Patents Assigned to Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
  • Publication number: 20220356829
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heater system for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine includes a housing and a heating element. The housing includes an outer peripheral wall disposed about a central axis and defining an interior hollow space configured to receive exhaust gas from an exhaust pipe of the exhaust system such that the exhaust gas flows through the interior hollow space. The heating element is positioned within the hollow space and including a first end and a second end. The heating element forms a zig-zag shape extending in a radial direction relative to the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark D. EVERLY, Jeremy OHSE, David P. CULBERTSON, Richard T. WILLIAMS, George JAMBOR, Jacob WILSON
  • Publication number: 20220361296
    Abstract: A metal heater includes a metal substrate with a groove, a resistive heater disposed within the groove, and a fill metal disposed over the resistive heater and substantially filling the groove, wherein the fill metal has a lower melting temperature than the metal substrate. The fill metal can be indium and a cover plate can be bonded to the metal substrate and over the indium. A method of manufacturing the metal heater and a method of operating the metal heater are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Ashish BHATNAGAR, Brent ELLIOT
  • Publication number: 20220356828
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heating unit for an engine includes a housing and a heating element. The housing includes a tubular peripheral wall and has an interior hollow space. The heating element has first and second ends and extends longitudinally therebetween to form a spiral shape within the interior hollow space. The heating element includes a thermally conductive sheath, an electrically conductive resistance element that extends longitudinally within the external sheath, and an electrically insulating material disposed about the resistance element between the resistance element and the sheath. A heat transfer member is positioned within the interior hollow space and is formed from one or more strips of thermally conductive material. The strips contact the external sheath at a plurality of locations between the first end and the second end. The heat transfer member has a corrugated shape that follows the spiral shape of the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark D. EVERLY, Jeremy OHSE, David P. CULBERTSON, Richard T. WILLIAMS, George JAMBOR, Jacob WILSON
  • Patent number: 11495450
    Abstract: A multi-zone heater with a plurality of thermocouples such that different heater zones can be monitored for temperature independently. The independent thermocouples may have their leads routed out from the shaft of the heater in a channel that is closed with a joining process that results in hermetic seal adapted to withstand both the interior atmosphere of the shaft and the process chemicals in the process chamber. The thermocouple and its leads may be enclosed with a joining process in which a channel cover is brazed to the heater plate with aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Alfred Grant Elliot, Brent Elliot, Frank Balma, Richard Erich Schuster, Dennis George Rex, Alexander Veytser
  • Patent number: 11486660
    Abstract: A heater assembly includes a continuous series of perforated helical members and a plurality of electrical resistance heating elements. The perforated helical members cooperate to define a geometric helicoid disposed about a longitudinal axis of the heater assembly. Each perforated helical member defines opposed edges and a predetermined pattern of perforations. The perforations extend through each perforated helical member parallel to the longitudinal axis. The heating elements extend through the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Satya Tatavarthy, Ethan Dinauer, Sanhong Zhang, Scott Boehmer
  • Patent number: 11486291
    Abstract: A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within the fluid flow system. A control device includes a microprocessor and is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model and at least one input from the fluid flow system. The control device is configured to provide power to the at least one electric heater based on the temperature of the at least one electric heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: James N. Pradun, Sanhong Zhang, Jeremy J. Quandt, David P. Culbertson, Magdi Khair
  • Publication number: 20220338305
    Abstract: A support pedestal includes a support member including a resistive layer having a plurality of zones, a routing layer, and a plurality of conductive vias. The plurality of zones are defined by a plurality of independently controllable resistive heating elements. The resistive layer and the routing layer are disposed in different planes of the support member and are connected by the plurality of conductive vias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin PTASIENSKI, Stanton Hopkins BREITLOW, Mohammad NOSRATI, Kevin SMITH, Brittany PHILLIPS, Ken AMES, Patrick MARGAVIO, Kurt ENGLISH
  • Publication number: 20220299379
