Mrl Industries, Inc.

Thomas J Berdner

Kevin Peck

Noel Johnson

William D McEntire

Robin H Slater

Ronald D VanOrden

A circuit is provided that provides for the same power characteristics to an assembly of electrical resistive elements wired in parallel as to the assembly as wired in series. An input power source provides electrical resistive power to a plurality of load elements, wherein the plurality of load elements are connected in parallel to each other. A plurality of power splitters divide the power source into separate and equal power subsources such that there is one power splitter and one power subsource for each load element, wherein the power provided to each of the plurality of load elements is equal to the power of the electrical power source. Redundancy and fault tolerance is provided to the circuitry by permitting remaining load elements to continue to operate should one or more load elements fail.

Circuit and fault tolerant assembly including such circuit

A method for monitoring the condition of a heating element involving installing the heating element in a location and setting the initial composition Cof the material as a reference baseline at an initial time Tcorresponding to said installation of the heating element. Data is then collected reflecting the subsequent composition Cof the heating element material after a subsequent time Tat the installed location and any change in the material composition of the heating element between Tand Tis monitored. An alarm is sent when the change reaches a threshold value indicating a possible failure condition. According to one embodiment, an impedance monitor is provided that calculates and compares impedance at the required levels of accuracy to determine changes in material composition. The impedance monitor, or portions thereof can be embedded within a microcontroller for increased portability and functionality.

Heating element condition monitor

A method for monitoring the condition of an electric current-carrying heating element involving installing the heating element in a location and setting the initial composition Cof the material as a reference baseline at an initial time Tcorresponding to said installation of the heating element. Data is then collected reflecting the subsequent composition Cof the heating element material after a subsequent time Tat the installed location and any change in the material composition of the heating element between Tand Tis monitored. An alarm is sent when the change reaches a threshold value indicating a possible failure condition. According to one embodiment, an impedance monitor is provided that calculates and compares impedance at the required levels of accuracy to determine changes in material composition. The impedance monitor, or portions thereof may be embedded within a microcontroller for increased portability and functionality.

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Sonora, CA, United States of America

Thomas J Berdner