Block Forms Flow Path Patents (Class 392/494)
  • Patent number: 11712945
    Abstract: An electric heater includes a heating element, a heat transfer wall and a control module. The electric heater includes a fluid chamber, an inlet, and an outlet. The fluid chamber is in communication with the inlet and the outlet, the heat transfer wall is a portion of a wall part forming the fluid chamber, the heating element is fixed or limited to at least a portion of the heat transfer wall, the heating element is located outside the fluid chamber, and at least a portion of the heating element is in contact with the heat transfer wall. The electric heater includes a cover body wall, which is another portion of the wall part forming the fluid chamber. The control module is located outside the cover body wall, the control module is located outside the fluid chamber, the control module is electrically connected to the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Hangzhou Sanhua Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Saijun Ding, Weidong Xi
  • Patent number: 11573012
    Abstract: A tempered hot water delivery system configured to prevent or reduce colonisation of Legionella bacteria in tempered water delivered from the system to one or more outlets in a facility. The system comprises: a thermostatic mixing valve comprising; a hot water inlet for connection to a supply of hot water at a temperature of at least 60° C., a cold water inlet for connection to a supply of cold water, a tempered water outlet for supplying tempered water obtained from mixing the supplied hot water and cold water to provide tempered water at a temperature of between 36° C. to about 53° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: LegioGuard Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Andrew Collins
  • Patent number: 11427461
    Abstract: A dispenser includes: a tank; an inlet pipe connected to the tank and to supply liquid to the tank; a heater for heating liquid in the tank; an inverter printed circuit board for controlling the operation of the heater; a heat sink formed of a metal or other heat conductive material, and having a cavity; and a power semiconductor element electrically connected to the inverter printed circuit board to control power to the heater, and fixed to the heat sink to heat-exchange with liquid flowing in the cavity. The cavity of the heat sink may receive a section of the inlet pipe or may form a flow path to receive the fluid from the inlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Heejun Lee, Seungje Park, Hoyong Jang, Jeashik Heo
  • Patent number: 11402124
    Abstract: A fluid heater includes: a passage member having a passage formed therein; a heater for heating the passage member; a fixing member for fixing the passage member to a fluid control device; and a connection member connected to the passage member so as to allow fluid to flow into the passage member. The passage has a helical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tsuneyuki Okabe, Toshiyuki Inada, Taiji Chiba, Tatsuhiko Sato, Michio Yamaji, Tadayuki Yakushijin
  • Patent number: 11332912
    Abstract: Dispensing of hot water having an adjustable temperature by way of a water outlet fitting that can be installed on a sink. This is achieved by a continuous flow heater and a measured value sensor arranged in a water inlet of the water outlet fitting as the hot water heater. The measured value sensor detects a measurement variable with regard to water flowing through the continuous flow heater (10). The water dispensing device has a control unit, which is designed to regulate a flow rate through the continuous flow heater as a function of measured values of the measured value sensor in order to adjust the temperature of the hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: KWC AG
    Inventors: Heinz Vetterli, Andreas Ruegg
  • Patent number: 11083329
    Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, a flow-through fluid heating unit includes an annular member, and a heating element deposited on an inner surface of the annular member, the heating element including three sub-heating elements, each sub-heating element being connected to a separate conduit for receiving a separate phase of a three phase electrical power source. The heating unit may include a baffle core including at least one channel providing a fluid flow path, the baffle core being disposed within the annular member and proximate to the heating element. First and second end fittings may be disposed at each end of the annular member, each end fitting including a fluid port for allowing the fluid to flow through the annular member. One of the end fittings may be releasably connected to the annular member to provide access for removal of the baffle core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke E. Kelly, Brian P. Mills, Brian Rutherford, Stuart A. Dietz
  • Patent number: 10871308
    Abstract: A continuous flow heater includes a heating block, where the heating block includes a heating block half-shell for a continuous flow heater. The half-shell includes a partial wall for a heating channel that includes at least one deflection area for a liquid flow. The half-shell further includes, in the deflection area, at least one pin that, in its longitudinal direction, protrudes into the heating channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: BOSCH TERMOTECNOLOGIA S.A.
