Self-regulating heater employing reactive components
First Claim
1. An electrical heater which comprises(A) two connection means which are connectable to an AC power supply;
- and(B) a plurality of discrete, spaced-apart, heating units, each of said heater units comprising(a) a reactive component;
(b) a resistive heating component which generates heat when the connection means are connected to a suitable AC power supply; and
(c) a temperature responsive component which has a property which varies with temperature so that, when the heater is connected to a suitable AC power supply, the heat generated by the heating unit decreases substantially as the temperature of the unit approaches an elevated temperature;
said reactive component, when it is an inductor and is the same as the temperature-responsive component, being connected to the connection means by discrete electrical conductors.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Novel electrical heater which are self-regulating as a result of appropriate combination of a constant current or constant voltage power source with a resistive heating component and a temperature-sensitive component. Preferred heaters comprise a plurality of heating units, each of which heating units comprises a reactive component, a resistive heating component, and a temperature-responsive component. Self-regulation of the heater may be achieved in a number of different ways, including the use of employing a reactive component and a temperature-responsive component which form a combination exhibiting an impedance which changes with temperature. The temperature-responsive component can for example change in dielectric constant, or in permeability or in shape, or can effect changes in the frequencies inputted to the reactive component.
444 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An electrical heater which comprises
(A) two connection means which are connectable to an AC power supply; - and
(B) a plurality of discrete, spaced-apart, heating units, each of said heater units comprising (a) a reactive component; (b) a resistive heating component which generates heat when the connection means are connected to a suitable AC power supply; and (c) a temperature responsive component which has a property which varies with temperature so that, when the heater is connected to a suitable AC power supply, the heat generated by the heating unit decreases substantially as the temperature of the unit approaches an elevated temperature; said reactive component, when it is an inductor and is the same as the temperature-responsive component, being connected to the connection means by discrete electrical conductors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- and
-
19. A heating circuit which consists essentially of
(A) an AC power supply, and (B) a heating unit which comprises (a) a reactive component; -
(b) a resistive heating component which is connected to the reactive component by discrete electrical conductors; and (c) a temperature-responsive component which is not in direct physical contact with the heating component and which has an electrical property which varies with temperature so that the heat generated by the heating unit decreases substantially as the temperature of the unit approaches an elevated temperature.
-
-
20. A self-regulating electrical heater which
(A) two connection means which are connectable to a power supply; - and
(B) a plurality of discrete, spaced-apart heating units, each of said heater units comprising (a) an active circuit component; (b) a resistive heating component which generates heat when the connection means are connected to a suitable power supply; and (c) a temperature-responsive component which has an electrical property which varies with temperature so that, when the heater is connected to a suitable power supply, the heat generated by the heating unit decreases substantially as the temperature of the unit approaches an elevated temperature.
- and
-
21. An electrical heater comprising:
-
(A) two elongate connection means which are connectable to the constant voltage power supply; and (B) a plurality of discrete, spaced-apart heating units which are electrically connected in parallel with each other between the connection means and each of which comprises; (a) a first resistive heating component having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance; and (b) a second resistive heating component having a zero temperature coefficient of resistance and connected in parallel with the first resistive heating component.
-
-
22. A heating circuit which comprises
(A) a constant current AC power supply, and (B) a heating unit which comprises (a) an NTC inductive component; - and
(b) a resistive heating component which is connected in parallel with the reactive component by discrete electrical conductors; whereby the heat generated by the heating unit decreases substantially as the temperature of the unit approaches an elevated temperature.
- and
-
23. A method of heating liquid which comprises placing the liquid in thermal contact with a heating unit which is connected to an AC power supply and which comprises
(a) a reactive component; -
(b) a resistive heating component which is connected to the reactive component by discrete electrical conductors; and (c) a temperature-responsive component which is not in direct physical contact with the heating component and which has an electrical property which varies with temperature so that the heat generated by the heating unit decreases substantially as the temperature of the unit approaches an elevated temperature.
-
Specification