Heater Type Patents (Class 29/611)
  • Patent number: 5928547
    Abstract: A novel multi-layer current limiting PTC polymer device comprising at least two layers of a conductive polymer composition with electrodes attached thereto characterized by having a low contact resistance and a method of producing the same. The invention provides for the selective treatment of portions of the surface of each layer of the conductive polymer composition by at least one of plasma/corona etching and plasma sputtering/plasma spray to create a site for attachment of the electrodes resulting in a low contact resistance. The electrical devices of the invention are particularly useful in circuit protection applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John Joseph Shea, William Kingston Hanna
  • Patent number: 5910266
    Abstract: The invention is in the field of electrical resistance heaters, especially heaters for tubes, pipes, or flexible hose. More particularly, the invention is directed to an electrical heater formed as a strip that is permanently set in the shape of a helix. According to an aspect of the invention, an electrical heater is provided comprising a flexible electrical insulation strip bounded by a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, wherein the flexible electrical insulation strip is permanently set as a helix such that the first longitudinal edge is adjacent to the second longitudinal edge; and, a flexible electrical heating element encapsulated within the electrical insulation strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: The B.F. Goodrich Company
    Inventor: Darryl W. Jones
  • Patent number: 5904872
    Abstract: A heating device is formed by a heating plate formed of silica and having a heating surface for heating an object to be heated, a heating element having a predetermined pattern and fixed to a surface opposing the heating surface of the heating plate, and a reflecting plate formed of silica and brought into tight contact with the surface of the heating plate on which the heating element is formed. This heating device is arranged in a processing vessel in a CVD apparatus, and a semiconductor wafer is placed on the heating device. A process gas is supplied into the processing vessel while the semiconductor wafer is heated, thereby forming a predetermined film on the semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Limited, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Arami, Kenji Ishikawa, Harunori Ushikawa, Isao Yanagisawa, Nobuo Kawada, Hiroshi Mogi
  • Patent number: 5889343
    Abstract: An electromechanical machine having an improved arrangement for sealing lead wires. A housing structure of the electromechanical machine includes a tubular lead conduit, such as a short pipe section, through which the lead wires extend. A resinous sealing compound, such as an epoxy, is located within the tubular lead conduit. The lead wires are thus potted, and a predetermined degree of isolation is provided between the inside of the machine housing and the ambient environment. Preferably, the inner surface of the tubular lead conduit defines a labyrinthine structure, such as a series of parallel grooves, to further enhance the sealing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Industrial Company
    Inventors: Roger A. Bryant, Gary A. Arthur
  • Patent number: 5886324
    Abstract: A novel current limiting PTC polymer device and methods of making the same comprising a current limiting polymer composition with porous electrodes interfaced therewith such that a low contact resistance results using a combination of (1) extrusion attachment of the current limiting polymer composition to the porous electrodes, (2) careful selection of the electrode materials in view of the conductive filler and/or conductive metal particles in the current limiting polymer composition, and (3) plasma treatment of the attachment surfaces of the current limiting polymer composition preceding and/or during the extrusion attachment process. The invention provides for the selective treatment of portions of the surface of the current limiting polymer composition by at least one of plasma etching and metallizing to create attachment surfaces for extrusion attachment of porous electrodes resulting in a low contact resistance, mechanical stability and a reduced potential for arcing in the electrode/polymer interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: John Joseph Shea
  • Patent number: 5864941
    Abstract: Various methods are described for assembling and/or coupling heater sections together for assemblage of heaters. The heater sections may be hot or cold heater sections having various geometries, dimensions, and specific electrical resistances. In one method, a cold heater section is assembled onto a pre-fabricated hot heater section with an oversized tube and pre-fabricated insulating cores. In another method, a pre-fabricated cold section is spliced onto a pre-fabricated hot section utilizing pre-fabricated semi-annular insulating cores and an oversized sleeve. In a further method, a first pre-fabricated hot section is spliced onto a second pre-fabricated hot section via an electrically conductive core and an oversized sleeve. These methods allow for the manufacture of stock lengths of hot and cold heater sections, that are then cut to length and coupled together. According to one aspect, the methods reduce tolerance errors in heater length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Chris D. Baichoo, Rolando O. Juliano, John Phillip Bicklein, Kevin Ptasienski
