Patent ID: 8246015

Claim:
A direct contact steam injection heater comprising: a heater body having a steam inlet, a liquid inlet, and a heated liquid outlet; a steam diffuser positioned at the steam inlet to receive a flow of steam from the steam inlet, the steam diffuser having a generally cylindrical outer wall joined to an end wall; a discharge region formed in a portion of the steam diffuser, the discharge region including a plurality of steam diffusion holes through which steam is discharged from the steam diffuser; a regulating member movably positioned within the steam diffuser to control the discharge of steam from the discharge region, the regulating member having an open interior defined by a cylindrical outer wall extending between an open top end and an open bottom end, wherein the bottom end of the outer wall defines a seating surface, wherein the open interior of the regulating member receives the flow of steam; and a resilient, stationary seating member positioned along the end wall of the steam diffuser, wherein the seating surface on the regulating member contacts the seating member to create an end seal to prevent the flow of steam to the discharge region when the regulating member is in a completely closed position.