Heater for air bath oven

Abstract

A heating device, usable in an oven for heating chromatographic equipment, includes an intake for passing an air flow produced by an air supply connected thereto into a cavity formed inside of a tubular member. A heating element, preferably located within that cavity, heats the air flow to an elevated temperature as well as the walls of the tubular member. A heater housing having an enclosed volume contains the tubular member. The heated air flow passes from the cavity into the enclosed volume where it is distributed along both the interior surfaces that define the enclosed volume and the outside of the walls of the tubular member. The interior surfaces are thereby heated while the heated air flow receives further heat from the heated cavity walls. A manifold including an elongated portion having a plurality of apertures formed therethrough with integral nozzles is connected to the heater housing for receiving therefrom the heated air flow. The elongated portion extends substantially parallel to the heater housing and is arranged such that the heated air flow leaving the nozzles is directed to impinge upon the warmed heater housing before it is circulated to heat the chromatographic equipment.