  • Patent number: 5862585
    Abstract: An electrofusion coupler, for connecting plastics pipes end to end, is formed using a mandrel 10 having at spaced apart locations therealong first and second terminal holder 14. Each terminal holder 14 receives a malleable metal terminal pin 30, and has a diametral slot 26 for receiving an electrical resistance wire 20 which is extended across one terminal holder 14, wound in a plurality of turns around the mandrel 10 and is extended across the other terminal holder 14. Malleable terminal pins 30 are driven into the terminal holder, along the axis of the pin, so that the inner end of the pin is crimped onto the wire to grip it firmly. The mandrel 10, is then placed in an injection mould, an electrofusion sleeve injection moulded around the wound mandrel 10, terminal pins 30 and holders 14, the terminal pin holders 14 are withdrawn radially into the mandrel 10 and the electrofusion coupler stripped axially from the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Glynwed Pipe Systems Limited
    Inventor: Gary Raymond Tessier
  • Patent number: 5849129
    Abstract: A direct extrusion process for manufacturing conductive polymer articles of manufacture employs a twin screw compounding extruder that compounds a polymeric mixture from materials received, in predetermined proportions, from gravimetric feeders, then extrudes a compounded conductive polymeric material in the melt phase. The extrudate is then fed into a gear pump that allows the extruder to discharge the compounded material, while it is still in the melt stage, at a relatively low pressure. The gear pump produces a substantially constant volumetric output of the compounded "melt phase" material at sufficiently high pressure for delivery into a sheet die. The sheet die forms the compounded material, while still in the melt phase, into a continuous web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Bourns Multifuse (Hong Kong) Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Darryl Hogge, Mengruo Zhang, Sidharta Wiryana
  • Patent number: 5847368
    Abstract: An electric heating unit comprises a heat-insulating main body consisting primarily of a heat-insulating material and formed with a groove in a surface thereof, and a heating element provided in the groove and shaped in the form of waves with an amplitude greater than the width of the groove, the heating element having at widthwise opposite sides thereof bent portions extending into the main body from groove-defining opposite side walls thereof and thereby integrally supported by the main body. A bottom-forming member of refractory material made separately from the main body covers the bottom of the groove and is supported by the main body integrally therewith so that the surface of the member toward the opening of the groove is exposed from the main body. The heating element is disposed closer to the groove opening than the bottom-forming member and integrally supported by the main body so as to be in contact with portions of the surface of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Koyo Lindberg Limited
    Inventor: Yasuo Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 5841111
    Abstract: A novel current limiting PTC polymer device comprising a conductive polymer composition with electrodes attached thereto characterized by having a low contact resistance and a method of producing the same. The invention provides for the selective treatment of portions of the surface of the conductive polymer composition by at least one of plasma/corona etching and plasma sputtering/plasma spray to create a site for attachment of the electrodes resulting in a low contact resistance. The electrical devices of the invention are particularly useful in circuit protection applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John Joseph Shea, William Kingston Hanna
  • Patent number: 5834740
    Abstract: For producing a radiant heater it is proposed to produce a flat disk-shaped tablet as a separate thermally insulating molding outside of the carrier dish of the radiant heater. On this, heating conductors in the form of corrugated strips provided with fastening feet are pressed into the flat top surface of the tablet. In conclusion the radiant heater is fitted by insertion of this prefabricated component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Geratebau GmbH
    Inventors: Eugen Wilde, Martin Gross
  • Patent number: 5818478
    Abstract: Nozzles in an ink jet printhead nozzle plate are laser formed into the nozzle plate at a spacing differing from that of the corresponding ink heating elements by a function of the thermal expansion characteristics whereby heating of the nozzle plate to activate a heat set adhesive for securing the nozzle plate to the heating element substrate expands the nozzle plate thereby aligning the nozzle axes with the corresponding heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce David Gibson
