Element Embedded Within Or Completely Surrounded By Core, Sheath, Or Support Means Patents (Class 219/544)
  • Patent number: 8022339
    Abstract: The electric cartridge type heater has a continuous central fitting hole (2) for receiving a cylindrical body to be healed in a gap-free manner, an inner metal jacket (1), an outer metal jacket (3) and a healing conductor wound on the circumference of a coil form (8), which is inserted in an annular chamber (4). The coil form has a cylinder wall with holes (10) or ducts (11/1) for receiving ends (12, 13, 15, 16) of the heating wire winding (9). The connecting conductors (18, 19) are led radially to the outside through an opening (20, 20/1) of the outer metal jacket (3) in an axial area which is located away from the two axial ends of the annular chamber (4) and is located between two heating wire windings (9/1, 9/2) or two winding sections (9a, 9b) of the same heating wire winding (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Türk + Hillinger GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Schlipf
  • Patent number: 8014653
    Abstract: A spa heater includes a heater element having a single outer wall with indentations near each end for receiving clips for positioning the heater element. The indentations are preferably stamped or formed by some other method which does not weaken the outer wall and the heater element is retained by use of the clips in the indentations. Incorporation of the indentations and the clips allows use of a single thin outer wall thereby reducing cost. The heater element is held and sealed by a combination of O-rings, stepped washers, snap rings clips, and caps. An electrical connection may be made using ring type wire ends residing under the caps or by connecting to posts extending from the ends of the heater element. The heater element is preferably a spiral heater element and a titanium outer wall may be used to resist corrosion and increases heater element life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph G. Elnar
  • Patent number: 8006633
    Abstract: An embroidered electrode (10) consists of embroidered elements (12, 13, 14) of electrically conductive thread sewn on a backing material (11). Within a given element the orientation of stitching is selected to be parallel to the direction in which the element extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Genevieve Bennett, Philip A. H. Clarke, Warren B. Valentine
  • Patent number: 8008606
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composite heating element suitable for heating an article when activated by a power source. The composite heating element comprises a first backing layer and a discontinuous circuit formed of a conductive material disposed on the first backing layer. The discontinuous circuit has terminal ends for electrical connection with the power source and defines at least one gap between the terminal ends. The composite article further comprises a second backing layer spaced from the first backing layer. A trace formed of a conductive material is disposed on the second backing layer. The trace is aligned with the at least one gap for forming a complete circuit when the first and second backing layers at least partially abut each other with the trace extending across the gap and contacting the discontinuous circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: T-Ink, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrance Kaiserman, John Gentile, Anthony Gentile
  • Publication number: 20110186557
    Abstract: A heating structure includes an opening that surrounds a heating element and a heat transfer element. Each heat transfer element is disposed between an exterior surface of the heating element and an interior surface of the opening. A clamping mechanism is used to clamp each heating element against a heat transfer element. Each heat transfer element partially surrounds a heating element and is configured to create at least two elongated and spatially separate contact regions along a length of the heating element. The at least two contact regions form a line of contact between the heating element and the interior surface of the opening when the heating element is clamped against the heat transfer element. The at least two contact regions allow the heating element to transfer heat to the opening and to the tooling device. The clamping mechanism may also be used to transfer heat to the tooling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Long
  • Patent number: 7989740
    Abstract: A heating cable includes a bus wire structure that includes a plurality of bus wires. An insulation layer is provided to insulate the plurality of bus wires. A plurality of node areas exposes portions of the bus wires from the insulation. A heating element is wrapped around the bus wire structure in a helical manner. The heating element includes an insulating core and one or more resistance wires wrapped around the core in a helical manner. The heating element is electrically coupled to the nodes of the bus wire structure at the plurality of node areas. The insulating core may be made of a folded-over tape made of a cloth material, such as glass cloth. Pluralities of redundant paths in between two nodes are provided to allow for current to flow in a zone if one of the redundant paths is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Thermon Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Wells Whitney, Umesh Sopory
  • Patent number: 7981218
