Abstract: A heater effectively uses a current controlled fan motor in series with a resistance heating arrangement. The fan motor preferably is wound with a gauge of wire to appropriate for the relatively high current provided to the fan motor. This arrangement is effectively used to adjust the fan speed to match the heat output when the heating arrangement has variable heat output. More desirable operating characteristics are achieved without increasing costs and fan motor manufacturing savings are realized. The portable heater preferably produces heat at different outputs and the current used to power the resistance heating arrangement is used to power the fan motor.

Abstract: A heating device has PTC heating thermistors connected in groups, and a circuit for selectively turning on one or more groups. At least two of the groups have different rated heating powers. The circuit turns on the selection of the groups at least on the basis of the available electrical power.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a flowable material comprises a core having a passageway formed therein for the communication of the flowable material, and an electric element coiled in multiple turns against the core in a helical pattern. The electric element, in use, heats the core both resistively and inductively. The electric element has no auxiliary cooling capacity. The electric element may be installed against the outside of the core, with an optional ferromagnetic yoke installed over it, or it may be installed against the inside of the core, embedded in a wear-resistant liner. The yoke and liner may be metallic material deposited such as by hot-spray technology and finished smooth.

Abstract: A device and method is shown for electrically heating a vehicle. The heating device has positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating thermistors connected in groups, and a circuit for selectively turning on one or more groups. At least two of the groups have different rated heating powers. The circuit turns on the selection of the groups at least on the basis of the available electrical power.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heater 6 which includes a first heating conductor pattern 1, a second heating conductor patterns 2 and an elongated plate-shaped member 3 made of heat-resistive and insulated material. The first heating conductor pattern 1 is disposed in the central portion in a longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped member 3. The second heating conductor patterns are disposed in both end portions of the plate-shaped member in the longitudinal direction. The first heating conductor pattern 1 and the second heating conductor patterns 2 are independently controlled their temperature. Current is first fed to the first heating conductor pattern 1, and the current feeding is stopped, and current is then fed to the second heating conductor patterns 2. Accordingly, the protective member placed on and along the heater 6 is gradually heated from the center to both ends.

Abstract: A multiloop temperature-control system has a hydraulic bus connected to a plurality of loops for the temperature-control medium and respective hydraulic modules connected to the hydraulic bus, and through the hydraulic bus, to these loops. Plug connectors join each hydraulic module with an electrical supply and control module and the supply and control modules in turn are connected by plug and jack connectors to an electrical bus.

Abstract: A heating unit is provided with heating modules in a housing. Each module has a heating element. An electrical connection is attached to each heating module such that each heating module can be selectively energized to heat its heating element to a high temperature. Alternative embodiments and a related method of rapid heat processing are also disclosed.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heater 6 which includes a first heating conductor pattern 1, a second heating conductor patterns 2 and an elongated plate-shaped member 3 made of heat-resistive and insulated material. The first heating conductor pattern 1 is disposed in the central portion in a longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped member 3. The second heating conductor patterns are disposed in both end portions of the plate-shaped member in the longitudinal direction. The first heating conductor pattern 1 and the second heating conductor patterns 2 are independently controlled their temperature. Current is first fed to the first heating conductor pattern 1, and the current feeding is stopped, and current is then fed to the second heating conductor patterns 2. Accordingly, the protective member placed on and along the heater 6 is gradually heated from the center to both ends.

Abstract: A portable dryer includes a housing, a motor installed with a fan inside the housing, an electric heating device electrically connected to the motor for generating heat, a switch electrically connected to the motor, and a battery for supplying electric power to the portable dryer. When the switch is turned on, the battery can supply electric power to the motor and the electric heating device, making the electric heating device generate heat and the motor drive the fan and thus blowing out hot air generated by the electric heating device.

Abstract: A hot air-blower off-state residual heat preventive control circuit comprises a power voltage stabilizer circuit, a power frequency detection circuit, a microprocessor, a switching control circuit, a LED display circuit, an amplifier circuit, and a rectifier and noise control circuit, wherein when the user turns on the hot air-blower, the microprocessor drives a first bi-directional switch and a second bi-directional switch to turn on a main thermal resistor and a fan motor respectively; when the user turns off the hot air-blower, the microprocessor drives the first bi-directional switch to turn off the main thermal resistor and keeps the second bi-directional switch turning on the fan motor for a predetermined length of time, and then drives the second bi-directional switch to turn off the fan motor a predetermined length of time after off-state of the main thermal resistor.

Abstract: An infrared device for prewarming water is provided with a cassette having a predetermined length of tubing connectable at an inlet to a watrer source and an inlet connected to a device for dispensing hot water. An infrared energy-generating sheet is positioned in the cassette on or adjacent to the tubing or passage. The infrared energy sheet includes a fiberglass support grid, a layer formed on support matrix from a mixture of carbon and polymeric materials capable of producing infrared radiation in response to electrical current passed there through. A pair of electrical conduction power strips are attached along opposite sides of the matrix layer and are attached to input power terminals to provide the required current. The entire cassette may be held together with a glue or may be otherwise bonded or molded into a unit for convenient handling.

