Abstract: The resistivity/temperature characteristics of PTC conductive polymers which have little or no cross-linking can be modified by stretching. The rate at which resistivity rises with temperature is increased, and the peak resistivity is decreased; however, the decrease in peak resistivity is substantially smaller than that observed with PTC conductive polymers having a high degree of cross-linking. Therefore, heat-recoverable electrical devices, particularly for covering telephone and other cable splices, comprise (a) a layer of a PTC conductive polymer which has little or no cross-linking, (2) an adjacent heat-recoverable layer of a PTC or ZTC conductive polymer which has a relatively high level of cross-linking, and (3) electrodes which can be connected to a power supply so that current passes through the layers and causes recovery of the device; preferably an uncrosslinked PTC layer is sandwiched between two cross-linked ZTC layers. Non-recoverable devices, e.g.

Abstract: This specification teaches an electrically heated, glass vision unit having a complex curved configuration. The unit is made by cutting a glass substrate (10) from a flat glass bracket (12). The glass substrate (10) has first and second surfaces separated by a uniform distance. A pair of electrically conductive bus bars (16--16) are applied to one of the surfaces of the glass substrate (10). The bus bars (16--16) are so positioned on the flat glass substrate (10) that when the substrate (10) is bent to form the glass vision unit of complex curved configuration, inboard edges (16a--16a) of the pair of electrically conductive bus bars (16--16) are equally distant from one another throughout their entire extent. The flat glass substrate (10) is bent to form the glass vision unit of complex curved configuration. A conductive coating (20) is applied to the one surface of the glass substrate (10) and extends between the pair of bus bars (16--16) throughout their entire extent.

Abstract: A windshield heater element for an automotive vehicle is controlled to provide a maximum power deice mode of operation and a reduced power defog mode of operation. The deice mode of operation is initiated in response to an operator actuated deice command and is terminated in response to the first to occur of expiration of a predetermined time period after initiation, or an operator actuated off command. The defog mode of operation is initiated in response to termination of a preceding deice mode of operation provided that such termination was not in response to an operator actuated off command, or an operator actuated defog command. The defog mode of operation is terminated in response to the first to occur of expiration of a predetermined time period after initiation provided that such initiation was not in response to an operator actuated defog command, or an operator actuated off command.

Abstract: A heated automobile backlight having a dark colored electroconductive grid. The composition includes silver powder, a glass frit such a lead borosilicate frit, and reducing agents such as stannous sulfate and chromic oxide.

Abstract: An improved electrically heated vision unit in which heat can be concentrated in a selected zone or zones thereof includes at least one sheet of a relatively rigid transparent material (12) having a ceramic enamel (14) extending along at least two opposite edges on one surface thereof. A bus bar is associated with each ceramic enamel on each edge of the sheet and has at least one narrow portion (18) overlying and bonded to an associated one of the ceramic enamel, and at least one wide portion (20) in part overlying and bonded to an associated one of said ceramic enamel and in part overlying and bonded to said one surface of the transparent material. The narrow portions and the wide portions of the pair of bus bars are in register with like portions on an opposed one of the bus bars.

Abstract: In an electrically heatable automobile glass pane with heating conductors printed onto and baked into a surface, which conductors are connected to printed-on and baked-in collecting conductors, metal strips are disposed on the baked-in collecting conductors and are electrically connected with these collecting conductors. The baked-in collecting conductors and the metal strips connected with them are furnished with a plastic coating which jointly covers them and is glued to them and to the glass surface.

Abstract: An electric heater is described. The heater is composed of a plastic or a rubber strip conductor with a heat resistant and electric conductive chemical dispersed therethrough and electric conductors disposed on either side of the strip conductor so that when the electric conductors are coupled to a source of electrical energy current will flow through the strip and generate heat. The strip conductor then is covered with a polyethylene layer which is adhered thereto, and the polyethylene layer in turn is covered by a PVC layer.