    Abstract: A substrate supporting mechanism includes a function for heating a substrate placed thereon in a process container of a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate supporting mechanism includes a worktable configured to place the substrate thereon and including a heating element made of silicon carbide and formed in a predetermined pattern; an electric feeder electrode configured to supply electricity to the heating element; and a partition member made of an electrically insulating material and interposed between portions adjacent to each other in the heating element formed in the predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Jun Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7964827
    Abstract: There is provided a laminated sheet heater whose mounting space is small, a lead wire-equipped laminated sheet heater that requires only a small mounting space and provides high reliability of electrical connection between a heater element and a lead wire, a heater-equipped battery structure provided with the laminated sheet heater or the lead wire-equipped laminated sheet heater, and a heater unit. In a first lead wire-equipped laminated sheet heater, a foil heater element includes a heater terminal portion protruding into a film void part in a planar direction of a laminated sheet heater. A lead core wire of a lead wire includes a lead terminal portion crimp-connected to a heater terminal portion by a crimping member so that the lead core wire is placed in contact with the surface of the heater terminal portion within a film void part in the planar direction of the laminated sheet heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Suzuki, Naoki Fukusako, Shuhei Marukawa, Yukie Uemura, Kunio Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 7947933
    Abstract: A ceramic heater comprising a ceramic body, a heat generating resistor buried in the ceramic body, an electrode pad that is electrically connected to the heat generating resistor and is formed on the surface of the ceramic body and a lead member bonded onto the electrode pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuichi Nagasako, Osamu Hamada, Koji Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7935911
    Abstract: The invention relates to constructing a heating mat that employs electrical resistance foils to provide a uniform heat. In embodiments of the invention applicable for providing heat to individuals, the mat provides this uniform heat at a comfortable temperature. The heating mat structure comprises protective layers surrounding the heating element to provide a durable structure that is suitable for industrial and commercial use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Inventor: Arthur Kaesler
  • Patent number: 7928347
    Abstract: A heating unit includes an AlN substrate having a main surface on which an elongated heat-generating resistor is provided. A protection layer is formed on the main surface of the substrate for the heat-generating resistor. The protection layer includes a first cover layer covering the heat-generating resistor and a second cover layer covering the first cover layer. The first cover layer is made of crystallized or semi-crystallized glass having a higher crystallization temperature by at least 50° C. than the softening point of the glass. The second cover layer is made of non-crystalline glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruhisa Sako
  • Patent number: 7919733
    Abstract: A heat trace assembly is provided that includes a heat trace section, an insulation jacket surrounding the heat trace section, and a plurality of standoffs disposed between the heat trace section and the insulation jacket. A corresponding plurality of passageways are formed between the heat trace section and the insulation jacket and between the plurality of standoffs. The standoffs can be a part of the insulation jacket and/or the heat trace section, and the standoffs can furthermore be integrally formed with or separately attached to the insulation jacket and/or the heat trace section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Eric E. Ellis, Shawn L. Leininger, Peggy Gruenloh, Steve Brncic, Louis P. Steinhauser, Allen Boldt
  • Patent number: 7919734
    Abstract: A ceramic heater includes a core material and a ceramic sheet covering the core material, and wherein a side of the ceramic sheet opposite the core material is an outer side of the ceramic heater. A method for manufacturing the ceramic heater includes forming a through hole in a ceramic sheet which is diametrically enlarged from a first surface toward a second surface of the ceramic sheet, forming a via conductor, forming on the second surface a heating portion and lead portion for connecting the heating portion and the via conductor, and covering a core material with the ceramic sheet such that the first surface faces an outer side of the ceramic heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kikuo Sakurai, Eiji Kakamu
  • Publication number: 20110068091
    Abstract: The ceramic heater used in a glow plug, which is used under harsh conditions, is required to be improved in durability. The ceramic heater 11 comprising: a heating resistor 13; a first lead member 15 and a second lead member 17; a first electrode lead-out member 19 and a second electrode lead-out member 21 electrically connected, respectively, to the ends of the first and second lead member opposite to the respective ends thereof that are electrically connected to the heating resistor 13; a ceramic base 23 in which the heating resistor 13, the first lead member 15, the second lead member 17, the first electrode lead-out member 19 and the second electrode lead-out member 21 are embedded; and a first electrode 25 and a second electrode 27 that are formed on the surface of the ceramic base, wherein in the first electrode lead-out member 19 the area S1 of the connection part with the first electrode is larger than the area S2 of the connection part with the first lead member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norimitsu Hiura
