US 5,352,870 A · Strip heater with predetermined power density

Abstract

A resistance strip heater includes a pair of elongated, mutually parallel electrical conductors or buses lying on a dielectric substrate. Each bus includes a conductive region extending toward the other conductor, and the locations of the conductive regions of the two buses alternate along the lengths thereof. An elongated resistance arrangement has its axis of elongation parallel to the buses, is physically supported between the buses, and is electrically connected to mutually adjacent ones of the conductive regions, so that the resistance arrangement is electrically connected across the buses. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the resistance arrangement is a plurality of elongated chip resistors arranged in an array. The substrate may be a polyimide sheet, and a corresponding cover sheet may be used. The strip heater can be cut virtually anywhere along its length without affecting its operability. Thus, the strip heater can be fabricated and stocked in long lengths, even by rolls, and be cut to any desired length as needed. Electrical power is applied to the power buses via crimped metal connectors or via access holes opened by removing perforated areas of the cover.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A resistance device comprising:

an elongated substrate of a flexible insulating material;
first and second elongated electrical conductors, mutually parallel and spaced apart on a surface of said substrate, for receiving electrical potential therebetween said first conductor including a plurality of first conductive areas extending in a direction toward said conductor and spaced along the length of said first conductor at predetermined intervals, and said second conductor including a plurality of second conductive areas extending in a direction toward said first conductor and spaced along the length of said second conductor at locations intermediate the locations of adjacent ones of said first conductive areas;
and
elongated resistance means defining an axis of elongation parallel to said elongated electrical conductors, said elongated resistance means being physically located between said elongated electrical conductors, and extending between, and being physically and electrically connected to, adjacent ones of said first and second conductive areas.

1 more element

A resistance heater adapted to be cuttable to a desired length comprising:

an elongated, thin, narrow substrate of a flexible electrically insulating material;
first and second elongated, mutually parallel electrical buses lying on a first surface of said substrate, said first electrical bus being proximate to one elongated edge of said substrate and extending for a substantial part of the length thereof, said second electrical bus being proximate the other elongated edge of said substrate and extending for a substantial part of the length thereof, said first electrical bus including a plurality of first conductive areas extending in a direction toward said second electrical bus and spaced along the length of said first electrical bus at predetermined intervals, and said second electrical bus including a plurality of second conductive areas extending in a direction toward said first electrical bus and spaced along the length of said second electrical bus at predetermined locations intermediate the locations of adjacent ones of said first conductive areas;
and
elongated resistance means physically supported by said first surface of said substrate, and located between said first and second electrical buses with said direction of elongation parallel with said elongated edges of said substrate, said resistance means being physically and electrically connected to adjacent ones of said first and second conductive areas of said first and second electrical buses.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Strip heater with predetermined power density

Life of this patent

Strip heater with predetermined power density

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18