HEATING ELEMENT WITH TEMPERATURE SENSOR

• US 20110011847A1
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Pinto, Francis, Seng, Juergen, Schmitz, Christoph, Soerensen, Olaf
• Granted Patent: US 9,204,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/553
• 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

The present invention concerns: A heating element comprising a heating unit, a heat transfer unit and a temperature sensor unit, the heating, unit comprising a first composition, the first composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors and the temperature sensor comprising a second composition, the second composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors, the heating unit and the temperature sensor unit being provided as two units, which are electrically insulated from each other and with are mechanically supported by the heat transfer unit. The invention also relates to a method of heating an appliance and to a method of providing a heating element.

Claims

1. A heating element comprising a heating unit, a heat transfer unit and a temperature sensor unit, the heating unit comprising a first composition, the first composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors and the temperature sensor comprising a second composition, the second composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors, the heating unit and the temperature sensor unit being provided as two units, which are electrically insulated from each other and with are mechanically supported by the heat transfer unit.

2. A heating element according to claim 1, in which the first composition and the second composition comprise the same composition.

3. A heating element according to claim 1, in which the heating unit and the temperature sensor unit essentially consist of the same composition.

4. A heating element according to claim 1, in which the heating unit and the temperature sensor unit are both provided as coatings on the heat transfer unit.

5. A heating element according to claim 4, in which the heating unit and the temperature sensor unit are both provided on one surface of the heat transfer unit.

6. A heating element according to claim 4, in which the heating unit and the temperature sensor unit are provided on two distinct surfaces of the heat transfer unit.

7. A heating element according to claim 1, which further comprises a second temperature sensor unit.

8. A heating element according to claim 7, in which a temperature sensor is provided on to two opposing sides of heating unit.

9. A heating element according to claim 7, in which two temperature sensor units are provided on two opposing surfaces or in which four temperature sensor units are provided on two pairs of opposing surfaces.

10. A method of heating an appliance by using a heating element comprising a heating unit, a heat transfer unit and a temperature sensor unit, the heating unit comprising a first composition, the first composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors and the temperature sensor comprising a second composition, the second composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors, the heating unit and the temperature sensor unit being provided as two units, which are electrically insulated from each other and with are mechanically supported by the heat transfer unit, wherein the heating unit is operated at a voltage in the range of 30 V to 50 V.

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

providing a heat transfer unit

applying a first composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors and the temperature sensor comprising a second composition, the second composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors as to form a heating unit

applying a second composition, the second composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors and the temperature sensor comprising a second composition, the second composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors as to form a temperature sensor unit.

12. The method for providing a heating element according to claim 11, in which the second composition is applied at the same time the first composition is applied.

13. The method for providing a heating element according to claim 11, in which the second composition is applied after applying the first composition.

14. The method for providing a heating element according to claim 11, in which the first and/or second composition is applied by spraying, brushing, dipping or screen-printing.

15. The method for providing a heating element according to claim 11, in which the heat transfer unit is provided from aluminium.