Heated plumbing vent

Abstract

A heated component for incorporation as a section of a waste collection pipe has an inner passageway and a chamber foxmed about the passageway. A heating element is located in the chamber and supplies heat to the passageway to melt ice formed in the passageway.

1 . A component for incorporation in a waste system for handling waste fluids, said component comprising a body defining a passageway for fluids, a chamber formed about said passageway and having a heating element located therein and a connection at at least one end of said body to permit communication with said passageway and attachment to another component of said waste system.  
   
   
       2 . A component according to  claim 1  including insulation within said chamber to inhibit heat loss from said passageway.  
   
   
       3 . A component according to  claim 2  wherein said insulation includes a reflective surface to direct radiant energy toward said passageway.  
   
   
       4 . A component according to  claim 1  wherein said heating element is an electrical heating element.  
   
   
       5 . A component according to  claim 4  wherein said electrical heating element is self regulating.  
   
   
       6 . A component according to  claim 1  wherein said heating element is a hydronic heating coil having fluid passing there through.  
   
   
       7 . A component according to  claim 1  wherein said heating element is wrapped about said passageway within said chamber to provide uniform distribution of heat to said passageway.  
   
   
       8 . A component according to  claim 1  wherein said passageway and chamber are concentric and end caps seal opposite ends of said chamber.  
   
   
       9 . A component according to  claim 8  wherein said connection is a skirt formed on one of said end caps.  
   
   
       10 . A component according to  claim 9  wherein said skirt defines an internal diameter greater than that of said passageway.  
   
   
       11 . A vent cap assembly for connection to a vent pipe of a plumbing system, to vent gas to atmosphere, said vent cap having a body defining a passageway for gas and a heating element to supply heat to said passageway and thereby inhibit freezing of water vapour in said passageway.  
   
   
       12 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 11  including a tether within said passageway to retain ice with said passageway as it is melted by said heating element.  
   
   
       13 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said tether extends axially along said passageway.  
   
   
       14 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 11  wherein said tether is secured to a bridge extending across said passageway.  
   
   
       15 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 11  including an insulation layer to inhibit heat transfer from said body.  
   
   
       16 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said insulating layer includes a reflective component.  
   
   
       17 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 11  wherein said heating element is located in a chamber separated from said passageway.  
   
   
       18 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 17  wherein said chamber is separated from said passageway by a wall and a heat conductive layer extends across at least a part of said wall said distribute heat from said heating element to said wall.  
   
   
       19 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 18  wherein heating element is supported by said wall and said heat conductive layer is interposed between said element and said wall.  
   
   
       20 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 17  wherein said body is formed by a pair of nested pipes, one of which defines said passageway and the other of which defines said chamber.  
   
   
       21 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 20  wherein said passageway is defined by an inner one of said pipes and said chamber is defined by a void between said pipes.  
   
   
       22 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 21  further comprising a tether extending axially through the interior of said inner pipe to inhibit downward movement of a mass of ice.  
   
   
       23 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 21  wherein said heating element is an electric heating element, said electric heating element being wound around said inner pipe within said void.  
   
   
       24 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 23  further comprising a layer of conductive material surrounding the outer surface of said inner pipe for dissipating said heat emanating from said heating element over the outer surface of said inner pipe.  
   
   
       25 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 24  further comprising a layer of reflective material lining the inner surface of said outer pipe for reflecting said heat radiating from said heating element towards said inner pipe.  
   
   
       26 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 21  wherein said void is filled with an insulating material.  
   
   
       27 . A vent cap assembly according to  claim 25  wherein said insulating material is a urethane foam.  
   
   
       28 . A method of maintaining a waste system free of ice comprising the steps of inserting into a collection pipe at least one component according to  claim 1 , connecting said component to said collection pipe and applying heat to said passageway from said heating element.  
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 1   28  wherein a pair of components are included in said collection pipe and said methods includes the step of connecting said components by a section of pipe, and covering said section of pipe with an insulating sleeve.