Backer Ehp Inc.

Emerson Electric Company

Ronald R Barnes

Robert K Cockrell

Stacy V Springer

Lucas Lee Fowler

Alvin L Slayton

Dan R Maxwell

Herbert G Ray

T Randall Markum

Charles T Whitfield

Richard Tao

Victor Yang

Alvin Slayton

Lucas Fowler

Electric heating element

A band heater assembly for heating an object includes a band heater that extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the object. The band heater includes a cable and a band. The cable includes a resistive element, a first cable end and a second cable end. The resistive element generates thermal energy based on a current received from a power source. The first cable end and the second cable end are connected to respective ends of the band heater assembly. The band is connected to the cable and transfers a first portion of the thermal energy to an exterior surface of the object. At least a portion of the cable is exposed from the band heater to contact the exterior surface when the band heater assembly is connected to the object.

Band heater systems and assembly methods

An improved construction for a heating element for an appliance is disclosed. A coiled resistance wire extending coaxially along the length of an elongate sheath is surrounded by an electrically insulating, high thermally conductive material that fills the sheath around the wire. The resistance wire is secured to a terminal pin at a connection comprising a connection insert that is securely affixed to the terminal pin, intermediate the terminal pin and resistance wire. The resistance wire is then able to be welded to the connector to provide a superior mechanical connection between a terminal pin and the resistance wire, even though the terminal pin is made from copper. The disclosed construction, therefore, provides good electrical and thermal conductivity and resists the tendency to separate during manufacture.

Heating element for appliance

A screwplug type water heater (10) has a heating element (12) immersible in a water heater tank (T) to heat water (L). Electrical terminals (28) on the outer end of the heater connect the heating element into a heater circuit (H) for a control unit (14). The control unit also includes a sensing circuit (S) for the unit to be responsive to water temperature inputs to turn-on the heater to heat water to a desired temperature and maintain it there. A thermistor (16) provides a temperature input to the control circuit. The thermistor is encapsulated in a bracket (32) mounted in, or integrally formed with, the screwplug to sense water temperature. Terminals (36) on the outer end of the heater allow the thermistor to be connected into the control circuit.

Integral water heater and water temperature sensor

An electrical resistance heater (12) has an elongate electrical heating coil (C) with a plurality of convolutions (C1, C2). An electrical insulator (10) supports the convolutions and includes an insulator body (18) mountable to a support frame (19). A generally circular projection (20) extends from one side of the body and is integrally formed therewith. A generally arcuate section (26, 28) of the projection, on opposite sides of the projection, is spaced from an adjacent surface (30, 32) of the body. A notch (34, 36) is formed by the respective surfaces of the body and the projection for respective coil convolutions (C1, C2) to be received in the respective notches. The upper end (42, 44) of the faces (38, 40) of the projection are tapered outwardly from the top of the projection to facilitate coil installation. A shoulder (30s, 32s) formed on the insulator body adjacent each notch helps retain the coil convolutions in the notches. An insulator (110) having a pair of projections (120a, 120b) integrally formed with an insulator body (118) is used to support coil convolutions on both sides of the insulator.

Electrical coil insulator

Growing community of inventors

Murfreesboro, TN, United States of America

Ronald R Barnes