Abstract: An electrically-heated spoon including a flat heating device made of a plate-like positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor having a periphery side wall of the spoon mounted to the periphery and a handle of the spoon extending from the side wall. A pair of conductive wires in electrical connection with the heating device are embedded in the handle and extend out of a remote end of the handle to define an external connector for connection to an external power source. The plate-like positive temperature coefficient resistor is sandwiched between two insulating plates and then encased by two opposite metal casing members with the conductive wires, which are connected to the resistor, extending through openings formed on the casing members for connection to a power source.

Abstract: An electrically heated molded plastic pet feeding bowl capable of being interengagedly stacked in nested relationship with similar bowls for shipment or storage has a removable electric heating unit insertable through an open bottom of the bowl into heat exchange relationship with the bottom wall of an open-top bowl cavity holding food or water to be heated. The removable heating unit includes a bottom base having an electric heating element disposed on its upper side electctrically connected to and surrounding a centrally located thermostatic control on the upper side of the bottom base. The bottom base has an upwardly convex shape for ensuring that the heating element and thermostatic control are in proper heat transfer relationship with the bottom wall of the bowl when the heating unit is installed on bowl. The under side of the bottom base has a plurality of posts about which a flexible electrical cord for supplying power to the heating element can be wound for storage within the open bottom of the bowl.

Abstract: The components of an electric warm-air humidifier are enclosed in a housing resting on a base having a water supply compartment. The housing includes an evaporation chamber in the shape of an inverted cup which has a steam outlet in its top and contains an electric heating element positioned a short distance above its open end. The evaporation chamber and the heating element are immersed in water contained in the water supply compartment. The neck of an inverted, removable, water container filled with water is placed into the water supply compartment and water fills the water supply compartment until its level reaches the lower rim of the water container's neck. The housing and the water container are displaceable from the base so as to provide access to the water supply compartment and the heating element to facilitate cleaning.

Abstract: An oil radiator, particularly for heating rooms, includes a main body defined by a plurality of mutually associated radiating elements in which a diathermic oil heated by an electric resistor circulates. Each radiating element includes a pair of mating shaped plate-like elements joined together by welding to form an oil receiving space therebetween and each having lateral surfaces provided with a series of folds which mate with the corresponding folds of the other plate-like element to define a channel-shaped air flow compartment capable of lowering the surface temperature of the oil radiator below that of the oil contained in the radiator, thus reducing burn injuries caused by inadvertent contact with the radiator. The folds also cooperate to provide the radiator with planar lateral outer surfaces to minimize impact injuries caused by collision with the radiator.

Abstract: An electric humidifier includes a base defining a liquid reservoir and a latch aperture. A humidifier unit is hingedly mounted on the base over the reservoir and movable to provide access thereto. The humidifier unit includes an electrically energized humidification means for inducing dispersion of liquid through a discharge opening into a space to be humidified. Power is supplied to the humidification unit and aligned with the latch aperture on the base when the humidifier unit is operatively mounted on the base. A power supply cord has a plug detachably connected to the connector through the latch aperture. The engagement of the connected plug with the latch aperture prevents movement of the humidifier with respect to the base to prevent access to the reservoir and interior of the humidifier unit so long as the plug and connector are in operative engagement.

Abstract: A modular galvanic current control resistor assembly for application to a metallic sheathed heating element of a domestic water heating tank to prevent heating element corrosion includes a circular metallic disc adapted to fit over the sheath ends of a U-shaped immersion heating element protruding in electrically insulated relationship through a metallic screw plug or the like mounting means used to affix the heating element to the tank, an electrically insulating gasket coextensive with the disc and a galvanic current control resistor having a pair of leads. The sheath ends of the heating element extend through the gasket and disc with portions of the disc around each sheath end crimped, compressed or friction fitted into electrical contact therewith.

Abstract: A heating element for an air flow comprises a channel shaped bracket including a base and side walls at right angles thereto within which is mounted a pair of mica sheets arranged parallel to the base and at right angles to the sides and connected to the sides by ribs longitudinally of the sides with transverse slots within which the sheets slide. Each sheet is wrapped with a heating wire formed into helical coils so that each side of the sheet carries a plurality of parallel helical coil portions with connecting portions wrapped over the edges of the sheet. The sheets are symmetrical and one is inverted relative to the other. Each sheet carries at ends thereof a male and a female connector of the blade and receptacle type so that the blade of one sheet engages into the receptacle of the other sheet.