    Inventors: Florian Loser, Christian Englisch, Gebhard Mayer
  • Patent number: 10688846
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a temperature sensor for a vehicle heating device, a heat input surface, an electrical heating element arranged on the heat input surface, and a heat output surface. The temperature sensor is arranged in a depression on the heat output surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventor: Stephan Buckl
  • Patent number: 9410718
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for heating a fluid, essentially comprising a heating body with a solid element and one or more electric resistors of rectangular section of the PTC type which are arranged in grooves on the exterior surface of the solid element. The latter comprises a U-shaped passage for fluid. The invention also relates to a vehicle engine fitted with such a device for preheating or heating the coolant. The invention also relates to a method for preheating or heating using such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventor: Nino Volante
  • Patent number: 9167630
    Abstract: A water heater (10) is suitable for point-of-use applications. The water heater includes a tank housing (12) and one or more electrically powered heating elements (18). A water inlet line (20) and a water outlet line (24) may be molded as a unitary structure with the tank housing. The water outlet line includes a lower port (68) and an upper port (70) for mixing water in the outlet line. The housing may be mounted such that its axis is either vertical or horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Inventors: David E. Seitz, James Dabney, Louis Everett, Thomas L. Harmon, Michael Carr
  • Patent number: 8934764
    Abstract: An electrical heating device with pluggable heating module includes a box body (10) and a heating module (20). The box body (10) has an accommodation space (14) for the liquid (74) contained therein, which is provided with a slot (111) communicating the accommodation space (14). The heating module (20) is received in the slot (111) in a pluggable way and separates the accommodation space into a first chamber (141) and a second chamber (142). The heating module (20) includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating component (21) and a heat conducting component (22) covering the outside of the PTC heating component (21). By this arrangement, the time for maintaining the electrical heating device (1) can be saved and the liquid (74) heating effect of the electrical heating device (1) can be improved as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Betacera Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Chang Wei, Etsuro Habata
  • Patent number: 8768154
    Abstract: A representatively pumpless water heater system has an instantaneous water heater coupled in series with a storage water heater by piping circuitry incorporating a fixed (and selectively fixed) bypass useable to route pressurized incoming cold water sequentially through the instantaneous and storage type heaters. The fixed bypass can also route pressurized incoming cold water to mix with the heated water exiting the instantaneous heater for delivery to the storage heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Daichi L Nakagawa, Kevin J Pirotin
  • Publication number: 20140126896
    Abstract: An electrical heating device with pluggable heating module includes a box body (10) and a heating module (20). The box body (10) has an accommodation space (14) for the liquid (74) contained therein, which is provided with a slot (111) communicating the accommodation space (14). The heating module (20) is received in the slot (111) in a pluggable way and separates the accommodation space into a first chamber (141) and a second chamber (142). The heating module (20) includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating component (21) and a heat conducting component (22) covering the outside of the PTC heating component (21). By this arrangement, the time for maintaining the electrical heating device (1) can be saved and the liquid (74) heating effect of the electrical heating device (1) can be improved as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Chih-Chang WEI, Etsuro HABATA
  • Patent number: 8666238
    Abstract: A fluid preheater (10) includes a body (12) having an interior wall (28) defining a chamber (42) and having an inlet (50) and an outlet (52). One or more heaters (18) are disposed in the wall (28), but not exposed to the chamber (42). The chamber (42) has one or more baffles that cause turbulence in the flow of fluid through the chamber (42) from the inlet (50) to the outlet (52) in order to increase the exposure of the fluid to heat from the heaters (18, 64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nexthermal Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Wheeler, Gary Miller
  • Patent number: 8463117
    Abstract: A water heating apparatus includes a water tank having a plurality of sidewalls, a main heating member mounted inside and across the water tank, and at least one secondary heating or partition member extending between the main heating member and the sidewalls to form at least one water compartment with a water path. At least one tertiary heating member is provided on the inner surface of the water tank. The partition member can be spiral in shape. Each heating member has at least a multi-layer conductive coating of nano-thickness deposited thereon, and electrodes coupled to the multi-layer conductive coating. The multi-layer conductive coating comprises a structure and composition which stabilize performance of the heating member at high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Materials Enterprises Company Limited
    Inventor: Wing Yiu Yeung
  • Patent number: 8450666