  • Publication number: 20110049130
    Abstract: There is disclosed a self-regulating electric heater assembly arranged to heat an electrically conductive substrate such as a flexible substrate of shape memory alloy for use as an actuator. The heater assembly comprises a plurality of substantially rigid PTC elements arranged in spaced-apart relation to one another in a flexible array, said PTC elements each having a contact surface arranged in contact with the substrate and being urged against said substrate so as to remain in contact with the substrate upon flexure of the substrate. The substrate serves as one of a pair of electrical conductors electrically connected to the PTC elements for the supply of electric current to the PTC elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: John E. ANTHONY, Alexis LAMBOURNE
  • Publication number: 20100294300
    Abstract: To provide a ceramic heater that has high durability by increasing the bonding strength between the lead member and the brazing material, the ceramic heater comprises a ceramic base, a heating resistor embedded in the ceramic base, an external electrode that is disposed on side face of the ceramic base and is electrically connected to the heating resistor, and a lead member brazed onto the external electrodes, wherein the distance between a point in the brazed portion of the periphery of the lead member and a center of the lead member is smaller than the distance between an another point in the brazed portion and the center, in a section of the lead member perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lead member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takenouchi
  • Publication number: 20100288752
    Abstract: Provided is a surface heater using a strip type surface heating element and a fabricating method thereof, in which the surface heater can be embodied into a thin film form using a metallic surface heating element which has a specific resistance value appropriate as a heat wire and is formed of a strip style, where the strip type surface heating element can be sequentially produced at an inexpensive cost. The surface heater includes: the strip type surface heating element in which a number of strips which are obtained by slitting a metallic thin film are arranged with an interval in parallel with each other and both ends of each adjacent strip are connected with each other; and an insulation layer which is coated on the outer circumference of the strip type surface heating element in a plate form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: AMOGREENTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Yeong Lee, Hyun Chul Lim, Sung Chul Yang, Sang Dong Jeong, Soung Ho Jang
  • Patent number: 7829822
    Abstract: An electric blanket has a woven web of warp and weft fibers. At least a portion of the warp fibers are electrically conductive. At least a portion of the weft fibers are electrically conductive and interweave with the electrically conductive warp fibers at a first area of the web. A power source in electrical communication with the web applies a voltage to the web that produces a wide area electrical distribution at the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Inotec Incorporated
    Inventor: Barry P. Keane
  • Patent number: 7825356
    Abstract: Certain embodiments pertain to a heater for warming a patient's extremity in order to cause vasodilation for facilitating venous catheterization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Augustine Biomedical and Design LLC
    Inventors: Karen Hewes, Scott D. Augustine, Mark C. Albrecht, Randall C. Arnold, Thomas F. Neils
  • Patent number: 7812289
    Abstract: A ceramic heater according to the present invention includes a heating portion made of ceramics, and a cooling plate portion. In the heating portion, a belt like printed electrode is formed continuously in a spiral shape along a circumferential direction, and in the printed electrode, slits extended in a width direction of the printed electrode are provided. In such a way, a ceramic heater in which uniform heating performance in the heating surface is high can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeru Torigoe
  • Patent number: 7804044
    Abstract: A heating device having a layer containing electrically conductive plastic. The layer exhibits adhesive characteristics at least in some sections on at least one side. A heatable object equipped with a heating device of this type. The layer containing electrically conductive plastic is connected to at least one component of an object. A. radiant heating system including a support and a heating layer containing electrically conductive plastic, whereby the heating layer is formed by a flexible film and the support is also flexible. Methods to produce such products and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: brainCOM AG
    Inventors: Michael Diemer, Stephan Diemer
  • Patent number: 7800030
    Abstract: The invention relates to a product, which may take a wide variety of forms but which is exemplified by a pipe or a panel. The product has a first function, such as that normally expected of a pipe or a panel, and a second function different from the first. The second function is chosen from a group consisting of: delivery of energy, for a first purpose, delivery of energy for a second purpose, delivery of data for a first purpose, delivery of data for a second purpose, switching. The product has incorporated in its means capable of enabling the product to be used as medium to perform the second function. The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Dickory Rudduck
