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PTC heating device

  • US 4,874,924 A
  • Filed: 04/19/1988
  • Issued: 10/17/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A PTC heating device for incorporation in electric vaporizer apparatus for heating and vaporizing liquid material, said electric vaporizer apparatus including storage means for containing said liquid material therein, a wick for drawing said liquid material from said storage means therethrough, and a case for housing said storage means therein, said wick having an elongated body for immersion in said liquid material in said storage means, one end portion of said elongated body projecting from said storage means, comprising:

  • a casing of heat-resistant electrically insulating material having a recess formed therein and a heat-conducting portion made of electrically insulating material having good thermal conductivity and formed integrally with said casing in a manner to vertically protrude from an outer surface of a bottom of said recess toward an opened side of said casing;

    said heat-conducting portion having a vertical through-hole of a substantially cylindrical shape and a pair of planar surfaces formed on opposite portions of an outer surface of a wall surrounding said through-hole;

    two substantially plate-like PTC thermistors each having a first electrode and a second electrode on respective first and second surfaces, thereof;

    a first electrode member comprising a pair of spaced apart planar contact sections and an intermediate section interconnecting said spaced apart planar contact sections;

    said first electrode member disposed in said recess of said casing with said planar contact sections having said heat-conducting portion interposed therebetween to form a surface of said heat-conducting portion;

    each of said PTC thermistors disposed in said recess of said casing in a manner to be located on one of said planar contact sections of said first electrode member to form a surface contact with the planar contact section at said second electrode;

    means on each of said planar contact sections of said first electrode member for preventing movement of a PTC thermistor in contact therewith;

    a second electrode member formed of elastic material disposed in said recess of said casing and having means for engaging said respective first electrodes of said PTC thermistors on said planar contact sections of said first electrode member to elastically press said PTC thermistors onto respective planar surfaces of said heat-conducting portion through said planar contact section of said first electrode member;

    a cover plate having a through-hole and located on said opened side of said casing;

    means for mounting said PTC heating device with said case of said electric vaporizer extending therethrough and arranged on said cover plate;

    said mounting means comprising a plate-like body having a through-hole formed therein, and a plurality of arms extending radially from peripheral portions of said platelike body;

    a heat-radiating member of a substantially cylindrical shape mounted to said casing in a manner to be inserted through said through-hole of said mounting means, said cover plate and said heat-conducting portion, said cylindrical heat-radiating member having a bore for receiving said one end portion of said wick when said PTC heating device is incorporated in said electric vaporizer apparatus;

    first cooperating means on said cover plate and said casing for preventing a rotational movement of said cover plate on said casing; and

    second cooperating means on said mounting means and said cover plate for preventing a rotational movement of said mounting means on said cover plate.

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