Abstract: An electrically heatable fixed rear window of a motor vehicle has resistance heating strips extending over part of the window area and a bus bar which electrically connects the resistance heating strips to each other and provides a contact on the window which cooperates with, and a counter-contact on the motor vehicle body which is connected to an electrical power source such as the motor vehicle battery.The counter-contact on the motor vehicle body comprises a compression spring-loaded pin which moves in the direction perpendicularly of the window surface, which is connected at its rear end to a power cable connected to the electrical power source and which is operatively connected to the bus bar at its front end surface.

Abstract: A multiple pane glass assembly having at least one pane that is electrically heatable. The glass panes of the assembly are disposed in closely spaced, side-by-side relation with a spacer interposed between adjacent panes. The spacers include a plurality of hollow tubular members disposed near the peripheral edges of the panes with adjacent ends of the tubular members connected by corner key elements. Electrical lead wires extending from an interior electrically heatable surface of one of the panes are directed through respective apertures or passageways in the corner key elements, into the end of a respective tubular member connected to the corner key element, and through the tubular spacer members to a common egress location. The corner key elements are adapted to retain desiccant material in at least some of the tubular members, which together with sealant applied about the periphery of the assembly, enables an air-tight sustantially vapor-free condition to be maintained in the space between panes.

Abstract: A laminated window for a vehicle, for example a windshield, has electrical conductors carried between the plastics interlayer and one of the glass sheets. An obscuration band is fired on to the margin of the inner surface of the outer glass sheet, which obscures from external view conductive strips near the edges of the window.

Abstract: A flexible electrically heated hose of substantially uniform construction throughout its length for transmitting hot liquid material includes a flexible polymeric tube encased within a braided metal covering and having hydraulic fitting at its opposite ends. Multiple plies of heat and electrical insulative material are helically wrapped around the braided covering and a least one electrical heating line is helically wrapped and embedded within the multiple plies. A molded plastic cuff is secured to each end of the hose and an exterior ply of corrugated polymeric tubing is provided about the exterior of the hose to prevent kinking and breaking of the hose at each hose cuff caused by severe bending forces at that location. The exterior of the corrugated tubing has annular ribs separated by annular recesses into which annular ribs on the interior of each cuff extend to secure the cuffs to the corrugated tubing.

Abstract: Anti-glare glass pane for a vehicle where the pane has a main area of a field of vision and a secondary area of a field of vision located below the main area which is less transparent to the visible spectrum than said main area.

Abstract: An electrically heated windshield of generally trapezoidal shape has been bus bars of uniform conductivity throughout their length extending in line contact with the upper and lower edges of a continuous uniformly thick trapezoidal-shaped electrically conductive coating provided on the windshield surface for deicing and defrosting the windshield. The line of contact of the upper bus bar with the conductive coating has a length generally equal to the entire effective length of the upper edge of the conductive coating. The lower bus bar is symetrically located along the lower edge of the conductive coating and has a line of contact length equal to the sum of the length of the upper bus bar plus generally about one-half the difference between the entire effective length of the lower edge of the conductive coating minus the length of the line of contact of the upper bus bar.

Abstract: An electric current feeding to an electric heating unit designed for dissipating a fog formed on a glass window of a vehicle by its thermal effect. The apparatus has one fuse connected with an ignition switch and two fuses connected with input terminals of an electromagnetic relay having two contacts for connection with a heating unit in parallel. The electromagnetic relay is actuated by the ignition switch through an electric timer activated by a manual defogger switch. An electric current feeding system is provided for protecting the contacts of the electromagnetic relay from a short-circuit by melting or breakage by arranging the same such that the manual defogger switch, timer and relay are connected with the vehicle power source through one of the three fuses, respectively. Thereby the apparatus can be rendered entirely inoperative when any one of three fuses is blown, or the circuit connected therewith is disconnected.

Abstract: A multiple-pane, hermetically-sealed, thermal-resistant window with a spacer between adjacent panes for maintaining separation between the panes wherein the corners of the spacer are rigidified and locked by a corner insert which prevents separation of adjacent spacer frame members and wherein the spacer frame members are attached to the window frame to prevent and/or reduce movement of the spacer frame members. The seal around the cavity between adjacent panes is completed after the temperature of the window components and the cavity air is about equal to the temperature of the ambient air. A resistance heating wire is applied to the outside surface of the spacer frame intermediate the adjacent panes of glass.

