Abstract: A self-regulating porous heater regulates the temperature of fluid passing through it. This device includes at least one layer of a porous material which has a magnetic permeability inversely related to temperature over a given range. Due to conductor skin effects, changes in permeability cause changes in the depth of penetration of alternating current passing through the magnetic layer. Changes in the depth of penetration, in turn, result in changes in resistance--the less the depth the greater the resistance--and in I.sup.2 R Joule heat. The combined result of these effects is to provide more heat where the temperature of the fluid and the layer through which the fluid flows is below a specified temperature which is related to the Curie temperature of the layer. Significantly, by properly defining pore dimensions, the heater device can filter contaminants from a fluid as it flows therethrough. In a preferred mode, a porous heater device is included in a chemical reaction chamber.

Abstract: A connector which acts upon itself contains a fusible bonding the connector forming a part of a temperature autoregulating electrical heater whereby upon application of a generally constant a.c. current to the heater, the temperature of the heater rises to and is maintained at slightly above the melting temperature of the fusible material. The circuit which includes the autoregulating heater may take many forms, and in one embodiment a crimping tool forms part of the circuit; in another embodiment, a wire or wires to be joined to the connector as well as the connector form part of the heating circuit; while in another embodiment, a heat shrinkable conductor or plastic or fusible plastic may be employed to grasp an object to be joined to the connector or other object or block the flow of fusible material while in still another embodiment, the fusible material, upon flowing to a prescribed final location, disconnects the system from the current source, and/or may connect a second heating circuit to a source.

Abstract: A catheter is provided with a heated temperature self regulating tip for insertion in an artery to ablate an atherosclerotic plaque obstruction particularly in coronary and peripheral arteries. The heater is located at the distal end of the catheter and has a winding of fine wire around a ferro-magnetic core with the wire being connected via a transmission line to a high frequency constant alternating current source in the megahertz range. The catheter which may or may not employ a guide wire is inserted into and through the lumen of a vessel and guided usually with the assistance of fluoroscopy to the location of the stenosis. The heater is energized to ablate the plaque, the temperature not exceeding a desired temperature as determined by the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: A flexible circuit which may be a strap or a board or the like has a plurality of conductors exposed on one surface in a predetermined array and a heater disposed on the opposed surface so as to heat the exposed conductors. The exposed conductors may have solder or the heat activated conductive bonding material applied thereto so that the flexible circuit may be directly connected to a component, a printed circuit board, a connector or the like. If a reusable bonding material, such as solder, is employed the heater may be utilized to both connect and disconnect the flexible circuit.

Abstract: A solder delivery system including a carrier of compliant, dimensionally passive, high-temperature material, the carrier remaining generally dimensionally passive during heating and having a detent therein including fusible material, preferably in the form of a solder paste, positioned therein which is plastically deformable and adhesive-like, the carrier and fusible material together being compliant to conform to objects to be soldered before heating of the system.

Abstract: A blind rivet or bolt is rendered fluid tight by applying heat activated sealant to some or all of the surfaces of the rivet that contact surfaces of the structure into which the rivet is inserted. The sealant is activated by a temperature self regulating heater formed by applying ferromagnetic material to appropriate locations on the rivet and heating the ferromagnetic material by an energizing structure associated with the rivet actuation tool, the structure depending upon whether the heater is activated by flux coupling from a coil or by ohmic heating.

Abstract: A desoldering tool has a removable cartridge and a base unit having an assembly interior including a solder collection chamber and a removable vacuum source for developing a vacuum in the bottom of the chamber under a removable porous solder retention pad, the cartridge having a temperature self-regulating heater therein and a tail pipe extending from a tip of the cartridge to a position above the solder collection chamber, and a vacuum seal between the cartridge and the base unit to maintain the vacuum and reduce transfer of heat from the tip.

Abstract: An elongated flexible heater strip is provided having a transmission line section and a heater section employing a high mu material to control temperature at the Curie temperature of the high mu material; the above elements and a return buss being confined in a conductive sheath having a plurality of transverse slots to render the strap flexible, so that it may be cinched about a member to be heated; a strip of conductive material, such as copper, extending at least along the transmission line section interiorly of said sheath to reduce the resistance thereof and increase the current carrying capacity of the strap.

Abstract: A connector (33) which acts upon itself contains a fusible bonding material (35,37) the connector (33) forming a part of a temperature autoregulating electrical heater whereby upon application of a generally constant a.c. current to the heater, the temperature of the heater rises to and is maintained at slightly above the melting temperature of the fusible material (35,37).

Abstract: A self regulating heater comprises a non-conductive, magnetic core having a coil wound about it and providing pole pieces extending into contact or very near contact with a surrounding ferromagnetic member which in turn may be surrounded by and in intimate contact with a non-magnetic low resistance member; the magnetic member having an effective Curie temperature at the temperature to be maintained.