  • Patent number: 5804791
    Abstract: A heating structure for use in an appliance, the heating structure being a sandwich structure composed of two rigid elements constituting external elements of the sandwich structure, with at least one of the rigid elements being a heating plate; a heating unit composed of an electrical resistance component disposed between the rigid elements for producing heat which is diffused through the rigid elements, and electrical insulation material covering the electrical resistance component; and bonding layers securing the heating unit to the rigid elements. The heating unit further includes a primary layer of thermoplastic resin material into which the electrical resistance component is inserted, the electrical insulation material is composed of first and second layers of electrical insulation material which enclose the electrical resistance component, and the primary layer of thermoplastic resin material adheres to the layers of electrical insulation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Dominique Gelus
  • Patent number: 5799390
    Abstract: A windshield wiper blade assembly providing having an electrical heating mechanism along the length of a wiper blade. The assembly can be trimmed to a length appropriate for a particular automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventors: Frank Dileo, Peter Michalos
  • Patent number: 5770835
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a soldering process comprising the steps of: providing in a furnace first and second heaters each adapted to emit infrared energy; setting a printed circuit boad, which has a solder paste and an electronic component thereon, in the furnace; heating the printed circuit boad with the first heater; and heating the electronic component with the second heater; wherein the first and second heaters have different radiation spectra such that infrared energy irradiated by the first heater is more absorbed by the printed circuit board and less absorbed by the electronic component than that irradiated by the second heater. The present invention also provides a soldering apparatus for use in such soldering process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Seiki Sakuyama, Hiroki Uchida, Isao Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5764850
    Abstract: An electrical foam heating element made by the process of forming a volume of reticulated silicon carbide foam material into a preferred shape, heating the material to a temperature of about 1000.degree. C. for a period of 24-30 hours, forming conductive edges over two respectively facing edge surfaces, applying an electrically-conductive felt material against the respective conductive faces, and clamping foam volume and foam between two electrically-conductive electrodes. In another embodiment, a region of nickel foam material is provided between the respective electrodes and the silicon carbide interior, and intermediate felt layers are provided between the nickel foam and the silicon carbide foam, and between the nickel foam and the electrodes. The layered felt material is of three-layer construction: inner and outer layers of electrically-conductive felt separated by an interior metal foil layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Phoenix Solutions Co.
    Inventors: Stuart J. Olstad, Kevin T. Uznanski
  • Patent number: 5764267
    Abstract: A conduction recording head forms an image on a recording sheet by connecting return path electrodes and recording electrodes conductively through a printing and recording medium. Recording electrodes, a drive circuit and connector electrodes are all disposed integrally on a flexible insulating film as a main head part which is disposed on a rigid support member through an elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Akutsu, Hiroh Soga, Shigehito Ando, Susumu Hirakata
  • Patent number: 5755024
    Abstract: A large array or pagewidth printhead fabricated from printhead elements or subunits. The printhead subunits are butted together at either adjacent channel elements or adjacent heater elements to form a pagewidth printhead. The butting element, either heater or channel element, is slightly wider than the non-butting element thereby providing gaps between the non-butting elements of a printhead element array. Where channel elements are used as the butting element, gaps between the heater elements provide for reduction or elimination of potentially damaging thermal compressive forces between adjacent heater elements. Where heater elements are used as the butting element, structural strength is increased since the heater wafer is stronger than the channel wafer. In addition, the width of the polyimide wall at the edges of the heater wafer is increased providing greater protection for thermal transducers located at the edges of individual heater elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Drake, Mark A. Cellura, Hung C. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 5735037
