Abstract: A housing is disclosed in which a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of resistivity element is mounted a selected distance from but in thermal communication with a thermostatic switch also mounted within the housing.

Abstract: An expansion joint for metallic foil strip heaters encasing resistive heating elements comprised of a bend formed in the metallic foil strips. The expansion joint is formed by use of a tool for passing a roller in the tool handle over a rigid forming support affixed to the tool bottom forming plate with the metallic foil strip heater placed between the roller and the forming support. The tool is then removed and a flexible metal support hose is affixed to the object to be heated with the bend in the metallic foil strips placed over this support hose. The bend is then affixed to the object to be heated on either side of the support hose.

Abstract: A heating device for heating corrosive vapours includes a casing defining a vapour flow path having an inlet and an outlet. A tubular metallic electric resistance heating element is disposed in the flow path and arranged such that the vapours being heated successively pass in opposite directions along the interior and exterior of the element in flowing from the inlet to the outlet of the casing. To accomodate thermal expansion and contraction, one end of the element is connected to the casing by means of a flexible coupling there being provision to maintain at least a part of the flexible coupling immersed in a body of an electrically non-conductive liquid capable of shielding the coupling from the corrosive vapours during operation of the device. The non-conductive liquid may be maintained in the liquid state by circulation through a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A hollow, rotatable shaft bore heater assembly for heating a shaft from its inside to its outside. Rapid rotatable shaft heating is provided by a plurality of electrical heaters situated in slots formed on the inner surfaces of a plurality of foundation members which are insertable in the hollow shaft and are biased thereagainst by biasing structure. When assembled, the foundation members constitute a substantially cylindrical structure which has the slots formed on its inner surface and the electrical heaters are restrained within those axially extending and circumferentially separated slots by insulation disposed on the inner surface of the foundation members across the slots open mouths. The biasing structure provides biasing force between circumferentially adjacent foundation members so as to maintain contact between the shaft and foundation members during non-rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: A self-regulating heating element comprising a tubular body closed at each end and containing two longitudinal electrically and thermally conductive flat strips arranged parallel to and spaced from each other. Each flat strip is provided along at least one longitudinal edge thereof with an abutting longitudinal resilient heat-conductive strip conforming with the adjacent surface of the inner wall of the tubular body so as to be in resilient heat-exchange contact with such inner surface for conducting heat from the flat strip to the tubular body. At least one PTC resistor is positioned between and in electrical and heat-exchange contact with the parallel flat strips, electrical terminals extending through the tubular body into contact with the flat strips. Such heating elements find particular use as immersion heaters for liquids and as the heat source in hair-curling devices.

Abstract: A glow plug for rotary piston engines adapted to be mounted in an engine plug hole so as not to project from the plug hole and to be traversed by a flow of fuel-air mixture temporarily trapped in the plug hole. The plug includes an elongated protective tube providing a straight root portion by which it is supported from a plug housing adapted to be inserted in a plug hole. The tube terminates in a closed end hook-shaped free tip portion spaced from the root portion and plug housing and lying in the same plane as the root portion. A helical heater coil is disposed in the protective tube with the pitch of the coil being smaller at the free tip portion than at the root portion so that greater heat is generated in the free tip portion than in the root portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for defrosting a heat exchanger, comprises a plurality of spaced parallel heat exchanger fins having sets of circular, collared, axially aligned apertures. The collars of each set coacting to define an essentially continuous tube. Refrigerant tubes pass through the essentially continuous tubes defined by a majority of the sets of apertures and are sized for engagement by the collars of the apertures in intimate heat conductive relation. Axially replaceable electrical heating elements traverse the essentially continuous tubes defined by a minority of sets of apertures instead of refrigerant tubes and the heating elements are sized to fit loosely in the apertures so the heat is transmitted from the element to the collars both by radiation and by conduction and so that axial relative movement between the elements and the collars is enabled.

Abstract: An annular resistor, suitable for use in a diesel electric locomotive dynamic braking system and the like, having a supporting frame including spaced inner and outer annular frame portions and a continuous resistance ribbon having a plurality of bent-back radial extensions therebetween and in electrical isolation therefrom. U-shaped folds of the ribbon are mounted on pin supports allowing contraction and expansion of the ribbon. The pin supports are mounted to insulator blocks which may be selectively positioned on the frame, when two or more are stacked, to vary ribbon alignment and hence convective cooling. The resistor is comprised of severally replaceable identical component quadrants.

Abstract: This electric heating device comprises a support surrounded by a resistance wire and located within a vacuum outer tube, said resistance being spaced from the inner surface of the outer tube. In order properly to position the support and resistance wire on the center axis of the tube, a mounting assembly is provided at each end of the support. Said mounting assembly comprises a resilient cap-shaped centering member having an annular ring portion surrounding the support, clips limiting the engagement of said cap-shaped member onto said support, and outwardly extending resilient arms engaging the inner surface of the outer tube in order to center the support and resistance wire within said outer tube. A supply lead is connected between said resistance wire and an output/input conductor. Said supply lead comprises a longitudinal portion extending along the support and a radial portion connected to said conductor within a supporting glass case or bead projecting into the outer tube from its end.

