HEATING CONTAINER OF LIQUIDS, FATTY PRODUCTS, GELS AND SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Abstract: Heating container of liquids,fatty products,gels and si,ilar provided with an independent or fixed heating electrical system, according to model and comprising an upper container and insulating tank (5) of the product to be heated, equipped or not with a metering pump (24), according to use, which is seated on the part contain­ ing the control and heating electrical system provid­ ed with a system allowing its vertical or horizontal positioning. Said tank at the lower part (10) is incorpo­ rating a suitably profiled part to receive by contact, through its external side, the heat coming from the resistor of the active part whereon is resting and the heat is transmitted through its upper side to in­ side the tank or passive part, in the case of the non-­ independent and fixed model, all the parts making up a single block.

Description: The present invention refers to aheating device for liquid, fatty, gelly and similar products. It is the object of the invention to provide a device of this type which is of general use as an electrical heater of liquids or fatty products and similar, although its preferable use is that of metering-heating liquid soap or bathing gel being therein heated and preserved to an appropriate temperature so that a comfortable, handy use and a better performance is achieved. This object is attained by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the device are subject matter of the dependent claims. This new device comprises two parts or modules to provide easy handling and cleaning of the part containing the product to be heated and is deemed really useful by the fact that the metering tank module, as it does not contain any electrical part is allowing its use at positions where power supply is considered to be dangerous. These two parts or modules are also called active module and passive module. The passive module is the upper one and is not provided with any electrical components, its only function being that of a product tank and product metering which through its appropriate profile and heat conductive base is transmitting heat to the product to be heated. Easy product metering is achieved by the use of a piston pump located inside said tank. The active or bottom module is the one containing all components of the electrical control and heating system ,such as: resistor, thermostat or also self-adjusting resistor, PTC, thermal fuse, main switch, safety switch for detecting the presence of the passive module, ancillary socket and a current tap. The heating component, in turn, is located in close contact with the heat conductive part whereon the metering-tank module is seated at the lower module, so that in this way the heat can be transmitted to the product to be heated. A practical embodiment of this metering-heating device of fatty products,liquids or similar and more particularly, liquid soap or bathing gel, the basic breakdown of its main parts has already been made, can be carried out in several ways, all of them however based on the same basic performance i.e. a device division in two modules or basic parts,which are the active and passive ones, mutually separable. The passive module being the upper one is acting as a thank with a metering pump incorporated; to operate the pump by a pushbutton located at the unit upper part and to be depressed, this pushbutton projecting from the tank cover central part. When the pushbutton is depressed, the product is forced to go out by the effect of the piston pump and the product can then go out either through an upper side conduit or through the lower central part, according to the design of the system used. Preferably, the tank has a wall of insulating material or if so required with a double wall, so that a greater thermal insulation of the product to be heated is achieved. At its base it is showing a suitable profile so that when the passive upper module is seated on the active lower one, both remain aligned and engaged without any possibility of any lateral displacement. The lower central part of the passive module is made of a heat conductive material and is seated on the active module heated part which in turn is also conductive in a way that any heat generated by the electrical heating component carried and engaged thereon can be transmitted. This heating component can be comprised of an electrical resistor controlled by a thermostat or a self-controlled resistor or PTC, all that with an insulation level meeting the applicable standards. As safety guard a thermofuse can be used for a maximum restriction of the thermal level or pushbutton switch provided for detection of the absence of the metering tank and also will be applied all those required standards to be met. The active module can be provided with a main switch, a current tap and an ancillary socket so that certain domestic appliances can be used without switching off the current tap of the heating device. The active or basic module has a configuration shaped in a wry that it can appropriately be fixed to a surface, either vertical or horizontal and acting as a support for all the unit. By way of summary of the description and to emphasize still even more the main usefulness of the present invention, it can be said that the use assigned to this device is highly varied since basically will be the one required for preserving any product, liquid or fatty or similar product, particularly soap or bathing gel to an appropriate temperature for best use, comfort and performance. Because it has the product metering container module, the possibility of independence is open by keeping its thermal properties up a determined time and the module can temporarily be used at places which were dangerous to do it with electrical system incorporated devices as for example to use a bathing gel in the area kept by the shower base or bath. The present description is made more understandable by reference to the attached drawings wherein by may of illustration only and non-exhaustive example of the present invention is shown an embodiment of a heating container of liquids,fatty products,gels and similar, product according to the principles of the claims: In the drawings: Figures 1,2,4,7 and 8 show different embodiments of the device explained in the following description, of which Figures 1,2 and 4 show some elevation cross-sectional views of the upper and lower modules. Figures 3 and 6 are plan views of the device in different embodiments, and Figures 5 is a detailled view of an end piece component