Abstract: A stand for an electric pot has a support extending out from a peripheral edge of a base of the stand and a plate integrally formed with the support and being adapted to receive and support cups on the plate. When the water within the electric pot is boiled, the cups that go with the pot can simultaneously be heated for sanitary purposes.

Abstract: A portable dryer includes a housing, a motor installed with a fan inside the housing, an electric heating device electrically connected to the motor for generating heat, a switch electrically connected to the motor, and a battery for supplying electric power to the portable dryer. When the switch is turned on, the battery can supply electric power to the motor and the electric heating device, making the electric heating device generate heat and the motor drive the fan and thus blowing out hot air generated by the electric heating device.

Abstract: A heating apparatus having a heating grid array wherein individual elements of the heating grid array may by selected, thereby producing a heating/browning effect from the selected elements. Groups of the individual elements may be selected such that a desired heating/browning pattern is achieved. Elements of the grid array are selected for a duration of time such that a desired heating/browning pattern is produced. The heating apparatus contains an addressing circuit for addressing the grid array and a memory for storing heating/browning patterns. The heating device also contains a timing element for controlling the duration of time that the heating/browning pattern is applied. The memory contains duration data corresponding to all, or portions of the selected elements of the grid array. The duration data varies over the selected elements of the grid array so that different selected elements of the grid array are selected for different durations of time.

Abstract: A heating device has PTC heating thermistors connected in groups, and a circuit for selectively turning on one or more groups. At least two of the groups have different rated heating powers. The circuit turns on the selection of the groups at least on the basis of the available electrical power.

Abstract: A heater having selective power rating includes a source of electric current, at least one heating unit and at least one electric conductor having an input and an output. Each conductor is permanently fixed at its input and its output so that the conductor is in electric communication with the source. Each conductor is in one of two states. In a conducting state, the conductor is electrically continuous between its input and its output. In a nonconducting state, the conductor is severed between its input and its output. A first conductor is disposed with respect to the source and a first heating unit so that the first heating unit operates at a power level that is dependent on the state of the first conductor. The source and the at least one heating unit are configured to produce one of a plurality of a desired power levels depending on the state of the first conductor.

Abstract: An appliance includes a plurality of electric power consuming devices having associated activated power consumption levels which collectively can exceed an available power supply limit to the appliance. The appliance includes a control system for power distributing to the various devices in a manner which optimizes performance while preventing the current draw from exceeding the established limit. In the most preferred embodiment, the appliance constitutes a range having various heating components, preferably first and second ovens, as well as a plurality of surface heating elements. A current monitoring arrangement signals demanded current levels from certain ones of the heating components, with the signals being used by the control system to distribute the available current on a predetermined priority basis.

Abstract: Heater circuits (13) are placed in close proximity or integrated with connection points (12) of an integrated circuit. A connection point is an area where a wire bond or conductive bump is coupled for providing electrical interconnection external to an integrated circuit. Heater circuits (13) are polysilicon strips that form resistive heat elements. A DC voltage or a pulsed voltage is applied to the heater circuits (13) to generate a local heat at the connection points that can reach temperatures exceed 1000 degrees centigrade. The heat is localized to an area near the connection point to prevent damage to temperature sensitive material. The heater circuits (13) raise the temperature of the connection points (12) to increase bond strength of a wire bond or to reflow a conductive bump to adhere to a connection point of another substrate.

Abstract: A cooking appliance having a hob surface is provided with a hob heating element provided in the top surface of a base unit. The base unit is arranged to be capable of being raised above the level of the hob surface in order to expose a further heating element provided in the bottom surface of the base unit whereby to permit food to be cooked with heat from above or below. The heating elements may be of gas or electrical.

Abstract: An electric multi-stage heater assembly that provides multi-level heating using a plurality of separately controllable heating elements within a housing that is readily interchangeable with standard single-stage heater housings that can be controlled by conventional power switching circuits. The multi-stage heater assembly of this invention has each electric heater element straddling a support member with a portion of the heater element extending from one side to the other to maintain the electrical continuity of the element. The support member has a plurality of cut-outs that provide space for routing the cross over portion of the heater element and sufficient clearance to accommodate the inevitable droop associated with heat cycling electric resistive heater elements. The support member is equipped with a plurality of insulators which support and electrically insulate the heater element. The insulators are arranged to cooperatively rotate within the support member to minimize sagging of the heater elements.