    Abstract: A water boiling device includes a heat tank unit received in a machine body, a high frequency induction heater, and a heat pipe unit. The heat tank unit includes first and second heating tanks in communication with each other. Outside water can flow into the first and second heating tanks. The high frequency induction heater includes a heat pipe induction coil and first and second induction coils. The heat pipe unit includes first and second heating pipes. An upper section of each heating pipe is received in one of the heating tanks, and a lower section of each heating pipe extends out of the heating tanks and is inserted into the heat pipe induction coil. The first and second heating tanks will heat up to heat the water in the first and second heating tanks when a high frequency current is passed through the heat pipe induction coil and first and second induction coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventors: Shun-Chi Yang, Mao-Hsiung Yang, Tsung-Chuan Yang, Fang-Ming Wu, Cheng-Yen Wu
  • Patent number: 8358922
    Abstract: A fluid heating device is provided that is to be mounted in a continuous flow heater and includes at least one heating element embodied as an electric resistance heater, and at least one heat exchanging element that is connected in a heat-conducting manner to the heating element and the fluid so as to transfer the heat generated by the heating element to the fluid. The heat exchanging element forms an integral housing component of a pressure-resistant and temperature-resistant continuous flow heater and is provided with an essentially planar central area on which the heating element is mounted. In order to produce a continuous flow heater, the heating device is joined in a positive, pressure-resistant, and thermally stable manner to a molded part encompassing at least one inlet and at least one outlet so as to form a fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Stickel
  • Patent number: 8346069
    Abstract: A water heating apparatus includes a water tank and at least one heating member mounted inside the water tank. The heating member includes a heating body, at least a multi-layer conductive coating of nano-thickness deposited on the heating body, and electrodes coupled to the multi-layer conductive coating. The multi-layer conductive coating includes a structure and composition which stabilize performance of the heating member at high temperature. The heating body can be made of ceramic glass in the form of a flat plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Materials Enterprises Company Limited
    Inventor: Wing Yiu Yeung
  • Patent number: 8165461
    Abstract: There is provided a tankless water heater for heating water passing therethrough. The modular heater comprises a plurality of heating units, each heating unit comprising a heating tube and a coupler, wherein each heating tube defines an interior region and each heating tube includes a helical structure whereby the helical structure imparts a swirling motion on water passing through the interior region of the tube. A heating element is also disposed within the interior region of the heating tube, and electric power applied to the heating element acts to heat the water passing through the tube. Temperature sensors may be positioned so as to detect water temperature proximate the inlet portion, and the outlet portion. Additionally, a flow meter is positioned proximate the inlet portion. The controller directs signals to switches positioned at each tube so as to apply electric current to the heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph M. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8124009
    Abstract: Aeration drying and disinfecting grain crops in bulk and pretreating seeds includes passing through a bulk of grain crops and seeds disinfecting and drying agents including an ozone and air mixture and surrounding air, subdividing the disinfecting and drying agents into a plurality of streams spaced from one another in a vertical direction, and passing the streams at different heights through levels located at corresponding heights of the bulk of grain crops and seeds transversely in a substantially horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Vitaliy G. Danchenko, Ronald T. Noyes, Larysa P. Potapovych
  • Patent number: 8107803
    Abstract: A water heating apparatus for a beverage brewing device. Water is heated to brew temperature without boiling or localized boiling, thereby minimizing the precipitating of scale. The heating elements each have a low watt density, thereby increasing safety. Multiple heating zones allow the use of a plurality of power relays, lowering the power per relay and thus improving the reliability of the relays. The heating elements cannot overheat due to a failure resulting in a lack of water in the apparatus since the temperature sensors are mounted directly on each heating element, allowing direct measurement and control of each heating element. Precise control of water temperature in the apparatus is provided by varying both the water flow rate through the heating apparatus, and by varying heating element temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventors: Gary Ray Hannah, Richard William Heim
  • Patent number: 7996182
    Abstract: A water heater is provided with monitor/diagnostic display apparatus that selectively provides a user with visual or other type of indicia of the overall efficiency of the water heater. The apparatus includes a monitoring unit that may be mounted on the water heater, and a display unit that may be mounted either on the water heater or remotely therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Hotton, Walter T. Castleberry
  • Patent number: 7818095
    Abstract: A water heater is provided with monitor/diagnostic display apparatus that selectively provides a user with visual or other type of indicia of the remaining hot water availability of, the recovery time for, and the overall efficiency of the water heater. The apparatus includes a monitoring unit that may be mounted on the water heater, and a display unit that may be mounted either on the water heater or remotely therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce A. Hotton, Troy E. Trant, Jozef Boros, William T. Harrigill, Walter T. Castleberry