Abstract: Provided is a cartridge soldering iron having a hollow cylindrical handle, incorporating an internal coaxial socket assembly, a connection to a power supply, and a cartridge housing support, and a soldering tip bearing cartridge incorporating a tip, a heater assembly, a tubular housing and a coaxial socket assembly adapted to mate with the handle socket assembly in a wiping electrically conductive manner.

Abstract: An improved performance ferromagnetic self-regulating heater. Constant alternating current is applied to a layered structure including at least one ferromagnetic layer. One or more layers of non-magnetic material is added to the ferromagnetic layer in such a way that the power factor of the heater is very significantly increased above its value in the absence of at least one of the layers. The alternating current flows through the different layers in varying quantities depending on layer composition, temperature and Curie point of the ferromagnetic layer. The structure generates heat by resistive heating as a function of the power applied. In one embodiment a single layer of non-magnetic, high-resistance material is in intimate electrical and thermal contact with one surface of the ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: A temperature control system is disclosed for controlling heating current to a heater having an impedance which varies substantially with temperature. The change in impedance of the heater changes the degree of mismatch between the power transmission system and the heater resulting in a change in the voltage which is reflected back to the power transmission system. The reflected voltage is monitored and its magnitude compared to a reference source and the power to the heater is controlled in response to this comparison.

Abstract: A self-heating and self-soldering bus bar for use in many applications. The pins of the bus bar are quickly and directly heated to a predetermined autoregulated temperature without significantly raising the temperature of the body of the bus. Thusly a bus bar may be mounted while maintaining thermal balance and mechanical integrity of all work pieces. The present invention avoids the problems normally associated with excess thermal expansion experienced when a bus bar is heated incidental to the heating of its contact points. A majority of this incidental heating is eliminated by direct quick heating of the mounting pins.

Abstract: A self-regulating porous heater device regulates the temperature of fluid passing through it. This device includes at least one layer of a porous material which has a magnetic permeability inversely related to temperature over a given range. Due to conductor skin effects, changes in permeability cause changes in the depth of penetration of a.c. current passing through the magnetic layer. Changes in the depth of penetration, in turn, result in changes in resistance--the less the depth the greater resistance--and in I.sup.2 R Joule heat. The combined result of these effects is to provide more heat where the temperature of the fluid and the layer through which the fluid flows is below a specified temperature which is related to the Curie temperature of the layer. The device can have a laminate structure including a porous magnetic layer and at least one other magnetic layer or at least one low resistance nonmagnetic layer or a combination thereof, which may or may not be porous.

Abstract: Contacts of a multipin connector may be soldered to leads of a board of the like by forming coatings of magnetic materials on each contact and locating the contacts between poles defined by an air gap of the magnetic core, each pole having a separate pair of opposed pole pieces disposed adjacent a pair of contacts whereby upon application of a constant a.c. current to a coil wound about the core the magnetic material is heated to a temperature approaching its Curie temperature whereby temperature regulation occurs.

Abstract: A flexible circuit which may be a strap or a board or the like has a plurality of conductors exposed on one surface in a predetermined array and a heater disposed on the opposed surface so as to heat the exposed conductors. The exposed conductors may have solder or the heat activated conductive bonding material applied thereto so that the flexible circuit may be directly connected to a component, a printed circuit board, a connector or the like. If a reusable bonding material, such as solder, is employed the heater may be utilized to both connect and disconnect the flexible circuit.

Abstract: A lid to be bonded to provide a hermetic seal has bonded thereto a thermally autoregulating heater for activating a heat activated sealing and bonding material to produce the desired seal between the lid and box wherein the temperature is regulated to produce heat in a range that does not change delicate objects that may be heated in the box and wherein the energizing element of the heater may be removed or replaced at will.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic element has current passed through it either by direct electrical connections or by induction. The current through the ferromagnetic element may be far greater than is necessary to heat the element above its effective Curie temperature. As the element is heated and is passing through its effective Curie transition (that is its temperature is rising from below its effective Curie temperature to, or above, its effective Curie temperature) the change in permeability of the element is sensed and the current through the element is cut off. The element then cools. When the temperature falls below the effective Curie temperature, the full current is restored. The heating and cooling process repeats itself indefinitely. The result is that the element is maintained at its effective Curie by a pulsating current fed to the element.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic element has current passed through it either by direct electrical connections or by induction. The current through the ferromagnetic element may be far greater than is necessary to heat the element above its effective Curie temperature. As the element is heated and is passing through its effective Curie transition (that is its temperature is rising from below its effective Curie temperature to, or above, its effective Curie temperature) the change in permeability of the element is sensed and the current through the element is cut off. The element then cools. When the temperature falls below the effective Curie temperature, the full current is restored. The heating and cooling process repeats itself indefinitely. The result is that the element is maintained at its effective Curie by a pulsating current fed to the element.