Heated condensate drainage tube

Abstract

A passive heater for heating a drainage tube, the passive heater including: an elongated flexible thermal conductor including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to be disposed in contacting relationship with a heat source and at least a portion of the elongated flexible thermal conductor is configured to be disposed in contacting relationship with a portion of the drainage tube; and an eyelet disposed on the first end, the eyelet configured to facilitate the securement of the elongated flexible thermal conductor to the heat source, wherein the first end is configured to receive heat and transmit it along the elongated flexible thermal conductor to increase temperature of the portion of the drainage tube to prevent freezing of a fluid through the drainage tube.

What is claimed herein is: 
     
         1 . A passive heater for heating a drainage tube, said passive heater comprising a fluid jacket comprising an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein said inlet port is configured to receive a fluid and at least a portion of said fluid jacket is configured to be disposed in a contacting relationship with the drainage tube such that the drainage tube can be heated by the fluid to prevent freezing of a drainage through the drainage tube and said outlet port is configured to return the fluid. 
     
     
         2 . The passive heater of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The passive heater of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a gas.