Patents by Inventor Michael W. Ruhr

Michael W. Ruhr has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Heater bundle for adaptive control and method of reducing current leakage
    Patent number: 11867430
    Abstract: A heater system includes a heater bundle. The heater bundle includes a plurality of heater assemblies. Each heater assembly includes a plurality of heater units and an insulating material, and each heater unit defines at least one independently controlled heating zone. The heater bundle includes power conductors electrically connected to each of the independently controlled heating zones in each of the heater units. The heater bundle includes a power supply device configured to modulate power to each of the independently controlled heater zones of the heater units through the power conductors. A voltage is selectively supplied to each of the independently controlled heating zones such that a reduced number of independently controlled heating zones receives the voltage at a time or at least a subset of the independently controlled heating zones receive a reduced voltage at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark D. Everly, Michael W. Ruhr, Louis P. Steinhauser, Mark L. G. Hoven, Richard T. Williams
  • HEATER BUNDLE FOR ADAPTIVE CONTROL AND METHOD OF REDUCING CURRENT LEAKAGE
    Publication number: 20200232677
    Abstract: A heater system includes a heater bundle. The heater bundle includes a plurality of heater assemblies. Each heater assembly includes a plurality of heater units and an insulating material, and each heater unit defines at least one independently controlled heating zone. The heater bundle includes power conductors electrically connected to each of the independently controlled heating zones in each of the heater units. The heater bundle includes a power supply device configured to modulate power to each of the independently controlled heater zones of the heater units through the power conductors. A voltage is selectively supplied to each of the independently controlled heating zones such that a reduced number of independently controlled heating zones receives the voltage at a time or at least a subset of the independently controlled heating zones receive a reduced voltage at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark D. EVERLY, Michael W. RUHR, Louis P. STEINHAUSER, Mark L. G. HOVEN, Richard T. WILLIAMS
  • Heater bundle for adaptive control and method of reducing current leakage
    Patent number: 10619888
    Abstract: A method of controlling a heating system is provided that includes having at least one heater assembly, the heater assembly comprising a plurality of heater units, each heater unit defining at least one independently controlled heating zone, supplying power to each of the heater units through power conductors electrically connected to each of the independently controlled heating zones in each of the heater units, and modulating power supplied to each of the independently controlled heating zones. A voltage is selectively supplied to each of the independently controlled heating zones such that a reduced number of independently controlled heating zones receives the voltage at a time, or at least a subset of the independently controlled heating zones receive a reduced voltage at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Everly, Michael W. Ruhr, Louis P. Steinhauser, Mark L. Hoven, Richard T. Williams
  • HEATER BUNDLE FOR ADAPTIVE CONTROL AND METHOD OF REDUCING CURRENT LEAKAGE
    Publication number: 20170254565
    Abstract: A method of controlling a heating system is provided that includes having at least one heater assembly, the heater assembly comprising a plurality of heater units, each heater unit defining at least one independently controlled heating zone, supplying power to each of the heater units through power conductors electrically connected to each of the independently controlled heating zones in each of the heater units, and modulating power supplied to each of the independently controlled heating zones. A voltage is selectively supplied to each of the independently controlled heating zones such that a reduced number of independently controlled heating zones receives the voltage at a time, or at least a subset of the independently controlled heating zones receive a reduced voltage at all times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Everly, Michael W. Ruhr, Louis P. Steinhauser, Mark L. Hoven, Richard T. Williams