Abstract: An electrically heatable self-defrosting windshield has a transparent panel, two low-resistance groups of wires embedded in the panel and defining a primary zone requiring rapid heating, and at least one high-resistance group of wires embedded in the panel and defining a secondary zone adjacent the primary zone and not requiring rapid heating. A switch connected to the wire groups and to an electric power source is movable between a fast-heat position connecting the two low-resistance groups in parallel with each other across the source and effectively disconnecting the high-resistance wires, and a slow-heat position connecting the two low-resistance groups in series with each other and jointly in parallel with the high-resistance groups across the source. The total resistance of the groups in the fast-heat position is generally the same as in the slow-heat position.

Abstract: A control system for regulating the operation of an electric resistance heating grid for de-icing or de-fogging a window of an automobile in accordance with the temperature of the window includes a manually operable switching relay closed by the driver to start the flow of current through the heating grid upon the accumulation of an unacceptable amount of ice or fog on the window. A holding circuit maintains the switching relay closed until such time as an electric resistance-type temperature sensor in heat exchange relationship to the window surface on which the ice or fog accumulates operates through a transistorized circuit to break the holding circuit when the window reaches a preselected temperature high enough to dissipate any fog or ice accumulated thereon.

Abstract: A capillary tube is shrunk around a wire heating element, fashioned into the desired configuration, and situated between the exterior surface of a cylindrical inner glass tube and the interior surface of a cylindrical outer glass tube, to form an assembly. The space between the adjacent tube surfaces is evacuated as a heat source is moved along the axis of the assembly to heat each longitudinal section of the assembly, in sequence. The element is thermally expanded as the outer tube surface collapses toward the inner tube surface, resulting in the fusion of the adjacent glass surfaces around the expanded element. In this manner, a channel is formed through the fused glass body which has the configuration and dimensions of the expanded element. During cooling, the element returns to its unexpanded condition. This results in a space between the channel walls and the element, permitting the element to expand, when electrically energized, without breaking the glass body.

Abstract: Electrically heated hand grips for the handle bars of vehicles such as motorcycles and the like are fabricated with an inner cylindrical sleeve member molded of synthetic plastic material. An electrical resistance heater wire coil is embedded in each sleeve. The inner surface of said the sleeve includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced and axially extending ribs, and the outer surface of said the sleeve includes a longitudinally extending land and groove pattern. The spaces between the ribs on the inner surface and the grooves on the outer surface of the sleeve have radially coextensive, overlapping circumferential portions where the sleeve is of minimum wall thickness. The resistance wire coil is disposed within said the sleeve member such that it is spaced a substantial distance from the inner surface of the ribs and the outer surface of the lands. The diameter of the heater wire is not less than the minimum wall thickness of the sleeve.

Abstract: A heated defrosting glass pane contains an alternation of conductive or nonelectricity-conductive regions. The conductive regions are transparent while in a heated state and are arranged in such a manner that during defrosting, they alone, by themselves, provide a sufficient integral visibility through the glass pane, while at the same time the nonconductive zones remain opaque. The ratio of the integral surface between the conductive and nonconductive surfaces is 1/8 to 1/2.

Abstract: A novel solderless connection between a bus bar and an array of electroconductive wires avoids cracks in plastic window elements, particularly the outer component of curved lightweight heated windows, particularly those used in aircraft.

Abstract: A heating glass plate (15, 20, 27, 34) has a heating network (17, 24, 31, 36) made up of wires embedded in a thermoplastic layer following curved directrices. A device for making a heating glass plate having a plate (39) for supporting thereon a plastic sheet. A bridge (44) is slidably supported on the plate and has thereon a sliding carriage (45) carrying wire-laying members (46). Means are provided for imparting reciprocal motion to the carriage. A rod (51) connects the carriage to a vertical spindle (52).

