VARIABLE WATTAGE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20080046129A1
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Steinhauser, Louis, Fennewald, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means

Abstract

A control system and methods are provided that limit power provided to a power receiving device to a value less that that produced at full line voltage. The system includes at least one power receiving device and a power controller operatively associated with the power receiving device, the power controller comprising a power limiting function that limits the power provided to the power receiving device to a value less than that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function.

Claims

1. A control system that limits the wattage provided by a heat-producing element to a value less than that produced at full line voltage, the system comprising:

at least one heat-producing element;

a power controller operatively associated with the heat-producing element; and

a power limiting function that limits the wattage provided by the heat-producing element to multiple values less than that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function.

2. The control system according to claim 1 wherein the power limiting function and the scaling function reside in a module, the module being attached to the heat-producing element.

3. The control system according to claim 1 wherein the power limiting function and the scaling function reside in a module, the module being operatively placed between the power controller and the heat-producing element.

4. The control system according to claim 1 wherein the power limiting function and the scaling function reside in a module, the module being operatively placed between a power source and the power controller.

5. The control system according to claim 1 wherein the power limiting function and the scaling function reside in the power controller, the power controller being operatively placed between a power source and the heat-producing element.

6. The control system according to claim 1 wherein the power limiting function and the scaling function reside in a module, the module being operatively placed between an output of a control device and a control input to the power controller.

7. The control system according to claim 1 further comprising a temperature controller, the temperature controller comprising:

a temperature sensing function that determines a process temperature operatively associated with the heat-producing element;

a temperature comparison function for comparing a temperature associated with the heat-producing element with a set point temperature and determining a required output; and

an output function that varies the power supplied to the heat-producing element.

8. A control system that limits power provided to a power receiving device to a value less that that produced at full line voltage, the system comprising:

at least one power receiving device; and

a power controller operatively associated with the power receiving device, the power controller comprising a power limiting function that limits the power provided to the power receiving device to a value less than that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function.

9. The control system according to claim 8 further comprising at least one circuit protection device operatively associated with the power receiving device.

10. The control system according to claim 8 further comprising at least one filtering device operatively associated with the power receiving device to suppress high frequency component generation.

11. The control system according to claim 8 further comprising a temperature controller operatively associated with the heat-producing element.

12. A power controller operatively associated with a power receiving device, the power controller comprising a power limiting function that limits the power provided to the power receiving device to a value less than that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function.

13. A method of operating a power controller comprising the step of employing a power limiting function that limits power provided to a power receiving device to a value less that that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function.

14. A control system that limits power provided to a power receiving device to a value less that that produced at full line voltage, the system comprising:

at least one power receiving device;

a power controller operatively associated with the power receiving device; and

a module operatively associated with the power controller, the module comprising a power limiting function that limits the power provided to the power receiving device to a value less than that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function.

15. The control system according to claim 14, wherein the module is placed between the power controller and the power receiving device.

16. The control system according to claim 14, wherein the module is placed between the power controller and a power source.

17. The control system according to claim 14, wherein the module is placed between the power controller and any other control device.