Streamlined heater assembly with front and intermediate daisy chain power injection, shielding, and water resistant features
AssigneeMKS Instruments, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey D. Kiernan, Karl Hausmann, Paul Dozoretz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Heater modules are configured for streamlined daisy chain connectivity that includes front end and intermediate daisy chain power injection, water resistant heater assemblies, and shielding. A power injection device is configured with connectivity for insertion of power into heater modules that are in front and intermediate daisy chain positions while enabling data communications between heater modules positioned on opposite sides of the power injection locations.
Claims35
Heater apparatus, comprising:
- (i) a heater module comprising:
- a heater;
- a controller device connected to the heater by a primary heater cord, the controller device comprising a front end connector having a primary high voltage power terminal, a primary neutral terminal, and at least a first primary communication terminal;
- a secondary heater cord extending from the controller device to a back end connector that includes a back end neutral terminal, a back end high voltage power terminal, and at least a first back end communication terminal, the back end connector being configured in a manner that is capable of mating connection to the front end connector including mating electrical connection of the back end high voltage power terminal to the primary high voltage power terminal, mating electrical connection of the back end neutral terminal to the primary neutral terminal, and mating communication connection of the first back end communication terminal to the first primary communication terminal;
- and
- (ii) a power injection device comprising:
- an injection device power input connector, including an injection device high voltage input terminal and an injection device neutral input terminal;
- an injection device communication input connector, including at least a first injection device communication input terminal, said injection device communication input connector being configured in a manner that is capable of mating connection to the back end connector including mating communication connection of the first injection device communication input terminal to the first back end communication terminal;
- and
- an injection device combination power and communication output connector, including an injection device high voltage power output terminal, an injection device neutral output terminal, and at least a first injection device communication output terminal, said injection device combination power and communication output connector being configured in a manner that is capable of mating connection to the front end connector including mating electrical connection of the injection device high voltage power output terminal to the primary high voltage power terminal, mating electrical connection of the injection device neutral output terminal to the primary neutral terminal, and mating communication connection of the first injection device communication output terminal to the first primary communication terminal.
A power injection device, comprising:
- an injection device power input connector, including an injection device high voltage input terminal and an injection device neutral input terminal;
- an injection device communication input connector, including at least a first injection device communication input terminal;
- and
- an injection device combination power and communication output connector, including an injection device high voltage power output terminal, an injection device neutral output terminal, and at least a first injection device communication output terminal
A method of providing power to and communication data to or from a plurality of heater modules that are daisy-chain connected together, each of which heater modules comprises a heater element in a heater, a controller device connected to the heater by a primary heater cord, high voltage power conductors, neutral conductors, and communication conductors extending from the controller device, through the primary heater cord to the heater, and through a secondary heater cord extending from the heater for connection to the controller device of another one of the heater modules, the method comprising:
- injecting power into a first one of the heater modules while passing communication data into or out of said first one of the heater modules by connecting a first power injection device to the first one of the heater modules and providing power from a high voltage power source through an injection device power input connector and out of an injection device combination power and communication output connector to the first one of the heater modules;
- and
- injecting auxiliary power into another one of the heater modules in the daisy-chain of heater modules by connecting a second power injection device into said another one of the heater modules and connecting the secondary heater cord of an intermediate heater module in the daisy chain of heater modules to the second power injection device to transmit communication data between the said another one of the heater modules and the said intermediate heater module through the power injection device.
A method of providing a water-resistant heater assembly that includes a plurality of heater modules connected electrically in daisy chain fashion, wherein each heater module has a heater containing a heating element powered by high voltage electric power and at least one temperature sensor positioned in the heater adjacent to the heater element, and wherein each heater module also has a controller device connected electrically to a high voltage power source and to the heater element and to the temperature sensor in the heater, comprising:
- providing the controller device of each heater module with a housing that has an outside wall which is shaped substantially as a figure of revolution extending along a controller longitudinal axis between a housing front end shaped substantially as a figure of revolution that defines a front aperture and a housing back end shaped substantially as a figure of revolution that defines a back aperture, said housing having an external surface and enclosing an interior controller chamber;
- positioning the controller device a distance apart from the heater;
- providing each heater module with no more than one electrical input connector and no more than one electrical output connector, said electrical input connectors and electrical output connectors 34 of the heater modules being connectable together in a water tight manner that resists leakage of water into contact with electrical conductors and the terminals in the electrical input connectors and electrical output connectors;
- extending a high voltage power conductor, a neutral conductor, and at least one data communication conductor between the electrical input connector of the heater module and the electrical output connector of same heater module including through the housing of the controller device;
- shrink-wrapping a water impermeable, protective shield around the housing of the controller;
- and
- connecting a plurality of heater modules together in daisy chain fashion by connecting the electrical output connectors of one or more heater modules to the electrical input connectors of one or more other heater modules.
Power injection apparatus for providing power to and communication data to or from a plurality of heater modules that are daisy-chain connected together, each of which heater modules comprises a heater element in a heater, a controller device connected to the heater by a primary heater cord, high voltage power conductors, neutral conductors, and communication conductors extending from the controller device, through the primary heater cord to the heater, and through a secondary heater cord extending from the heater for connection to the controller device of another one of the heater modules, comprising:
- means for injecting power into a first one of the heater modules while passing communication data into or out of said first one of the heater modules;
- and
- means for injecting auxiliary power into another one of the heater modules in the daisy-chain of heater modules by connecting a second power injection device into said another one of the heater modules and connecting the secondary heater cord of an intermediate heater module in the daisy chain of heater modules to the second power injection device to transmit communication data between the said another one of the heater modules and the said intermediate heater module through the power injection device.
Apparatus for providing a water-resistant heater assembly that includes a plurality of heater modules connected electrically in daisy chain fashion, wherein each heater module has a heater containing a heating element powered by high voltage electric power and at least one temperature sensor positioned in the heater adjacent to the heater element, and wherein each heater module also has a controller device connected electrically to a high voltage power source and to the heater element and to the temperature sensor in the heater, comprising:
- means for providing the controller device of each heater module with a housing that has an outside wall which is shaped substantially as a figure of revolution extending along a controller longitudinal axis between a housing front end shaped substantially as a figure of revolution that defines a front aperture and a housing back end shaped substantially as a figure of revolution that defines a back aperture, said housing having an external surface and enclosing an interior controller chamber;
- means for positioning the controller device a distance apart from the heater with electrical conductive components extending between the controller device and the heater;
- means for providing each heater module with no more than one electrical input connector and no more than one electrical output connector, said electrical input connectors and electrical output connectors of the heater modules being connectable together in a water tight manner that resists leakage of water into contact with electrical conductors and the terminals in the electrical input connectors and electrical output connectors;
- means for extending a high voltage power conductor, a neutral conductor, and at least one data communication conductor between the electrical input connector of the heater module and the electrical output connector of same heater module including through the housing of the controller device;
- a water impermeable, protective shield shrink-wrapped around the housing of the controller;
- and
- a plurality of heater modules connected together in daisy chain fashion with the electrical output connectors 34 of one or more heater modules connected to the electrical input connectors of one or more other heater modules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.