  • Patent number: 7800020
    Abstract: A heating plate for a hair straightening iron and a method for its manufacture are provided. The heating plate consists of a case comprising two laminates made of insulating ceramic material; one of them holds a band made of electrical conductor material with outer connections, while one of the laminates has a surface coated with a polished layer of material; the case of the heating plate has features to adapt to the base structure of the iron. The manufacturing process comprises: 1) preparing a ceramic powder which comprises the milling of dispersants and adding solvents, mixing with a binding agent and adding plasticizer to control viscosity of the result, 2) moulding and corresponding drying; 3) cuffing plates and screen-printing the resistor; 4) laminating the whole by pressure and cutting; 5) burning the binding agent and sintering; and 6) welding contact terminals, and coating with a polished layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Carlos José Ceva
  • Patent number: 7800024
    Abstract: A method and system for supplying thermal energy to a selected area, in which thermal energy is stored in a sensible heat storage. Thermal energy from the sensible heat storage is optically guided, and eventually also thermally conducted through a thermal energy propagation path from the sensible heat storage to the selected area. A flux of thermal energy is controlled through the propagation path from the sensible heat storage to the selected area to control the amount of thermal energy supplied to the selected area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventors: Michel A. Duguay, Philippe Faucher
  • Patent number: 7800029
    Abstract: A heating device includes a high-frequency electrode embedded substantially in parallel with a heating surface of a ceramics base in the vicinity of the heating surface. A conducting hole toward this high-frequency electrode is formed in a back face of the ceramics base. This high-frequency electrode has a trapezoidal cone-like concave section toward the conducting hole at a region opposed to the conducting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Nishioka
  • Patent number: 7800021
    Abstract: A heater that may be applied to a substrate. The heater may include a graduating material deposited on at least a portion of a substrate, a resistive material and a thermal barrier dielectric coating. The resistive material may include at least two resistive compositions, wherein the resistivity of the material may be altered by varying the composition in given areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Jim Pilavdzic, Stefan Von Buren
  • Publication number: 20100224612
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a highly durable sheet-heating element that has flexibility for making a seat more comfortable, that alleviates load stress for a heater wire while being seated, and that prevents the heater wire from being disconnected. Since a sheet-heating element related to the invention has a configuration in which a base member (11) of a sheet-heating element (10) is made of a flexible non-woven, it is possible to obtain flexibility for making the seat more comfortable. Also, since a surface of the base member (11) is subjected to a calender process so as to harden the surface, it is possible to stably obtain a hardness of for preventing a heater wire (12) from being disconnected when the load stress occurs while being seated. Accordingly, it is possible to make the seat more comfortable and to obtain high durability for preventing the heater wire (12) from being disconnected when the load stress occurs while being seated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naohito Asami, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama, Norio Abe
  • Publication number: 20100213188
    Abstract: There are provided a ceramic heater in which a defect, such as generation of a gap at the interface between a heat-generating resistor and an insulating substrate, is unlikely to occur in the course of manufacture or use, and a glow plug using the ceramic heater. A ceramic heater 110 includes an insulating substrate 111 extending in the direction of an axis AX and a heat-generating resistor 115, which has a heat-generating portion 116, two lead portions 117, 117 and two lead lead-out portions 118a and 118b. The ceramic heater 110 satisfies an expression a?0.15(b+c) in a section of the ceramic heater perpendicular to the direction of the axis AX, where a represents a minimum gap a between the pair of lead portions 117, 117 on the minimum-gap-associated imaginary straight line, and b and c represent dimensions of the pair of lead portions 117, 117.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nishihara, Masahiro Konishi
  • Patent number: 7777156
    Abstract: Electric heating/warming composite fabric articles have at least a fabric layer having inner and outer surfaces, and an electric heating/warming element, e.g., including a bus, formed, e.g., of die cut metallized textile or plastic sheeting or metal foil, affixed at a surface of the fabric layer and adapted to generate heating/warming when connected to a power source. A air-and-water droplet resistant and water vapor permeable barrier layer may be positioned, for example, adjacent to the fabric layer; e.g., with the electric heating/warming element formed thereupon or at least partially impregnated therein, e.g. in a fabric laminate or in a composite formed by application of heat and pressure to at least one layer of a barrier film disposed adjacent thereto, including to protect the electric circuit, e.g. against abrasion, moisture, and or against physical stress due, e.g., to repeated crushing, bending or flexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: MMI-IPCO, LLC
