Pipe Or Tube Forms Flow Path Patents (Class 392/488)
  • Patent number: 5482685
    Abstract: A catalyst 1 is provided in a gas passage 4 for communicating between a gas flow-in unit 12 and a gas flow-out unit 13, and the catalyst 1 is heated by a heater 2, and a temperature sensor 3 for detecting the temperature of the heater 2 is provided inside the heater 2. By feeding power to the heater 2, the wall temperature of the heater 2 is raised to heat the catalyst 1, and then malodorous gas containing odor substances is passed in from the gas flow-in unit 12. The malodorous gas passes through the catalyst 1 in the gas passage 4 to be oxidized to be harmless and odorless, and is discharged from the gas flow-out unit 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Fujita, Syuzo Tokumitsu, Hirofumi Nishida, Tadashi Suzuki, Yukiyoshi Ono, Tetsuo Terashima, Takeshi Tomizawa, Jiro Suzuki, Syuji Asada, Yukiyoshi Nishikori
  • Patent number: 5459811
    Abstract: An electrically heated metal spray apparatus is provided with a supersonic nozzle. Molten metal is injected into a gas stream flowing through the nozzle under pressure. By varying the pressure of the injected metal, the droplet can be made in various selected sizes with each selected size having a high degree of size uniformity. A unique one piece graphite heater provides easily controlled uniformity of temperature in the nozzle and an attached tundish which holds the pressurized molten metal. A unique U-shaped gas heater provides extremely hot inlet gas temperatures to the nozzle. A particularly useful application of the spray apparatus is coating of threads of a fastener with a shape memory alloy. This permits a fastener to be easily inserted and removed but provides for a secure locking of the fastener in high temperature environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: MSE, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Glovan, John C. Tierney, Leroy L. McLean, Lawrence L. Johnson, David J. Verbael
  • Patent number: 5446264
    Abstract: A honeycomb heater has an integrated honeycomb structure obtained by connecting in series, via conductive plates, a plurality of honeycomb structure elements each having a large number of passages and each generating heat when electrified. At least two electrodes are provided on the integrated honeycomb structure for enabling the electrical heating thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoharu Kondo, Fumio Abe
  • Patent number: 5438642
    Abstract: A heater for the rapid heating of water includes a main body having plural vertical upwardly opening chambers, combined with a molded cover plate that can be removably installed over the upper part of the main body. A plurality of combination heating and chamber partition assemblies extend downwardly from the bottom surface of the installed cover plate and one each of the assemblies resides in a main body chamber, each assembly including a generally flat and vertically elongated partition member and a pair of heating coils mounted to each partition member, one each coil on opposite sides of the partition member, and each partition member cooperates with a chamber to form a first channel for conducting water downwardly and a second channel for conducting water upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Instantaneous Thermal Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Posen
  • Patent number: 5355456
    Abstract: A pebble-bed evaporator and superheater assembly includes a tubular pressure shell with internal baffles, the latter including a plurality of apertures therein for passage of gas therethrough. Contained within the shell are heater elements and pebble elements which store heat and transfer the same to liquified gas which is vaporized and flows through the shell whereby the gas supplied to the shell and is heated to a predetermined elevated temperature above its input temperature. The heated gas output of the shell flows to a mixer unit connected to the shell and the mixed gas flows out of the mixer. Connected to the mixer is a supply of liquified gas to cool the high temperature gas entering the mixer from the shell such that the temperature of the gas exiting the mixer is below the temperature of the heated gas exiting the shell. In this way the temperature of the gas exiting the mixer is controlled to the desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Sparta, Inc.