    Abstract: A handgrip with a built-in heater for a motorcycle constituted by a hollow cylindrical handgrip body, wherein a flexible printed circuit heater is wound around an outer periphery of a synthetic resin inner piece of a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with a hollow cylindrical or peripheral portion slotted, and a cladding rubber layer is integrally molded thereon to cause the heater to extend between the inner piece and the cladding rubber layer. The heater is wound over a range covering a half circumference or more but less than a full circumference of the inner piece. The cladding rubber layer is molded in such a form that a region where the heater is not wound faces parting positions of mold halves for forming the cladding rubber layer so as to prevent the occurrence of turn-ups and creases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Ogata
  • Patent number: 5708251
    Abstract: A method and apparatuses for embedding a resistance heating wire in a thermoplastic element having a surface such as an electrofusion saddle coupler by providing an operating head including heat grooving mechanism and wire inserting mechanism, the operating head and the thermoplastic element being integratively movable in all directions one relative to the other; using the heat grooving mechanism and the relative movement for creating a groove in the surface of the thermoplastic element; and, thereafter using the wire insertion mechanism and the relative movement for inserting the resistance heating wire into the groove, to implant the resistance heating wire in the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Compucraft Ltd.
    Inventor: Nathan Naveh
  • Patent number: 5708257
    Abstract: A heating assembly 1 for transferring liquid metal 28 has a closed cross-section and includes a refractory tube 4 wrapped in an insulating layer 5 which is in turn surrounded by an inductor 3 enclosed in refractory concrete within a metal shell, the insulating layer 5 consisting of an insulating refractory concrete layer 5a. The heating assembly 1 may be used in a liquid metal holding furnace 9 provided with a supply of pressurised gas Pr for producing metal parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Seva
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Comarteau, Daniel Boudot, Alain Remy, Patrice Nykiel
  • Patent number: 5704113
    Abstract: A method of making an integral heated nozzle using a terminal locating and sealing key. A spiral portion of an electrical heating element is press fitted into a spiral groove in the cylindrical outer surface of an elongated inner portion. The remaining outwardly extending terminal portions of the heating element are inserted through two holes in the key and the key is pushed inwardly to a position against the inner portion. The key has a pin portion which is received in a matching hole in the inner portion to exactly determine the length of the spiral portion of the heating element and accurately locates the terminal portion of the heating element. An outer collar portion having a slot in which the key is received is then mounted in place around the rear end of the inner portion. A thermosetting ceramic sealant is applied in the space between the inner and outer collar portions then heated to integrally joint them together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
    Inventor: Chun Keung Mak
  • Patent number: 5699606
    Abstract: An electrical heating element for a radiant electric heater takes the form of an elongate electrically conductive strip for partial embedding edgewise in a base of thermal and electrical insulation material. The strip is composed of an elongate continuous portion and an elongate discontinuous portion integral with the continuous portion. The discontinuous portion is intended for embedding in the base and is provided with a plurality of discontinuities so that in operation of the heater current flow in the discontinuous portion is reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Ceramaspeed Limited
    Inventor: Joseph Anthony McWilliams
  • Patent number: 5697143
    Abstract: In the manufacture of an electrofusion coupler, a winding of an electrical resistance heating wire is wound directly around a mandrel which comprises two parts providing respective ends of the mandrel. The mandrel supports electrically conducting terminal elements by means of supporting locations on the mandrel parts which form an integral part of the mandrel. The resistance wire wound around the mandrel is connected to the electrically conducting terminal elements. Subsequently a body of thermoplastics is molded around the mandrel to form the electrofusion coupler, and thereafter the mandrel parts are extracted axially from the electrofusion coupler from opposite ends, leaving the winding and terminal elements in place in the electrofusion coupler. In a variant, a thermoplastic preform is manufactured having electrically conducting terminal plates secured thereto, the preform having an electrical resistance heating wire wound therearound and secured to said terminal plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Glynwed Plastics Ltd.
