Abstract: A combined water heater and thermostatic control device that combines the functionality of a water heater, thermostat and shut off valve, and may be installed in various aircraft lavatory applications to facilitate installation, consolidate functions, and reduce the probability of leaks. The combined device may include a water tank assembly, a torque motor valve and servo valve assembly, and a shut-off valve assembly. The combined device may also include a temperature control unit that senses water temperature in a water tank assembly and may activate a water heater.

Abstract: An etching method according to one embodiment, includes alternately switching a first step and a second step. The first step introduces a first gas containing a fluorine atom without supplying radiofrequency voltage to form a surface layer on a surface of a target cooled at a temperature equal to or lower than a liquefaction temperature of the first gas. The second step introduces a second gas gaseous at the first temperature and different from the first gas, and supplies the radiofrequency voltage, to generate plasma from the second gas to etch the target by sputtering using the plasma.

Abstract: An information handling system includes resistive short detection circuitry that measures a first amount of power provided by a power supply system, and measures a second amount of power drawn by components. The resistive short detection circuitry compares the first amount of power with the second amount of power. In response to first amount of power being greater than the second amount of power, the resistive short detection circuitry determines that a short exists within the information handling system.

Abstract: A tankless water heater comprising a bare wire heating element is disclosed which is connected to an electronic temperature control system. At least one sensor is furthermore connected to the electronic temperature control system. A fluid heating chamber is made of insulating non conductive material wherein the heating element is located. At least one switch is connected to at least one bare wire heating element and to a phase of an AC line. An electrode system and an electronic detecting circuit are interconnected. The electrode system is arranged in a fluid channel, in a short distance from the bare wire heating element which acts like electrode 1. The electrode 2 of the electrode system is made from a conductive tube material hydraulically connected to a throttle valve made from non conductive material to insulate the electrode 2 from the grounded collector. The electrode 2 is electrically connected to a electronic control system via a conductive material.

Abstract: A combined heating and capacitive seat occupant sensing system comprises a common mode choke configured so as to satisfy at least one of a plurality of conditions, which is taken into account by a decision unit of the system in such a way that an influence of the common mode choke on the decision is compensated.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system includes an electric powered refrigerant compressing device, an evaporator, an electric heater, an air temperature determining component, a cabin interior temperature controlling component, an upper limit electric power setting component, and an electric power distribution controller. The evaporator receives refrigerant from the compressing device. The heater is downstream of the evaporator in an air passageway. The determining component determines a first air temperature upstream of the evaporator and a second air temperature between the evaporator and the heater. The controlling component sets a vehicle interior discharge air temperature at a position downstream of the heater to a target temperature. The power setting component sets an upper limit for power supplied to the compressing device and the heater.

Abstract: An electric fluid heater includes a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and defines a fluid passage between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. At least two heating assemblies are disposed in the body and arranged in parallel, each heating assembly including at least two electrodes configured to heat fluid by passing alternating electric current through the fluid; wherein the at least two heating assemblies are arranged in the body so that fluid flowing through the fluid passage flows simultaneously through the at least two heating assemblies. Corresponding heating methods and heating systems employing such heaters and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrically heatable honeycomb body has cavities through which a fluid can flow and contains at least one power distribution structure. The power distribution structure can be connected to a power source via a power feed line. At least one of the power feed line and the power distribution structure contains at least one closed-loop control element made of a material with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) which can be placed at least in thermal contact with a fluid flowing through the honeycomb body. The electrically heatable honeycomb body permits, through the formation of a self-regulating closed-loop control element made for example from the PTC material, the implementation of a simple measure for performing closed-loop control on the heating power of the electrically heatable honeycomb body since the rest of the open-loop control or closed-loop control electronics can be significantly simplified or can even be dispensed with.

Abstract: A liquid heating system includes an electric current controller, a first container, and a second container. The first container includes a first liquid and a first electric heating system. The second container includes a second liquid and a second electric heating system. The electric current controller is connected to the first electric heating system and to the second electric heating system. The electric current controller is configured to automatically alternate between providing electric current to the first electric heating system and to the second electric heating system such that when the electric current controller is providing the current to the first electric heating system the electric current controller provides no electric current to the second electric heating system and when the electric current controller is providing the current to the second electric heating system the electric current controller provides no electric current to the first electric heating system.

