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US 5,915,072 AGranted
Infrared heater apparatus
AssigneeHill-Rom, Inc.
InventorsJohn Stephen Campbell, Charles Goldberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A radiant heater apparatus includes a heating element which generates radiant energy. The heating element has first and second terminals. The apparatus also includes an inner tube configured to surround the heating element. The inner tube includes first and second ends. The inner tube is substantially transmissive to radiant energy. The apparatus further includes an outer tube surrounding the inner tube. The outer tube has an inner surface, an outer surface, and first and second ends. The inner surface of the outer tube is absorptive to radiant energy, and the outer surface of the outer tube is emissive to radiant energy so that radiant energy from the heating element passing through the inner tube is absorbed and re-emitted from by outer tube.
Claims44
A radiant heater apparatus comprising:
- a heating element which generates radiant energy, the heating element having first and second terminals;
- an inner tube configured to surround the heating element, the inner tube including first and second ends, and the inner tube being substantially transmissive to radiant energy;
- an inner atmospheric seal coupled to each of the first and second ends of the inner tube:
- an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, the outer tube having an inner surface, an outer surface, and first and second ends, the inner surface of the outer tube being absorptive to radiant energy, and the outer surface of the outer tube being emissive to radiant energy so that radiant energy from the heating element passing through the inner tube is absorbed and re-emitted by the outer tube;
- and
- an outer atmospheric seal coupled to each of the first and second ends of the outer tube, whereby the heating element remains sealed from the atmosphere upon a failure of one of the inner and outer atmospheric seals.
3 more elements
A radiant heating device comprising:
- a heating element having a power supply terminal and a power return terminal;
- a first container configured to receive the heating element, the first container having an egress for the power supply terminal and power return terminal;
- first sealing means for sealing the egress from the first container so that the first chamber is impervious to oxygen to provide an inner oxygen seal around the heating element;
- a second container configured to receive the first container, the second container having an egress for the power supply terminal and power return terminal;
- and
- a second sealing means for sealing the egress from the second container so that the second chamber is impervious to oxygen to provide an outer oxygen seal around the first container.
3 more elements
A patient thermal support apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a patient support surface on the base;
- and
- a warmer module coupled to the base spaced apart from the patient support surface, the warmer module including first and second infrared heaters which emit infrared radiant energy, the first and second heaters each having an operating temperature of about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C.
1 more element
A patient thermal support apparatus for use in an oxygen enriched environment, the apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a patient support surface on the base;
- and
- a warmer module coupled to the base spaced apart from the patient support surface, the warmer module including a housing having a recessed portion, a heating element which generates radiant energy located in the recessed portion, a first sealed member located over the heating element to provide an inner oxygen seal around the heating element, the first sealed member being substantially transmissive to radiant energy, and a second sealed member located over the first sealed member to provide an outer oxygen seal around the first sealed member, the second sealed member having an inner surface which is absorptive to radiant energy, and outer surface which is emissive to radiant energy so that radiant energy from the heating element passing through the first sealed member is absorbed and re-emitted by the second sealed member.
1 more element
A patient thermal support apparatus for use in an oxygen enriched environment, the apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a patient support surface on the base;
- and
- a warmer module coupled to the base spaced apart from the patient support surface, the warmer module including a housing having a recessed portion, a heating element which generates radiant energy located in the recessed portion, a first sealed member located over the heating element, the first sealed member being substantially transmissive to radiant energy, and a second sealed member located over the first sealed member, the second sealed member having an inner surface which is absorptive to radiant energy, and outer surface which is emissive to radiant energy so that radiant energy from the heating element passing through the first sealed member is absorbed and re-emitted by the second sealed member, the first sealed member being a first sheet material sealed to the warmer module housing over the heating element, and the second sealed member being a second sheet material sealed to the warmer module housing over the first sheet material.
1 more element
A radiant heating device comprising:
- a heating element having a power supply terminal and a power return terminal;
- a quartz cylinder configured to receive the heating element, the quartz cylinder having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end;
- first and second resilient plugs configured to seal the first and second openings of the quartz cylinder so that the quartz cylinder is impervious to oxygen, the first plug being configured to seal the first opening of the quartz cylinder and having an egress sized to receive and seal the power supply terminal, the second plug being configured to seal the second opening of the quartz cylinder and having an egress sized to receive and seal the power return terminal;
- a second container configured to receive the quartz cylinder, the second container configured to absorb and retransmit heat energy from the heating element and having an egress for the power supply terminal and power return terminal;
- and
- means for sealing the egress from the second container so that the second chamber is impervious to oxygen.
3 more elements
A radiant heating device comprising:
- a heating element having a power supply terminal and a power return terminal;
- a first container configured to receive the heating element, the first container having an egress for the power supply terminal and power return terminal;
- means for sealing the egress from the first container so that the first chamber is impervious to oxygen;
- a second container configured to receive the first container, the second container having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end defining an egress for the power supply terminal and the power return terminal, respectively;
- and
- first and second end caps, the first end cap being sized to engage and seal the first opening of the second container and having an egress sized to receive and seal the power supply terminal, the second end cap being sized to engage and seal the second opening of the second container and having an egress sized to receive and seal the power return terminal, the first end cap being swaged around the power supply terminal and the second end cap being swaged around the power return terminal.
3 more elements
A radiant heating device comprising:
- a heating element having a power supply terminal and a power return terminal;
- a first container configured to receive the heating element, the first container having an egress for the power supply terminal and power return terminal;
- means for sealing the egress from the first container so that the first chamber is impervious to oxygen;
- a second container configured to receive the first container, the second container having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end defining an egress for the power supply terminal and the power return terminal, respectively;
- and
- first and second end caps, the first end cap being sized to engage and seal the first opening of the second container and having an egress sized to receive and seal the power supply terminal, the second end cap being sized to engage and seal the second opening of the second container and having an egress sized to receive and seal the power return terminal, the first end cap being welded around the power supply terminal and the second end cap being welded around the power return terminal.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.