Abstract: A heating assembly is provided for attachment to an existing ceiling fan to heat airflow being generated by the fan blades. The heating assembly is adapted to connect to the base of the ceiling fan directly below the blades by means of the centrally located mechanical attachment mechanism associated with the fan and conventionally provided to allow attachment of a light kit thereto. The heating assembly includes a vented housing enclosing on or more electrical filaments, heat tubes or other heating elements arranged to radiate heat outwardly of the vented housing into the airflow generated by the fan blades and electrically connected by electrical leads extending through the attachment mechanism to wiring extending from the ceiling fan, which is normally used for a light kit assembly. The heating apparatus may also include an on/off switch and thermostat control located on the fan or at a remote location.

Abstract: A sheathed-element glow plug for disposition in the combustion chamber of air-compressing internal combustion engines is proposed which in a known manner contains a resistor element (17) in its sheathed-element (13), where this resistor element (17) is composed of two serially connected resistor spirals (20, 21). While the resistor spiral (20) on the combustion chamber side is a heater spiral with a resistance behavior which is essentially the same at all operating temperatures, the wirespiral shaped resistance spiral (21) on the side remote from the combustion chamber which acts as a regulating element, has a high temperature resistance coefficient.

Abstract: An electric steam humidifier of the type which includes electrodes (58, 59) immersed in a tank containing water (5) includes an upper portion (10) consisting of a housing (3) closed by a cover (2), a lower portion (11) consisting of a housing (6) placed on a base (7), with the housings (3) and (6) being identical and positioned symmetrically in relation to a horizontal plane. The housings are joined to a structural element (4) made of aluminum and approximately U-shaped, with the arms of the U forming a space (40) for receiving the tank. The housing (3) contains a compartment (36) into which water is supplied and which includes an aperture (37) for evacuation of steam and an aperture (35) which is fitted to a filling aperture (54) on the upper surface of the tank (5). The tank includes on one of its side surfaces below the medial plane of the tank but above its bottom with a drainage aperture (55).

Abstract: A capillary rheometer plunger having a liquid-filled capillary passage extending within the plunger is removably housed in a heater block holder for maintaining temperature stability and minimizing temperature induced errors. The plunger is placed in the holder during purging, cleaning, reloading and packing the capillary rheometer with the polymer under test. The holder includes an electrically heated holder member disposed within an aperture of an outer shield and is provided with an aperture in which the plunger is removably received for heating. A base supports the shell. A temperature sensor disposed in the shell controls the temperature of the holder member at the temperature of the polymer under test.

Abstract: A steam generator for domestic and industrial use, of the type which has a boiler (5) provided with a resistance heater element (17) and a steam and energy take-off unit (10) for supplying steam and electrical power to an external user item, such as a smoothing iron. At least a first solenoid valve (7) and a second solenoid valve (8) are connected between the boiler (5) and the take-off unit (10) to give rise to at least three separate levels of output steam rate. An electronic controller is coupled to the resistance heater element (17), steam and electrical power take-off unit (10), the power source and the solenoid valves (7,8) for automatically and proportionally exchanging electrical power applied to the resistance heater element (17) with electrical power applied to the external user item, thereby effectively exchanging the amount of steam available for use by, and the electrical power applied to, the external user item.

Abstract: An improved ceramic heater to be incorporated in a glow plug is described. The heater is made up of a ceramic core enclosed by two layers sintered together to form a unitary ceramic heater. All three component elements of the heater are composed of silicon nitride containing different concentrations of an electrically conductive ceramic substance, such as titanium nitride, titanium carbonitride or molybdenum disilicide. Each component additionally contains low amounts of sintering additives. The core of the heater has the highest concentration (46-75 vol. %) of the electrically conductive substance. The core enclosed in a ceramic layer which is an electrical insulator and is composed of silicon nitride, less than 28 vol. % of the electrically conductive ceramic substance and sintering additives. An outer layer over the core contains the electrically conductive ceramic substance in a concentration (33-50 vol. %) which is in between that in the core and that in the insulator layer.