    Inventors: Moshe Rock, Vincent Doyle, III
  • Publication number: 20100200556
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for heating an air flow, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a frame which extends substantially in a plane, at least one heating section, which is held on the frame and which can be traversed by a first, heatable partial air flow, with an electrical heating element, in particular PTC element, and with at least one flow resistance element which is arranged in the plane adjacent to the heating section and which is held on the frame and which can be traversed by a second, non-heatable partial air flow, wherein a flow means is provided on the device, by means of which flow means the two partial air flows are mixed downstream of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Erwan Gogmos, Christophe Schmittheisler, Mathieu Mougey, Pascal Miss, Michel Brun, Stephane Weingaertner, Nicolas Robin, Geoffrey Denny, Gerard Eckerlen
  • Patent number: 7772528
    Abstract: A heated body mat realized by an assembly covered by a protective enclosure. The assembly has a major dimension (e.g., length) and includes a heat reflecting layer disposed between a top foam panel and a bottom foam panel. A resistive heater element is arranged in a single loop that provides coverage over a substantial part of the area of the mat. A plurality of thermostats (preferably 3 or more) are integrated as part of the loop and arranged in a series configuration being spaced apart along the major dimension of the assembly. Each one of said thermostats is normally closed and opens at one or more predetermined threshold temperatures to thereby open the current path loop realized by the resistive heater element. In use, electric power is supplied to the resistive heater element to generate heat that is emitted from the mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Inventors: Symone Lewin, Gordon B. Bart
  • Patent number: 7767938
    Abstract: An electrofusion joint assembly includes a meltable member, such as a pipe or fitting, and a heating element secured to the pipe or fitting. The pipe or fitting may be tapered to facilitate receiving another pipe to form an electrofusion weld joint. Fasteners are used to secure the heating element and extend through a meltable zone and into a non-melt zone. Power supplied to the pipe melts the pipe proximal the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Karl-Heinz Krah GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Krah
  • Publication number: 20100140256
    Abstract: A high-power plastic aquarium heater includes a narrow, elongated, flat nickel-chrome steel strip wound on a mica tube and electrically connected with a circuit board inside a tubular plastic casing, and vacuum mounts fastened to the tubular plastic casing with pipe clamps for securing the tubular plastic casing to the inside wall of an aquarium. The use of the narrow, elongated, flat nickel-chrome steel strip facilitates positioning of the mica tube in the longitudinal center axis of the tubular plastic casing for even distribution of heat energy. Further, the nickel-chrome steel strip has a broad heat generating surface area in one particular direction to that the high-power plastic heater has a high performance while saving much the consumption of electric power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Yu-Chin WANG
  • Patent number: 7723651
    Abstract: A heating pad is disclosed. The heating pad has a heating line received in a bag, wherein a plurality of heat preservation elements are slipped over the heating line; when the heating pad is electrified, a controller controls the temperature of the heating line for heat applying on a human body; when a electric source is turned off, the heating line stops being heated up, the heat preservation elements keeps on scattering heat outwards to extend the time of heat applying. The heat preservation elements can be ceramic pipes able to emit far infrared ray, so that during heat applying, the ceramic pipes can emit far infrared ray to get an effect of health care.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: Shuh-Tsai Yang
  • Publication number: 20100116848
    Abstract: One embodiment of a conduit assembly for carrying potable liquid may include a tube having a first open end and a second open end. Further, the conduit assembly may include a heating assembly having a sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the tube. The sleeve may be made of a polymer and a plurality of metal particles embedded within the polymer. Furthermore, the conduit assembly may include a power supply and a pair of electrical conductors in connection between the sleeve and the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Keith Powers
  • Publication number: 20100096383
    Abstract: An article of composite material includes a plurality of plies of material consolidated through the application of pressure and heating, in which each material ply is made by a resin matrix reinforced with fiber material. The article includes heating electrical resistance and temperature sensing devices embedded in the composite material, which are respectively placed in at least one interface zone between the material plies and are suitable to allow a temperature control of the article in service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Alfonso Apicella, Michele Iannone, Generoso Iannuzzo, Giovanni Sagnella