of the metering pump which can generally be used in all versions where necessary. In the drawings the possible distribution of the different components within the device may bee seen. In the drawings can be seen an upper module 4 consisting of a top cover -2- closing a tank -5- which according to the use given to the device may be provided with a metering pump 24, outside or inside of the tank 5 shown, projecting only a pushbuttom -1- from the cover -2-. Module -4- is also called the passive module because it only acts as a container for the product to be heated. If required, the tank 5 of the module -4- may be double walled forming an annular chamber -6- to improve thermal insulation of the product within said tank 5. The base -10- of the tank -5- is heat conductive and can be provided with different profiles, in a way that it collects heat from a heat source -13- located in a lower module called active module 53, said base 10 distributing the heat within the product to be heated in the tank 5 of the upper module -4-. If a metering pump -24- is used, the pump may be of various types although in the present descripition only two of the many possible types are explained; in one embodiment corresponding to figure 2, the pump-24- is formed by central extension of the base -10-, divided in two portions, the first one being cylindrical and making up the pump lining and the other one being frustoconical and heat conductive. The pushbutton -1- projects from the cover -2- and a pushing rod -7- resting on a plunger -38- guided within the cylindrical portion of the extension engaged by said pushbutton 1. At the plunger lower part is found a ball-spring unit -8- acting as a suction valve, and a reaction spring -36- and an outlet valve body -51- retained by a flexible disk 9 in an outlet 3 of said tank 5. The pump unit's frustoconical portion is resting in an armature -22- of the heat source -13-. In the embodiment of the pump shown in the plan cross-sectional view of figure 4, it can be seen that pressure exerted on the upper pushbutton -1- is transmitted through the hollow pushing rod -7- which in turn houses a flexible pipe -39- provided with an antidripping neck at the external end. The fuction of the pipe 39 is to take up the displacements of the plunger unit 38 and carry the product to be metered towards the outlet -3-. At the lower end of the pipe 39 within pushing rod 7 an end piece 35 is situated the profile of which is shown in detail in figure 5. Its function is to clamp the flexible pipe -39- and avoid that the ball -8A- of the pressing valve may obstruct the inlet opening of the flexible pipe -39-. Plunger -38- of the pump is formed as a cylindrical extension of the hollow pushing rod -7- and, if required, can be arranged without any gasket at all outside a cylindrical wall -37- which is the pump lining. The plunger 38 is retained within the pump by a cath -50- located at its upper part. Inside a concentric cylindrical space formed by the plunger and descending vertical projections of the walls of rod -7- and plunger -38- the reaction spring -36- of the pump is located, resting by its lower part on a horinzontal portion of the bottom of the pump housing, wherein at its lowest central part, an inverted frustoconical projection is found which along with a ball -8B- forms a suction valve. The metering pump can be located inside the tank 5 and in several ways, and among such ways three will now be mentioned. First, the pump is hanging from the cover 2 and positioned in a stepped recess -28 - thereof according to figure 1, and provided with a downwardly extending suction pipe. Delivery can be made by means of a pipe to outlet -3- at a side of the cover -2-. Another possible position of the pump 24 is that shown in figure 4, achieved by a horizontal extension from the upper part of the cylinder lining -37- of the pump and closing the upper end of the another cylindrical part -40- concentric to the pump, which is inserted and fitted to the inside part of the wall -4- of the upper module 4. Additionally the part -40- which basically acts as a positioning component for the pump -24- can be supplemented by a conduit -33- to enable the access of the product still cold to the lower part of the tank -5- in a way that it does not become easily mixed with the product, e.g. soap, already hot. Communicating on is effected at the upper region of an outer annular compartment -41- defined by an upwardly extending vertical cylindrical projection of the heat conductive contact base -10-. Due to the suction effect of the pump -24- and the pressure of the product at a lower temperature than that entering through the conduit -33- into the compartment -41, the product is flowing to the inner compartment -42- wherein is sucked by the pump 24 in a way that should the upper part of the tank -5- be left empty, the pump -24- then only drains the product amount existing in the compartment -42- leaving the outer compartment -41- full and at a reduced temperature. When the tank -5- is filled with product, e.g. liquid soap, the one existing in outer compartment -41- is pushed by that existent in the upper part of the tank and in this way soap is quickly obtained at the appropriate temperature. To avoid the building up of excessive air pockets, even though a small air pocket might be convenient to reduce the heat passage to the upper part of the tank, a venting conduit -34- is provided with a small extention at its lower part to make up a small air pocket at the upper part inside the compartment 41 of the pump. If required for certain applications, an easy heat communication to the upper part of the tank -5-, may be established by some perforation in the upper horizontal surface of the part -40-. The lower module, i.e. the active module 52 contains the electrical control and heating system at a location within a housing 16 where the tank 5 of the passive module 4 to be heated will be rested. Said active module 52 can be equipped with a current tap by means of an electrical plug or direct splicing, a socket and a switch 14, a thermal fuse -18-, a terhmostat -19- and a safety pushbutton switch -20-. The electrical heat source-13-, preferrably a resistor, which may be of the PTC type, can be integrated in the armature -22- transmitting the heat to the base -10- of the passive module 4. These two parts components 22 and 10, which are in close contact, can be configured and made to assure a sufficient thermal transmission, as can be those shown in the different figures. As seen on the figure 1, two parts are there which are engaged by gravity: base 10 and armature -22-. To