Core, Sheath, Or Support Means For Heating Element Patents (Class 219/546)
  • Patent number: 6844531
    Abstract: An electric belly-band heater includes at least one conduit fitting housing. The housing is located on the heater to surround one or more lead wires and provide a securement point for a conduit end. The conduit end can be secured to the housing using the appropriate fittings so that the lead wire exiting the heater sheath is totally encased in the conduit to meet installation codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Tutco, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Kirby
  • Patent number: 6815646
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a ceramic substrate for semiconductor manufacture and/or inspection conducive to decrease radiated &agr;-rays and to minimize changes in thermal conductivity as a function of time, thereby yielding a superior temperature controllability. This invention is related to a ceramic substrate for apparatuses for use in semiconductor manufacture and/or inspection, wherein the level of &agr;-rays radiated from said ceramic substrate exceeds 0.25 c/cm2·hr and is not higher than 50 c/cm2·hr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Ito, Yasuji Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 6812438
    Abstract: A covering for protecting surfaces in general, which comprises a sheet body that forms an internal supporting frame, to which a layer of self-sealing thermoplastic polymer is connected; the layer forms at least one face of the sheet-like body, the sheet-like body having protrusions for engaging a surface to be covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventor: Gianmaria Guidi
  • Patent number: 6787739
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a substrate of a semiconductor device includes a hot plate, on which a semiconductor substrate is placed, and a heater for heating the hot plate. The hot plate is preferably a composite plate including a plurality of plates having different thermal conductivities from each other. For example, a first plate adjacent to the heater can be made of aluminum, which has a relatively high thermal conductivity. A second plate, laminated on top of the first plate, can be made of titanium or stainless steel, which both have a thermal conductivity lower than aluminum. A composite hot plate as disclosed herein is better able to maintain a constant temperature and a uniform temperature distribution in order to more uniformly heat a substrate and to reduce an amount of energy required for the heating process. In addition, the reliability and productivity of the semiconductor device manufactured by the apparatus can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LTD
    Inventors: Tae-Won Lee, Do-In Bae, Sang-Yeoul Lee
  • Patent number: 6753507
    Abstract: In a ceramic heater having a plate-like body made of a ceramic, heating element in one main face of the plate like body, and an electric supply portion to be electrically connected with the heating element, it has been a problem that the temperature is uneven if bent portions are formed in heat generating patterns. The ceramic heater simultaneously satisfying the following: 0.15≦S≦0.85, 0.3≦P≦6.71×S2+1.52, and 0.3≦G≦6.71×(1−S)2+1.55, in which the reference character S1 denotes the surface area of the heating element in optional 10 mm square region of the effective heat generation area having the heating element therein; the surface ratio S denotes S=S1/100 mm2, the reference character P denotes the width of the heating element: and the reference character G denotes the gap between the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fure, Koichi Nagasaki, Kyoji Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20040099658
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft preheater with a plurality of shafts for receiving lumpy material, an arrangement for filling the individual shafts with the lumpy material to be preheated and also means for limiting the layer height in the shafts. The means for limiting the layer height have an arrangement for coarse adjustment and an arrangement for fine adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Norbert Patzelt, Thomas Schmitz, Uwe Schuh, Wolfgang Schwab, Joachim Kudras, Tolke Heinz
  • Publication number: 20040035852
    Abstract: A steel plate splicing facility includes a steel plate heating apparatus for heating a preceding material and a following material, and a shear-joining apparatus for joining the preceding material and the following material. The preceding material is a steel plate currently undergoing pickling, or pickling and cold rolling, and the following material is the next steel plate to undergo pickling, or pickling and cold rolling. In the shear-joining apparatus, the preceding material and the following material are clamped in an overlapping condition by means of a die and a clamp and are sheared by means of a punch in such a manner as to bring respective newly-formed surfaces in contact with each other for joining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kawamizu, Ritsuo Hashimoto, Etsurou Hirai, Shiochi Hashimoto, Kanji Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20030230566
    Abstract: A heating element device has a laminate of a plurality of heating element plates, each of the heating element plates having an insulator and a resistor, which is capable of generating heat upon the supply of electric power, provided on the insulator. The plurality of heating element plates are each independently controllable with respect to energization. The heating element device also has a temperature detection plate having an insulator and a resistor, capable of undergoing a change in resistance value upon a change in temperature, provided on the insulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takefumi Oguma, Nobutaka Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6611660
    Abstract: An electric heater element, that is injection overmolded with a thermally conductive polymer having a thermal conductivity of at least 3 W/m° K, includes surface enhancements to increase the overall outer surface area of the element that is in contact with a fluid to be heated, thereby enhancing the efficiency of heat transfer into the fluid. The heater element has a solid core having a resistance heating element spirally wound about its outer surface. An outer covering is injection overmolded onto the core sealing the heating element and shielding it from the exterior environment. While the outer covering seals the heating element it also includes surface enhancements such as concentric fins, pins or discs that increase the contact surface area of the outer cover, further enhancing the heat transfer properties of the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Cool Options, Inc. a New Hampshire corp.