  • Patent number: 7702224
    Abstract: A spa heater includes a heater element having a single outer wall with indentations near each end for receiving clips for positioning the heater element. The indentations are preferably stamped or formed by some other method which does not weaken the outer wall and the heater element is retained by use of the clips in the indentations. Incorporation of the indentations and the clips allows use of a single thin outer wall thereby reducing cost. The heater element is held and sealed by a combination of O-rings, stepped washers, snap rings clips, and caps. An electrical connection may be made using ring type wire ends residing under the caps or by connecting to posts extending from the ends of the heater element. The heater element is preferably a spiral heater element and a titanium outer wall may be used to resist corrosion and increases heater element life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Joseph G. Elnar
  • Publication number: 20100084394
    Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a heat generating unit that has a small size with high efficiency and high directivity, and carries out a uniform heating process with a fast temperature rise, and a heating apparatus using such a heat generating unit. The heat generating element (2) in the heat generating unit is formed into a film-sheet shape by using a material mainly composed of a carbon-based substance, and has an equivalent thermal conductivity in a plane direction, and power supply parts (10A, 10B) supply power to two opposing ends of the heat generating element (2) so that the entire heat generating element (2) in the heat generating unit generates heat with high efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Konishi, Tsugunori Okahara, Hiroaki Matsuoka, Akira Nishio
  • Patent number: 7679034
    Abstract: The power-supplying member comprises: a first rod-shaped member connected to at least one of a heating resistor and an electrode; a second rod-shaped member connected to a power supply; and a thermal-function member, which is disposed between the first rod-shaped member and the second rod-shaped member, and which has a smaller axial cross section area and a larger surface area as compared to the first and second rod-shaped members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Goto, Hideyoshi Tsuruta
  • Publication number: 20100043708
    Abstract: A ceramic heater capable of reducing power consumption, a method of manufacturing the ceramic heater and an apparatus for forming a thin layer having the ceramic heater are disclosed. The ceramic heater includes a plate, a first heating layer, a second heating layer and a connecting member. The first and second heater layers are disposed parallel to each other within the plate. The connecting member includes a ceramic material having a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) to electrically connect the first heating layer with the second heating layer at a temperature higher than a predetermined target temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Jeong-Duck CHOI, Seong-Min LEE, Jin-Sik CHOI
  • Patent number: 7663076
    Abstract: The invention relates to conductive materials particularly to serve as a heater. Heating means formed by or with electrically conductive materials are known and particularly effective for its flexibility is that sold under the British, Community and US Registered Trade Mark INDITHERM. Conductive rails are used to provide electrical connection to a source of power that need to have a commensurate flexibility, and the object of the invention is to ensure the maintenance of power to the full length of the conductive rail. This objective, is met by a construction comprising spaced first rails for the supply and return of electrical power, the said rails having a flexibility compatible with the semi-conductive material, and there being a supplementary rail attached to each first rail along the length thereof, the supplementary rails being flexible and having strength characteristics greater than those of the first rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Inditherm PLC
    Inventor: Colin Roy Tarry
  • Patent number: 7663075
    Abstract: Disclosed is a layer for use in a domestic appliance, based on a sol-gel precursor. This layer can be obtained by screen-printing and comprises an organosilane compound. The layer is obtained from a concentrated pre-polymerized sol-gel precursor. The layer can be used as an insulating layer or as a conductive layer in a heating element. Furthermore, the layer can be used for decorative purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Poh Loo Lee, Gerard Cnossen, Marcel Rene Boehmer, Sandor Nemeth, Pieter Johannes Werkman
  • Publication number: 20090320782
    Abstract: A ceramic heater and method of manufacturing of the ceramic heater are disclosed. A configuration and material composition of component parts of the ceramic heater allow the component parts to be formed together. Thereby, formation of cracks is reduced in a heat-generating resistor, leads, and a ceramic body. Uses of the ceramic heater may include an internal combustion engine glow plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norimitsu Hiura
  • Publication number: 20090321415
