Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with container – enclosure – or support for material...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2001-05-01
Paik, Sang (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with container, enclosure, or support for material...
C219S466100, C338S307000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225608
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of heating and cooking and specifically to a resistance heater.
Electrical resistance heating films are used in various applications. Typically, the resistive film is applied on a substrate, which may provide a heating surface or may be the surface to be heated. A controlled voltage or current is applied to the film to effect the creation of heat energy. Examples of film heaters and controllers therefor are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,233,497 to Lowell, 4,384,192 to Lowell, 4,973,826 to Baudry, 5,160,830 to Kicherer and 5,616,266 to Cooper. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/067,135 also shows a film heater and related components.
Range cook tops for cooking food use electric heaters. It is desirable to provide a durable surface for supporting objects so that the objects can be heated efficiently and reliably. Heating of the surface should be limited to a desired area.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a heater including a substrate having a heating zone. A resistive layer is disposed on at least part of the substrate heating zone and forms an annular heating element divided into arcuate segments. Conductive bus bars electrically connecting the arcuate segments in series.
The bus bars are disposed on edges of the arcuate segments. The bus bars are respectively connected along inner and outer edges of the arcuate segments. A first one of the bus bars is connected along a first edge of a first one of the arcuate segments and a second one of the bus bars is connected along a second edge of the first arcuate segment opposite the first edge and along an edge of a second one of the arcuate segments.
According to one aspect of the invention, the resistive layer includes first, second, third, and fourth of the arcuate segments, a first one of the bus bars is connected along an outer edge of the first segment, a second one of the bus bars is connected along inner edges of the first and second segments, a third one of the bus bars is connected along outer edges of the second and third segments, a fourth one of the bus bars is connected along inner edges of the third and fourth segments, and a fifth one of the bus bars is connected along an outer edge of the fourth segment. The first and fifth bus bars are connected to a power source.
According to another aspect of the invention, the resistive layer includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth of the arcuate segments, a first one of the bus bars is connected along an inner edge of the first segment, a second one of the bus bars is connected along outer edges of the first and second segments, a third one of the bus bars is connected along inner edges of the second and third segments, a fourth one of the bus bars is connected along outer edges of the third and fourth segments, a fifth one of the bus bars is connected along inner edges of the fourth and fifth segments, a sixth one of the bus bars is connected along outer edges of the fifth and sixth segments, a seventh one of the bus bars is connected along inner edges of the sixth and seventh segments, an eighth one of the bus bars is connected along outer edges of the seventh and eighth segments, and a ninth one of the bus bars is connected along an inner edge of the eighth segment. The first and ninth bus bars are connected to a power source.
The resistive layer also includes a separate element disposed within the annular element and conductive bus bars disposed along opposite edges of the separate element. The separate element bus bars are connected to the annular element bus bars so that the separate element is electrically connected in parallel with the annular element. The separate element bus bars are arranged so that power to the separate element can be controlled separately from the annular element.
A resistive lead is connected from a conductive element disposed adjacent the resistive layer to a temperature sensor. The conductive element is one of the bus bars. A conductive lead is connected to the conductive element. These leads are connected to a controller for monitoring the temperature of the heater.
Gaps between different segments of the resistive layer are filled with insulating material. A dielectric layer is disposed between the resistive layer and the substrate.
According to one aspect, the invention provides a heater including a substrate having a heating zone. A resistive layer is disposed on at least part of the substrate heating zone and forms an annular heating element divided into arcuate segments and a rectangular element disposed within the annular element. Annular element conductive bus bars are disposed on edges of the arcuate segments electrically connecting the arcuate segments in series, wherein a first one of the annular element bus bars is connected along a first edge of a first one of the arcuate segments and a second one of the annular element bus bars is connected along a second edge of the first arcuate segment opposite the first edge and along an edge of a second one of the arcuate segments, a last one of the annular element bus bars is connected along an edge of a last one of the arcuate segments in the series, and the first and last annular element bus bars are connected to a power source. Rectangular element conductive bus bars are disposed along opposite edges of the rectangular element and connected to the power source.
The rectangular element bus bars are connected to the annular element bus bars so that the rectangular element is electrically connected in parallel with the annular element. The rectangular element bus bars are arranged so that power to the rectangular element can be controlled separately from the annular element. A resistive temperature sensing lead is connected to a conductive element disposed adjacent the resistive layer, wherein the temperature sensing leads are connected to a controller for monitoring the temperature of the heater.
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patent: 5616266 (1997-04-01), Cooper
Paik Sang
Pearne & Gordon LLP
White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
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