Patents by Inventor James N. Pradun
James N. Pradun 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).
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Publication number: 20240328342Abstract: A control system for use in a fluid flow application includes a heater and a control device. The heater includes at least one resistive heating element having a relationship between resistance and temperature defining a non-monotonic curve. The heater is to heat fluid flow. The control device is to determine a flow characteristic of the fluid flow and a temperature of the at least one resistive heating element along the non-monotonic curve between resistance and temperature based on a change in resistance of the at least one resistive heating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2024Publication date: October 3, 2024Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Cal SWANSON, Mark D. EVERLY, David P. CULBERTSON, James N. PRADUN, Jeremy J. QUANDT, Mark L.G. HOVEN, Jeremy OHSE, Sanhong ZHANG
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Publication number: 20240280042Abstract: Methods and systems for predicting at least one temperature along a fluid flow path of a fluid flow system having a heater disposed in the fluid flow path are provided. In one example, a method includes: obtaining at least one input, wherein the at least one input includes a setpoint, a mass flow rate, an inlet temperature, or a combination thereof; calculating a temperature associated with the heater based on a predefined model and the at least one input; and setting a value of the at least one temperature along the fluid flow path to the temperature of the heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2024Publication date: August 22, 2024Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: James N. PRADUN, Sanhong ZHANG, Jeremy J. QUANDT, David P. CULBERTSON, Magdi KHAIR
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Patent number: 12037933Abstract: A control system for use in a fluid flow application includes a heater and a control device. The heater has at least one resistive heating element and the heater is operable to heat fluid. The control device determines at least one flow characteristic of a fluid flow based on a heat loss of the at least one resistive heating element and determines a mass flow rate of the fluid based on the at least one flow characteristic and a property of the at least one resistive heating element. And the property of the at least one resistive heating element includes a change in resistance of the at least one resistive heating element under a given heat flux density.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: July 16, 2024Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Cal Swanson, Mark D. Everly, David P. Culbertson, James N. Pradun, Jeremy J. Quandt, Mark L. G. Hoven, Jeremy Ohse, Sanhong Zhang
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Patent number: 11970964Abstract: A method of predicting temperature of at least one location in a fluid flow system that has a heating system for heating fluid. The method includes obtaining a mass flow rate of fluid flow of the fluid flow system, obtaining at least one of a fluid outlet temperature and a fluid inlet temperature of a heater of the heating system, obtaining power provided to the heater, and calculating temperature at the at least one location based on a model of the fluid flow system and the obtained mass flow rate, fluid outlet temperature, and fluid inlet temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing CompanyInventors: James N. Pradun, Sanhong Zhang, Jeremy J. Quandt, David P. Culbertson, Magdi Khair
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Patent number: 11795857Abstract: A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within a fluid flow system and a control device that is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model, at least one fluid flow system input, and at least one heater input. The at least one heater input includes at least one physical characteristic of the heating system, the at least one physical characteristic includes at least one of a resistance wire diameter, a heater insulation thickness, a heater sheath thickness, a conductivity, a specific heat and density of the material of the heater, an emissivity of the heater and the fluid flow pathway, and combinations thereof. 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: GrantFiled: September 2, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: James N. Pradun, Sanhong Zhang, Jeremy J. Quandt, David P. Culbertson, Magdi Khair
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Publication number: 20230003161Abstract: A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within a fluid flow system and a control device that is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model, at least one fluid flow system input, and at least one heater input. The at least one heater input includes at least one physical characteristic of the heating system, the at least one physical characteristic includes at least one of a resistance wire diameter, a heater insulation thickness, a heater sheath thickness, a conductivity, a specific heat and density of the material of the heater, an emissivity of the heater and the fluid flow pathway, and combinations thereof. 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: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: James N. PRADUN, Sanhong ZHANG, Jeremy J. QUANDT, David P. CULBERTSON, Magdi KHAIR
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Patent number: 11486291Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: James N. Pradun, Sanhong Zhang, Jeremy J. Quandt, David P. Culbertson, Magdi Khair
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Publication number: 20200370461Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing CompanyInventors: James N. PRADUN, Sanhong ZHANG, Jeremy J. QUANDT, David P. CULBERTSON, Magdi KHAIR
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Patent number: 10801388Abstract: A heating apparatus and method for use in an exhaust gas system is provided that includes a container body defining an exhaust gas pathway, a heater flange component attached to an exterior of the container body, and a heater assembly disposed in the exhaust gas pathway and secured to the heater flange component. The heater assembly includes at least one heater element, a bracket assembly that secures the at least one heater element in the container body, and a conformal bracket for securing the at least one heater element to the bracket assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing CompanyInventors: David P. Culbertson, Richard T. Williams, Jr., Christopher Meyers, Jeremy Ohse, Mark Everly, Roger Brummell, Gerald S. Jackson, Jake Spooler, James N. Pradun, Scott H. Boehmer, Mitchell T. Diaco, Robert K. Frake
