Mks Instruments, Inc.

University of Colorado

Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company

Dana S Hauschulz

Stephanie Bryant

Dragan Mejic

Garret Nicodemus

Daniel E Hilton

Idalis Villanueva

The present invention provides an apparatus for loading soft materials and methods for using the same. In some embodiments, the apparatus is a gearless mechanical loading apparatus which converts a rotational movement of one end of a first element into an arc of a circle movement of the other end of the first element; and converts the arc of a circle movement of the other end of the first element into a precision two-dimensional lateral movement of a second element.

Apparatus and methods for loading soft materials

A heater control system that utilizes electronic temperature control at each of a number of interconnected heaters is provided for monitoring and operating heaters within a narrow temperature range. In one embodiment, a heater control system is provided that is adapted for controlling a number of heaters positioned on pipe and components of a piping system from a remote location. The heater control system includes satellite controllers mounted on each heater connected daisy chain fashion and includes a monitoring station with a user interface for allowing a user to monitor and to remotely control the operating status or temperature of each heater in the heater control system. To satisfy the user's space requirements, the size of each controller is maintained at a small form factor and a single cord is used to provide power and communications lines to and between the controllers. Each controller integrates power supply and control with electronic temperature control to minimize the use of mechanical switching and to increase the accuracy of temperature control. The temperature set point is adjustable at each controller and, in one embodiment, the temperature set point is remotely adjustable from a remote monitoring station. The operating status of each controller is displayed on the exterior of the controller's housing and in one embodiment, the operating status, such as temperature, is displayed at a base station for each line of controllers and heaters and on a user interface monitor at a monitoring station.

Heater control system with combination modular and daisy chained connectivity and optimum allocation of functions between base unit and local controller modules

Pipe heater controller

The flexible insulated heater includes a heater mat surrounded by an insulation jacket. The heater mat is preferably made of two layers of fiberglass reinforced rubber sheets laminated together with resistive heater wires sandwiched between the laminated sheets. The heater mat is formed with a curvature and size to fit snugly around the peripheral surface of the pipe that is to be heated. A jacket of thermally insulative material, such as a polymer foam, is molded over the external surface of the heater mat. The insulated jacket holds the heat generated by the heater mat from escaping radially outward, and it protects against burns to persons who might touch the heater. The mat and the jacket are configured so that the heater has interfacing opposite edges and that meet and preferably touch each other when the heater is mounted on the pipe, but the combination of the mat and jacket have sufficient resilient flexibility to allow opening the heater by separating the edges enough to slip the heater over the pipe, whereupon the heater resumes its original inherent cylindrical shape when released. Snaps, Velcro.TM. fastening material straps, or other suitable fasteners can be used to secure the heaters snugly around the pipe, if desired, although the biased resilience of the heater to its formed shape is generally sufficient itself to hold the heater in place. A power cord, control cavity, and an optional overmold provide electric power to the heating wires or elements in the heating mat. A system of flexible insulated heaters can be daisy-chained or ganged together to heat and insulate a network of pipes.

Apparatus and methods of making and using heater apparatus for heating

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Dana S Hauschulz