Self-regulating heater utilizing ferrite-type body
First Claim
1. A self-regulating heating device having a ferrite-type body having a Curie temperature, Tc, the device comprising:
- central conductor means for carrying a high frequency alternating current and producing a magnetic field around the exterior thereof;
a power supply connected to the central conductor means for supplying the high frequency alternating current to the conductor means at sufficient power to cause the ferrite-type body to heat by internal losses to its Curie temperature; and
said ferrite-type body positioned in the magnetic field of the central conductor means and being sufficiently lossy to be capable of producing sufficient heat by internal losses in said magnetic field to raise the temperature of the ferrite-type body to Tc;
whereby the heating device self-regulates at Tc when powered by said power supply at a sufficiently high frequency and at sufficient power to cause the ferrite-type body to heat to Tc by internal losses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-regulating heater is provided by placing ferrite-type body member, which is highly lossy when exposed to a high frequency magnetic field and has a predetermined Curie temperature, on or around a central conductor which is connected or is adapted to be connected to a power source which provides high frequency alternating current to the conductor. The current passing through the central conductor produces a magnetic field around the conductor, which causes the ferrite-type body to be heated by internal losses to its Curie temperature. The heater self-regulates at the Curie temperature of the ferrite-type body. The power source is preferably a constant current, impedance matched power source. The ferrite-type body member can be ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic. The ferrite-type body is preferably ferrimagnetic, such as ferrite beads, rings, and the like, which heat by hysteresis losses.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A self-regulating heating device having a ferrite-type body having a Curie temperature, Tc, the device comprising:
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central conductor means for carrying a high frequency alternating current and producing a magnetic field around the exterior thereof; a power supply connected to the central conductor means for supplying the high frequency alternating current to the conductor means at sufficient power to cause the ferrite-type body to heat by internal losses to its Curie temperature; and said ferrite-type body positioned in the magnetic field of the central conductor means and being sufficiently lossy to be capable of producing sufficient heat by internal losses in said magnetic field to raise the temperature of the ferrite-type body to Tc; whereby the heating device self-regulates at Tc when powered by said power supply at a sufficiently high frequency and at sufficient power to cause the ferrite-type body to heat to Tc by internal losses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A self-regulating heater device comprising:
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central conductor means for carrying a high frequency alternating current and producing a magnetic field around the exterior thereof; a ferrite-type body having a Curie temperature, Tc, positioned in the magnetic field of the central conductor means and being sufficiently lossy to be capable of producing sufficient heat by internal losses in said magnetic field to raise the temperature of the ferrite-type body to Tc; and connector means adapted for electrically connecting said central conductor means to a high frequency alternating current power supply capable of causing the ferrite-type body to heat to Tc by internal losses; whereby the heater device heats to Tc and self-regulates at Tc when powered by said power supply at a sufficiently high frequency and at sufficient power to heat ferrite-type body to Tc by internal losses. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of providing self-regulating heating of a substrate or material comprising:
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positioning a heater device in thermal proximity to the substrate or material to be heated, wherein the device comprises a ferrite-type body having a central conductor means positioned in the ferrite-type body, having a Curie temperature, Tc, and being capable of producing heat by internal losses in an alternating magnetic field to raise the temperature of the ferrite-type body to Tc; and applying a high frequency alternating current to said central conductor means to produce an alternating magnetic field around the central conductor wherein the frequency is sufficiently high and the power is sufficient to cause the ferrite-type body to heat to Tc in the magnetic field of the central conductor means. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A soldering iron tip adapted to melt solder, said soldering iron tip comprising:
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at least one heating member formed of a ferrite-type body which is sufficiently lossy when exposed to a magnetic field having a frequency sufficiently high and sufficient power to cause heating of the body by internal losses and which has a predetermined Curie temperature higher than the melting point of the solder; and a central conductor means positioned in the ferrite-type body and adapted to be connected to a power source for providing said high frequency current through said central conductor means, producing said magnetic field around the central conductor and heating said ferrite-type body to its Curie temperature. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An elongate self-regulating heater device comprising:
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an elongate central conductor means extending the length of the device for carrying a high frequency alternating current and producing a magnetic field around the exterior thereof; a ferrite-type body having a Curie temperature, Tc, positioned in the magnetic field of the central conductor means and being sufficiently lossy to be capable of producing sufficient heat by internal losses in said magnetic field to raise the temperature of the ferrite-type body to Tc; elongate surface means positioned on the outside of the ferrite-type body for transferring heat therefrom to the material or substrate to be heated; and conductor means adapted for electrically connecting said central conductor means to a high frequency alternating current power supply capable of causing the ferrite-type body to heat to Tc by internal losses; whereby the heater device heats to Tc and self-regulates at Tc when powered by said power supply at a sufficiently high frequency and sufficient power to heat ferrite-type body to Tc by internal losses. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A self-regulating heater device comprising:
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central conductor means for carrying a high frequency alternating current and producing a magnetic field around the exterior thereof; a ferrite-type body having a Curie temperature, Tc, positioned in the magnetic field around the central conductor means and being sufficiently lossy to be capable of producing sufficient heat by internal losses in said magnetic field to raise the temperature of the ferrite-type body to Tc; and connector means adapted for electrically connecting said central conductor means of high frequency alternating current power supply capable of causing the ferrite-type body to heat to Tc by internal losses; whereby the heater device heats to Tc and self-regulates at Tc when powered by said power supply at a sufficiently high frequency and sufficient power to heat ferrite-type body to Tc by internal losses; wherein the central conductor means comprises a hollow tube adapted for receiving material to be heated.
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Specification