Abstract: An electric resistor assembly for use in motor starters or other electric apparatus characterized by an elongated mounting strap having terminals at both ends respectively for panel mounting, a plurality of insulating refractory bodies on the strap in end-to-end abutment, one end wall of each body having a bulged portion protruding from the end wall, the other end wall having a cavity corresponding to and receptive of the bulged portion of an adjacent body, and a helical resistance conductor mounted on and surrounding the bodies.

Abstract: A bracket means for supporting at least one heater rod disposed within an open - front housing of an electric radiant heater assembly comprises at least one bracket having an elongate, generally flat, planar brace portion having clip means at opposite ends for removable engagement with the housing. At least one integral support arm located intermediate the ends of the brace portion and disposed normal thereto is provided with an arcuate surface which serves as a seat for the heater rod. The bracket is insertable into the housing through the open front and rotatable to bring the arcuate portion into supporting engagement with the rod and the clips into engagement with the housing. The brace portion is made of a nickel - chrome alloy having spring like characteristics at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A thin conductive sheet having elongated openings extending inward from the edges to define a connecting arm extending from one end of one connecting surface to the diagonally opposite end of a second connecting surface. In one embodiment, the connecting arm extends directly from one corner to the diagonally opposite corner. In a second embodiment, the connecting arm changes direction to define a generally Z-shaped, reverse diagonal connecting path. Ties are provided across the elongated openings to hold the interconnector together during assembly, but which later break to permit the elongated openings to open up to define the connecting arm. One or more slits may be provided in the connecting arm to reduce buckling out of plane. The interconnector may be chrome plated in the central area to keep solder from flowing into the elongated openings and slits. To minimize the stress transition from the plated to the unplated portion, the plating terminates in a sine-wave-like wavy line which is 180.degree.

Abstract: In a copying machine a toner-image-bearing copy carrier moves in a predetermined direction along a predetermined path. A fixing arrangement fixes toner images by fusing the toner thereof. The fixing arrangement includes a heating winding having a plurality of turns and a holding arrangement for holding the heating winding. The holding arrangement comprises a plurality of discrete holding units each engaging and holding at least one respective one of the turns of the winding. The discrete holding units are arranged in two spaced groups. The turns of the heating winding extend in a plurality of stretches from one group of holding units to the other in the direction of the transport path and serve to heat the toner on copy carriers passing therealong.

Abstract: Temperature control means for a curtain-type wrapping or banding machine to prevent excess ambient temperature thereon by employing switch-actuating means responsive to even very small changes in the expansion and contraction of the elongated heating element on the heater bar of the machine which co-acts with the anvil thereof to effect sealing of either a web or bands of thermoplastic synthetic resin material around various types of objects of various sizes and also re-constitute the web or bands into continuous form incident to severing the sealed web or bands from the supply material.

Abstract: An impedance device and particularly one using several ceramic resistive elements of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity, each of which has metallized contact surfaces thereon, is provided with a casing and with improved means for locating the resistive elements within the casing while making electrical contact to the metallized surfaces of the resistive elements.

Abstract: A metal bar with a metal felt covering on each side or therearound and sized externally to be a snug slip fit into slot means provided in a conductive surface monolithic refractory ceramic heater element provide for a convenient and desirable means for distributing current to the conductive surface of the element. As the felt covered electrode means heats up with electric current input to the element and under heat generating conditions, there will be a still tighter bond between the metal felt surfaces of the electrode and the slotted opening in the ceramic element to result in the desired tight contact and an efficient current distribution therefrom.

Abstract: A solid state switch particularly useful in assisting in the starting of permanent split capacitor (PSC) motors is disclosed in which a semiconductive element is used to affect the starting torque of the motor. The semiconductive element is a disk-shaped member composed of material having a relatively low resistance at temperatures below an anomaly point and a steeply sloped positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of resistivity at temperatures above the anomaly. The PTC element is mounted within a casing which comprises two identical interfitting halves and is in electrical connection with members which are combination contacts and terminals. The terminals extend through the casing wall and are provided with contact portions which engage the PTC element along an annular portion of the element near the outer periphery thereof. One contact is provided with spring fingers adapted to react against a wall of the casing to provide desired contact force.

Abstract: A fuser includes a pair of members defining a zone, a pair of electrical elements supported in series with a power supply by one of the members, and a thermostatic switch being electrically connected in parallel with one of the elements. When the temperature in the zone is below a predetermined level the switch is closed and shorts out the element with which it is in parallel. The switch opens when the temperature rises above said predetermined level, whereby less heat is provided for the zone. This arrangement provides a rapid warm up for the zone. Heat distribution in the zone is achieved by supporting the heating elements in zigzag fashion. Sagging of the elements thus mounted is prevented by bias means which maintain the elements under tension.

Abstract: A fuser includes a pair of members defining a zone, a pair of electrical elements supported in series with a power supply by one of the members, and a thermostatic switch being electrically connected in parallel with one of the elements. When the temperature in the zone is below a predetermined level the switch is closed and shorts out the element with which it is in parallel. The switch opens when the temperature rises above said predetermined level, whereby less heat is provided for the zone. This arrangement provides a rapid warm up for the zone. Heat distribution in the zone is achieved by supporting the heating elements in zigzag fashion. Sagging of the elements thus mounted is prevented by bias means which maintain the elements under tension.