Abstract: A temperature-control circuit of a heating line and a temperature-control method thereof are disclosed. The method comprises steps of: outputting a forward square-wave signal by a first forward square-wave signal generation circuit; outputting a reverse square-wave signal by a reverse square-wave signal generation circuit; and outputting a varied forward square-wave signal by a second forward square-wave signal generation circuit. Above square-wave signal generation circuits are respectively connected with an AND gate. When the input square-wave signals are simultaneously logic high, a switch is triggered by a trigger circuit to heat the heating wire.

Abstract: A dual heater element for heating a liquid for use in a vending apparatus is provided. The heater element includes two elements. A first heating element is operable for use at a conventional first operating voltage or range (e.g., 120 VAC) while a separate second heating element is operable for use with a conventional second operating voltage or range (e.g., 230 VAC). A first pair of terminals coupled to the first heating element and a second pair of terminals coupled to the second heating element are selectively and/or interchangeably connected to a pair of line voltage terminals. The configuration of the line voltage electrical system and the use of a heater element with dual elements each operating (normal operation) at different voltages or voltage ranges allows the vending apparatus to be manufactured without variation in components and enables dual voltage source operation for two different line voltages (e.g., line voltage supply is either 120 VAC or 230 VAC).

Abstract: An apparatus for heating fluid, includes a preheat reservoir having at least one pair of reservoir electrodes between which an electric current can be passed through fluid in the preheat reservoir, to heat fluid in the reservoir to a preheat temperature, the preheat temperature being less than a desired output fluid temperature of the apparatus; and an outflow temperature boost passage through which fluid from the preheat reservoir flows to an outlet of the apparatus, the outflow temperature boost passage having at least one pair of outflow electrodes between which an electric current can be passed through fluid in the outflow temperature boost passage, to heat fluid dynamically in the outflow temperature boost passage to the desired output fluid temperature.

Abstract: A control system for a liquid motion lamp maintains the proper temperature of liquids within the lamp to provide desired motion within the lamp, and reduces sensitivity to ambient temperature. The lamp preferably includes two heating elements, a first element for initial heating, such as a heat blanket, resistive glass coating, or a submerged ring, and a second heating element generally providing both heat and lighting. A sensor measures the temperature of the liquid inside the lamp and the control system controls the heat sources to maintain the temperature within operating limits.

Abstract: An electronic thermostat (20) has a mechanical switch (22) and a solid-state switch (24). The electronic thermostat (20) is suitable for use in a liquid heating apparatus, such as a coffee maker or any other apparatus that dispenses heated beverages. In an illustrative embodiment, the electronic thermostat (20) has a controller (36) and a temperature sensor (34).

Abstract: A spa system comprises an electrically powered heater. The electrically powered heater comprises a heating element capable of drawing a rated current when switched on to an AC line voltage. An electronic control system is programmed to control the heating element to draw less than the rated current.

Abstract: A control system for an electric heater, e.g., an electric catalyst heater (ECH), includes a current sensor, a voltage sensor, a switching element, and a control circuit. The control circuit is coupled to the current sensor, the voltage sensor and a control terminal of the switching element and varies a control signal on the control terminal to maintain the temperature of the heating element within a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for electrically heating subsea pipelines. An electrically insulating layer is placed over the pipe in the segment of the pipeline to be heated and electrical current is caused to flow axially through the steel wall of the pipe. In one embodiment (end fed), an insulating joint at the host end of the pipeline is used to apply voltage to the end of the segment. At the remote end an electrical connector is used to conduct the electrical current to a return cable or to a seawater electrode. A buffer zone of the pipeline beyond the remote end is provided. Separate electrical heating may also be applied in the buffer zone. Electrical chokes may be used in different arrangements to decrease leakage current in the pipeline outside the heated segment. In another embodiment (center fed), voltage is applied at or near the midpoint of the segment to be heated through an electrical connector and no insulating joint is used.