    Inventor: E. Mikhail Sagal
  • Patent number: 6607679
    Abstract: In an organic PTC thermistor comprising a matrix of at least two high-molecular weight compounds, a low-molecular weight organic compound, and conductive particles having spiky protuberances, a thermoplastic elastomer is contained in the matrix whereby the thermistor is improved in reliability and performance stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuhiko Handa, Yukie Yoshinari
  • Publication number: 20030089701
    Abstract: A heater assembly includes a housing structure, a support structure, an insulator structure, and a heating structure. The housing structure conveys heat to be produced within the housing structure from a first portion to a second portion of the housing structure. The support structure is releasably and fixedly secured to the housing structure. The insulator structure is affixed to the support structure to be releasably and fixedly secured to the housing structure. The heating structure is affixed to the insulator structure to be releasably and fixedly secured to the housing structure, and to be insulated from at least one of the housing structure and the support structure. The housing structure includes an outer surface having a non-uniform cross section with respect to an axis of the housing structure. The support structure, the insulator structure, and the heating structure are positioned within the housing structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Jimmy Lee Sherrill
  • Patent number: 6558579
    Abstract: The invention aims to provide an organic PTC thermistor having a lower operating temperature than prior art organic PTC thermistors and exhibiting improved characteristics. The object is attained by an organic PTC thermistor comprising a polymer synthesized in the presence of a metallocene catalyst and conductive particles having spiky protuberances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuhiko Handa, Yukie Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 6515262
    Abstract: A multifunctional cooking system including a deep well cooker that includes a bottom heating element and a wrap-around heating element which are disposed about the deep well member for heating the side walls thereof is disclosed. The heating elements are fabricated in alternative embodiments to provide one-sided or double-sided configurations for particular applications. Both the bottom heating element and the wrap-around heating element are electrically interconnected by a temperature controlling device for heat regulation and a multi-function controller for selectively energizing the heating elements individually or in combination for various cooking modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Inventor: George T. C. Li
  • Patent number: 6498323
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus including a housing having an interior which contains a heating device. The cooking apparatus includes a liner which is preferably made of metallic material with a bowl which may be removably placed therein to cook food. The heating device is a heating band which has downwardly extending foot members to prevent the heating element from contacting the floor of the housing to prevent hot spots and inadvertent burning of a users hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: The Holmes Group, Inc.
