Patents Examined by Sam Paik
  • Patent number: 5706389
    Abstract: A device for evaporating liquids to generate fog has an electrically heated heat exchanger. A device and a process are provided, which make possible the rapid heating of the liquids to be evaporated to a predetermined temperature range. This is achieved by the wall of the heat exchanger being made of an electrically conducting material and being connected to an electric power source for direct heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jorg Pohler
  • Patent number: 5705793
    Abstract: A thin film electric heater employs voltage and current suppressed below values of an allowable voltage and an allowable current. The thin film electric heater includes a thin film electric resistor to be formed directly on a surface of an object to be heated and is energized to effect heating. The resistor has a surface resistivity r, expressed by r=.rho./t (where .rho. is the volume resistivity of the thin film electric resistor and t is the film thickness of the thin film electric resistor), within a range to achieve the heating function of the thin film electric heater while the values of voltage and current applied to the thin film electric heater are suppressed below the values of the allowable voltage and the allowable current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Daiho Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitaichi, Chiaki Nakamura, Michio Tanaka, Atushi Fukuta
  • Patent number: 5700992
    Abstract: A heating device has a plurality of strip heating portions separated by a plurality of slits. The strip heating portions are connected to one another by connecting portions, thereby forming a heating surface in which a zigzag current path extends. The connecting portions in which uneven-temperature regions exist are bent so as not to be positioned in the same plane as the heating surface, thereby making the heating surface, to be opposed to an object to be heated, to have a uniform temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Honda, Shinichi Mitani
  • Patent number: 5698819
    Abstract: A surface mount electronic reed switch component (10) is provided having a rod-shaped pad element (40) connected in transverse relationship to the outer end (30) of each switch lead (12, 14) of the reed switch (10) to provide a stable surface mounting foot without bending the leads (12,14) to thus avoid adversely affecting the switch gap (28) defined by the inner ends (22,24) of the leads (12,14). Element (40) may be of round, square, rectangular or tubular cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Standex International Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Neil Brockett, Colin Stratford
  • Patent number: 5695670
    Abstract: Continual boron-doped diamond parts with ends are formed in a non-doped insulating diamond crystal. Ohmic electrodes are deposited on the ends of the boron-doped diamond parts. Non-doped diamond encloses and insulates the boron-doped diamond parts. When the boron-doped diamond parts are supplied with a current, the boron-doped diamond parts generate Joule's heat. The device acts as a heater. Since the whole heater is made of diamond crystal, the heater can posses an extremely small size. The heater enjoys high resistance against high temperature, especially in an anaerobic atmosphere. The diamond heater can be adopted in vacuum or in liquid, since the insulating diamond layers are highly resistant against vacuum and liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Fujii, Takashi Tsuno
  • Patent number: 5692095
    Abstract: A boiler for generating vapor at low pressure from liquid in reservoirs that are not pressurized is provided. Liquid from a reservoir is fed through a supply wick by capillary action to a boiler wick in which the liquid is heated and boiled to a vapor. The heat for vaporization is transmitted by a porous hot seat which sits atop and is in contact with the boiler wick. The boiler wick and hot seat are contained within an insulating cylindrical shroud, which forms a tight seal with the edges of the boiler wick. If the liquid to be vaporized is a fuel for a burner, then combustion heat can be used to supply the heat to the boiler. A resistive heat source can also be used to heat the hot seat and boiler wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Allports, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels Owen Young
  • Patent number: 5690848
    Abstract: A suction hood for cookers integrated with an electric which can be moved between a horizontal position for use and a vertical position for folding away. The grill, in its horizontal position for use, being parallel, underneath and at a short distance from the hood, whereas it is concealed behind the hood when folded away. The hood and grill have a single electric power supply and the grill bears a tray, a grid and removable heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Silvano Lamberti
  • Patent number: 5690850
    Abstract: A hockey stick blade application/removal tool for applying a replacement blade to or removing a replacement blade from the blade receiving end of a hockey stick handle. The tool includes a wrap-around heat panel, an insulative layer surrounding the heat panel and a connection member for connecting the heat panel in such wrap around configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Thomas W. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5688424