    Inventor: Irving B. Osofsky
  • Patent number: 5288975
    Abstract: A resistance-adjusting-type heater including a honeycomb structure having a large number of passages and at least two electrodes provided on the honeycomb structure for energizing the honeycomb structure. The honeycomb structure has a slit or slits which form a predetermined angle to the partition walls of the honeycomb structure so as to enable adjustment of resistance between the electrodes, so that gas flowing through the passages of the honeycomb structure is heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoharu Kondo
  • Patent number: 5271087
    Abstract: A device for heating flowing media in a handpiece, particularly air or water for use in dentistry procedures, includes a structural unit for controllably heating a flowing medium disposed in a housing in a sealed manner such that an annular flow passage is formed between an interior wall of the housing and the structural unit. The structural unit includes a PTC resistor having end faces disposed between and in thermal and electrical contact with a pair of porous sintered metal heat exchanger elements at a non-zero angle to the direction of medium flow. Connectors on the opposing ends of the unit contact the sintered heat exchanger elements to flow connect the structural unit in a medium flow line and to electrically connect the PTC resistor to a heating control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Kaltenbach & Voight GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Gerhard Schmid
  • Patent number: 5266278
    Abstract: A honeycomb heater having integrally formed and/or integrally sintered electrodes constructed of a metallic honeycomb structure having a desired honeycomb configuration, and metallic electrodes which are integrally sintered with the honeycomb structure at predetermined positions thereon. The honeycomb heater having integrally sintered electrodes is manufactured by joining or contacting the electrode-like formed bodies to the formed honeycomb body, and then by sintering the formed honeycomb body with the electrode-like formed bodies attached or contacted thereto. The electrodes are made of the same material as that of the honeycomb body, or of a material having an electric resistance lower than that of the material comprising the honeycomb body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Harada, Fumio Abe, Hiroshige Mizuno
  • Patent number: 5257341
    Abstract: A compact, in-line electric water heater is provided for heating water to a temperature suitable for dental operations. The heater includes a cylindrical inner tube containing an electrical heater element and a cylindrical outer tube concentrically spaced therefrom, through which water to be heated is circulated. An inlet and outlet for the water is located at one end of a chamber formed between the tubes. A control thermostat is operatively mounted on an area of the outer tube which is flattened so as to contact the inner tube and is responsive to the temperature of the outer tube. A thermal limiter is also mounted to the outer tube to function as a safety device should the control thermostat malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: A-Dec, Inc.
    Inventors: George K. Austin, Jr., Andrew G. Schaefers
  • Patent number: 5254840
    Abstract: A mounting assembly is disclosed for a metallic honeycomb resistance heater structure wherein a pair of complementary ceramic honeycomb structures are utilized on opposite sides of the metallic honeycomb structure to not only mechanically support the same within an enclosing housing, but also to electrically insulate the resistance heater from such housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: David F. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5214266
    Abstract: An electric heating attachment for electrically heating the exterior portion of a sewer vent of a building to keep the vent from clogging from snow and/or ice and frost that may accumulate on the building roof. The attachment has an elongated rod insertable into the vent a with an electric heating tape extending along the length thereof. Laterally extending arms on an upper portion of the rod engage the top edge of the vent to limit the extent of the insertion of the rod into the vent. The section of the rod extending above the lateral arms terminates in a hoop portion having a portion of the heating tape extending therealong to heat the area immediately above the sewer vent to keep this area open to the atmosphere by melting the snow and/or ice above the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Inventor: John D. Halone, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5212763
    Abstract: A forced gas electric heater has a serpentine heating element disposed within a cylindrical glass tube. Infrared radiation emanating from the heating element enters the glass tube whereby part of the infrared radiation is directed within the wall of the glass tube to the edge of the glass tube. An infrared sensor is in line of sight with the edge of the glass tube. The infrared sensor senses the hot spot temperature of the heating element and, together with a controller, limits the maximum hot spot temperature of the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Arold, E. Forrest Decatur, Joan L. Mishou
  • Patent number: 5202548
    Abstract: A resistance adjusting type heater including a honeycomb structure, electrodes provided on the honeycomb structure, and slits as a resistance adjusting device provided between the electrodes, a sealing device for sealing a heat-non-generating portion of the honeycomb structure, wherein a gas is introduced into the passages of the heat-generating portion of the honeycomb structure and is heated. With this heater, the entirety of the exhaust gas introduced into the heater can be heated rapidly thereby ensuring excellent purification efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoharu Kondo, Fumio Abe
  • Patent number: 5202547