ensure a good contact, a spring -26- biases the armature -22- movably provided inside a sheath -15- of thermal insulating material and positioned by a screw -27-, a labyrinth -21- preventing access of foreign matter. A seating arrangement -12- is provided to prevent horizontal displacement of the upper module with respect to the lower module. If an adjustable temperature is required, a control knob 23 may be provided at the outside of the lower module 52. To affix the lower module 52 to a vertical or horizontal surface a straight angle plate -25- fixed by screws to the wall may be used. In the embodiment of Fig. 2 the lower extension of the base -10- while being a metering pump is also the collector for the heat coming from the active armature -22-. This armature 22 is frustocronically shaped floating due to a spring -26- which assures the contact, although the armature 22 can also be fixed and positioned at an inner frame -15-. The bottom -17- of the lower module 52 has some engagements -21- on the armature -22- acting as a labyrinth seal to prevent access of foreign matter. The thermostat -19- can have a fixed value. If made adjustable, the adjustment can be performed through a window 32. In figure 4, the base -10- and the armature -22- in this case, flatly and rigidly positioned, are making the contact also by gravity. The positioning of the lower module 52 to a horizontal and vertical surface can be performed in several ways; e.g. by a plate 25 clamped to the housing 16 as in figure 1 or else with a lateral rectangular extension as in figures 3,4,6 and 7 affixed positioned to the wall, in the case of figur 3 by means of a plate -25- previously screwed to the wall; Another way can be that of figure 4 where a rectangular mounting part can be affixed to a vertical wall by means of a screw passage -46- or to a horizontal surface by means of a screw passage -29-. The active module frame can be shaped in several ways, among them that shown on the figur 1, being basically a single part opened only on the upper part or those of figures 2 and 4 being basically made from two parts, an upper one, opened from above to leave access to the thermal conductive armature -22- and also opened at its lower part to allow location of the electrical components; this lower part is closed by means of a cover which can be positioned among other things with the screws -31-; all them having at its lower part draining holes -48- and cable positioning with a pressure bush or labyrinth and cable outlet -49-. A passive lower support module may additionally be provided having basically the same supporting function as the active lower module, but it does not contain any electrical component so that it can be located in wet places. Such passive support module is not shown here and may particularly be used for receiving the upper module of the Fig. 2 embodiment in a suitably heated condition of its contents.

Claims: 1. A heating device for liquid, fatty, gelly or similar products, comprising an electrical heating system, a passive upper module (4) forming a tank (5) for the product to be heated, and an active lower module (52) forming a housing (16) locating the electrical heating system (13,22) and equipped with means for fastening said housing (16) to a vertical or horizontal stationary mounting surface, said lower module (52) being provided with means (12) on its top for removably seating the upper module (4). 2. A heating device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper module (4) is provided with a metering pump (24). 3. A heating device as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the electrical heating system (13,22) comprises a temperature control system (19). 4. A heating device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the temperature control system comprises a thermostat switch (19) or a resistance heating element of PTC characteristic. 5. A heating device as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tank (5) comprises two concentric bodies disposed one within the other, leaving an annular chamber (6) to improve thermal insulation. 6. A heating device as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tank (5) comprises a base (10) having a profile suitable for heat transmission from the electical heating system (13,22) of said lower module (52). 7. A heating device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the electrical hating system (13,22) comprises an armature (22) movably mounted within the housing (16) so as to be self-adjustable to the base (10) of the tank (5) and in heat contact with a heater element (13). 8. A heating device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the armature (22) is biased by a spring (26). 9. A heating device as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the electrical heating system (13,22) comprises a safety pressure switch (20) which is switched off when product fails to be in the tank (5). 10. A heating device as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 9 wherein the pump (24) comprises a cylinder (37), a plunger (38) within said cylinder (37), a pushing rod (7) to transmit actuation pressure exerted on a pushbutton (1) to said plunger (38), a product outlet pipe (39) partially extending within said pushing rod (7), a lower ball intake valve comprising a ball (8B) in a frustoconical projection of the cylinder and closing a downward opening of said projection by gravity, an upper ball intake valve comprising another ball (8A) and being secured to said plunger (38) and connected to said outlet pipe (39), a reaction spring (36) disposed betweeen said cylinder (37) and said plunger (38), and a catch (50) securing the plunger (38) within said cylinder (37). 11. A heating device as set forth in any one of claims 2 to 9 wherein the pump (24) is disposed in a central extension of said base (10) having a frustoconical shape and removably penetrating the central section of the lower module (52) to engage the correspondingly shaped armature (22) thereof, said central extension having an outlet (3) at the bottom end thereof closed by a movable valve member (51) biased in a closing position by a flexible disk (9). 12. A heating device as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising as a third module a lower passive resting support which is designed similar to the active module but does not comprise any electrical components, for seating the upper passive module.

Inventors: DE TORNER FIGUERAS, ALBERTO
Applicants: ALEADOS DEL COBRE S.A. ALECOSA
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A47K5
IPC codes: F24H1, A47K5