    Inventor: Malcolm R. Barfield
  • Patent number: 5697144
    Abstract: To provide a method of fabricating, using thin-film processes only, a 1,600 dpi head with nozzles arranged two-dimensionally on a substrate, e.g., silicon wafer, a drive LSI, thin-film resistors and thin-film conductors are formed on the silicon wafer. Thereafter, ink channels and through-holes are formed by silicon anisotropic etching from both sides of the silicon wafer. After connecting the orifice plate to the silicon wafer, nozzles are formed in the orifice plate using photoetching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Mitani, Kenji Yamada, Katsunori Kawasumi, Kazuo Shimizu, Osamu Machida
  • Patent number: 5692291
    Abstract: A smoking system is provided in which a replaceable cigarette containing tobacco flavor material is electrically heated by a set of electrical heater elements contained within a lighter to evolve tobacco flavors or other components in vapor or aerosol form for delivery to a smoker. The cigarette and lighter are adapted to provide air flow patterns through the smoking system such that air flows transversely into the cigarette. Such patterns improve aerosol and flavor delivery to the smoker and reduce the condensation of residual heater-region vapor/aerosol in the smoking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Seetharama C. Deevi, Patrick H. Hayes, Bernard C. Laroy, Donald E. Miser, William H. Stevens
  • Patent number: 5685074
    Abstract: A means is provided to eliminate ink trajectory errors when an inkjet printhead is fabricated as described below. In a preferred embodiment, a nozzle member containing an array of orifices is affixed to a barrier layer formed on a substrate, the substrate having heater elements formed thereon. The nozzle member is affixed to the barrier layer using heat and pressure. Each orifice in the nozzle member is associated with a single heating element formed on the substrate. The back surface of the nozzle member extends beyond the outer edges of the substrate. During the heating and pressure step used to affix the nozzle member to the barrier layer, the nozzle member undesirable bends over the outer edges of the barrier layer, causing the nozzles to be tilted outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Yichuan Pan, Winthrop D. Childers
  • Patent number: 5678300
    Abstract: In order to arrange an electric heating element in a housing of a thermostatic working element and to guide connecting lines to the outside in a sealing manner, a base made of plastic is injection molded into an opening of the bottom through which the connecting lines are guided to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Behr-Thomson Dehnstoffregler GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Roland Saur, Roland Pflieger
  • Patent number: 5676784
    Abstract: A heater (12) for a catheter (10) used in monitoring constant cardiac output is fabricated using a bifilar wire (21) coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) like the material used for the catheter. The bifilar wire is coated with the PVC using a conventional extrusion technique, producing a coated lead (24, 32). This coated lead is wrapped around the exterior surface of the catheter, forming a helical coil. Heat is applied to the coated lead to melt the PVC coating, causing it to bond the lead to the catheter. The melted PVC also flows into gaps (23) or notches between adjacent coils of the lead, producing a relatively smooth outer surface for the heater coil when the PVC coating cools. The bifilar wire can alternatively be wrapped in-line with PVC tape (29) or film and the PVC material heated to flow around the wire, bonding it to the catheter's outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventor: Thomas Haynes McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5674588
    Abstract: A welding sleeve includes a sleeve body having a recess for receiving a plug contact. The recess has sidewalls and a bottom wall. The bottom wall is provided with a projection which defines with the side walls of the recess a pair of slots. The plug contact includes an insertion part adapted to be received within the recess. The insertion part includes leg portions to be received in the slots of the recess and a slit between the legs adjacent the top surface of the projection. The slit receives a portion of the heating element which rests on the top surface of the projection. The width (b) of the slit is less than the diameter (d) of the heating element so as to insure good electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Rohrleitungssysteme AG
    Inventors: Erasmo Porfido, Dirk Alexander Petry
  • Patent number: 5661882
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a low temperature cofired electronic monolithic structure having one or more electronic components integrated therein comprising the steps of:A. providing a green electronic component;B. providing a stack of green low temperature cofired ceramic dielectric tape having an opening formed in the stack for receiving the green electronic component;C. placing the green electronic component in the opening in the stack to form a structure; andD. laminating and firing the structure so as to provide the monolithic electronic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Ferro Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Alexander