Abstract: An electrically heated backlite is formed on a glass sheet An opaque, electrically nonconductive coating is bonded to at least two portions of the glass sheet which are spaced apart from one another. Each portion of the nonconductive coating has at least one open area therein. An electrical resistance heater line having spaced terminal ends extends from one portion of the nonconductive coating to the other portion of the nonconductive coating. Each one of the terminal ends of the heater line is overlying and bonded to at least a part of one of the portions of the electrically nonconductive coating and also overlying and bonded to all of the surface of the glass sheet exposed in the open area formed in the portions of the nonconductive coating. An electrical conductor is bonded to the terminal end of the heater line at a location where the terminal end overlies the surface of the glass sheet exposed in the open area of the nonconductive coating in order to increase the bond strength.

Abstract: A windshield for automotive vehicles is disclosed wherein one or more scraping edges are disposed on its external side in the area wiped by the wiper blades. The scraping edges are an enamel-type material which is formed into strip-shaped profiles and bonded in in raised form to the surface of the glass plate. Varying amounts of metal particles may be added to the enamel material to make it conductive, and, when connected to the vehicle's electrical system, able to thaw ice and snow which accumulates on the lower part of the windshield immobilizing the wiper blade arm. The scraping edges or profiles are positioned at appropriate angles on the windshield to permit water scraped from the windshield wiper blades to run off easily to both sides.

Abstract: The windshield for a motor vehicle is characterized by a transparent panel having a lower region normally outside the driver's field of vision and where at least one windshield wiper is located in the rest position of the wiper. An electric resistance heating element, formed either as a continuous layer or as a plurality of individual conductors connected in parallel by bus bars, is carried on the windshield only in the lower region for heating the area on which the wipers rest. A continuous layer of a heat radiation absorbing ceramic material opaque to ambient light and coextensive with the area of the heating element is disposed on the windshield between the heating element and the windshield wiper to shield the heating element from view from the front of the windshield and to uniformly distribute heat over the lower portion of the windshield. The windshield is a laminate including inner and outer glass panes with a plastic layer therebetween.

Abstract: A first group of heating filaments is printed on a main section of a wrap-around type rear windowscreen and second and third groups of heating filaments each having a reduced width are printed on side sections of the rear windowscreen between which the main section is interposed. The second and third groups of heating filaments are integrally connected, in one to one relation, to the first group of heating filaments at ridges of the windowscreen by which ridges the main section and the side sections are bound respectively. First highly conductive strips to which the second and third groups of heating filaments are terminated are respectively printed on the side sections. Second highly conductive strips are printed on the ridges to extend along the same while crossing the connecting parts of the first and second, and the first and third groups of heating filaments to connect the same.

Abstract: An axially compact hair dryer includes a cylindrical outer housing 1, an air outlet 2 at one end of the housing, an air inlet grate 3 at the other end, an electric motor 4 centrally mounted within the housing and driving a blower fan 5, and a generally cylindrical electric heating element 7 disposed in the otherwise wasted annular space between the motor and the housing.

Abstract: In a lead screw drive, such as that used in a lightweight lathe or milling machine for driving the workpiece relative to the cutting tool, the core of a drive nut is made of a material having a relatively low melting temperature, such as babbitt metal or a relatively rigid thermoplastic material. The low melting point material is contained within a nut housing as of steel. The openings in the nut housing for passage of the lead screw are scaled in a fluid type relation by means of elastic sealing members as of silicone rubber having a melting point above that of the relatively low melting point core portion of the nut. An electrical heating cartridge element is contained within the nut housing in good thermally conductive relation with the low melting point core material.

Abstract: An electrically heatable window pane suitable for use in an anti-icing capacity in an aircraft windshield includes a substantially transparent layer of an electroconductive material, preferably tin oxide, sandwiched between fused sheets of glass. The sheets of glass and the layer of electroconductive material are fused together to form a structurally unitary window pane which is heatable by applying an electric potential to the electroconductive layer. Such a heatable window pane may be laminated to a structural fail-safe glass ply in a conventional manner to form a preferred embodiment of an aircraft windshield. In an alternative embodiment, an airplane windshield is formed with two independent electroconductive layers adjacent the inner and outer surfaces of the windshield to provide anti-icing capability on the outside surface and defogging capability on the inside surface.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for decreasing the frost-free recapture time of a multi-pane glazed door such as is used on refrigerated display cabinets, by selectively heating the innermost pane when it is exposed to high relative humidity conditions. An electric current is passed through an optically transparent electrically conductive layer on the unexposed surface of the innermost pane. This heats the pane to a temperature above the dew point of the ambient air.