    Abstract: Temperature sensing probes for sensing the temperature of a substrate based on fluorescence are disclosed. The temperature sensing probes include a fiber optic cable having at a cold end an optical interface and at a hot end a temperature sensing element for contacting a substrate. A sheath surrounds at least a portion of the hot end of the fiber optic cable. A retaining member securely and removably engages the sheath with a support member. The sheath forms a vacuum seal around the contact between the temperature sensing element and the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: John BERGEN
  • Publication number: 20220304179
    Abstract: An industrial control device includes a display, a body, a first sensor, and a controller. The body includes a facia wall, an inner shroud, and an outer shroud. The facia wall includes a window that is a transparent material aligned to permit the display to be viewed through the window. The inner shroud extends rearward from a rear side of the facia wall. The outer shroud is disposed about the inner shroud and extends rearward from the rear side of the facia wall and is spaced apart from the inner shroud to define a cavity. A seal member is within the cavity forms a seal with a facia plate disposed about the inner shroud. The first sensor detects contact with a front surface of the facia wall. The controller is coupled to an output of the first sensor. The controller is coupled to the display and controls the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark HOVEN, Andrew BORKOWSKI, Bret WADEWITZ, Robert A. PAPE, Jeremy J. QUANDT, Theodore VON ARX, Austin JOHANNES, Stephen WHITE
  • Publication number: 20220277872
    Abstract: A cable heater assembly includes a cable heater and an adapter system. The cable heater includes an outer sheath and a conductor. A portion of the conductor is exposed from the outer sheath. The adapter system includes an adapter body mounted to an end of the cable heater and a cap joined to the adapter body to enclose the portion of the conductor inside the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul M. VALACHOVIC, Bridget ESHELMAN, Brett BRADSHAW
  • Patent number: 11432373
    Abstract: An electrical heater and method includes heating member, a cable, and a connector. A resistance heating element is within a sheath of the heating member. A proximal end of the sheath is inserted into a slot of a first fitting and welded to the first fitting with first and second leads extending into the first fitting. The second fitting is threadably engaged with the first fitting. The second fitting defines a central bore disposed about the axis. An end of a power cable extends into the second central bore. A first wire is coupled to the first lead. A second wire is coupled to the second lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Brad McDonnell, Curt St. Clair, Michael Ruhr
  • Publication number: 20220266478
    Abstract: A molding system is provided, which includes at least one mold part and a heating and cooling module. The at least one mold part defines a mold cavity having an opening. The heating and cooling module is inserted into the opening to close the mold cavity. The heating and cooling module includes a die insert defining a mold surface, a layered heater for heating the mold surface, and a cooling unit for cooling the mold surface. The layered heater is disposed between the die insert and the cooling unit and includes functional layers formed directly on a surface of the cooling unit or a surface of the die insert opposite to the mold surface by using layered or layering processes selected from a group consisting of thick film, thin film, thermal spray and sol-gel processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Martin WALLINGER, Gerhard SCHEFBÄNKER, Wolfgang PÖSCHL, Gernot ANTOSCH, Reinhardt LEHNERT, Michael KÜBLER, August BURR
  • Patent number: 11408314
    Abstract: A heating apparatus for heating fluid includes a container body, a plurality of electric heater elements, and a support structure. The container body defines a perimeter of a flow path for a fluid flowing through the container body. The plurality heater elements are exposed to the flow path. Each heater element includes a resistance element, sheath, and insulating material disposed about the resistance element between the resistance element and the sheath. The support structure includes a plurality of support sheets. The heater elements extend transversely through each support sheet and contact each support sheet to restrict movement of the heater elements and support the heater elements in the container body. The support sheets contact the sheaths of the electric heater elements to increase heat transfer to the fluid flowing through the flow path. Opposite ends of each support sheet are connected to the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark D. Everly, Jeremy Ohse, David P. Culbertson, Richard T. Williams, George Jambor, Jacob Wilson
  • Publication number: 20220228942
    Abstract: A method of detecting a leak-induced abnormal condition in a fluid line system having a plurality of heaters includes determining a plurality of temperature characteristics at a plurality of locations of the fluid line system, where each temperature from among the plurality of temperature characteristics is associated with at least one heater from among the plurality of heaters and monitoring, for each of the plurality of heaters, an electrical characteristic of the heater. The method includes determining the leak-induced abnormal condition is present within the fluid line system in response to the electrical characteristic of a given heater from among the plurality of heaters and the temperature characteristic associated with the given heater satisfying a temperature-and-electrical characteristics (TEC) deviation condition and performing a corrective action in response to determining the leak-induced abnormal condition is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert E. JOHNSTON, Daniel GANDER, Chelsea HOGARD, Miranda PIZZELLA, Andrew D. SELVY