Abstract: A rethermalization system for heating refrigerated food on trays, maintaining the food in a refrigerated condition until heated, and heating some of the food to a desired temperature at a serving time while maintaining the rest of the food in a refrigerated condition. The system has a cart which docks inside a refrigerator. The cart has shelves on which trays of food reside. In the shelves there are heaters. The operator programs the system using an intricate series of commands at an operator interface. A first controller interprets the commands and sends the program to a second controller. The second controller controls the heating cycle of the heaters. A current sensor is provided to sense whether there is current to the heaters. The second controller polls the current sensor and compares the findings to what is called for in the program.

Abstract: The apparatus for making beverages comprises a kettle 15, a stand 10 and separable electrical connector means 16a,b to automatically connect the kettle with an electrical power supply connector in the stand when the kettle is placed on the stand; the stand is extended and provides a platform for a pot 13 and an electric heating member 14 is provided to heat a vessel on the platform alongside the kettle, and is provided with switch means to selectively energize the heating member and/or the kettle.

Abstract: A single unit coffee brewer for simultaneous brewing of two different types of coffee which utilizes carafes that in appearance resemble a single carafe but in actuality are constructed of two separate carafes. Each carafe receives brewed coffee from a separate filter basket with each filter basket to receive water from its own separate water tank. The water of each water tank is to be moved through a water supply conduit that is unique to that water tank to which it is affixed. The conduits and water of both water tanks and the warming plate assembly are to be heated by a heater assembly mounted within the base of the coffee brewer. There is a separate heater unit of the heater assembly for each separate warming plate with there being multiple separate warming plates within the warming plate assembly.

Abstract: An electrical heating apparatus, for example, a fan heater, comprises at least an electrical heating element (14) and a motor (14) for driving a fan. The apparatus also comprises a switch device arranged to provide the apparatus with two operating modes. In the first mode the heating element and the motor are connected in parallel, and in the second mode the heating element and the motor are connected in series. The first mode provides a relatively high heat output and/or high airflow to distribute the heat quickly. The second mode provides quieter operation at a similar or lower output power level, for example, to maintain a given temperature while causing less disturbance to people in the vicinity of the fan heater. A further heating element may be arranged in parallel with the motor in the second mode of operation so as to provide a potential divider for supplying the motor.

Abstract: An integrated refrigeration and rethermalization system for storage of prepared meals in a refrigerated state, rethermalization of the meals in accordance with a rethermalization program, and maintenance of the rethermalized meals at a desired serving temperature is disclosed. Refrigerated meals are placed on trays, supported by heater shelves, in a refrigeration-rethermalization cart having onboard refrigeration. Critical cooling elements of the onboard refrigerator are located within the food storage area of the cart for improved cooling air flow and maximum cooling efficiency. The heater shelves contain one or more heating elements designed to heat only selected food items located on the trays in accordance with preset time-temperature curves, or rethermalization programs.

Abstract: A rethermalization system for heating refrigerated food on trays, maintaining the food in a refrigerated condition until heated, and heating some of the food to a desired temperature at a serving time while maintaining the rest of the food in a refrigerated condition. The system has a cart which docks inside a refrigerator. The cart has shelves on which trays of food reside. In the shelves there are heaters. The operator programs the system using an intricate series of commands at an operator interface. A first controller interprets the commands and sends the program to a second controller. The second controller controls the heating cycle of the heaters. A current sensor is provided to sense whether there is current to the heaters. The second controller polls the current sensor and compares the findings to what is called for in the program.

Abstract: A prepared meals system has at least one food container and cooking unit. The food container has at least two compartments for different foods to be heated at different temperatures and/or times. The cooking unit has at least one cooking station having two or more heating zones on a lower surface and at least one grilling element above the heating zones. The user selects one of several preprogrammed cooking procedures according to the indicia on a selected container having the desired food. A heat controller operates to control the times and temperatures of the heating zones and grilling element to appropriately cook the food in the container.

Abstract: Bagel cooking apparatus which has a casing and a bagel boiling section provided by a water-containing component removably supported from the casing. An oven section in which boiled bagels are baked is located beneath the bagel boiling section. Independently controllable heaters may be provided to boil the water and to bake the bagels or a single heater may be employed for both of those purposes. In the latter case, the removable, water-containing component is constructed so that it can be associated with the casing in two different orientations in which that component respectively directs heat primarily to the bagel boiling section of the apparatus and to its oven section.

Abstract: An electric coffeemaker includes a first electric heater for heating water for brewing the coffee. A carafe is supported on a base portion of the housing of the coffeemaker. A second electric heater is mounted in heat transfer relation with the base portion for keeping the base portion warm when a coffee-laden carafe is positioned thereon. The operation of the second electric heater is controlled to reduce the heat delivered to the base portion when a relatively lesser quantity of coffee has been brewed and to increase the amount of heat delivered to the base portion when a relatively greater quantity of coffee has been brewed. The operation of the second heater may also be varied to satisfy specific consumer taste preferences.