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Patent number: 10724417Abstract: A control system for use in a fluid flow application is provided. The control system includes a heater having at least one resistive heating element. The heater is adapted to heat the fluid flow. The control system further includes a control device that uses heat loss from at least one resistive heating element to determine flow characteristics of the fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Cal Swanson, Mark D. Everly, David P. Culbertson, James N. Pradun, Jeremy J. Quandt, Mark L. G. Hoven, Jeremy Ohse, Sanhong Zhang
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Publication number: 20200109654Abstract: A method of predicting temperature of at least one location in a fluid flow system that has a heating system for heating fluid. The method includes obtaining a mass flow rate of fluid flow of the fluid flow system, obtaining at least one of a fluid outlet temperature and a fluid inlet temperature of a heater of the heating system, obtaining power provided to the heater, and calculating temperature at the at least one location based on a model of the fluid flow system and the obtained mass flow rate, fluid outlet temperature, and fluid inlet temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing CompanyInventors: James N. PRADUN, Sanhong ZHANG, Jeremy J. QUANDT, David P. CULBERTSON, Magdi KHAIR
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Patent number: 10544722Abstract: A control system for a heating system of an exhaust system is provided. The control system includes at least one electric heater disposed within an exhaust fluid flow pathway, and a control device adapted to receive at least one input selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate of an exhaust fluid flow, mass velocity of an exhaust fluid flow, flow temperature upstream of the at least one electric heater, flow temperature downstream of the at least one electric heater, power input to the at least one electric heater, parameters derived from physical characteristics of the heating system, and combinations thereof. The control device is operable to modulate power to the at least one electric heater based on at least one input.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: James N. Pradun, Sanhong Zhang, Jeremy J. Quandt, David P. Culbertson, Magdi Khair
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Patent number: 10470247Abstract: A susceptor for use in a heated fluid flow system is provided. In one form, a susceptor is arranged within a conduit and adapted to absorb radiant energy from at least one heating element and inhibit the radiant energy from being absorbed by the at least one wall of the conduit and/or other components. In another form, the susceptor absorbs and inhibits the radiant energy from being absorbed by the outer wall of the conduit.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Mark D. Everly, Richard T. Williams, James N. Pradun
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Publication number: 20170254249Abstract: A susceptor for use in a heated fluid flow system is provided. In one form, a susceptor is arranged within a conduit and adapted to absorb radiant energy from at least one heating element and inhibit the radiant energy from being absorbed by the at least one wall of the conduit and/or other components. In another form, the susceptor absorbs and inhibits the radiant energy from being absorbed by the outer wall of the conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Mark D. Everly, Richard T. Williams, James N. Pradun
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Publication number: 20170256104Abstract: A control system for a heating system of an exhaust system is provided. The control system includes at least one electric heater disposed within an exhaust fluid flow pathway, and a control device adapted to receive at least one input selected from the group consisting of mass flow rate of an exhaust fluid flow, mass velocity of an exhaust fluid flow, flow temperature upstream of the at least one electric heater, flow temperature downstream of the at least one electric heater, power input to the at least one electric heater, parameters derived from physical characteristics of the heating system, and combinations thereof. The control device is operable to modulate power to the at least one electric heater based on at least one input.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: James N. Pradun, Sanhong Zhang, Jeremy J. Quandt
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Publication number: 20170254242Abstract: A control system for use in a fluid flow application is provided. The control system includes a heater having at least one resistive heating element. The heater is adapted to heat the fluid flow. The control system further includes a control device that uses heat loss from at least one resistive heating element to determine flow characteristics of the fluid flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2017Publication date: September 7, 2017Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Cal Swanson, Mark D. Everly, David P. Culbertson, James N. Pradun, Jeremy J. Quandt, Mark L. G. Hoven, Jeremy Ohse, Sanhong Zhang
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Publication number: 20140190151Abstract: A heating apparatus and method for use in an exhaust gas system is provided that includes a container body defining an exhaust gas pathway, a heater flange component attached to an exterior of the container body, and a heater assembly disposed in the exhaust gas pathway and secured to the heater flange component. The heater assembly includes at least one heater element, a bracket assembly that secures the at least one heater element in the container body, and a conformal bracket for securing the at least one heater element to the bracket assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Watlow Electric Manufacturing CompanyInventors: David P. Culbertson, Richard T. Williams, JR., Christopher Meyers, Jeremy Ohse, Mark Everly, Roger Brummell, Gerald S. Jackson, Jake Spooler, James N. Pradun, Scott H. Boehmer, Mitchell T. Diaco, Robert K. Frake