Electrotherm, Inc.

Alan D Vogel

Fred E Snyder

A terminal block for simplified wiring of an electrical immersion heater assembly by providing for either single phase or three phase wire-up in opposite faces of the block. The terminal block has an electrically insulating body of disc-like configuration with three recesses defined in a first face of the block, each recess adapted to receive a lead connecting strap having a pair of apertures. Each of the three recesses has two bores extending into the body, the apertures of the straps alignable with the bores, for receiving leads of three separate heating elements through the apertures and into the bores for three phase wiring in the first face. The opposite face has an X-shaped recess which encompasses only four of the six bores for single phase wiring of four leads of the heating elements with a pair of curved straps. The body is of conical frustrum shape for better sealing characteristics and includes two additional bores adapted for receiving thermowells.

Terminal block for single phase or three phase wiring of an immersion

An electric heating element assembly includes a solderless fitting for sealably securing a sheathed heating element through an aperture in a container wall or bulkhead, such as in a dishwasher or the like. The fitting includes a cylindrical sleeve positioned over the sheath of the heating element and through the aperture. A radial flange on the fitting is drawn tight against a gasket and the wall by means of a fastener on the outside surface of the sleeve to secure a watertight seal between the fitting and the wall. The sleeve is attached to the sheath by means of an annular lip on the face of the flange, circumferential portions of this lip being axially compressed during assembly so as to radially-inwardly deform corresponding circumferential portions of the sleeve and the sheath to obtain a rotationally-locked liquid-sealing engagement therebetween.

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Laurel, MD, United States of America

Alan D Vogel