    Abstract: A PTC thermistor comprising a ceramic body having positive temperature coefficient resistivity, a pair of electrode layers provided on both major surfaces of the ceramic body so as to be opposed to each other with the ceramic body interposed therebetween, a pair of metal terminals electrically connected to the electrode layers, and a resin molded portion provided so as to cover side surfaces of the ceramic body and side surfaces of the electrode layers, the metal terminal having a connecting plate electrically connected to the electrode layer and a terminal plate opposed to the connecting plate so that a space is formed between the terminal plate and the connecting plate and connected to the connecting plate by a linking portion, and the resin molded portion being so formed as to expose an outer side surface of the terminal plate of the metal terminal and fill the space between the connecting plate and the terminal plate of the metal terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shyoji Asida
  • Patent number: 5687278
    Abstract: A steamer (10) is provided having a tubular upper portion (11), a base (12) and a stanchion (13) extending between the upper portion and the base. The upper portion has a tubular upper bar (18), a tubular middle bar (17) and a lower bar (16), each having a series of steam ports (24) therein. The base has a heating element (28) which heats water within the base to produce steam which is conveyed through the stanchion to the upper portion where it is then expelled through the steam ports. The steamer is configurable between a working configuration and a compact, stowed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Frederick C. Turner
    Inventor: Fredrick C. Turner
  • Patent number: 5683606
    Abstract: A ceramic heater includes a substrate made of aluminum nitride, a resistive heating element buried in the substrate and made of a metal having a high melting point, and terminals electrically connected to the resistive heating element and buried in said substrate. The terminals are made of a metal having a high melting point and a coefficient of thermal expansion not smaller than that of the substrate. The metal of the resistive heating element has a coefficient of thermal expansion not smaller than that of the substrate. The coefficient of thermal expansion of each of the terminals and the resistive heating element is in a range from 5.0.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. to 8.3.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Ushikoshi, Atsushi Sakon, Koichi Umemoto, Yusuke Niiori
  • Patent number: 5682016
    Abstract: A filter cage for impeding access to a cable filter within an enclosure having an enclosure wall and a plurality of bosses extending outwardly therefrom and containing a cable filter and associated cables, the filter cage including a cage wall, a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls depending from the cage wall, cutouts in the end walls for receiving the cables, apertures in the cage wall for receiving screws for fastening the filter cage to the bosses, openings in the cage wall for permitting viewing of the filter within the cage, the end walls and side walls being spaced so as to abut the bosses on the enclosure wall to thereby locate the apertures in the cage wall in proper alignment with the bosses for receiving screws which pass through the apertures and into the bosses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Diversified Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent A. James, Garrick D. James
  • Patent number: 5679277
    Abstract: A heating body includes a layered structure consisting of a resistive body and a control body, with a meltable insulating sheet therebetween. The control body contains wires which are brought into electrical contact with the resistive body if the temperature of the resistive body exceeds the melting temperature of the insulating sheet. Current flow between the resistive body and the control body is detected to trigger a power cutoff to the resistive body. The material of the insulating sheet is selected to have a melting point well below an ignition temperature of the materials in the heating body, thereby triggering power cutoff at temperatures low enough to prevent fire. A control system normally controls the temperature of the heating body between an upper and a lower limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventors: Akitoshi Niibe, Kinichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5679273
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flush-mountable cooktop having a steel support table covered on its two faces by a layer of an electrically insulating material, which table has openings in which burners are fixedly flush-mounted to the table by mounting elements which provide a seal. The burners each include a support layer of steel coated on its two faces with an electrically insulating material, and an electrically conducting layer having electrically conductive buses or the like for connecting the burner to an external source of electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Sollac (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventor: Sylvie Petetin
  • Patent number: 5679276
