Abstract: The invention refers to an electric heater for a clothes dryer, said heater comprising at least one heating wire, a ring shaped support structure carrying the at least one heating wire. The at least one heating wire is a flat wire bent into loops.

Abstract: A PTC device is provided which is capable of surely functioning as the PTC device even in a wiring through which a large current flows. A combined PTC device (10, 10?) is composed of two PTC devices each containing a lamellar PTC element (12, 12?) which is composed of a polymeric PTC material and a pair of electrodes (14, 16; and 14?, 16?) which are arranged apart from each other on one side of the PTC element. The electrodes (14, 16) of one PTC device are respectively opposite to the electrodes (14?, 16?) of the other PTC device, and terminals (20, 21) are arranged between the respective opposite electrodes. The respective opposite electrodes and the terminal between them are electrically connected with each other.

Abstract: A multielement resistor may be assembled into a matrix from a plurality of resistor elements (12) of a U shape construction. The elements (12) are suspended from their upper portions by connecting brackets (16) which are supported by a supporting frame (14). Connecting brackets are preferably of electrically conducting material and insulated from supporting frame (14). Power input/output brackets (18) are provided.

Abstract: A U-shaped metal member for securing a circuit component to a circuit board in place of conventional screws and nuts. The element is inserted through aligned holes of the component and the board and is wave soldered to the board for permanent securement.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) supports an electrical heating element (H) which is mounted in an oven (O). When supplied with electricity, the element heats the oven to cook food. During an operating cycle, the heating element expands and contracts along its length. The apparatus comprises a support bar (12) including an elongate plate (16) and bracketry (14) for mounting the plate to an inner wall (T) of the oven. The support bar extends orthogonally of a longitudinal axis of the heating element when the heating element is installed. The plate has spaced openings (18), each of which is sized for a length of the heating element to be fitted in an opening. Each opening comprises a slot one end of which extends into the body of the plate for a portion of the plate to cover the slot. The other end of the slot is open to receive the heating element, the portion of the heating element received in each slot being fitted into the covered end of the slot.

Abstract: A structure is provided for supporting at least one heating element inside an electric heater housing. To produce the support structure, a web is cut out of a metal sheet that includes a rectangular member, one or more support brackets and a neck portion connecting each support bracket to one side of the rectangular member. The support rail is formed by bending the rectangular along its longitudinal median into an L-shape configuration with a first portion integrally formed with a second portion in a perpendicular relationship. The first portion is secured to the electric heater housing. The second portion extends inwardly in the electric heater housing. The neck portions extend inwardly from the second portion, and are twisted approximately 90.degree. with respect to the support rail. The support brackets extend inwardly from each neck portion. Each support bracket has one or more openings formed therein, each adapted to receive electrical insulating means, such as coil bushings.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating water is provided having a water receptacle including a bottom wall and side walls for containing a volume of water therein to be heated. The bottom wall of the receptacle has an exterior surface and an interior surface proximate the volume of water to be heated. The water is heated by a heater contained within the water receptacle and secured to the interior surface of the bottom wall of the receptacle by a securement pin which extends through the bottom wall and is threadably engaged with the heater. The heater is elevated from the interior surface of the water receptacle by a collar of high insulation material which is received within a peripheral groove portion of the heater such that the tightening of the securement pin compresses the rubber collar to create a seal between the heater and the bottom wall of the water receptacle.

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.

Abstract: A power door safety sensing strip with a bracket strip for attachment to the face of a power operated garage door. The sensing strip includes a flexible insulating tubular member having a bell-like shaped cross section with a wide inner face. A flat insulating member fastened to a narrow section of the bell-like member extends to the wide inner face. Conductive surfaces on the wide inner face and on the flexible insulating member are moved into contact upon deformation of the bell-like member, thereby providing electrical contact. A Z-shaped bracket to attach the sensing strip to the face of a power operated door has one leg adapted to be attached to the door face. Another leg of the bracket, formed with a U-shaped receptacle, receives and holds the sensing strip so that it extends a short distance beyond the door edge.

Abstract: An open coil electric heater comprising a rigid support frame composed of a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced members, with cross members between and secured to the longitudinal members. The cross members carry ceramic insulator members which are detachably connected to the cross members. Each insulator member has an end formed with a slot at an acute angle to the side walls of the insulator member to pass a portion of a convolution of an electrical wire coil. Hook-like projections form a transverse indentation at the base of the slot to detachably hold the portion of the wire om the insulator member. The portion of the wire is secured to the insulator members in an expeditious manner and without the use of tools by twisting the wire portion so that the wire portion is aligned sufficiently with the slot to enable the coil to freely pass into said slot.