    Inventors: William Terry Robertson, Jr., Kavin Wayne Jones
  • Publication number: 20020139793
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heating coil assembly having metal bracket, a support rail, a heating coil, and a plurality of insulating supports. The metal bracket is attached to a terminal block and the support rail. The heating coil is electrically connected to the terminal block. Each insulating support has a hole to receive the support rail. Each insulating support further has a rigid body and a plurality of slots. Each slot is capable of receiving a portion of a coil turn of the heating coil. Each slot has a generally flat bottom and two inwardly projecting sidewalls. Each inwardly projecting sidewall is defined by a hook edge and ramp edge. The present invention further includes a method of assembling such heating coil assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Charles T. Whitfield
  • Patent number: 6388237
    Abstract: A heater cable is wired in combination with a lead cable, the two cables form a pattern wherein the heater cable and the lead cable are spaced by a predetermined distance L, in the range of 0 to 10 mm, from each other and are supplied with opposite flow of current. The heater cable has a core thread, a heating element wire wound in a spiral on the outer surface of the core thread, a fusing layer provided over the heating element wire, a signal wire wound in a spiral on the outer surface of the fusing layer and a protective coating provided over the signal wire. The lead cable has a conductive wire covered at its outer surface with an insulating coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignees: Totoku Electric Co., Ltd., Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shouhei Miyahara, Hidekazu Aoki, Kazuhiko Koiwai, Atsushi Nakajima, Toshikazu Nishiwaki, Yutaka Mizumura
  • Patent number: 6376816
    Abstract: A tubular thin film resistance heater including a substrate (10) having an electrically non-conductive surface on which is deposited a thin film electrical conductor (12), such as tin oxide. A pair of electrical terminals (14, 16), preferably bus bars, are electrically connected at spaced apart locations on the conductor (12), such as at longitudinal spaced opposed ends or at circumferentially spaced opposed edges of the conductor (12). The thin film conductor (12) is molecularly bonded to the substrate (10) for durability and efficient heat transfer. A method of forming a tubular thin film resistance heater also is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventors: Richard P. Cooper, Scott A. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20020001460
    Abstract: The heater sealed with a carbon wire heating element of the present invention has a carbon wire heating element sealed within a quartz glass member, said carbon wire being prepared by knitting carbon single fibers into a knitted cord or a braid, each wire having a crystal structure with a interlayer spacing d (002) thereof being 0.343 or less and a crystallite size Lc (002) thereof being 4.0 nm or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Applicant: TOSHIBA CERAMICS CO., LTD. & TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Sunao Seko, Tomio Konn, Tomohiro Nagata, Norihiko Saito, Hideyuki Yokoyama, Masakazu Kobayashi, Takanori Saito, Ken Nakao
  • Publication number: 20010045424
    Abstract: A tubular thin film resistance heater including a substrate (10) having an electrically non-conductive surface on which is deposited a thin film electrical conductor (12), such as tin oxide. A pair of electrical terminals (14, 16), preferably bus bars, are electrically connected at spaced apart locations on the conductor (12), such as at longitudinal spaced opposed ends or at circumferentially spaced opposed edges of the conductor (12). The thin film conductor (12) is molecularly bonded to the substrate (10) for durability and efficient heat transfer. A method of forming a tubular thin film resistance heater also is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventor: Richard P. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6300597
    Abstract: An electrical heating pad for use with an ungrounded source voltage comprises a heating element arranged in the heating pad and defining a substantially coplanar plane and a fabric outer cover co-planarly enclosing the heating element. The heating element includes a first core made of an insulating material; a first conductive element wound around the first core using the first core as an axis; a second core made of an insulating material arranged in surrounding relation to the first core and the first conductive element; and a second conductive element wound around the second core using the second core as an axis. The first and second conductive elements are connected to each other at one ends and are connected to the ungrounded source voltage at the other ends to at least partially cancel out magnetic field generated from each conductive element. There is at least one shield layer located at one side of the coplanar plane defined by the heating element for substantially shielding electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: Myoung Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 6299801
