Electrofusing of thermoplastic heating elements and elements made thereby
US6392208B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 6, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 6, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49083
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Methods of manufacturing electrical resistance heating elements are provided which include mating a pair of polymeric components around an electrical resistance heating material prior to fusing the polymeric components together, preferably by heat or pressure or both. Methods of stress relieving these polymeric components before, during or after fusing them together, are disclosed. Additionally, thermally conductive, non-electrically conductive additives can be added to improve the service life of the elements. In a further embodiment of this invention, a heating element and method of construction are provided in which first and second polymeric components are joined together with a resistance heating material therebetween. The polymeric components include retention means including a plurality of male connectors located on the first polymeric component, and a plurality of female receiving recesses located on the second polymeric component for mating with the male connectors of the first polymeric component. The polymeric components can optionally be joined together by the fusing techniques of this invention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.