite the flow channel and is electrically connected to the heating wire; and 
 wherein the second temperature sensor is an override temperature sensor having a maximum temperature set point, wherein the supply of electrical power to the heating wire is interrupted when a temperature detected by the second temperature sensor reaches the maximum temperature set point. 
 
     
     
         4 . The temperature control unit of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second temperature sensors are bimetallic-type mechanical thermal sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature control unit of  claim 2 , wherein the heating wire is wrapped around an external surface of a portion of the fitting contained within the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature control unit of  claim 6 , wherein the external surface of the fitting comprises a spiral groove in which the heating wire is wrapped. 
     
     
         7 . The temperature control unit of  claim 7 , wherein the heating wire extends from the spiral groove through the passage and into the flow channel. 
     
     
         8 . The temperature control unit of  claim 5  and further comprising:
 a coupling attached to the fluid outlet and configured to connect to a hose. 
 
     
     
         9 . The temperature control unit of  claim 8 , wherein the heating wire is wrapped around the external surface of the fitting multiple times, and wherein a number of times the heating wire is wrapped around the external surface of the fitting is greater when the coupling is configured to connect to a hose having a smaller internal diameter than when the coupling is configured to connect to a hose having a larger internal diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The temperature control unit of  claim 9 , wherein the heating wire extends out through the fitting fluid outlet and into a flow channel of the hose. 
     
     
         11 . The temperature control unit of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the wall of the fitting to which the first temperature sensor is attached has a reduced thickness. 
     
     
         12 . The temperature control unit of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a fastener configured to hold the heating wire in the passage; and 
 a seal configured to block fluid flow through the passage. 
 
     
     
         13 . The temperature control unit of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 an electrical power source configured to supply electrical power to the heating wire, wherein electrical connections to the heating wire and the first temperature sensor are contained within the housing. 
 
     
     
         14 . The temperature control unit of  claim 11  and further comprising:
 an indicator light, wherein the indicator light is located on the housing and is configured to indicate when electrical power is being supplied to the heating wire. 
 
     
     
         15 . An automatic temperature-controlled heated hose assembly comprising:
 a temperature control unit comprising:
 a fitting comprising: 
 a fluid inlet; 
 a fluid outlet; 
 a first flow channel extending from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; and 
 a passage extending through a wall of the fitting to the first flow channel; 
 a heating wire, wherein the heating wire extends through the passage and into the first flow channel; and 
 a first temperature sensor having a control temperature set point, wherein the first temperature sensor is secured to an external surface of the wall of the fitting opposite the first flow channel and is configured to respond to a temperature of the external surface; and 
   a hose having a second flow channel in fluid communication with the fluid outlet, wherein the heating wire extends into the second flow channel for at least a partial length of the hose.   
     
     
         16 . The automatic temperature-controlled heated hose assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the heating wire is wrapped around an external surface of the fitting and is configured to supply heat to the fitting. 
     
     
         17 . A method of controlling a fluid temperature in a hose, the method comprising:
 connecting a temperature control unit to the hose;   providing a fluid flow to the hose through a fitting of the temperature control unit;   detecting a temperature of an external surface of a wall of the fitting opposite a fluid flow channel with a first temperature sensor having a control temperature set point;   supplying electrical power to a heating wire inserted into a fluid flow channel of the hose to supply heat to the fluid within the hose, wherein electrical power is supplied to the heating wire when the temperature detected is below the control temperature set point; and   interrupting the supply of electrical power to the heating wire when the temperature detected reaches the control temperature set point.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  and further comprising:
 providing heat to the external surface of the fitting, wherein the heat is provided by a portion of the heating wire wrapped around the external surface of the fitting. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  and further comprising:
 detecting a temperature of the external surface of a wall of the fitting opposite a fluid flow channel with a second temperature sensor having a maximum temperature set point; and 
 interrupting the supply of electrical power to the heating wire when the temperature detected reaches the maximum temperature set point. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the steps of detecting the temperature, supplying electrical power to the heating wire when the temperature detected is below the control temperature set point, and interrupting the supply of electrical power when the temperature detected reaches the control temperature set point, occurs automatically when power is supplied to the temperature control unit.