  • Publication number: 20220224113
    Abstract: A method of providing power via a plurality of power control systems forming a power network is provided. Each power control system includes a power controller and a power switch operable by the power controller. The method includes defining, by each power controller of the power network, a power allocation schedule for a power cycle using a dynamic load scheduling model based on a members list of the power network. The power cycle is divided into a plurality of power units, and the power allocation schedule identifies one or more designated power control systems from among the plurality of power control systems to provide power to a load during each of the power units. For the power cycle, the method includes providing power to the load by the one or more designated power control systems during a respective power unit based on the power allocation schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Philip S. SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 11388831
    Abstract: An industrial control device includes a display, a body, and a controller. The body includes a capacitive slider sensor, a graphic, and a window. The graphic overlaps the capacitive slider sensor. The window is transparent and aligned with the display to permit the display to be viewed through the window. The controller is coupled to an output of the capacitive slider sensor to receive signals from the capacitive slider sensor. The controller is coupled to the display and configured to control the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark Hoven, Andrew Borkowski, Bret Wadewitz, Robert Pape, Jeremy Quandt, Theodore Von Arx, Austin Johannes, Stephen White
  • Publication number: 20220214225
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a temperature detector probe that includes a housing, a pair of electrical connectors, a support cap, and a sensor. The housing defines a bore longitudinally extending through the housing, and the pair of electrical connectors extend through the bore. The support cap is disposed at a first end portion of the housing. The sensor is provided on the support cap and is electrically coupled to the pair of electrical connectors. The support cap is positioned between the pair of electrical connectors and the support cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: John LILLELAND
  • Patent number: 11382180
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a support pedestal that includes a support member including a resistive layer having at least two zones, a routing layer, and a plurality of conductive vias. The resistive layer and the routing layer are disposed in different planes of the support member and are connected by the plurality of vias. The number of zones of the resistive layer is greater than or equal to a number of wires coupled to the routing layer. The routing layer may include a plurality of arm portions that extend from a central region of the routing layer. The support pedestal may further include a second resistive layer disposed along the same plane as the routing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, Stanton Hopkins Breitlow, Mohammad Nosrati, Kevin Smith, Brittany Phillips, Ken Ames, Patrick Margavio, Kurt English
  • Publication number: 20220210873
    Abstract: A support pedestal includes a substrate, a plurality of resistive heating elements disposed on the substrate and defining a plurality of heating zones, and electric terminals disposed at a central region of the substrate. At least one of the electric terminals is connected to at least two of the plurality of resistive heating elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin PTASIENSKI, Stanton Hopkins BREITLOW, Mohammad NOSRATI, Kevin SMITH, Brittany PHILLIPS, Ken AMES, Patrick MARGAVIO, Kurt ENGLISH
  • Publication number: 20220196283
    Abstract: A termination assembly for a heater assembly includes a plurality of resistive heaters arranged in discrete power phases, each resistive heater comprising a resistive heating element surrounded by dielectric material and a sheath. The termination assembly includes a plurality of electrically nonconductive members. Each electrically nonconductive member includes a plurality of apertures configured to receive power pins of the plurality of resistive heaters. The termination assembly includes a plurality of connectors configured to connect the power pins to the electrically nonconductive members. Each electrically nonconductive member includes a number of the plurality of connectors corresponding to a number of power pins being terminated. The termination assembly includes an electrical circuit embedded in or disposed on at least one of the plurality of electrically nonconductive members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jacob R. LINDLEY, Mark D. EVERLY, Michael A. JONES, Dennis P. LONG, Scott H. BOEHMER, Philip S. SCHMIDT