Patents by Inventor Douglas Schaefer

Douglas Schaefer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12200824
    Abstract: A heater system is provided, which includes a plurality of heaters, a controller for supplying power to the plurality of heaters, a plurality sets of auxiliary wires extending from the plurality of heaters, and a wire harness for connecting the plurality sets of auxiliary wires to the controller. Each set of auxiliary wires includes three wires, two of the three wires being made of different materials and being joined to form a thermocouple junction, such that each of the plurality of heaters is operable to function as both a heater and a temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jeremy Ohse, Douglas Schaefer, Eric Ellis
  • Publication number: 20230134684
    Abstract: A heater system is provided, which includes a plurality of heaters, a controller for supplying power to the plurality of heaters, a plurality sets of auxiliary wires extending from the plurality of heaters, and a wire harness for connecting the plurality sets of auxiliary wires to the controller. Each set of auxiliary wires includes three wires, two of the three wires being made of different materials and being joined to form a thermocouple junction, such that each of the plurality of heaters is operable to function as both a heater and a temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jeremy OHSE, Douglas SCHAEFER, Eric ELLIS
  • Patent number: 11540358
    Abstract: A heater system is provided, which includes a plurality of heaters, a controller for supplying power to the plurality of heaters, a plurality sets of auxiliary wires extending from the plurality of heaters, and a wire harness for connecting the plurality sets of auxiliary wires to the controller. Each set of auxiliary wires includes three wires, two of the three wires being made of different materials and being joined to form a thermocouple junction, such that each of the plurality of heaters is operable to function as both a heater and a temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jeremy Ohse, Douglas Schaefer, Eric Ellis
  • Patent number: 11096248
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a heater that includes a resistive heating element, a first power pin, and a second power pin. The first power pin forms a first junction with a first end of the resistive heating element, and the second power pin forms a second junction with the second end of the resistive heating element. The second power pin includes a first lead wire and a second lead wire. The first lead wire forms the second junction with the second end of the resistive heating element and defines a first conductive material. The second lead wire forms a primary sensing junction with the first lead wire at a first reference area, and defines a second conductive material different from the first conductive material to measure a temperature at the first reference area based on a voltage change created by the primary sensing junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Terry Colhour, Douglas Schaefer, Jeremy Ohse, Jacob Burnia, Eric Ellis, Louis P. Steinhauser
  • Publication number: 20200236739
    Abstract: A heater system is provided, which includes a plurality of heaters, a controller for supplying power to the plurality of heaters, a plurality sets of auxiliary wires extending from the plurality of heaters, and a wire harness for connecting the plurality sets of auxiliary wires to the controller. Each set of auxiliary wires includes three wires, two of the three wires being made of different materials and being joined to form a thermocouple junction, such that each of the plurality of heaters is operable to function as both a heater and a temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jeremy OHSE, Douglas SCHAEFER, Eric ELLIS
  • Publication number: 20180235028
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a heater that includes a resistive heating element, a first power pin, and a second power pin. The first power pin forms a first junction with a first end of the resistive heating element, and the second power pin forms a second junction with the second end of the resistive heating element. The second power pin includes a first lead wire and a second lead wire. The first lead wire forms the second junction with the second end of the resistive heating element and defines a first conductive material. The second lead wire forms a primary sensing junction with the first lead wire at a first reference area, and defines a second conductive material different from the first conductive material to measure a temperature at the first reference area based on a voltage change created by the primary sensing junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Terry Colhour, Douglas Schaefer, Jeremy Ohse, Jacob Burnia, Eric Ellis, Louis P. Steinhauser
  • Publication number: 20050167440
    Abstract: A coupling for connection of a tube comprises a coupling housing which includes a first end into which the tube is inserted, a clamping ring which is positioned in the coupling housing against a first conical surface, a sealing ring which is positioned in the coupling housing, and a return ring which is positioned in the coupling housing between the clamping ring and a second end of the housing adjacent a second conical surface that is tapered opposite to the first conical surface. The return ring is expandable and comprises a central aperture which is smaller than the external diameter of the tube. Accordingly, when the tube is pushed into the coupling housing and forced through the return ring, the return ring will expand and move along the second conical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Doug Huffer, Fred Lowery, Gary Petersen, Keith Gausmann, Samuel Marino, Gary Myers, Jamison Float, Jay Perkins, Steve Pever, Robert Hayes, Michael Kopezewski, Paul Hsu, Douglas Schaefer, Brent Burchfield, Jeffrey DeBord