Abstract: A heating tube adapted to electrically heat a fluid carried therethrough includes an inner tubular layer of polytetrafluoroethylene, a second tubular layer surrounding the inner layer and being formed of a homogeneous mixture of polytetrafluoroethylene and electrically conductive carbon, and a third layer surrounding the second layer and being formed of polytetrafluoroethylene. The three layers are coextruded together. The third layer is cut away at at least two circumferential points and the exposed second layer is there provided with a sintered coating for finely divided silver and finely divided polytetrafluoroethylene. The sintered coating is then wrapped with a silicone resin tape containing dispersed silver particles and a metal ring is then fitted over the silicone resin tape thereby forming an electrical terminal for the heating tube.

Abstract: An electric heater plate is disclosed which is formed on one surface of a sheet of tempered glass. The one surface of the tempered glass sheet has a plurality of thin lines of a silver ceramic material bonded thereto, the thin lines extending in a generally parallel but spaced apart relationship across the sheet of glass. Left hand and right hand end portions of the plurality of thin lines are interconnected by a thin interconnection strip of a silver ceramic material. A small terminal area of silver ceramic material is also associated with each of the interconnection strips located at opposite ends of the plurality of thin lines. A termination area is also bonded to the one surface of the sheet of tempered glass at a position spaced from the left hand and right hand interconnection strips. A thin copper strip is bonded to each of the terminal areas and the termination area associated with the left hand or the right hand interconnection strip to electrically interconnect the same.

Abstract: An electrically heated window for a vehicle includes a transparent sheet, a plurality of electrical resistance strips disposed on the sheet, and at least two closely spaced electrodes disposed on a surface of the sheet for detection of humidity on the surface of the sheet between them. The electrodes extend along the maximum slope of the window, and may extend downwardly unequal distances.

Abstract: The glass pane of a vehicle window is provided on the surface of its central viewing area with a plurality of spaced, parallel linear heating resistors. First and second buses, disposed laterally of the central viewing area, extend transversely of the resistors and supply electric power thereto. A pair of moisture sensing, electrically conductive probes are provided on the pane at widely spaced zones away from the central viewing area. Each probe includes a first portion coextensive in length with a resistor and running parallel thereto. At least one of the probes has a second portion running parallel to one of the buses.

Abstract: A window has a heating grid and a moisture sensor formed thereon for connection to a detector which automatically controls the heating. The sensor has an output terminal and another terminal connected to a heating conductor, the sensor being positioned outwardly of the heating grid with the area of the sensor including the output terminal lying in the heating zone. Advantageously the outer limit of the sensor is closely adjacent the outer limit of the heating zone. The output terminal is positioned between the outward limit of the sensor electrodes and the boundary heating conductor. A shield electrode connected to the heating conductor may be provided. The sensor may be located between a pair of heating conductors adjacent a heating grid collector with one electrode connected to the conductors. For deep windows, the sensor may be located in an offset branched section of a boundary heating conductor.

Abstract: A window formed of a glass sheet having a combined electrical heating circuit and bending circuit imprinted thereon. The heating circuit comprises a series of longitudinally extending conducting lines interconnecting spaced bus bars. The bending circuit includes resistance elements in the form of electrically conducting paths extending transversely of the sheet along the lines about which the sheet is to be sharply bent and which intersect the longitudinal conducting lines of the heating circuit. Interruptions are formed along the bus bars of the heating circuit in a manner isolating the latter from the bending circuit during the formation of sharp bends in the glass sheet.