Abstract: A resistor grid for dynamic braking of diesel electric locomotives has a rigid frame that includes outer metal side pieces and metal dividers within the frame between which are positioned columns of fan-folded resistor ribbon. The dividers carry support plates having transverse aligned tabs along both sides fixed normal to the support plate, each tab having a notch in its inside edge, and supported plates for the resistor ribbon which slide in those slots longitudinally. The supported plates and the folds of the resistor ribbon carry studs and bushings which interfit by movement normal to those plates.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a compact rotatable electrical device for attachment to a mounting panel of an electrical apparatus. The mounting panel has inner and outer surfaces and defines an interior space of the apparatus, with the inner surface adjacent the interior space. The device includes: a control body having a control shaft extending upwardly from the distal end thereof, the proximal end of the control shaft being connected to operative elements within the control body; and apparatus for attachment of the proximal end of the control body to the mounting panel through an opening defined therethrough such that the control body, when so attached, will be disposed substantially outside the interior space.

Abstract: The film-type electrical power resistor includes a flat chip of aluminum oxide, having a resistive film screen-printed onto one of its sides. Leads are bonded to that side and electrically connected to the film, the leads being such that the chip may be cantilevered by the leads in a mold cavity before introduction of synthetic resin into the cavity, and with the lower chip surface spaced above the bottom cavity wall. A molded body is molded in the cavity to fully encapsulate the chip, film, and inner ends of the leads, there being no mold cup around the molded body. The molded body is formed of high thermal-conductivity thermosetting synthetic resin. Provided through the body is a bolthole for clamping of the resistor to an external chassis or heatsink. The space between the bottom surface of the chip and the flat bottom surface of the molded body is a heat-sinking volume formed of the high thermal-conductivity resin; and the bottom surface of such volume of resin is the bottom surface of the resistor.

Abstract: A heat dissipating resistor grid has a rectangular or annular frame including side members carrying blocks or panels of insulating material having cavities in their inner surfaces. The resistor element is a zigzag strip formed from individual flat lengths of resistance material, each length having offset ends in opposite directions, adjoining offset ends forming a sandwich with a conductive support strip which extends beyond the offset end and terminates in projections which mate with the cavities in the insulating material. The support strip may extend into the space between the adjoining strips of resistance material forming a heat sink therein. The projecting ends of the support strip may be flat lengths, may be cut into tabs, may be formed into hollow cylinders in one piece with the support strip, may be solid cylindrical studs affixed to the support strip, or solid rod bent into U-shape with the base inside the offset ends.

Abstract: A high-speed, high temperature electrical heater construction, including an elongate air-tunnel, and a plurality of PTC resistance members insulatedly mounted in the walls of the air tunnel, and extending transversely thereof. The PTC resistance members have oppositely disposed terminal portions for connection to an electrical supply, for energization of the members.

Abstract: An insulating support for a helical wire heating coil for an electric resistance heating element includes a coil supporting notch into which a single helical coil turn is inserted and locked into position without twisting the coil and without unduly stretching the coil in an axial direction. The supporting notch includes lead-in ramp surfaces to spread the two halves of the coil turn until the coil is centrally positioned in the notch, whereupon the coil turn snaps into locking engagement with four separate abutments to prevent dislodgement. A central portion in the notch includes a separate coil supporting surface that limits further movement of the coil into the notch and the notch also includes interior lateral abutment surfaces to engage the outside of the coil turn and prevent lateral movement in the notch. The faces of the support body adjacent the notch are engaged by opposite half portions of the coil turn to preclude axial movement of the coil once it is locked in position.

Abstract: A radiant heating panel is formed using a foam insulation core surrounded by a reinforcing mesh and having a pair of wiring harness fixtures snapped over each end of the reinforced core. A radiant heating wire is strung back and fourth between the fixtures to provide a radiant heating element and the core structure, including the radiant heating element, is then wrapped in a paper wrapper which is secured to the core through the reinforcing layer on the side of the core opposite the heating element. A cementicious thermal insulating layer is applied to encase the heating element and the paper wrapper is wrapped into overlying relationship with the cementicious layer to substantially completely enclose the core.

Abstract: A low cost aluminum electrolytic capacitor package having axial anode and cathode leads extending in one direction is capable of being seated and wave-solder connected in horizontal position to a printed circuit board without rolling, which unwanted rolling may result in withdrawal of one lead that consequently may not receive solder. A dummy lead is bonded to the opposite end of the package to stabilize the capacitor after solder mounting. One of the three leads has an ox-bow bend that tends to stop the unwanted rolling.

Abstract: A heater coil mounting is provided by means of a bracket having seats formed at or adjacent each axial end and into which an insulator through which the heater element passes, is adapted to be received. The bracket is mounted in position on a wall using tabs which cooperate with portions of the bracket to hold the bracket close to the wall and form a further portion of the seat to lock the insulator in position.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes a housing which both channels air flowing around a heating element and provides support structure for the elements holding the heating element. In one embodiment, a lower U-shaped channel has recesses in opposed sidewalls to engage down-turned ends of holding elements. A second U-shaped channel is attached to form a hollow duct open at opposite ends. In a second embodiment, a U-shaped channel is made of flexible material so that the spacing between opposed sidewalls may be varied. A holding element is secured between the sidewalls by separating the sidewalls to allow insertion of the holding means.