    Abstract: The invention provides an organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor comprising at least two polymer matrices, a low-molecular organic compound and a conductive particle having spiky protuberances. For the polymer matrices, at least two thermoplastic polymer matrices having varying melting points or at least one thermoplastic polymer matrix and at least one thermosetting polymer matrix are used. It is thus possible to provide an organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor which has sufficiently low room-temperature resistance and a large rate of resistance change between an operating state and a non-operating state, and can operate with a reduced temperature vs. resistance curve hysteresis, ease of control of operating temperature, and high performance stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuhiko Handa, Yukie Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 6300607
    Abstract: A molded polymer composite heater is shown. The use of transfer molding and compression molding allows for the use of thermoset polymers containing very high levels of reinforcement fillers. These improved materials, in turn create a heater with thermophysical properties superior to the prior art, including higher heat flux levels, thermal conductivity, impact resistance, and maintenance of mechanical properties at high temperatures (˜>300° F.). The present invention also allows for wide variety of geometric configurations and the possibility to insert temperature sensors directly in hot zones of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Louis P. Steinhauser, A. Konrad Juethner
  • Patent number: 6278088
    Abstract: A rod glow plug comprises a glow tube, inner heating coil(s) and optionally control coil(s), and a terminal pole which leads into the glow tube, the coil(s) being connected to the terminal pole and glow tube tip, there being a stabilizer rod (10) which extends in an assembly stage from the terminal pole (9) to the glow tube tip, optionally into an opening in the glow tube tip or through it, and the stabilizer rod (10) being located essentially in the middle running through the coil(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventors: Martin Eller, Martin Allgaier
  • Patent number: 6274854
    Abstract: A device for achieving vacuum conditions more quickly in a semiconductor processing system having a vacuum pump, a gate valve and a chamber includes a rigid body containing heating elements that contact the surface of the gate valve. The device may include a U-shaped retainer clip for holding the device to the gate valve. A method for heating a gate valve to drive off contaminants involves heating the lower portion of the gate valve to drive contaminants towards the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Joseph Franklin, David Datong Huo
  • Patent number: 6236027
    Abstract: This invention provides a ceramic heater comprising a core, an insulation layer and a resistance heating element of high-melting metal as embedded between the core and insulation layer, wherein the operating temperature is not less than 300° C., the insulation layer comprising a sintered compact composed of 88 to 95 weight % of Al2O3 supplemented with, as sintering aids, 3 to 10 weight % of SiO2, 0.4 to 1.0 weight % of MgO and 1.0 to 2.5 weight % of CaO and having a density of not less than 3.60 and a thickness of 100 to 300 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumishige Miyata, Masahiro Tsuji
  • Patent number: 6222160
    Abstract: A heated container for transport of prepared hot food has a combination of an electric heating element with an insulation layer comprising metal foil layers and fiber layers. The combination of metal foil layers, which spread the heat from the heating element, and the fiber insulation layers provides an efficient food transport container having sufficiently low power requirements to enable powering the heater element from an automotive 12 volt system while maintaining a food temperature inside the container at about 150° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: ATD Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew S. Remke, Jeanne L. Dahlke-Baumann
  • Patent number: 6191400
    Abstract: A metal sheath heating element for substantially dry applications is disclosed. In one embodiment, the heater is substantially elongate and cylindrical, and comprises a coiled resistive heater wire. The heater wire is disposed within a stainless steel outer sheath. Granular insulating material is introduced into the sheath to electrically insulate the heating element from the outer sheath, and to thermally conduct heat from the heating element to the sheath. At least one small hole is formed in outer sheath to permit any moisture trapped therein to escape, advantageously minimizing the potential for current leakage between the heating element and the outer sheath, as well as minimizing the likelihood of depletion of oxygen from the filler material due to oxidation occurring within the sheath. In one embodiment, a plurality of holes are formed at spaced intervals along the length of the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Donald M. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 6184507
    Abstract: The invention is related to a package for packing a cylindrical carbon heater, used for manufacturing a mono crystal body and a method of forming the same, in which the cylindrical carbon heater is held sandwiched at the opposite ends between a base member and a plurality of retainer members, and compressive forces are applied independently to different parts of the carbon heater on the base member via the respective retainer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Carbon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadayoshi Kouno, Saburou Tanaka, Akira Masaoka
  • Patent number: 6172345