    Abstract: A resistance adjusting type heater has a honeycomb structure having a large number of passages, at least two electrodes to enable electrical heating of the honeycomb structure provided on the honeycomb structure, and a resistance adjusting means, a slit, provided between the electrodes. The thicknesses of passage walls at the portions of the honeycomb structure at which electricity flows at a very high density are increased with a conductive material to prevent the abnormal heat generation at the portions of the honeycomb structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Abe, Hiroshige Mizuno, Takashi Harada, Tomoharu Kondo
  • Patent number: 5194719
    Abstract: Novel method and structure is disclosed for strengthening and mounting sloted metallic honeycomb structures by positioning rod members within the slots to prevent the slots from closing or deforming, and by utilizing the rod members to precisely engage positionable restraining inserts of an enclosing housing, so as to accurately mount the honeycomb structure within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory A. Merkel, Lawrence S. Rajnik, David F. Thompson, David S. Weiss
  • Patent number: 5146536
    Abstract: A high-speed, high temperature electrical heater construction, including an elongate air-tunnel, and a plurality of PTC resistance members insulatedly mounted in the walls of the air tunnel, and extending transversely thereof. The PTC resistance members have oppositely disposed terminal portions for connection to an electrical supply, for energization of the members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Inventor: Brooke N. Westover
  • Patent number: 5129034
    Abstract: An on-demand electric water heater includes at least one heating chamber having an electric heating element operatively positioned between a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet. The heating elements are controlled by pressure sensing switches activated by water flow initiation or termination. A pressure relief valve is provided as a safety feature in the event the pressure sensing switches fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Inventor: Leonard Sydenstricker
  • Patent number: 5113931
    Abstract: A combination pump and heat exchanger assembly in a manufacturing process temperature controller uses a cast metal pump case with two upwardly opening sockets receiving the lower ends of two tubes, one of them communicating through the case with the pump impeller intake and the other with the impeller discharge. Closed circuit and open circuit versions are shown. In both types, the tubes are constructed to function as tanks, at least one being a heat exchanger unit, and they are readily and removably secured to the case by threaded fasteners and are sealed therein by compression seals. The heat exchanger tubes employ electrical heating elements or chilled liquid piping units therein. A controller including a microcomputer responds to temperature of liquid pumped from the assembly through a process to be temperature controlled, and returned to the assembly, to control an electric heater and/or a motor-operated modulator valve discharging to drain while cool make-up water is admitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Advantage Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Oswalt, Ronald A. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 5094291
    Abstract: A combination pump and heat exchanger assembly uses a cast metal pump case with two upwardly opening sockets receiving the lower ends of two tubes, one of them communicating through the case with the pump impeller intake and the other with the impeller discharge. The tubes are constructed to function as heat exchanger units and are removably secured to the case by threaded fasteners and are sealed therein by compression seals. The heat exchanger tubes may employ electrical heating units or chilled liquid piping units therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Advantage Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Oswalt, Ronald A. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 5020127
    Abstract: An instantaneous fluid heater having a fluid heating chamber including therein a plurality of electrical heating elements. The supply of electrical power to the respective ones of the electrical heating elements is controlled by a solid state switch which is gated by a zero crossing trigger device to supply power to the heating elements. Each of the trigger devices includes means for comparing a control potential and ramp signal potential coupled to them to selectively gate the solid state switches to energize the heatiing elements in response to the comparison of the potentials. In this fashion, all of the heating elements are not turned on at the same time, and undesirable light flickering and unacceptable disturbances in the line voltage is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Energy Saving Products of Tennesse, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Eddas, David O. Hanon
  • Patent number: 4982068
    Abstract: A heating element comprises a body provided by fibrous tubes of an electrically conductive material, a voidage between the tubes providing a path for a fluid to be heated. The material may be silicon, silicon carbide, or silicon rich-silicon nitride. The heating element is manufactured by coating a fibrous carbon precursor with the material, and heating the coated precursor in an oxidizing environment so as to remove the carbon precursor by oxidation. The heating element has one application for a heat transfer system for controlling the temperature of a hot working device. The system comprises a fluid circuit including the hot working device, the heating element through which the fluid is driven by a pump, and a temperature controller for sensing the temperature of the device and controlling the temperature of the heating element as a function of the device temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: James F. Pollock, John M. North, Roy F. Preston, Vincent K. Hewinson