HEATING ELEMENT WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROL

• US 20110011846A1
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Seng, Juergen, Soerensen, Olaf
• Application Number:
  US12/892,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20110011846A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/494
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/011 Heaters using laterally extending conductive material as connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/028 Heaters specially adapted for trays or plates to keep food or liquids hot
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/029 Heaters specially adapted for seat warmers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/036 Heaters specially adapted for garment heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/146 Conductive polymers, e.g. polyethylene, thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/26 heating conductor mounted on insulating base for transparent areas H05B3/84, H05B3/86

Abstract

A heating element is provided, comprising a heating unit, a heat transfer unit and a first temperature control element and a second temperature control element, a first temperature control element being provided at a first distance to the heating unit and the second temperature control element being provided at a second distance to the heating unit, wherein the first temperature control element has a first minimal activation threshold and the second temperature control element has a second minimal activation threshold, wherein the second distance is smaller than the first distance and the second threshold is higher than the first threshold, and the first temperature control element and a second temperature control element are both in immediate contact with the heat transfer unit. In further aspects, the invention relates to a method of heating an appliance by using a heating element and a method for providing a heating element.

Claims

1. A heating element comprising a heating unit, a heat transfer unit and a first temperature control element and a second temperature control element, a first temperature control element being provided at a first distance to the heating unit and the second temperature control element being provided at a second distance to the heating unit, wherein the first temperature control element has a first minimal activation threshold and the second temperature control element has a second minimal activation threshold, wherein the second distance is smaller than the first distance and the second threshold is higher than the first threshold, and the first temperature control element and a second temperature control element are both in immediate contact with the heat transfer unit.

2. A heating element according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature control element and the second temperature control element are both provided on the same surface as the heating transfer unit.

3. A heating element according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature control element and the second temperature control element are provided on two distinct surfaces of the heat transfer unit.

4. A heating element according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is provided on the heat transfer unit in the form of a coating.

5. A heating element according to claim 1, wherein heating unit is provided in the form of a sol-gel composition.

6. A heating element according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element is provided on the heat transfer unit in the form of a coating.

7. A heating element according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element is provided in the form of a sol-gel composition.

8. A heating element according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element comprises or consists of the same composition as the heating unit.

9. A heating element according to claim 1, wherein the first distance is at least 100% greater than the second distance.

10. A heating element according to claim 1, wherein the second threshold is at least 200°

C. higher than first threshold.

14. The method for providing a heating element according to claim 1, in which the heating unit and the first temperature control element are both provided in the form of a coating.

15. The method for providing a heating element according to claim 1, in which the heating unit and/or the first temperature control element is applied by spraying, brushing, dipping or screen-printing.

11. A method of heating an appliance by using a heating element comprising a heating unit, a heat transfer unit and a first temperature control element and a second temperature control element, a first temperature control element being provided at a first distance to the heating unit and the second temperature control element being provided at a second distance to the heating unit, wherein the first temperature control element has a first minimal activation threshold and the second temperature control element has a second minimal activation threshold, wherein the second distance is smaller than the first distance and the second threshold is higher than the first threshold and the first temperature control element and a second temperature control element are both in immediate contact with the heat transfer unit, wherein the heating unit is operated at a voltage in the range of 30 V to 50 V.

12. A method for providing a heating element, the method comprising the following steps:

providing a heat transfer unit

providing a heating unit

providing a first temperature control element in immediate contact with the heat transfer unit, the first temperature control element having a first minimal activation threshold and a first distance to the heating unit

providing a second temperature control element in immediate contact with the heat transfer unit the second temperature control element having a second minimal activation threshold higher than the a first minimal activation threshold and having at a second distance to the heating unit, the second temperature control element being provided such that the second distance is smaller than the first distance.

13. The method for providing a heating element according to claim 12, in which the heating unit and the first temperature control element are both provided in one process step.