    Abstract: A cartridge heater for high-voltage applications is disclosed. In one embodiment, the cartridge heater is substantially elongate and cylindrical, and comprises an outer stainless steel sheath having an outside diameter on the order of one-half inch or less. Within the outer sheath is a resistive heating element coiled around an inner, electrically insulating wind core. A substantially hollow cylindrical core sleeve is disposed around the heating element and wind core, electrically insulating the heating element from the outer sheath. In one embodiment, the core sleeve is composed of pre-compressed magnesium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Gary L. Dial, Sidney L. Furlong, Amy M. Barker
  • Patent number: 6163018
    Abstract: A recess portion is provided in a portion in the upper surface 1a of the stay member correspondingly to one longitudinal side edge of the insulating substrate so that a portion of the one longitudinal side edge faces the recess portion 6, so that the insulating substrate can crack by a heat accumulation effect in this portion facing the recess portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukumoto, Teruhisa Sako, Tokihiko Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 6150643
    Abstract: The present invention is a heat insulating material being a single unit having superior insulating performance as well as sufficient mechanical strength itself to constitute furnace walls, an electric heating unit having the heat insulating material and a method of manufacture of the heat insulating material and the electrical heating unit. The heat insulating material of the present invention includes an outer layer having mainly refractory inorganic fibers and a core layer supported within the outer layer. The outer layer has greater mechanical strength than the core layer. The core layer has a composition having a better insulating performance than the outer layer and extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the thickness of the heat insulating material. The electrical heating unit of the present invention has a heating element embedded in the heat insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Koyo Thermo Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Kitamura, Masaaki Ueda, Hiroyuki Hanaya
  • Patent number: 6143206
    Abstract: An organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor comprising a thermoplastic polymer matrix, a low-molecular organic compound having a melting point that is equal to or greater than 40.degree. C. and less than 100.degree. C. and conductive particles, each having spiky protuberances, is obtained by crosslinking a milled mixture of these components with a silane coupling agent comprising a vinyl group or a (meth)acryloyl group and an alkoxy group. This organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor has sufficiently low resistance at room temperature and a large rate of resistance change between an operating state and a non-operating state, and can be operated at less than 100.degree. C. with a reduced temperature vs. resistance curve hysteresis, ease of control of operating temperature, and high performance stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuhiko Handa, Yukie Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 6124579
    Abstract: A molded polymer composite heater is shown. The use of transfer molding and compression molding allows for the use of thermoset polymers containing very high levels of reinforcement fillers. These improved materials, in turn create a heater with thermophysical properties superior to the prior art, including higher heat flux levels, thermal conductivity, impact resistance, and maintenance of mechanical properties at high temperatures (.about.>300.degree. F.). The present invention also allows for wide variety of geometric configurations and the possibility to insert temperature sensors directly in hot zones of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing
    Inventors: Louis P. Steinhauser, A. Konrad Juethner
  • Patent number: 6054691
    Abstract: A band type heater for mounting on a tubular member and transferring heat to the tubular member comprising an elongated electric resistance heater, a layer of insulating material, and a single piece heat conducting shell. The elongated heater is surrounded by the layer of insulating material and extends along a generally cylindrical curved path. The heat conducting shell is disposed about the elongated heater and insulating material. The heat conducting shell is formed by a thin metal sheet having first and second shell edges wrapped about the heater and insulating material and forming an inner heater face and an outer heater face. The first and second shell edges extend closely adjacent one another along one of the faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: IMS Company
    Inventor: Tad McGwire
  • Patent number: 5965049
    Abstract: An electric resistance heating element preferably of cylindrical or prismatic shape to be inserted into a test tube, a cartridge or in another cavity has one or more conductors connected to the supply system by the use of one or more electrodes. The conductors are made of a conductive composite material of a polymeric matrix with resistive function which are formulated at such ratio and materials as to achieve an electric resistance with high positive temperature coefficient (PTC) at the operation temperatures. The electrodes may be made of metallic materials. At least a core is made of insulating material, onto which the conductors with resistive function (PTC) and the electrodes are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: Ennio Carlet
