Inventors:
Glenn J. Gibisch - Downers Grove IL
International Classification:
F27D 704, F28D 1500
Abstract:
A heating unit for heating a generally cylindrically-shaped drum of material to a selected safe temperature without endangering the contents of the drum due to overheating, such heating unit comprising a tub, liquid circulation components interconnected with the tub, and heating components for heating, to a selected temperature, the liquid to be circulated through the tub. The tub has relatively high sides and an interior portion configured to receive a drum therein, with the interior portion of the tub adapted to contain a number of gallons of liquid to be heated. The tub, liquid circulation components and heating components are interconnected such that the liquid circulation components can bring about a substantially continuous flow of heated liquid through the tub. The heating components have a thermostatically controlled heating element for heating the flowing liquid to a selected temperature. The operation of the liquid circulation components causes the circulation of liquid through the heating components and around a drum of material residing in the tub, thus to raise the temperature of the material in the drum to a temperature that does not exceed the temperature of the circulating liquid.