    Abstract: A flexible heater 200 includes at least one hot wire resistive element 215 and a thermally insulating and electrically insulating flex holding material (201, 202) surrounding the resistive element (215) for holding the resistive element (215). A temperature sensor (225) having at least a portion embedded in the holding material is operable for measuring a temperature of at least one location along a length of the resistive element (215). A monitored flexible heater system (600) includes a flexible heater (610) including at least one resistive element, a thermally insulating and electrically insulating flex holding material surrounding the resistive element and a temperature sensor (615) having at least a portion embedded in the holding material operable for measuring a temperature of at least one location along a length of the resistive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Wenwei Zhang, Vipin Pillai
  • Publication number: 20090302028
    Abstract: A heating unit with a resistive element formed as a conducting pattern, which resistive element is bound to a substrate, such as a base plate, on which the resistive element is extended, and which resistive element is arranged to be placed under the influence of an electrical voltage. The invention is wherein the resistive element and the said base have the same or essentially the same coefficients of thermal expansion, and in that the resistive element has been bound to the substrate by sintering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Mats Sundberg
  • Patent number: 7622695
    Abstract: A multi-layered carrier comprising: a first layer; a jacket; a laminated fabric heater disposed between the first layer and the jacket, wherein the heater comprises a consolidated electrically conductive fabric layer, a plurality of bus bars, a first thermoplastic layer, and a second thermoplastic layer, wherein the first and second thermoplastic layers sandwich the consolidated electrically conductive fabric layer and the plurality of bus bars to form a fused single sheet; and a cavity formed from the assembly of the first layer, the jacket, and the heater; wherein the multi-layer carrier provides for the even distribution of heat throughout the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Inventors: Jay DiPucchio, Thomas J. Luck
  • Patent number: 7618588
    Abstract: An integrate device includes a heater thermally coupled to a plurality of flow-through tubes to perform thermally-driven chemical reactions. A wire mesh heater is wrapped around each of multiple flow-through tubes, thereby creating a thermal interface between the mesh and the tubes. Each end of the wire mesh is coupled to an electrical contact. The electrical contacts are preferable positioned at an exterior portion of the integrated device to be easily placed in electrical contact with a voltage source. As current passes through the mesh, heat is produced. The heat passes from the mesh to each of the flow-through tubes via the thermal interface. The flow-through tubes can be fluidically coupled to a sample preparation module. The sample preparation module, the flow-through tubes, and the heater can be integrated within a single integrated device that provides automated sample preparation and thermally-driven chemical reactions for a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Microfluidic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Wah (Phil) Lin, Bob Yuan
  • Patent number: 7619187
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a porous ceramic heating element wherein 0.08 to 1.00 wt % of a foaming agent is added in 99.00 to 99.92 wt % of a mixture of an inorganic material, a binder, a conductive material, a hardener, a bonding agent and a dispersion medium and mixed with the mixture. The bonding strength of porous foam formed in the ceramic heating element is increased, thereby providing an effect that the entire structure is hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Inventors: Changhee Kim, Taehee Kim
  • Publication number: 20090277897
    Abstract: A heating device having a thermally conducting member made from a matrix of carbon nanotubes and having opposing ends. A connector portion can be positioned at each end of the conducting member, and can be capable of receiving a current from an external source to permit the conducting member to generate heat. A coupling mechanism can be included and associated with the connector portion so as to provide the connector portion with substantially uniform contact across a contact surface area with the conducting member. Methods of using the heating device are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: David S. Lashmore, Cory Timoney
  • Patent number: 7607206
    Abstract: A monolithic, multi-layer heating element forms the high temperature tip of a glow plug assembly. The heating element includes a conductive core which is surrounded by an insulator layer, which in turn supports a resistive layer. An optional conductive jacket can surround the resistive layer. These layered components are pre-formed in prior operations and then assembled one into the other to form a precursor structure. The precursor structure is transferred to a die, where it is compressed to form a so-called green part having dimensional attributes proportional to the finished heating element. The individual layers remain substantially intact, with some boundary layer mixing possible to enhance material-to-material bonding. The green part is sintered to bond to various materials together into an essentially solid mass. Various finishing operations may be required, following which the heating element is assembled to form a glow plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Federal Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Walker, Jr., John W. Hoffman, Jim May