  • Patent number: 5657532
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making an insulated electrical heating element such as for domestic appliances to heat water, etc. wherein a resistive track is embedded in a dielectric ceramic insulating material. The method includes the steps of providing a rigid base plate; printing a resistive track on one surface of a segment of flexible tape comprising fusible ceramic particles in an organic binder; adhering the other surface of the tape segment to a surface of a base plate; and placing a second segment of flexible tape of the same type on the surface with the resistive track printed thereon. Then the resulting assembly is fired to fuse the ceramic particles of the tape segments and provide a ceramic layer on the base plate with an electrical resistive track insulated therewithin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Ferro Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Alexander, Simon P. Turvey
  • Patent number: 5655288
    Abstract: The shape of a localized glaze layer strip for a thermal head is appropriately and suitably formed. A thermoplastic insulating layer is formed on a predetermined area of a substrate, and an unnecessary portion of the insulating layer is removed so as to leave a predetermined portion forming an insulating layer strip having a uniform width. The insulating layer strip is heated at a temperature higher than the softening point thereof for chamfering the corner edges. Finally, a heating element is formed on the top of the insulating layer strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Onishi
  • Patent number: 5650208
    Abstract: A laminated window includes at least one rigid external substrate (5) and a sheet made of flexible plastic material (6) which is adjacent to the substrate (5). The window is equipped with an electrostatic protection circuit which is capable of dissipating the charges which have accumulated on the external sheet (7). This circuit includes conducting elements (2) which cross through at least the substrate and at least one part of the sheet made of plastic material (6). The conducting elements (2) are connected to a collector element (3) which is connected to the ground (4) and embedded in the sheet made of flexible plastic material (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Pierre Chaussade, Thierry Mannevy-Tassy
  • Patent number: 5644835
    Abstract: A method of making an elongated electrical heating element having a resistance wire with a helical portion extending between two lead pins surrounded by compacted insulating powder in an outer casing. The lead pins are attached to a tightly coiled resistance wire by screwing threaded portions at the inner ends of the lead pins into coiled portions at the outer ends of the resistance wire. The lead pins are pulled further apart to stretch the coiled resistance wire to form the helical portion of the resistance wire and then attached to a resistance meter. One of the lead pins is then rotated relative to the other lead pin to adjust the effective electrical resistance of the heating element to an accurate and uniform valve. The resistance wire and lead pins are mounted in an outer casing which further stretches the helical portion to a predetermined length. The outer casing is then filled with insulating powder in a conventional vibrating filling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
    Inventor: Egan Villringer
  • Patent number: 5641421
    Abstract: An electrical heating system uses heating elements made of ribbons of amorphous metallic alloys. The heating elements have a large area using long and wide ribbons, to achieve good heat transfer to the surroundings, that is low thermal resistance. The area of the heating elements and thus the thermal resistance is determined according to the desired thermal power, under the constraint of a low operating temperature, that is a temperature well below the embrittlement temperature of the amorphous alloy used in the heating elements. The operating temperature is preferably kept low enough so as not to generate benzopyrene or other unhealthy or ecologically unfavorable fumes or gases. The thin ribbons with low thermal resistance also have a fast heating constant, that is the heater reaches its steady state temperature in a short time. The electrical heating system uses low cost insulation and support materials, that is materials intended for use at low temperatures only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Inventors: Vladimir Manov, Eliezer Adar, Mark Geller, Evgeni Sorkine, Iosef Margolin
  • Patent number: 5636441
    Abstract: A thermal inkjet printhead includes unpassivated heater resistors whose resistive material is doped, preferably with oxygen, nitrogen or an equivalent dopant, for increasing the resistance of the material. By increasing the resistance of the resistive material through doping, the drive currents for generating heat within the resistors need not be changed from levels which inkjet printers are presently designed to work with. The printhead of the invention can thus be used in place of a standard printhead without modification to the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Neal W. Meyer, Eric G. Hanson, Alfred Pan, Glenn W. Weberg
