Modular heater assembly with interchangeable auxiliary sensing junctions
AssigneeWatlow Electric Manufacturing Company
InventorsJeremy Ohse, Douglas Schaefer, Eric Ellis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heater system is provided, which includes a plurality of heaters, a controller for supplying power to the plurality of heaters, a plurality sets of auxiliary wires extending from the plurality of heaters, and a wire harness for connecting the plurality sets of auxiliary wires to the controller. Each set of auxiliary wires includes three wires, two of the three wires being made of different materials and being joined to form a thermocouple junction, such that each of the plurality of heaters is operable to function as both a heater and a temperature sensor.
Claims12
A heater system comprising:
- a plurality of heaters, each of the plurality of heaters comprising a resistive heating element;
- a controller for supplying power to the plurality of heaters;
- a plurality sets of auxiliary wires connected to and extending from the resistive heating elements of the plurality of heaters;
- and
- a wire harness for connecting the plurality sets of auxiliary wires to the controller,
- wherein each set of auxiliary wires includes a temperature sensing wire, an auxiliary power supply wire, and an auxiliary power return wire;
- wherein in each set of auxiliary wires, the temperature sensing wire is joined to one of the auxiliary power supply wire and the auxiliary power return wire to form a thermocouple junction;
- the thermocouple junction is joined to an end of the resistive heating element of each heater;
- and a material of the temperature sensing wire is different from a material of one of the auxiliary power supply wire and the auxiliary power return wire, such that each of the plurality of heaters is operable to function as both a heater and a temperature sensor.
A modular heater unit comprising:
- a heater comprising a resistive heating element;
- and
- a set of auxiliary wires connected to and extending from the resistive heating element of the heater, the set of auxiliary wires including a temperature sensing wire, and auxiliary power supply wire, and an auxiliary power return wire,
- wherein the temperature sensing wire is joined to one of the auxiliary power supply wire and the auxiliary power return wire to form a thermocouple junction, the thermocouple junction being joined to an end of the resistive heating element, and
- wherein the temperature sensing wire and the one of the auxiliary power supply wire and the auxiliary return wire are made of different materials, such that the heater is operable to function as both a heater and a temperature sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.