Patent ID: 8396356
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: A61H,F24H,H05B

Abstract:
1. A heater assembly for a bathing installation including a water flow path and a pump for pumping water through the water flow path, comprising: a heater housing structure defining an elongated heater chamber having a first port and a second port and defining a wetted side on the interior of the heater chamber and a non-wetted side on the exterior of the heater chamber, the heater housing structure comprising an elongated member defining an open trough region, the trough shaped member having an open top region circumscribed by a peripheral flange portion, a cover plate configured for attached to said peripheral flange portion and having a wetted surface facing the trough region and a non-wetted surface on an opposed side of the plate, a seal member for providing a liquid seal between the cover plate and the flange portion, wherein the elongated member and the cover plate are fabricated of a plastic, non-electrically conductive material; a resistive heater element, including a coil portion having a diameter smaller than an inner dimension of the heater chamber and a first terminal end and a second terminal end, the heater element being free of any brazed or welded bulkhead members; the housing structure including a first heater terminal opening and a second heater terminal opening, the first terminal end of the heater element passed through the first terminal opening from the wetted side to the non-wetted side, and the second terminal end of the heater element passed through the second terminal opening from the wetted side to the non-wetted side; first and second seal members disposed on said non-wetted side respectively onto the first terminal end and the second terminal end and in contact with respective first and second seal surfaces defined on the housing structure; first and second fastener members respectively arranged to engage the first terminal end and the second terminal end and the first and second seal members; and a stray current collector system for collecting stray currents within the heater housing and including a terminal system configured for a grounding connection for conducting the stray currents to ground.