  • Patent number: 5632078
    Abstract: This invention relates to a tip heater for a runnerless injection molding heating probe and to methods for constructing and repairing the same. The tip heater comprises a generally conical shaped tip, a heating wire, insulating material, and a cap. The tip heater is attached to a heating probe positioned within resin channels communicated to mold cavities. The tip heater is characterized by removable and replaceable tips and/or caps which allow the tip heater to be repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Edward J. Potter
  • Patent number: 5607609
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a soldering process comprising the steps of: providing in a furnace first and second heaters each adapted to emit infrared energy; setting a printed circuit board, which has a solder paste and an electronic component thereon, in the furnace; heating the printed circuit board with the first heater; and heating the electronic component with the second heater;wherein the first and second heaters have different radiation spectra such that infrared energy irradiated by the first heater is more absorbed by the printed circuit board and less absorbed by the electronic component than that irradiated by the second heater. The present invention also provides a soldering apparatus for use in such soldering process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiki Sakuyama, Hiroki Uchida, Isao Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5581872
    Abstract: An apparatus for winding a heating wire on a core for forming the inner periphery of an electric melt-bonding joint which comprises a core in a generally cylindrical shape which is capable of rotating around its axial center, the core being relatively moved in the axial direction with respect to a heating wire, an engaging piece mounted on the core, which has a holding portion for holding a heating wire, and a fixing means to fix a terminal pin to the leading end of the heating wire, wherein the engaging piece has a holding portion for holding the terminal pin, whereby the heating wire is wound on an outer peripheral portion of the core by rotating the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Miyadai, Mitsuru Ono
  • Patent number: 5572244
    Abstract: A large array or pagewidth printhead fabricated from printhead elements or subunits having adhesive-free butting edges. Each of the printhead elements includes a heater element and a channel element bonded together by an adhesive such as an epoxy. A space or adhesive-receiving aperture is formed between the channel element and the heater element before mating so that any adhesive forced from between the channel element and heater element by the pressure of mating does not flow onto the butting surfaces, but instead overflows into the space thereby maintaining an adhesive free butting edge. The channel element includes an etch trough which forms the space. The printhead elements are butted together to form a large array printhead. The absence of adhesive on the butting edges improves manufacturability of the large array printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Drake, Hung C. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 5561897
    Abstract: A slope is provided from a heater area to the side of the edge of a substrate near the heater area. A resistance film layer and a common electrode are provided on the slope which is formed as a convexly curved surface. In the slope, a reinforcement conductor along the common electrode is embedded below the resistance film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 5559542
    Abstract: An ink jet head comprises an discharging element having discharging ports to discharge ink, ink passages conductively connected to the foregoing discharging ports, and exothermic elements giving thermal energy to ink distributed in the ink passages, and at least a part of such an element is covered with a silicone resin, the amount of low molecular siloxane content of which is 500 ppm or less. Thus, in a thermal jet recording head, the low molecular siloxane divergence is lowered in its process of hardening or after hardening to enable the reduction of the occurrence frequency of the abnormal ink foaming, contributing to the improvement of the reliability of the thermal jet recording head as well as to the improvement of the yield in its fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiichiro Tsukuda
  • Patent number: 5526565
    Abstract: A conductive network, which can be flexible or rigid, can have self-aligning conductors which connect with corresponding conductors of other networks. The conductive network can be fabricated into densely packed contact clusters for use as electrical interconnectors or circuits. The contact clusters, which can be configured to substantially any shape, are the essential components of high density connector assemblies. The methods and apparatus for making the conductive network and cluster contacts are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Research Organization For Circuit Knowledge Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Joseph A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5519191