  • Patent number: 5959254
    Abstract: An insulator has been invented for use between adjacent portions of wire coils of a helical heater wire, the insulator, in one aspect, having a body member with a front, a rear, a first side, a second side, a top, and a bottom, a first groove formed in the front of the body member and extending from the first side to the second side, the first groove for receiving and holding a first portion of a first wire coil. In certain aspects the insulator also has a second groove formed in the rear of the body member spaced apart from the opposite the first groove, the second groove extending from the first side to the second side, the second groove for receiving and holding a portion of a second wire coil adjacent to and spaced apart from the first wire coil. In one aspect the first and second grooves are at a top of the body member and another pair of such grooves are at the bottom of the body member. A heater element has been invented with such an insulator and a heater has been developed with such a heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventor: Lendell Martin, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5945034
    Abstract: An organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor comprises a thermoplastic polymer matrix, a low-molecular organic compound, and conductive particles, each having spiky protuberances thereon. The low-molecular organic compound has a melting point of 40.degree. C. to 100.degree. C. The conductive particles are interconnected in a chain form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuhiko Handa, Yukie Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 5907663
    Abstract: Disclosed is a far-infrared electric heater mainly including an electric heating coil, an inner element set in the heating coil, and an outer tubular member enclosing and insulating the heating coil and the inner element. The inner element is made by mixing and sintering quartz and far-infrared optical material. Continuous teeth are provided on outer surface of the inner element and/or inner surface of the outer tubular member to increase surface area for enhancing the reflection of the radiant far-infrared rays, so that an object can be heated by the electric heater in a highly efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Inventor: Wen-Ching Lee
  • Patent number: 5897806
    Abstract: An adaptor device for connecting a sheathed heater with a power supply terminal wherein an end of a heater wire of the sheathed heater and an end of a lead wire are inserted into an adaptor sleeve and the ends of the heater wire and the lead wire in the adaptor sleeve are connected by a flexible wire. The flexible wire is a stranded wire or in the form of a wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Sakaguchi Dennetsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5880433
    Abstract: A rod-type flame glow plug, with a glow tube (5), an inner pole (7), a coil combination having at least one control and glow coil (4) located in series with an ignition coil (3.2) in the glow tube (5), the ignition coil (3.2) being located at the tip of glow tube (5), making in contact with the glow tube, avoids problems associated with nonuniform centering of the coils in the glow tube by the coil combination being located predominantly within a tubular component (1) made of a heat-resistant material. The inner surface of the tubular component (1) adjoins the coil combination, and the outer surface of the tubular component (1) adjoining the inner surface of glow plug (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Beru Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Eller, Ulrich Stephan
  • Patent number: 5880432
    Abstract: A cermanic heating device, such as a glow plug for use in a diesel engine, has a metallic body with a central bore, a creamic heater portion having a tapered body and a conductive core, and a conductor for electrically connecting the core. The central bore wedgingly receives the ceramic heater portion within the central bore securing electrical contact with the metallic body and positions a distal tip of the ceramic heater portion longitudinally from the metallic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Le-Mark International Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Radmacher
  • Patent number: 5859411
    Abstract: A compact immersion heater, for aquariums, includes: a watertight tubular container (2); an electric heating component (4); an adjustable thermostat (3); an electric circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) for connecting the heating component, arranged in series to the thermostat, to an external electric power source. The heating component is mounted in a radially offset and longitudinally superimposed position with respect to the thermostat and is accommodated in a torus-like gap formed between the thermostat and the inside surface of the container. The heating component is a resistive component having a laminar structure formed by a layer (16) of an electrically resistive material that is anchored to an electrically insulating and heat-resistant flexible laminar support (15). The layer of resistive material is a PTC ink that is printed onto the support in selected regions (17) that are connected to paths that conduct the electric power supply, directly face the sensitive part of the thermostat, and are adjacent to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Hydor S.R.L.
