Abstract: A magnetic heater is provided having a conductor assembly and a magnet assembly. The magnet assembly is adapted to rotate relative to the conductor assembly about an axis so as to induce eddy currents in the conductor assembly when relative motion is produced between the conductor assembly and first magnet assembly. The conductor assembly is adapted to translate transversely into and out of magnetic engagement with the magnet assembly. In one embodiment, the conductor assembly defines a fluid path therein for the transfer of heat from the conductor assembly to a fluid. The magnetic heater is a component of a heat generation system comprising an internal combustion engine having a drive shaft for rotating the magnet assembly. The heat generated by the magnetic heater, as well as the heat generated by the engine from the engine exhaust and engine cooling system, is combined to heat a fluid.
Abstract: A disposable microwave food shield for preventing splatter of food onto the interior surfaces of microwave ovens made from absorbent, yet rigid paper material.
Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for heating product streams, particularly food product streams containing fruits or fruit pieces, the product 47 flows through a product-carrying channel 2. The apparatus comprises means for generating high electrical alternating fields, wherein the means comprises electrodes, electrode terminals and an alternating field generator. The invention is characterized in that the electrodes are provided within the product-carrying channel.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 10, 2004
Date of Patent:
August 12, 2008
Assignee:
INDAG Gesellschaft Fuer Industriebedarf mbH & Co. Betriebs KG
Inventors:
Hans-Peter Wild, Bradley Gunn, Klaus Lochbühler
Abstract: An improved induction heating apparatus is provided for attaching membrane roofs. A top membrane layer is attached to attachment disks that hold sheets of thermal insulation to the top of roof substrates. The heating apparatus emits a magnetic field that raises the temperature of the disks and a heat-activated adhesive on top of the disks which, after cooling, becomes adhered to the bottom surface of the top membrane layer. The disks in turn are attached via fasteners to the substrate portion of the roof structure. The apparatus includes a set of bottom guides that allow a user to find the attachment disks mechanically, without actually seeing those disks beneath the top membrane layer. A fine locator circuit is provided, using a magnetic field, and the apparatus allows a user to stand upright while operating the apparatus.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 30, 2005
Date of Patent:
July 15, 2008
Assignee:
Nexicor LLC
Inventors:
John P. Barber, Robert C. Cravens, II, Antonios Challita, Susan A. Stanton
Abstract: A heating arrangement heats a first major surface of a workpiece with an illumination energy such that a first portion of the illumination energy is directly incident upon the first major surface of the workpiece and a second portion of the illumination energy is directed such that, at least initially, the second portion would miss the first major surface. A reflector, having a central opening, reflects at least some of the second portion of the illumination energy onto the peripheral edge region of the workpiece for preheating compensation. The reflector is configured for shadow-free exposure of a second, opposing major surface of the workpiece to a flash heating energy. A workpiece manipulation arrangement is described to provide for dynamic preheating movement to vary a heating profile across the workpiece and, thereafter, move the workpiece to a flash heating position. Automatic workpiece centering is featured by the manipulation arrangement.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 12, 2007
Date of Patent:
July 8, 2008
Assignee:
Mattson Technology
Inventors:
Dave Camm, Mike Krasnich, Miaden Bumbulovic, Sergiy Dets, Steve McCoy
Abstract: A method for obtaining diagnostic information about a region of a living being, the region having a medical device with a radiopaque portion disposed therein. An X-ray beam having a first energy level in excess of the K-absorption edge of the radiopaque portion of the medical device is directed at the region to obtain a first image information and radiographically locate the medical device within the living being and an X-ray beam having second energy level at or below the K-absorption edge is applied to the region to obtain a second image information.
Abstract: A device for exchanging heat for motor vehicles, having at least one first component connected to an electrical power supply and whose temperature varies dependent on current flowing through the component, at least one second component including at least one first and at least one second part element each of which are at least indirectly conductively connected to the first component, wherein at least one part element includes a first connecting means and at least one electrical contact means which is at least indirectly conductively connected to at least one part element of at least one second component and serves to connect an electrical power supply wherein the contact means includes at least one second connecting means.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 12, 2004
Date of Patent:
July 1, 2008
Assignee:
Behr France Rouffach SAS
Inventors:
Michel Brun, Maxime Mundel, Pascal Miss, Stèphane Jaoaen, Christophe Schmittheisler, Mathieu Mougey, Jean-Blaise Hils, Claude Lengert
Abstract: A method of navigating a medical device in an operating region in a subject. The method includes applying a magnetic field to the operating region and changing the magnetic moment of the medical device by selectively changing a physical condition of at least one magnet element in the medical device to change the orientation of the device with respect to the applied magnetic field.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 29, 2004
Date of Patent:
June 24, 2008
Assignee:
Stereotaxis, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael E. Sabo, Rogers C. Ritter, Roger N. Hastings, Raju R. Viswanathan
Abstract: A drying apparatus includes a thermal roll for contacting and heating aluminum web in a continuous sheet form. The thermal roll includes a roll surface, having a static friction coefficient ? defined by contact with the web.