    Abstract: Flow-through fluid heaters useful, e.g., for the preheating of exhaust gas streams prior to catalytic treatment thereof, are made by bonding an electrically conductive metallic film or foil to at least one pre-sintered flexible ceramic foil substrate to provide a flexible, electrically conductive ceramic/metallic heating element, that element then being formed into a crimped sheet or base sheet for incorporation into a honeycomb structure which includes a plurality of open channels extending from one surface of the structure to another surface of the structure, formed by one or more contacting combinations of crimped sheet and base sheet. Catalytic coatings may be applied to the preheaters to provide a heater/converter with very rapid light-off characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas D. Ketcham, Dell J. St. Julien, Willard A. Cutler
  • Patent number: 5514524
    Abstract: A method of making thermal printheads is provided which comprises the steps of: (a) preparing a master substrate having plural rows of unit head regions; (b) forming a head glaze member in each unit head region in each row so that an edge of the head glaze member of the unit head region aligned with that of the head glaze member of any other unit region in the same row; (c) half-cutting the master substrate along the edge of the head glaze member of the unit head region with a half-cutting dicing blade which has an inclined edge face for partially cutting the head glaze member to provide a glaze corner; and (d) forming an array of heating dots along the glaze corner; wherein at least one blade positioning mark is formed on the master substrate before the half-cutting step (c); and the half-cutting dicing blade is positionally set in the half-cutting step (c) by referring to the blade positioning mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ohnishi, Toshihiko Takakura, Toshiyuki Fujita
  • Patent number: 5486682
    Abstract: A cartridge heater assembly to be swaged has a sheath with head and slug ends. A resistance heater unit in the sheath includes a flat rectangular core, a resistance wire winding on the core, and first and second core covers, one on each side. Each end of the resistance wire extends from the core through a hole in the adjacent core cover and to the head end of the sheath. Crushable heater unit centralizers at each end of the sheath hold the resistance heater unit. Leads are connected to the ends of the heater wire and the connections are enclosed in the centralizer. A plastic bushing closes the head end of the sheath and a slug closes the slug end of the sheath. The heater assembly is filled with an insulating material and swaged, crushing the centralizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Acra Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Rysemus
  • Patent number: 5483736
    Abstract: A slope is provided from a heater area to the side of the edge of a substrate near the heater area. A resistance film layer and a common electrode are provided on the slope which is formed as a convexly curved surface. In the slope, a reinforcement conductor along the common electrode is embedded below the resistance film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 5477605
    Abstract: A radiant electric heater having an electric heating element in the form of an elongate electrically conductive strip supported on edge and partially embedded in a layer of microporous thermal and electrical insulation material in a support dish is manufactured by placing an elongate electrically conductive strip on edge in a groove in a press tool, such that a portion of the strip protrudes from the groove, the groove being formed of a pattern corresponding to that required for a heating element in the heater. A predetermined quantity of powdery microporous thermal and electrical insulation material is arranged between the press tool and a support dish of the heater, and the insulation material is compressed into the support dish with the press tool, the material being compacted to form a layer of a desired density and simultaneously compacted against the portion of the strip protruding from the groove, to secure the strip on edge in partial embedment in the layer of the insulation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Ceramaspeed Limited
    Inventors: Joseph A. McWilliams, Ali Paybarah
  • Patent number: 5471737
    Abstract: A radiant electric heater is manufactured by a method which involves providing a base of microporous thermal and electrical insulation material having a substantially continuous surface, and providing a heating element in the form of an elongate electrically conductive strip. The strip is urged edgewise into the continuous surface of the base of microporous thermal and electrical insulation material so as to embed and support the strip edgewise in the insulation material along substantially the entire length of the strip to a depth corresponding to at least part of the height of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Ceramaspeed Limited
    Inventor: Joseph A. McWilliams