Abstract: A fast response, upright sprinkler head includes a body having a central orifice through which fire extinguishing fluid is expelled through an outlet end. A yoke, attached to the exterior surface of the sprinkler body, extends beyond the outlet end of the sprinkler body and is connected at its apex to a deflector. A fusible trigger assembly is coupled to the yoke and the outlet end of the sprinkler head. The deflector is formed with a planar member having a skirt depending therefrom and an annular ledge extending horizontally from the skirt. The skirt depends from the planar member in an outward direction at a pre-selected angle from the vertical, and is formed with a plurality of through-holes. The fast response upright sprinkler head is configured to have a K value of at least 13.5, while the fusible trigger assembly has a fusing temperature between approximately 155° F. and 175° F.

Abstract: A fabric article that generates heat upon application of electrical power is formed, for example, by knitting or weaving, to form a fabric prebody. An electrical resistance heating element in the form of a conductive yarn is incorporated into the fabric prebody, e.g., laid in, e.g., in the knit-welt or tuck-welt configuration, the electrical resistance heating elements extending between opposite edge regions of the fabric. Conductive elements are provided for connecting the electrical resistance heating elements to a source of electrical power.

Abstract: A wall-mounted microwave oven is provided capable of performing an exhaust function irrespective of a folded state or an unfolded state of a guide plate while achieving an improvement in the exhaust function. The wall-mounted microwave oven includes an oven body, and the guide plate to guide fumes or smoke rising toward the oven body to an exhaust suction port formed at a bottom wall of the oven body. The guide plate is hingeably mounted to a front wall of the oven body to hinge upwardly to a folded position thereof or hinging downwardly to an unfolded position thereof.

Abstract: A surface mountable PTC device includes a PTC layer, first and second electrodes formed on the PTC layer, first and second insulating layers formed respectively on the first and second electrodes, and first and second terminals connected respectively and electrically to the first and second electrodes. Each of the first and second electrodes is formed with a hole. Each of the first and second insulating layers fills the electrode hole in the respective one of the first and second electrodes and is formed with an insulating hole surrounded by the electrode hole. Each of the first and second terminals extends through the insulating hole in the respective one of the first and second insulating layers.

Abstract: A heated window with an electrically conducting surface coating that may be electrically connected as a heating element to a voltage source using a first and a second current-collecting rail and that is split into a first part, a heated look-through region, and a second part, an additional heated region. In the heated window at least two current-collecting rails are arranged in the additional heated region so that the direction in which the current flows in the additional heated region is roughly perpendicular to the direction in which the current flows in the heated look-through region.

Abstract: An engine block heating system for a vehicle and the associated method of its operation. The engine block heating system has an electrical heating element that is coupled to the vehicle's engine. A power cord is provided for supplying electricity to the electrical heating element from a source external to the vehicle. A sensor is provided for detecting whether or not the power cord is connected to the vehicle. A disruption switch is coupled to both the starting circuit of the vehicle and the sensor. The disruption switch disrupts the starting circuit of the vehicle when the sensor detects that the power cord is connected to the vehicle. As such, the vehicle cannot be started when the power cord of the engine block heating system is attached to the vehicle.

Abstract: A boilerless steamer apparatus is provided having a steamer cavity formed of a steam generating space and a cooking space, wherein the steam generating space is separated from the cooking space by a removable steam lid. The present boilerless steamer apparatus can provide between 7 to 10 lbs./hour (per pan) of steam. Various methods to easily clean the boilerless steamer apparatus are provided.

Abstract: An induction heating device or work coil for heating electroconductive material to a desired temperature that can be used on a roll or cylinder of any diameter. The work coil has an open core of ferrite material shaped in a U. Wire is wound around the opposing legs of the U so that on excitation one leg becomes the N pole and the other leg becomes the S pole and the polarity alternates as the polarity of the excitation current alternates. A substantially thin rectangular flat layer of ferrite can be attached to ends of each pole piece. Each layer of ferrite has having a length sufficient to cover bottom end of each leg and a width in the direction of an axis perpendicular to the face of the U that corresponds to the width of the desired control heating effect.

Abstract: In a heater in which an electrically insulating material (4) including an oxide is filled between a heating element (2) made of metal including chromium and aluminum and a cover (3, 5, 6) for sealing the heating element (2), and in which a lead wire (7, 8) of the heating element (2) extends through a portion (5, 6) of an electrical insulator of the cover (3, 5, 6) in order to enable the heater to be used at temperatures higher than the prior art, an oxide film including aluminum oxide is formed on the surface of the heating element (2). The portion of the cover (3, 5, 6) excluding the portion (5, 6) serving as an electrical insulator is a metal pipe (3) that serves as a sheath and includes nickel and chromium, and an oxide film is formed on the surface of the metal pipe (3). Therefore, the heater can be used in dies for plastic forming or the like.