Abstract: A microwave oven includes a heating chamber for heating and cooking foods, a heating unit for supplying heat energy to the heating chamber; a controller for controlling an operation of the heating unit, and an input unit for inputting cooking information into the controller. The input unit includes as one unit a display unit for displaying the cooking information to be inputted and an electrode unit having one or more switches directly formed on the display unit.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 21, 2005
Date of Patent:
May 6, 2008
Assignee:
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Abstract: The device for heating by electromagnetic induction of a metal strip (A) comprises at least one inductor coil (B) which surrounds an area of the strip in a transversal manner in relation to the longitudinal direction of the strip. The coil (B) comprises at least one monoturn (1) whose median plane (P) is orthogonal in relation to the longitudinal direction (D) of the strip.
Abstract: Provided are revolving hot roller(s) 31; heating means 33 for heating zonal portion(s) in direction(s) of revolution of hot roller(s) 31; thermistor(s) 35 which is/are temperature detection means for detecting temperature(s) of hot roller(s) 31; and control means 36 for controlling output(s) of heating means 33 based on temperature detection data from thermistor(s) 35; wherein at least one of the control means 36 has timing correction means for correcting timing(s) between temperature detection time(s) of thermistor(s) 35 and heating execution time(s) of heating means 33.
Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for the treatment of diseases by exposures to electromagnetic fields. Also, apparatus is described for focusing the biological effectiveness of such fields on specific cells, tissues or organs of a human or animal body.
Abstract: Apparatus for providing electrical power to at least one inductor wherein the at least one inductor is disposed to inductively couple the electrical power to an electrically conductive object to heat the electrically conductive object by inducing electrical current to flow in the electrically conductive object, the apparatus comprising at least one inductor, at least one first half-bridge converter coupled across a DC bus and having an output coupled to a first terminal of the at least one inductor; and at least one second half bridge converter coupled across the DC bus and having an output coupled to a second terminal of the at least one inductor, each half bridge converter having first and second alternately conductive series connected switches connected between the DC bus, the at least one inductor being energized by alternately turning on respective ones of the first and second switches of each converter to cause current to flow from the DC bus alternatingly through the at least one inductor from the firs
Abstract: A microwave insulating material includes a dimensionally stable support, a patterned adhesive layer overlying at least a portion of the support, a polymer film layer overlying the patterned adhesive layer, and a plurality of expandable cells disposed between the support and the polymer film layer and defined by the patterned adhesive layer, wherein the expandable cells vary in size. A self-sealing microwave package includes a sheet of insulating material including a first surface, and a thermally activatable adhesive applied to at least a portion of the first surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 9, 2005
Date of Patent:
April 29, 2008
Assignee:
Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
Inventors:
Lorin R. Cole, Timothy H. Bohrer, Scott W. Middleton, Richard G. Robison, Terrence P. Lafferty, Brian R. O'Hagan, Patrick H. Wnek
Abstract: An apparatus for synthesizing nanostructures. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a heating device that defines a reaction zone therein and a susceptor made of a ferromagnetic material with a Curie temperature and placed in the reaction zone, where the Curie temperature substantially corresponds to a temperature at which the growth of desired nanostructures occurs and the heating device is capable of heating the susceptor substantially at the Curie temperature.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 14, 2005
Date of Patent:
April 29, 2008
Assignees:
The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
Inventors:
Jon Gardner Wilkes, Dan Alexander Buzatu, Dwight Wayne Miller, Alexandru Sorin Biris, Alexandru Radu Biris, Dan Lupu, Jerry A. Darsey
Abstract: According to a mode of the present invention, there is disclosed a fixing apparatus comprising a non-contact temperature detection section which detects a temperature by infrared rays radiated from a heating member, to made uniform a surface temperature of the heating member in an axial direction and a rotation direction based on first temperature information for detecting a temperature difference of the axial direction of the heating member and second temperature information for detecting the temperature difference of the rotation direction of the heating member.
Abstract: An apparatus for heat treating manufactured components using microwave energy and microwave susceptor material. Heat treating medium such as eutectic salts may be employed. A fluidized bed introduces process gases which may include carburizing or nitriding gases. The process may be operated in a batch mode or continuous process mode. A microwave heating probe may be used to restart a frozen eutectic salt bath.
Abstract: A complex home appliance and a method of controlling and installing the same. The complex home appliance includes a single power supply unit shared by two or more component home appliances of the complex home appliance. The two or more component home appliances are controlled by a single control unit of the complex home appliance. The complex home appliance can be operated in a simultaneous operation mode in which the two or more component home appliances are simultaneously operable, and an individual operation mode in which only one of the two or more component home appliances is operable. The complex home appliance includes a mode-setting unit to set the simultaneous or individual operation mode. The complex home appliance includes a power cut-off unit which supplies power to the single power supply unit and cuts off the supply of the power in response to being electrically opened at the time of an electrical overload.