Abstract: A thermal head of the invention has heating resistors each formed between opposite electrodes of a plurality of pairs of opposite electrodes on an insulating substrate. Each of the heating resistors is formed of a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped resistive elements which are electrically connected in series and supplied with different applied energy per unit surface area at the time of flowing a unit current in the heating resistor. These resistive elements are so arranged as to be the more distant from the resistive element of which the applied energy per unit surface area at the time of flowing a unit current in the heating resistor is the maximum, the less the applied energy per unit surface area at the time of flowing a unit current in the heating resistor.

Abstract: A heating element comprising a plurality of ceramic components strung together on a heating wire to form a flexible structure, adjacent ceramic components comprising integrally formed mating projections and depressions. The element comprises ceramic components of a type each having a body defining two generally parallel passages therethrough, both passages terminating at one end in a depression, one passage terminating at the other end in a depression and the other passage terminating at the other end in a projection.

Abstract: A holding device for electrical resistance elements (1) to be suspended in lead-through bricks (6) in furnaces. The holder (7) is connectable to and braceable towards the lead-through brick by means of an anchoring member (14), secured to the lead-through brick, and a fastening member (13), secured to the holder. At least one of these members (13, 14) is movably mounted so as to permit adjustment of the anchoring device prior to the fastening of the holder to the lead-through brick.

Abstract: A slot furnace for heating steel to forging temperatures includes a housing lined with refractory material and a refractory hearth all defining a chamber in the housing for receiving and heating forging stock. A slot is located at the front of the housing adjacent the hearth in communication with the chamber through which forging stock is inserted and withdrawn. Electrical heating elements are provided at either side of the chamber inwardly of the side walls of the chamber. The ceiling that defines the top of the chamber protrudes inwardly between the elements and above the slot. Means are provided for connecting the heating elements to an electrical power source. A temperature sensor is provided in the chamber adjacent the hearth and means connected to the sensor are provided for controlling the electrical power applied to the elements in response to the sensor.

Abstract: An open coil electric heater wherein the resistance conductor is supported on a frame. The resistance conductor in this instance, instead of being in the form of a single coiled wire, is composed of a plurality of strands of wire so as to reduce the cost of the resistance conductor while providing adequate surface area. The strands of fine wire or flat ribbon wire are braided into a rope which is formed into a series of reaches in customary manner. At least one of the strands is of a material which will provide strength to the wires that primarily generate the heat and thereby prevent sagging of such wires between wire supports. In a preferred form, the wires are loosely braided to form wide open spaces and insulated support members are projected through certain of the open spaces to support the strands in predetermined position.

Abstract: A support member for an electric heating assembly of the type having a plurality of heating elements supported by electrical insulators. The support member comprises channel-like strips sized to receive the electrical insulators and includes tab-like portions integrally formed from at least one of the walls of the strip and lying across the opening of the channel defined by the strip. Adjacent ones of the tab-like portions lock the insulators in position on the support member.

Abstract: A pair of strips having spaced cutouts therein are placed in lapping relation so the cutouts form openings to receive insulating bushings having circumferential grooves therearound at least some of the end margins of the intervening webs between the cutouts being retroverted to take the form of barbs which in the assembled relation face corresponding barbs of the other strip.

Abstract: A support strip for insulating bushings has spaced cutouts therein to receive the bushings. A locking bar which closes the open side of the cutouts to hold the bushings in place is arranged so that it interengages with the web portions between the cutouts by being received on first one side and then the other side of successive webs.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a support structure for an electric heating assembly from a single piece of metal. The piece of metal is advanced progressively through a plurality of work stations. At a first station, excess material is removed from the piece of metal to provide a strip of metal extending transversely between second and third strips of metal. At a next station, the transversely extending strip is formed into a channel-like member. Thereafter, insulators to mount the heating element are loaded onto the channel-like member. The second and third strips of metal are bent at right angles to the first strip to provide integral side supports for the support structure of the assembly.

Abstract: A ceramic insulator having sidewalls, a front wall and a back wall with an outwardly extending mounting shoulder at the upper end of the front and back walls; a passageway extending between the sidewalls of the insulator to form an open interior portion within the insulator which receives a ribbon heating element and a slot in the front wall connecting with the open interior portion of the insulator for insertion of a ribbon heating element into the open interior portion; a bearing surface within the open interior portion to support a ribbon heating element; and an elongated radiused rib extending outwardly from each sidewall below the bearing surface to provide curved contact surfaces for a ribbon heating element.