  • Patent number: 7760993
    Abstract: The device and the method for forming steam are used for household appliance. Principle: water enters into the heated spiral tube chamber through the inner end of the spiral tube chamber; water contacts the side wall of the spiral tube chamber, and is vaporized, then diffused along the spiral tube chamber; part of the water droplets diffuses with vapor, and contacts the side wall of the spiral tube chamber gradually, then is vaporized; vapor is obtained from the outer end of the spiral tube chamber. In one word, the invention provides a method to obtain “dry” steam which doesn't contain water. It is more efficient than other facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventor: Tuming You
  • Patent number: 7298968
    Abstract: A representatively pumpless water heater system has an instantaneous water heater coupled in series with a storage water heater by piping circuitry incorporating a bypass valve and a mixing valve and useable to route pressurized incoming cold water sequentially through the instantaneous and storage type heaters. A control system (1) operates the bypass valve to cause a selectively variable portion of the incoming cold water to bypass the instantaneous heater and flow to the mixing valve, and (2) operates the mixing valve to blend the bypassed cold water with hot water exiting the storage heater to maintain a predetermined temperature of heated water exiting the system. Another system embodiment adds a directional bypass valve operable by the control system to selectively divert to the mixing valve a portion of the heated water exiting the instantaneous heater for delivery to the storage heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jozef Boros, William T. Harrigill, Subbu Thenappan
  • Patent number: 7263283
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Knepler
  • Patent number: 7190893
    Abstract: A fluid heater apparatus and method of making same includes a low porosity material, thermally conductive mass. A heat source is disposed in the thermally conductive mass for imparting heat to the mass. Fluid in a flow path through the mass absorbs heat from the mass. The thermally conductive mass is molded, cast or extruded from a material which, with the selected forming process, provides a low porosity mass. The mass may be formed of ceramic, aluminum and poltruded carbon. The mass can be cast from a material which is introduced into the casting mold in a semi-solid temperature state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Kuebler, Daryl G. Harris, Lee A. Bissonnette
  • Patent number: 7158719
    Abstract: An improved inline intravenous fluid warming device. In one embodiment, the device includes a resistive film heater that is thermally coupled to a body having a serpentine fluid path extending therethrough. The film heater is coupled to the body via a first layer that is a thermally conductive and electrically insulative and a second layer that is thermally conductive. In another embodiment first and second resistive film heaters are employed to support either line power or battery powered operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Enginivity LLC
    Inventor: David Cassidy
  • Patent number: 7003221
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus has hot air supply mechanisms disposed in association with light-shielding shrinkable films wound on a rolled photosensitive material sheet, for ejecting hot air locally to the light-shielding shrinkable films, and a drive mechanism for relatively rotating the hot air supply mechanisms along an outer circumferential surface of the rolled photosensitive material sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Tsujimura
  • Publication number: 20040175166
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating or cooling a fluid in flexible tubing has a body generally centered-on an axis and having an outer surface formed with a radially outwardly open helicoidal groove of a cross-sectional shape generally corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the tubing so that the tubing can be fitted to the groove in heat-exchange contact with the body. The outer surface is tapered axially such that substantially all of the groove can be seen from a point axially offset from the body that is heated or cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: Transmed Medizintechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Bartscher, Michael Pelster
  • Publication number: 20040170414
    Abstract: A fluid heater apparatus has fluid discharge temperature control to prevent temperature overshoot. A plurality of heater elements are employed and at least certain of the heater elements are independently controllable. At least one of the heater elements is employed as a “finishing” heater element, with the other heating elements deactivated to enable the “finishing” heater element to more slowly elevate the temperature of the fluid in the body from a first temperature reached by activation all or most of the heater elements to the predetermined discharge temperature. One of more of the heater elements may have a different power output than the other heater elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Kuebler, Daryl G. Harris
  • Patent number: 6701069
    Abstract: An improved pre-heating, contiguous in-line water heater is described. The in-line water heater utilizes a passive heating means to passively heat at least a portion of the input water received by the in-line water heater. The result is a more cost efficient water heater. The in-line water heater is integrated with a control means to receive input from various sensor and to regulate the operation of the in-line water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventors: Cem Cezayirli, Mel Silvers, Chester Z. Gates
