Metal sheathed heater with solid state control device

• US 7,928,342 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tutco LLC
• Original Assignee: Tutco, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirby, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, DANIEL LEON
• Application Number:
  US12/073,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20080245782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 219/262, 219263-519
• US Class Current: 219/262
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/56 Heating cables

Abstract

A metal sheathed heater includes a solid state control device that allows the metal sheathed heater to be more efficiently operated. The control device supplies or terminates power to the heater according to certain conditions. Further, the control device uses predetermined time periods to control power to the heater. Thus, the heater is not kept on unnecessarily.

Claims

1. A heating device apparatus comprising:

a heater having an electrical resistance wire sheathed in metal for heating a material; and

a control device to terminate power to the heater upon a first condition, and supply the power after termination based on a second condition,

wherein opposing ends of the metal sheathing the electrical resistance wire have a clamp assembly that permits the metal to be secured around a structure for heating the material, wherein the first condition comprises an operation of a compressor and the second condition comprises the non-operation of the compressor, and the control device is configured, during operation of the compressor, to terminate power to the heater and, after the compressor stops operation, to supply power to the heater, either immediately or after a predetermined time period elapses.

2. The heating device apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control device is coupled to the heater with a wire.

3. The heating device apparatus of claim 1, wherein power received at the control device is less than the power supplied to the heater.

4. The heating device apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises an opto-isolator, a relay device, and a programmable integrated circuit having a sensor interface.

5. The heating device apparatus of claim 4, wherein the programmable integrated circuit includes a timer.

6. The heating device apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensor interface is adapted to receive a control signal based on the first or second condition.

7. The heating device apparatus of claim 6, wherein a presence or absence of the control signal causes the programmable integrated circuit to trigger the relay device.

8. The heating device apparatus of claim 7, wherein the relay device either supplies or terminates the power to the heater.

9. The heating device apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material being heated is associated with a compressor.

10. The heating device apparatus of claim 4, wherein the opto-isolator delivers a voltage to the programmable integrated circuit.

11. The heating device apparatus of claim 7, wherein the programmable integrated circuit has a timer to indicate that the relay device is to supply the power to the heater after a set period of time elapses from a time the sensor interface senses the absence or presence of the control signal.

12. A heating device apparatus comprising:

a heater having an electrical resistance wire sheathed in metal for heating a material; and

a control device to terminate power to the heater upon a first condition, and supply the power after termination based on a second condition, wherein the control device comprises an opto-isolator, a relay device, and a programmable integrated circuit having a sensor interface, and further wherein the opto-isolator delivers a voltage to the programmable integrated circuit.

13. A heating device apparatus comprising:

a heater having an electrical resistance wire sheathed in metal for heating a material; and

a control device to terminate power to the heater upon a first condition, and supply the power after termination based on a second condition, wherein the control device comprises an opto-isolator, a relay device, and a programmable integrated circuit having a sensor interface, and further wherein a presence or absence of the control signal causes the programmable integrated circuit to trigger the relay device and the programmable integrated circuit has a timer to indicate that the relay device is to supply the power to the heater after a set period of time elapses from a time the sensor interface senses the absence or presence of the control signal.