Abstract: A vaporizer that adjusts to the conductivity of the water used in the vaporizer, and that also adjusts to changes in the conductivity of the water while in operation, thereby decreasing warm-up time and maintaining a relatively constant boiling rate and rate of steam production. The vaporizer includes hardware circuitry or other logic that maintains constant power supplied to the electrodes of the vaporizer to decrease warm-up time, and adjusts the current supplied to the electrodes while the vaporizer is in operation and after the warm-up period to maintain a relatively constant boiling rate and rate of steam production.

Abstract: A liquid heater includes an electrical power supplier and a heating passage configured to receive unheated liquid. The heating passage is defined by a first electrode and a second electrode. The first and second electrodes are electrically connected to the electrical power supplier. The unheated liquid received into the heating passage generates heat when an electric current flows through the liquid and between the first and second electrodes. The liquid heater is utilized in beverage product dispensers and heated liquid food product dispensers.

Abstract: Electrode elements directly heat water and with an electric current controller that is controlled by the heated water volume, which structurally enables immediate production of high temperature steam. The innovations of the invention here include: the utilization of an electric current controller than can be set at a certain value so that an electromagnetic water input valve is switched on or off at an appropriate time, which permits the maintaining of a fixed volume of water inside the water container and as such, the water inside the water container is not only prevented from overflowing, but at the same time forms an electric field with the electrode elements and is subsequently directly heated and thereby enables the production of high temperature steam in an extremely short period of time.

Abstract: An electroheating apparatus to continuously treating pumpable food is made up of a number of connected electroheating cells. In one embodiment, all of the cells include a pair of concentric electrodes between which the food is pumped. The electrodes are connected to a high frequency energy source which passes current through the food to heat them based upon their own resistivity and the electrode gap. In another embodiment, two different functioning electrodes are used, connected in series, so as to provide long run times and high process temperatures.

Abstract: An ohmic heater comprises at least two electrodes contained within a vessel such that the electrodes lie along the length of the vessel. The vessel has inlet and outlet ports in the top and bottom through which a fluid to be heated flows, passing through the vessel along the length of the vessel. The electrodes are equally spaced about the axis of the vessel and when in use, are each connected to a single phase of a power supply, such that the total voltage at any point in time at the electrodes is near or at a neutral potential of the electric power supply. Electrically conductive guard rings are positioned around the inner periphery of the inlet and outlet ports of the vessel and are connected to the neutral potential of the electric power supply by electrical connectors. A leakage current monitor is interposed between guard rings and the neutral potential to enable current leakage from said heater to be monitored.

Abstract: A portable electric water heater has spaced concentrically disposed ferromagnetic electrodes defining an annular chamber for an electrically conductive liquid to be contained between the electrodes. The electrodes are encased in a housing having a liquid inlet and outlet and wired to pass an electric heating current between the electrodes and through the liquid therebetween to heat the liquid in the annular chamber. The liquid acts as a switch, breaking the heating current flow when no liquid is present in the annular chamber. An electromagnetic induction coil is disposed around one of the electrodes and has one of its leads connected to the electrode. The other induction coil lead and the other electrode are connected to a source of electric current. Completion of the electric circuit by introduction of a liquid between the electrodes also energizes the electromagnetic induction coil to further heat the fluid.

Abstract: A temperature control system for use with a fluid circulating system operable in a heating or cooling state to monitor and control the temperature and flow of fluid circulated through a remote liquid circulation manifold comprising a display/control panel to select the system operating parameters and provide a visual indication of the system status including operating temperature and fluid flow and a micro including logic circuitry to receive input signals from the display-control panel and fluid circulating system and to generate system control signals to control the operation of the fluid circulating system and system indicator signals to provide the visual indication of system operations.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electric sauna heater comprising one or more heating resistors (1, 2) and means (3, 4) such as a time switch (3) for controlling the supply of electric power to the heating resistors, the time switch (3) comprising at least three inputs (A, B, C) the first (A) of which is connected to a first time switch contact 3A), the second (B) to a second time switch contact (3B) and the third (C) to a first terminal in a driving motor (M) for the time switch while a second terminal is connected to a counter contact (b) in the second contact (3B). In the invention, in order that the time switch could therefore be connected to two different operating voltages, a resistor (R) is connected between the third input (C) of the time switch (3) and a counter contact (a) in the first contact (3A).