Temperature dependent electrically resistive yarn

• US 6,497,951 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc. d/b/a Jarden Consumer Solutions (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Inventors: DeAngelis, Alfred R., Wolynes, Earle
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS, NEWTON O
• Application Number:
  US09/667,065
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 428/370, 428/373, 428/374, 428/372, 428/364
• US Class Current: 428/364
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 11/06 Coating with spinning solutions or melts
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 8/04 from synthetic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/38 Threads in which fibres, filaments, or yarns are wound with other yarns or filaments, e.g. wrap yarns, i.e. strands of filaments or staple fibres are wrapped by a helically wound binder yarn; D02G3/32 takes precedence; covering endless core threads with fibres by using open-end spinning techniques D01H4/00
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/441 Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249924 Noninterengaged fiber-containing paper-free web or sheet which is not of specified porosity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2924 Composite
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2927 including structurally defined particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2929 Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2931 Fibers or filaments nonconcentric [e.g., side-by-side or eccentric, etc.]

Abstract

A positive variable resistive yarn having a core, a sheath, and an insulator. The sheath includes distinct electrical conductors intermixed within a thermal expansive low conductive matrix. As the temperature of the yarn increases, the resistance of the sheath increases.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive yarn having a temperature dependent resistance, said yarn comprising:

a flexible non-conducting core;

a sheath disposed on the flexible non-conducting core and having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance, said sheath including;

a low conductive matrix material which expands with increased temperature;

a plurality of distinct electrical conductors intermixed throughout the matrix material;

wherein the plurality of distinct electrical conductors provide an electrical conductive pathway through the sheath;

wherein the low conductive matrix material has a higher coefficient of expansion than the conductive particles; and

wherein expansion of the matrix material separates various conductive particles within the sheath thereby increasing the electrical resistance of the sheath;

wherein the sheath provides the positive coefficient of resistance along the length of said yarn.

2. The electrically conductive yarn according to claim 1, wherein the resistance value of said yarn is within the range of from about 0.1 Ohms/inch to about 2500 Ohms/inch.

3. The electrically conductive yarn according to claim 1, wherein the flexible core comprises multifilaments.

4. The electrically conductive yarn according to claim 1, wherein the flexible core comprises staple fibers.

5. The electrically conductive yarn according to claim 1, wherein the flexible core comprises a synthetic material.

6. The electrically conductive yarn according to claim 1, wherein the flexible core comprise a natural fiber.

7. The electrically conductive yarn according to claim 1, wherein the flexible core comprises a spun yarn.