Abstract: A portable electric wallpaper steamer has a generator (G) including a base (1) and lid (2), both injection molded of plastic material. An elastomeric sealing ring (29) is seated in a recess in a circumferential interengagement zone between the lid and base and is held compressed by the interengagement of engagement members (24) on the lid with cooperating engagement members (39) on the base. The lid-engagement members (24) and base-engagement members (39) comprise integrally molded parts of the lid and base and one or both are resiliently deformable so that they can be brought into snap-fit engagement with each other by downward movement of the lid relative to the base to form a steam pressure tight seal. An electric heating element (6) is mounted in the base for heating water therein to generate steam. The lid includes a handle (9), filling port (10), safety valve (13) and a steam outlet port (21) connected to a wall paper steaming plate (W) by a pipe.

Abstract: An electric water heater tank defines a water chamber having an electrical component extending outwardly of the outer surface of the tank. A spaced outer jacket surrounds the tank and has a opening affording access to the component. A protective dam in the opening bridges the gap between the tank and jacket in surrounding relationship to the component and is covered by a cap extending over the component and engaging the dam. Electrical wires connected to the component extend outwardly of the jacket between the cap and dam. A door covers the cap and dam and is secured to the jacket such that the door engages the cap to force the dam into sealing engagement with the jacket and tank. Foam thermal insulation material fills the space between the jacket and the outer surface of the tank.

Abstract: An electric forced circulation space heating system has a first heat exchanger provided with electric heating elements for heating a heat exchange fluid, such as antifreeze or oil, pumped through a closed loop including first flow passages of a second heat exchanger having second flow passages in heat exchange relationship with the first flow passages thereof. A blower forces room air through the second flow passages of the second heat exchanger to be heated by the heated liquid flowing through the first flow passages thereof. A third heat exchanger downstream of the second heat exchanger has first flow passages with an inlet receiving heated air from the second flow passes of the second heat exchanger and an outlet for discharge of the heated air into the space to be heated.

Abstract: The conventional sun visor of a vehicle is provided with a fan system including a heater for defrosting and defogging the vehicle windshield. The fan system includes a fan subassembly body mounted in an opening in the sun visor by a retainer subassembly including first and second retainer frames having flanges insertable into the fan subassembly body for securing it in the visor opening. First and second grills are mounted over the faces of the subassembly body by mechanical fasteners which extend through the body and retainer frames. An electric heating element is mounted on at least one of the grills for heating the airstream geneated by the fan of the fan subassembly. The fan and heating element are selectively powered by the vehicle electrical system through an on-off switch.

Abstract: A steering wheel cover assembly includes an electric heating element for electrically heating the wheel and hands of the vehicle driver. The assembly includes a pair of structural elements. One of the structural elements is rotatable in association with the steering wheel, and the other structural element is in a fixed position. The two structural elements have electrical contacts which maintain contact during rotation of the steering wheel. The first and second structural elements are formed of at least two members secured together by mechanical fastening means to permit easy assembly and removal of the structural elements. The assembly also includes means for electrically connecting the electrical contacts of the structural element having a fixed position to a power supply means. An electric circuit having, in series, a switch and a thermostat for sensing the temperature of the steering wheel connects the heating element to the contacts of the rotatable structural element.

Abstract: A hair clip for heating and styling clasped hair, whether damp or dry, into a linear configuration in the scalp area of a user. The clip comprises a pair of biasable jaws including a pair of plates for storing heat and releasing such heat to style clasped hair held between the pair of plates. Supports extend laterally from the hair clip to permit it to freestand and heat and style the hair in a perpendicular fashion to the scalp, giving the remaining hair lift away from the scalp. The hair clips are heated by biasably gripping a heated plate positioned within a base structure of an electric heating unit. The heated hair clips are used in a method of styling dry or damp hair into a linear configuration generally perpendicular to the scalp.

Abstract: A compact low power water heater and food product warming unit especially designed for military vehicles which includes a sturdy and selectively sealed tank having uninsulated thermally conductive in which water may be heated by conduction by way of a heating element secured exteriorly of the tank. The tank is enclosed by a thermally insulated cover in such a manner that a plurality readily accessible pockets are provided between the cover and tank walls into which a plurality of field ration (MRE) or food packets may be inserted to thereby utilize the hot water in the tank as a source of heat for heating the packets.