    Inventors: Valerio Bresolin, Daniele Ragazzon
  • Patent number: 5847360
    Abstract: The electric steering-wheel heating element to be mounted on a steering wheel rim has a linear center region made of flat ribbon-shaped, electrically conductive material. A first side region and a second side region made of flat ribbon-shaped, electrically conductive material each have at least one curved side segment and. The shape of the center region and of the curved side segments is configured such that, after mounting, the center region covers an external circumferential region of the steering wheel rim, the first side region alongside a longitudinal side of the center region covers a side circumferential region on one side of the steering wheel rim and the second side region alongside the other longitudinal side of the center region covers a side circumferential region on the other side of the steering wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Warme-und Elektrotechnik B. Ruthenberg GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Lorenzen, Michael Weiss
  • Patent number: 5834742
    Abstract: In a heater unit comprising a case 10 which accommodates therewithin an electrical heating element 11 and a temperature sensor 12 for detecting the temperature of the case 10 heated by the electrical heating element 11 to stop the power supply to the electrical heating element 11 when the temperature reaches a predetermined value, there is provided a heat conductive path 20 made of a material having a higher heat conductivity than that of the material making up the case 10 and extending from a region corresponding to the space in which the electrical heating element 11 or heater is placed to a region corresponding to the space in which the temperature sensor 12 or temperature detecting and power supply control member is placed. Thus, the heater unit for an aquarium fish tank is prevented from being extraordinarily heated when the tank has been destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Nihon Doubutsu Yakahin Kabushikigaisya
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5760379
    Abstract: Quality welds are highly dependent upon achieving appropriate temperatures everywhere along the bond line. The present invention uses multinode thermocouples to measure the bond line temperature in real time and to provide control signals for the moving coil (welding head).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Marc R. Matsen, Karl A. Hansen, deceased, John J. deJong, executor
  • Patent number: 5667710
    Abstract: A electrical heater device for heating the interior of an automobile including a housing that is mounted to an automobile heater core. The housing has a top plate with an interior surface, a bottom plate and a pair of side plates. The housing has a first electrical wire that is positioned on the interior surface and is capable of extending along one of the side plates. The housing has a second electrical wire that is in series within the housing and coupled with the first wire at a housing wire end. Included is a plurality of heating coils that are positioned along the second electrical wire. Also, included is a switch mechanism that has a knob and a contact casing with a contact wire end of the first wire therein. The casing has a third electrical wire with a switching end and is coupled to a battery of the automobile. The knob allows an electrical bridge to form for transmission of an electric current to pass into the wire for charging of the plurality of heating coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Steve Kraemer
  • Patent number: 5651905
    Abstract: Disclosed is a new heating device for an appliance such as a coffee urn. Such device has a main heating element and a spaced-apart warming element, both of which are embedded in a common casting. The device may be mounted to and removed from an appliance as a single unit and when mounted, the main heating element is closer to the liquid container than the warming element. The elements are vertically spaced from one another and each element has flattened coil portions contacting one another. Such flattened portions minimizes the height of the device. The new device also has one or more "mounting points" for attaching auxiliary components such as a grounding wire and a thermostat, as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: The West Bend Company
    Inventors: Donald E. Thies, Stephen A. Bender
  • Patent number: 5641420
    Abstract: A heater element assembly for an electric heater, with a first and a second spaced element support. The first spaced element support has a peripheral edge surface and first and second slots extending inwardly from the edge surface, and an aperture therebetween; and a resistive heating element including first and second coiled sections and a connecting section disposed therebetween. The connecting section includes a mediate loop portion, wherein the first and second coiled sections are disposed between and engage the first and second spaced element supports. The connecting section extends through the slots, and the loop portion extends through the aperture, to secure the resistive heating element to the first element support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Lakewood Engineering & Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: John W. Peterson, Robert E. Stewart, Ernesto Flores
  • Patent number: 5633978
    Abstract: An electrical heater, in particular in the shape of an immersion heater (20), to heat liquids and/or keep these at a moderate temperature with at least one heating element which heats up on account of a current which flows through the element and which conveys heat to its surroundings. The at least one heating element is made of thermal ceramic and is housed in a thermally conductive, electrically insulated housing (11) with which it is in thermally conductive contact. The heating element is hereby clamped between two electrically conductive panels or plates through which the current is supplied, whereby a clamping device independent of the housing (11) is provided which presses the two plates and the heating element together. The cross-sections of the plates are provided with a matching bump and a depression so that the space between them can accommodate the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Marcel Hofsass
  • Patent number: 5622642
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing the end of an elongate cable such as an electrical heating cable which comprises a clip-shaped insert positioned within a tubular-shaped housing. Gripping members and pre-gripping members project from the interior surfaces of the arms of the insert and act to grip a cable when it is inserted into the device. A locking mechanism on the insert engages locking teeth on the housing and serves to hold the insert in position. A conformable gel component may be present. The apparatus provides high pullout force, as well as environmental sealing, for cables such as electrical heating cables or power cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Larry M. Edwards, Lawrence J. White, Timothy O. Stixrud, deceased