Abstract: A rear window for an automotive vehicle has imbedded at an upper portion thereof resistance-heating wires for the electrical heating of the window. A window wiper is provided to sweep the window which has a lower portion free from the heating conductors. In its rest (inoperative) position the wiper lies against a portion of the window provided with additional heating elements for rapidly heating the rest position of the wiper to free the wiper, if frozen to the window, to enable the wiper to be brought into play without delay.

Abstract: The glass pane of a vehicle window is provided on the surface of its central viewing area with a plurality of spaced, parallel linear heating resistors. First and second buses, disposed laterally of the central viewing area, extend transversely of the resistors and supply electric power to the resistors. A miniature transistorized control circuit mounted at a corner of the pane away from the central viewing area controls the supply of power to the buses. A plurality of moisture sensing, electrically conductive probes are provided on the pane at widely spaced zones and are connected to the input terminal means of the control circuit. Each probe includes a first portion coextensive in length with a resistor and running parallel thereto. One of the probes has a second portion parallel to and closely spaced from one of the buses. The control circuit responds to detection of fogging of the pane by anyone of the probes.

Abstract: A laminated electrically heatable window has a transparent electrically conductive layer embedded in the window to act as a sheet resistor, and conductive bus bars embedded in the window in contact with the resistive layer. A portion of each bus bar extends outside an edge of the window to a terminal connection for making electrical contact with a harness cable leading to an electric current source such as an automobile alternator. Each terminal connection comprises separate electrical contacts on the ends of the bus bar and the cable harness for forming a cooperating pin and socket connection normal to the bus bar. The electrical contacts are pressure fitted together and hermetically sealed from end-to-end in an electrically insulating, protective sleeve.

Abstract: A defogging and defrosting rear window pane for motor vehicles has a plurality of spaced heating elements embedded therein. A relatively short metallic collector having a circular segment configuration is provided in each peripheral side of the window pane at opposite margins thereof. The central heating element extends between the collectors in a rectilinear path. Additional heating elements above and below the central element have a rectilinear central portion parallel to the central element and are connected to the collectors by end portions converging on the respective collectors. The respective collectors have an appendix extending outwardly beyond the window weatherstripping to serve as a terminal for connection to a power source.

Abstract: An electrically heated window system having at least two independently heatable zones wherein each zone includes its own independent resistance heating element which provides a path for the flow of electric current. A selected region in one of the zones includes a secondary heating component which produces a relatively high temperature in this region of the zone which controls a thermostat in thermal contact therewith. The thermostat initially connects an electrical potential to the one zone and then automatically cycles the electrical potential between the two zones in accordance with the rise and fall of the temperature in said selected region.

Abstract: A marine sewage disposal device connectable to a toilet and flushed by water, in which the sewage is macerated to small particle size, subjected to heat and electric current to destroy coliform bacteria, and subsequently filtered to separate liquids from solids prior to being discharged. Power requirements are relatively low, in the order of 2 to 5 amperes at 110 volts A.C., or less, thereby permitting the device to be used on relatively small craft having minimal generating equipment, such as a standard generator arranged to bypass the usual voltage regulator.

Abstract: A pad comprising at least one sheet of material having a thermoplastic resinous composition and a heater actuable to heat and soften the sheet, the pad being for use in alignment of machine equipment, rails, beams, girders, or other constructional elements relative to a horizontal base, vertical or inclined line, or to other constructional elements. In use the pad is placed between the equipment, rail or the like and a support or abutment therefor, and the heater is actuated so as to soften the pad just sufficiently that the weight of object or a force thereon reduces the thickness of the pad an amount equal to the desired movement of the object necessary to achieve the desired alignment.

Abstract: A windshield for automotive vehicles is disclosed wherein one or more scraping edges are disposed on its external side in the area wiped by the wiper blades. The scraping edges are an enamel-type material which is formed into strip-shaped profiles and bonded in in raised form to the surface of the glass plate. Varying amounts of metal particles may be added to the enamel material to make it conductive, and, when connected to the vehicle's electrical system, able to thaw ice and snow which accumulates on the lower part of the windshield immobilizing the wiper blade arm. The scraping edges or profiles are positioned at appropriate angles on the windshield to permit water scraped from the windshield wiper blades to run off easily to both sides.