Abstract: A rethermalization system for rethermalizing refrigerated foods in an institutional food service setting is disclosed. A rethermalization cart is provided with a plurality of trays for supporting food items to be served. The trays are supported on heater shelves including heating elements located under the portions of the trays corresponding to locations of food items to be heated. A loaded cart is placed in a refrigerator and is attached to a power supply and controller. A serving time is programmed into the system and the controller provides power to the cart a predetermined interval before the desired serving time. Heater microcontrollers are associated with the heater shelves and control power to the heating element on the shelves in accordance with at least one rethermalization program.

Abstract: A toaster is provided with independent electric feeding for the classical two resistances which take part therein, so that the toasting effect may be supplied to only one of the two surfaces of the slice of bread, or to the two sides as is conventional.For this purpose, either two independent contactors are used, corresponding to the two resistances, which can act independently with the assistance of a movable wedge or be obliged to act simultaneously, in which case the resistances are fed through a diode, or else the said resistances are fed through two commutation transistors and from an electronic control and adjusting circuit provided with a temporizer and which is assisted by two push-buttons, one for selecting the resistances and the other for stop/release.

Abstract: A cooking and baking device to be built in comprising an oven and a cooktop, the oven comprising: a frame, a cabinet-shaped oven unit connected with the frame and provided with a hinged door and an oven control-member connected with the frame and carrying at least one oven actuating member partly protruding from a control-panel connected with the frame, and the cooktop comprising a cooktop unit adapted to be built in a horizontal plane and cooktop control-members connected with cooktop actuating members partly protruding from the control-panel. The cooktop control-members are functionally and permanently connected with the cooktop unit and the cooktop comprises an actuating unit releasably connected with the frame, in which at least the cooktop actuating members are arranged. Preferably at least the visible part of the control-panel is a releasable front panel with recesses for the actuating members.

Abstract: Automatic wave solder apparatus having a fluxer section, preheater section and wave soldering section through which circuit boards are passed by a conveyor. All of the major process parameters are monitored by a microprocessor. One specific parameter controlled is the temperature of the boards exiting from the preheater system. Preheating is carried out by two axially spaced banks of heaters, the upstream one supplying the major quantity of heat and the downstream one supplying sufficient heat to boost the temperature to the desired value. A pyrometer located in the zone between the two banks of heaters measures the heat radiated from the boards and this information is converted by the microprocessor to an appropriate instruction to the second bank of heaters. The soldering section has a solder pot assembly particularly adapted to the automatic nature of the apparatus. The pot can be jacked to the correct height according to the length of leads projecting from the boards under control of the microprocessor.

Abstract: The device for gluing sheet-like textile articles contains a spreading station (15), a heating station (16), a pressing station (17) and a take-off station (18). The plate-shaped heating zones consist of several hollow-profile heaters (25) which are arranged next to one another and on the rear contact side (28) of which panel heaters are attached, each panel heater having at least one electrically heatable heating device (heating wire). The heating wires can be controlled each individually or in groups.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing a thermoplastic strip moving forward stepwise and used in the production of hot-formed containers which, after forming, are filled and sealed in a sterile atmosphere, wherein prior to the strip softening operation, the surface of said strip which is subsequently to constitute the inside face of the containers, is exposed evenly and intermittently, in successive portions and for a very short period of time, to a temperature higher than that of the softening point of the said thermoplastic strip and which is dependent on the desired extent of bacterial destruction.

Abstract: A control circuit assembly, includes a cooking plate having at least two individual cooking regions being electrically connectible in common for cooking together, heating elements being disposed in the cooking regions of the cooking plate and having inputs, current circuits connected to the heating elements, an electronic control device connected to the inputs of the heating elements for producing variable heating power outputs, heating power control devices respectively associated with the heating elements, and switching elements disposed in the current circuits for selectively connecting each of the respective heating elements in the individual cooking regions to one of the heating power control devices in a first switching mode, and for connecting the heating elements of the individual cooking regions together to one of the heating power control devices while disconnecting the other heating power control devices from the respective heating elements with which they are associated in a second switching mode.

Abstract: A cooking unit comprises at least two electric cooking plates, for example four such plates. Each plate can have a pair of electrical heating resistances. Power is supplied to each cooking plate via a switching unit, comprising a thermostat. Each thermostat switches on and off and is so arranged that when part or all of the power to one cooking plate is switched off power is supplied to another cooking plate connected downstream thereof.

Abstract: A range top having a plurality of main cooking stations defining discrete cooking areas spaced from one another and being switchable on and off by switching elements individually connectible to the main cooking stations, includes an auxiliary cooking station disposed in vicinity of at least one of the main cooking stations and being conformed to and contiguous with the one main cooking station so as to define therewith a substantially continuous enlarged cooking area.