| abstract |
The clean room heating jacket comprises an inner liner and an outer cover formed from flexible, static-dissipative, substantially particle-free fabric, an intermediate layer of resilient, substantially fiber-free insulative material and a flexible heating element disposed between the inner liner and the intermediate insulative layer. The inner liner, intermediate insulative layer and outer cover are configured to conform generally to the shape and size of the processing vessel for which the heating jacket is adapted. The jacket is of clamshell design wherein relatively opposing free edge portions are disposed in closely spaced relation to one another when the jacket is in a closed position and in generally planar, outwardly spaced relation to one another when the jacket is in an open position. A flap is attached to the outer cover in overlying relation to one of the free edge portions, and VELCROC® hook and loop material is secured to the underside of the flap and to the outer cover adjacent to the other opposing edge portion to releasably hold the jacket in the closed position in surrounding relation to the processing vessel. The heating element comprises one or more heat-generating core wires, a layer of insulative material wrapped around the core wire(s), a first thread layer wrapped around the insulative layer, a ground conductor wrapped around the insulative layer and second and third thread layers wrapped around the ground conductor. The core wire(s), insulative layer, ground conductor and various thread layers are disposed in a serpentine pattern, and the heating element is arranged in a plurality of electrically connected strips secured to the inner liner of the jacket. |