  • Patent number: 6330395
    Abstract: A fluid type heating apparatus with safety sealing has a metallic heat exchanging main body, a heating unit embedded within the metallic heat exchanging main body, a plurality of fluid conduits extended along the lengthwise direction of the metallic heat exchanging main body, a groove at the center of the metallic heat exchanging main body and housing the heating unit enclosed by an insulating layer, a front cover at front side of the metallic heat exchanging main body and a rear cover at rear side of the metallic heat exchanging main body. The front and rear cover has a plurality of guiding slots coupled to the conduit to control circulation of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Inventor: Chia-Hsiung Wu
  • Publication number: 20010043808
    Abstract: A temperature sensor detecting a temperature of fluid flowing through a fluid passage is disposed at a bent portion located at an upper side of the fluid passage in an area close to a fluid outlet. Particularly, the temperature sensor is disposed at a position far from the fluid inlet by half or more of an entire length L of the fluid passage. Thus, it is possible to prevent the detected temperature of the temperature sensor from being remarkably different from an actual temperature and to prevent the electric heater from being thermally damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Ken Matsunaga, Hisashi Ieda
  • Patent number: 6275653
    Abstract: An appliance for domestic use, comprising a steam generating boiler consisting of an electrically heated body provided with a cylindrical through chamber fed at one end with water and provided at its opposite end with a delivery nozzle, that end of said chamber distant from the nozzle being closed by a removable wall associated with scraper means arranged to operate on the cylindrical wall of the boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: General Technology S.R.L.
    Inventor: Fulvio Montipo′
  • Patent number: 5784531
    Abstract: Instantaneous fluid heating device and process including an instantaneous fluid heating device which features forced fluid recirculation past/through heating elements/vessel featuring immersible electrical heating elements in a plurality of heating vessels arranged in series with all of said electrical heating elements/vessels being of equal electrical power/volume so as to be equal in overall heating capacity and receiving electricity simultaneously by on/off switching of electrical power via one or more solid state relays responsive to the minutest changes of temperature below/above the set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventors: Robert W. Mann, Herman H. Hall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5727118
    Abstract: Electric boiler for heat-transfer liquid (FC) comprising a set of plates (P) having corrugations on both their faces, and which include, in their corners, openings (3, 4, 5, 6) allowing circulation of fluid. Said assembly consists of at least one module comprising two stamped plates (P), the corrugations of which are in the same sense on both their faces between which at least one heater block (I) is inserted, within which heater block a resistance element (R) is embedded, being in the form of a block which also includes orifices (3, 4, 5, 6) as well as herringbone corrugations on both its faces (A) and (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Vicarb
    Inventors: Claude Roussel, Fabrice Chopard
  • Patent number: 5651088
    Abstract: A honeycomb heater including a honeycomb structure, two electrodes and a plurality of slits extending through the honeycomb structure. The slits are provided to elongate a current flow path through the honeycomb structure and to define a plurality of first regions of partition walls and at least one second region of partition walls. The first regions are locally quickly heated with respect to at least one second region upon electrification of the honeycomb structure, and the first regions are spaced apart from each other. In addition, the first regions in total extend over an area 5 to 50% of a total cross-sectional area of the honeycomb structure. Alternatively, the honeycomb structure may include at least one first region and a plurality of second regions, the second regions being spaced apart by the at least one first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Abe, Shigeharu Hashimoto, Tomoharu Kondo
  • Patent number: 5649049
    Abstract: A honeycomb heater including a honeycomb structure which is made of a conductive material and which has a number of passages substantially parallel to a gas flow direction partitioned by partition walls and which has respective providing a gas inlet and a gas outlet, and at least two electrodes for electrification provided on the honeycomb structure. The honeycomb heater is characterized in that besides the passages, orifices which have a larger hydraulic diameter than the passages and which narrow a current flow path are formed at predetermined positions of the honeycomb structure to adjust resistance, whereby a specific region of the honeycomb heater is locally heated more quickly as compared with other regions at the time of the electrification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Abe, Tomoharu Kondo, Keiji Noda
  • Patent number: 5409668
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for controlling the conductance of heated structures used to initiate faster light-off in emission control systems such as used for automotive catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters and industrial stacks and other applications in which the exhaust gas stream temperature is too low to initiate fast light-off. The invention also relates to a method for minimizing the amount of conductive material used for making such structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Rodney D. Bagley, Jacqueline L. Brown