Multi-zone heating system

• US 8,217,316 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2010
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enthermics Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Enthermics Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hansen, William J., Van Essen, Adam, Smith, Terence T., Rai, Praveen
• Primary Examiner(s): FUQUA, SHAWNTINA T
• Application Number:
  US12/706,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20110198338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 219/406, 219/401, 219/400, 219/521, 219/202, 219/211, 994/83
• US Class Current: 219/406
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/06 Arrangement or mounting of electric heating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/087 of electric circuits regulating heat

Abstract

A heating system is disclosed including a cabinet having walls defining an interior heating chamber. Sensors are attached to an exterior surface of the walls. Heating pad subassemblies are attached to the exterior surface of the walls with each heating pad subassemblies located adjacent a corresponding sensor. The heating pad subassemblies include a pad having an attachment face coupled to the exterior surface of the walls and a heating element coupled to the pad. A controller is in electrical communication with the heating elements and the sensors. This controller is configured to independently monitor temperate measurements from each of the sensors and to independently control each of the heating elements. The heating pad subassemblies are positionable on the exterior side of the plurality of walls and the heating system compensates for load variations across the interior heating chamber.

Claims

1. A heating system comprising:

a cabinet having at least two walls defining an interior heating chamber, wherein the at least two walls are respectively associated with at least two heating zones within the interior heating chamber;

at least two sensors attached to an surface of the walls and each positioned to monitor the temperature in different of the at least two heating zones;

at least two heating pad subassemblies attached to the exterior surface of the walls and positioned to generate heat in different of the at least two heating zones, each of the heating pad subassemblies surrounding a corresponding sensor and including;

a pad having an attachment face coupled to the exterior surface of the walls; and

a heating element coupled to the pad; and

a controller in electrical communication with the heating elements and the sensors, the controller configured to independently monitor the temperature from each of the sensors and further configured to independently control each of the heating elements;

wherein the heating pad subassemblies are positioned on the exterior side of the walls and the heating system compensates for loading variations in the interior heating chamber affecting heat transfer across the heating zones, within the interior heating chamber.

2. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the heating pad subassemblies are adhesively attached to the exterior side of the walls of the cabinet.

3. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the heating pad subassemblies include an electrical connector for connecting the heating pad subassemblies to the controller.

4. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the heating pad subassemblies include a circuit which allows the heating pad subassemblies to operate on 120 volt or 230 volt power.

5. The heating system of claim 1, wherein each of the sensors includes an electrical connector for connecting the sensors to the controller.

6. The heating system of claim 5, wherein the heating pad subassembly further includes a sensor aperture formed through the pad adapted for placement over one of the plurality of sensors such that, when one of the plurality of heating pad subassemblies is placed over the sensor, the electrical connector for connecting the sensor to the controller remains exposed.

7. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is a thermal heating pad system.

8. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is electrically resistive.

9. The heating system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is coupled to the heating pad subassembly proximate a center of the attachment face of the heating pad subassembly.

10. The heating system of claim 1, further comprising a shelf positioned in the interior heating chamber and a heating pad subassembly is attached to the shelf.

11. The heating system of claim 1, wherein a sensor is attached to the exterior side of the of walls via a bracket and wherein a sensor aperture formed through the heating pad subassembly is sized to match the bracket.