The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 14, 2007
Filed:
Dec. 07, 2005
Ray O. Knoeppel, Hartland, WI (US);
Thomas G. Van Sistine, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
Jason W. T. Scott, Elkhorn, WI (US);
David E. Morris, Racine, WI (US);
Ray O. Knoeppel, Hartland, WI (US);
Thomas G. Van Sistine, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
Jason W. T. Scott, Elkhorn, WI (US);
David E. Morris, Racine, WI (US);
AOS Holding Company, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A fluid-heating apparatus for heating a fluid and method of operating the same. The fluid-heating apparatus includes a heating element for heating a fluid surrounding the heating element and a control circuit connected to the heating element and connectable to a power source. The control circuit includes a current path from the power source to the heating element back to the power source, a switch connected in the current path, and a current sensor. The method includes initiating a heating state of the fluid-heating apparatus, initiating a non-heating state of the fluid-heating apparatus, applying a voltage to the heating element during the non-heating state, sensing a leakage current of the heating element during the application of the voltage, and determining a degradation of the heating element with the sensed leakage current.