Abstract: A heated steering wheel with a preformed heating member, having an inner rim portion; a cushion layer disposed about the inner rim portion; and a preformed heating element disposed about the cushion layer; wherein the cushion layer is applied using a molding process and the preformed heating element and the inner rim portion are inserted in a mold used for the molding process prior to the application of said cushion layer therein.

Abstract: A cartridge heater for mounting in the bore hole of a device to heat the device, having an improved release coating to facilitate the removal of the cartridge heater from the bore hole subsequent to operation at elevated temperatures, wherein the release coating is a fast-drying, graphite-based solid film lubricant that bonds to the heater.

Abstract: Electric heating apparatus and manufacturing method for an electric heating apparatus, wherein prefabricated constructional units are used. The prefabricated constructional units consist of PTC heating elements fastened to contact sheets by means of a lacquer. This simplifies production and enhances protection against corrosion.

Abstract: The cooking unit has a glass-ceramic panel (1) providing a cooking surface, which is made of transparent colorless glass-ceramic bulk material or a glass panel made of pre-stressed transparent colorless glass material. Radiant heating elements (3) are provided under the glass or glass-ceramic panel, which heat respective cooking zones. The glass or glass-ceramic panel has a full surface decorative coating (7) on its upper side, which makes dirt and usage marks less conspicuous, and an IR permeable coating (6) having a solid or plain color, preferably bisque-like, on its underside. The IR permeable coating having the solid or plain color prevents an observer from viewing the internal components of the cooking unit that are under the cooking panel from above it.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for heating comprises a plurality of heat transfer plate members (34) arranged in parallel with each other at predetermined intervals; and connecting portions (35, 36) for integrally connecting the plurality of heat transfer plate members (34) to each other, wherein air passages (37) are formed between the plurality of heat transfer plate members (34), inner fluid passages (31) are formed in the heat transfer plate members (34), fluid, for heating air which passes in the air passages (37), flows in the inner fluid passages (31), and an electric heat generating film (40), for heating the air which passes in the air passages (37), is formed on surfaces of the plurality of heat transfer plate members (34).

Abstract: A large area heater used, for example, in a laser printer belt fuser or as cooking surface, has an alumina substrate in which two bowed parts of alumina ceramic having opposed concave regions are formed together as a laminate. Electrical resistors are deposited on the laminate. The alumina laminate provides excellent resistance to uneven heating or other thermal stress. Alumina ceramic is readily shaped during manufacture and manufacturing costs and yield are good. A wide variety of large area heaters can usefully employ the laminate.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes an electric heating plate having a heat source therein transmitting heat from the heat source to food, and a cabinet supporting the electric heating plate. The electric heating plate is electrically connected to the cabinet, and is removable from the cabinet. The present invention also provides a cooking apparatus, which allows food to be rapidly heated and cooked using a heat source installed in an electric heating plate, thus shortening cooking time and reducing power consumption. The present invention is also designed such that the electric heating plate is removable from a cabinet, thus allowing the electric heating plate to be conveniently cleaned.

Abstract: A vapor flow controller apparatus for delivery of chemical reagent vapors from a liquid phase source material is provided which includes a source container containing the liquid phase source material, a pump to transport the liquid phase source material to a vaporizor module, the pump having a flow rate controller, and the vaporizer module having a source material inlet, a carrier gas inlet, and a vaporized gas outlet. The vaporizer module converts the liquid phase source material to a vapor. The vapor flow controller apparatus further includes a source material conduit for passage of the liquid phase source material from the source container to the source material inlet of the vaporizer module. The vapor flow controller apparatus further includes a carrier gas container containing a carrier gas and having a carrier gas outlet conduit controlled by a mass flow controller.

Abstract: A package for heating a micro-component is disclosed. The package comprises a platform having a resistive heating element integral with the platform. The package further includes a micro-component disposed on the platform.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods, systems, devices and kits for performing lung volume reduction in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other conditions where isolation of a lung segment or reduction of lung volume is desired. The methods are minimally invasive with instruments being introduced through the mouth (endotracheally) and rely on isolating the target lung tissue segment from other regions of the lung. Isolation is achieved by deploying an obstructive device in a lung passageway leading to the target lung tissue segment. Once the obstructive device is anchored in place, the segment can be aspirated through the device. This may be achieved by a number of methods, including coupling an aspiration catheter to an inlet port on the obstruction device and aspirating through the port.

Abstract: The electrically heated hand grip includes a hand grip, a heating member disposed within the hand grip, an end cap assembly removably attached to the hand grip, and an electrical switch coupled to a power source for controlling the supply of current to the heating member. The end cap assembly includes a receptacle for receiving the power source and an electrical connecting means. The end cap assembly may include a light-emitting diode and a charging means. In an alternative embodiment, the electrically heated hand grip includes a resilient strip having a heating member attached to an interior surface of the resilient strip to form a heating strip. The heating strip is spirally wrapped about a grip-receiving portion of a shaft. An end cap assembly is coupled to the end of a shaft to secure a portion of the heating strip. The heated hand grip can include a sleeve which is inserted on the end of a shaft and the heating strip is spirally wrapped about the sleeve.