    Abstract: An electrical assembly for an oil burner nozzle has a heating element and a conductive foil assembly for supplying current to the heating element. The conductive foil assembly has a base material in the form of an electrically insulating sheet configured to extend from the heating element in the oil burner nozzle to an access position accessible from outside the oil burner nozzle. Foil conductors are disposed on the electrically insulating sheet and extend from the access position to the heating element. Another electrically insulating sheet selectively covers the foil conductor in a sandwiched arrangement. The conductive foil assembly is folded around the heating element and portions of the foil conductors are placed into electrical contact with the heating element via non-insulated areas of the foil conductors provided by the selective covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Rapa Rausch & Pausch Elektrotechnische Spezialfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Rafael Benavides, Werner Doehla, Walter Steeb
  • Patent number: 5677982
    Abstract: A humidifier, especially for room humidification, has a container removably mounted on a base and communicating with a sterilizing chamber to which the water is delivered and in which the water is exposed to a UV lamp with sufficient residence time to effect sterilization. From that chamber the sterile water is delivered to a heating chamber formed in a casting and communicating with a duct in the container from which the steam is supplied to the room. A thermostat on the casting cuts off the heater upon a failure to supply water to the latter. The apparatus can have a humidistat for turning on and off the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Slant/Fin Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Levine, Leo Gross, Paul Siller
  • Patent number: 5674424
    Abstract: An in-situ thermal desorption system which combines thermal desorption and vacuum extraction to separate organic compounds from in place contaminated soils is disclosed. A "heating blanket" desorption unit is applied directly to the surface of the hydrocarbon contaminated soil. The heating blanket assembly comprises of four basic components: a surface heating element, a thermal insulating mat, a vacuum collection system, and a vapor barrier. The surface heater, when energized, initiates a thermal front which moves down through the soil by thermal diffusion. As the soil is heated, organic compounds and water vapor are desorbed and removed from the soil matrix. A vapor collection system including a blower is fitted to the vapor barrier to establish a slight negative pressure inside the modular heating blanket units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Icko Eric Timothy Iben, William Alan Edelstein, Richard Blair Sheldon, Scott Robert Blaha, William Bennett Silverstein, Carl Richard Scatena, Gary Roland Brown
  • Patent number: 5673360
    Abstract: A portable and compact humidifier for use in a hotel room includes a vaporizing chamber having a heating element that vaporizes water contained in a hotel sink or ice bucket. Various safety devices are provided, all of which connect with a ground fault interrupt circuit ("GFCI") located at the electrical plug end of the humidifier. Upon the occurrence of a fault condition, the GFCI disconnects electricity from the vaporizing element. The safety devices include both high and low water level sensors, and a heating element overheat sensor. The humidifier enclosure may either comprise a single component that allows the entire humidifier to float in the reservoir, or the enclosure may comprise a plurality of enclosure sections that telescope relative to each other. The uppermost section is fixed in height with respect to the reservoir, while the lowermost section floats in the reservoir. As the level of water in the reservoir decreases, the telescoping enclosure increases in length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventor: J. Sebastian Scripps
  • Patent number: 5671322
    Abstract: A resistant heated flash evaporator including a body of any desired geometry having two opposite open sides, a cavity which forms a continuous open area extending from each of the two opposite sides and at least one metal evaporating surface facing the open area for evaporating metal laterally through the opposite sides of the cavity. The body is preferably composed of graphite and has a coating of pyrolyric boron nitride extending over a substantial portion of the body and over the metal evaporating surface formed by the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Advanced Ceramics Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Finicle
  • Patent number: 5670742
    Abstract: A device for shielding aircraft avionics and other electronic equipment from electromagnetic radiation generated by electronic devices used aboard the aircraft. The device includes a contiguous conductive shield which can be of wire mesh and which partially or completely surrounds a compartment or compartments of the aircraft, such as the passenger compartment and cargo compartments, and absorbs and dissipates the electromagnetic radiation which originates in the compartment from the electronic devices. The aircraft windows are also shielded with the conductive shield or, alternatively, may be coated with a transparent thin conductive polymer to allow better viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Threshold Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Jones