Patent US4330703A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4330703A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Layered self-regulating heating article
Assignee: Raychem Corp
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Filing: 1979-09-24
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Granted: 1982-05-18
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Expires: 1999-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A self-regulating heating article comprising a layer of material exhibiting a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTC) and said PTC layer having at least partially contiguous therewith at least one layer of constant wattage output material. The article operates such that when connected to an electric power source, the current flows through at least a portion of the thickness of the PTC layer and of the constant wattage layer. In a preferred embodiment, upon heating the article, a change in dimensions as well as activation of an adhesive occurs.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Horsma
- 👤 Bernard J. Lyons
- 👤 Robert Smith-Johannsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:50
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/34; B29C65/3404; B29C65/342; B29C65/3428; B29C65/3432; B29C66/00; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/914; B29C66/9141; B29C66/91411; B29C66/91431; B29C66/9161; B29C66/91651; B29C66/919; B29C66/9192; H; H01; H01C; H01C1/00; H01C1/14; H01C1/1406; H01C7/00; H01C7/02; H01C7/027; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/10; H05B3/12; H05B3/14; H05B3/146; H05B3/40; H05B3/54; H05B3/56; B29C65/3468; B29C65/3472; B29C65/3484; B29C65/3488; B29C66/912; B29C66/9121; B29C66/91211; B29C66/91218; B29C66/91653; B29C66/91655; B29C66/94; B29C66/949; B29C66/95; B29C66/959; B29C66/9592; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0003; B29K2995/0005; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0049; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A self-regulating electrical heating article adapted for connection to a source of electrical power comprising a first layer of material, said first layer exhibiting a positive temperature coefficient of resistance with an associated anomaly temperature T s and having at least partially contiguous therewith a second layer of constant wattage material having an associated resistance, said article being connectable to an electric power input source whereby current flow is through at least a portion of said first layer and through at least a portion of said second layer, whereby there is both direct electrical and thermal coupling between said first and second layers, and whereby at a temperature which is the higher of the temperature at which the resistance of said first layer exceeds the resistance of said second layer or the anomaly temperature of said first layer, current flow predominantly follows the directionally shortest path through said first layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A self-regulating electrical heating article adapted for connection to a source of electrical power comprising a first layer of material, said first layer exhibiting a positive temperature coefficient of resistance with an associated anomaly temperature T s and having at least partially contiguous therewith a second layer of constant wattage material having an associated resistance, said article being connectable to an electric power input source whereby current flow is through at least a portion of said first layer and through at least a portion of said second layer, whereby there is both direct electrical and thermal coupling between said first and second layers, and whereby at a temperature which is the higher of the temperature at which the resistance of said first layer exceeds the resistance of said second layer or the anomaly temperature of said first layer, current flow predominantly follows the directionally shortest path through said first layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An article in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second layers comprises a polymeric layer which is heat-recoverable within the operating range of the heating article.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of claim 1 having at least one exterior surface layer which is an adhesive that is activatable within the operating temperature range of said article.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the constant wattage layer is an adhesive that is activatable within the operating temperature range of the article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second layers comprises a polymeric composition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of claim 5 wherein said constant wattage layer comprises a polymer having dispersed therein particulate carbon black.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The article of claim 5 wherein said constant wattage layer comprises a polymer having dispersed therein a highly conductive member selected from the group consisting of fibers and fibrils.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article of claim 5 wherein both said first and second layers comprise polymeric compositions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 8 wherein both said layers contain particulate carbon black.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The article of claim 8 wherein said second layer is positioned adjacent a first surface of said first layer and a third layer of constant wattage polymeric material is positioned adjacent the other surface of said first layer and wherein at least one of said second and third layers is in conductive contact with metal electrodes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of claim 10 having additionally a layer of heat activated adhesive, said adhesive being activatable within the operating temperature range of the article.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article of claim 10 wherein said electrodes are embedded in the constant wattage layers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article of claim 10 wherein at least one of the layers is heat recoverable within the operating temperature range of the article.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said directionally shortest path does not dimensionally exceed the thickness of said first layer by more than about 50%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the constant wattage layer is sufficiently conductive to act as an electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said positive temperature coefficient of resistance layer has two substantially planar surfaces and has a constant wattage layer at least partially contiguous with each of said planar surfaces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 16 wherein both said constant wattage layers are sufficiently conductive to act as electrodes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 1 wherein at least the constant wattage layer is in contact with at least one metal electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The article of claim 18 wherein said electrode is at least partly contiguous with the surface of the constant wattage layer opposite that surface of the constant wattage layer which is adjacent the positive temperature coefficient of resistance layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 18 wherein said metal electrode is at the interface between a positive temperature coefficient of resistance layer and a constant wattage layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 18 wherein said metal electrode is embedded in a constant wattage layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 18 wherein said metal electrode is of a form selected from the group consisting of fabric, braid, grid, wire, strip and sheet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 18 wherein said metal electrode is a wire conductor having a concentric layer of electrical insulation, segments of which have been removed intermittently along the length of the conductor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 1 wherein at least said positive temperature coefficient of resistance layer is in contact with at least one metal electrode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 24 wherein said positive temperature coefficient of resistance layer has at least one metal electrode embedded therein.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of claim 24 wherein said metal electrode is of a form selected from the group consisting of fabric, grid, wire, strip and sheet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 24 wherein said metal electrode is a wire conductor having a concentric layer of electrical insulation, segments of which have been removed intermittently along the length of the conductor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article of claim 1 having at least one electrode comprising a highly conductive fiber.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 1 having at least one electrode comprising a conductor which is partially insulated from at least one of said layers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of claim 1 wherein one of said first and said second layers is encompassed in cross section by the other of said layers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 30 wherein said first layer encompasses said second layer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 30 wherein said layers are concentrically disposed about an electrode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said article includes a plurality of electrodes at least one of which is embedded in said positive coefficient of resistance layer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said first and second layers are each disposed around electrodes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
62 words
The article of claim 1 wherein both said first and second layers are polymeric compositions and wherein a plurality of substantially elongate electrodes are in conductive contact with said layers and wherein the axes of the electrodes in contact with said first layer are non-parallel in at least one plane with the axes of the electrodes in contact with said second layer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
28 words
The article of claim 35 wherein the interfacing surfaces of said first and second layers are nonparallel with the non-interfacing surface of at least one of said layers.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said article is conformed about an electrically conductive substrate whereby said current flow is at least partially through said substrate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said positive temperature coefficient of resistance layer has a plurality of electrodes of opposite polarity embedded therein.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said constant wattage layer has a plurality of electrodes of opposite polarity embedded therein.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said first layer comprises barium titanate.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said article has an effective T s in excess of 90° C. and said T s is in excess of the inherent T s of said first layer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 41 wherein said first layer comprises an organic polymer and wherein the effective T s exceeds the melting point of said polymer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said second layer is a positive temperature coefficient of resistance material having an anomaly temperature T s above the T s of said first layer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the resistivity ratio of said first layer to said second layer ranges from about 0.1 to about 20.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said second layer is not fully contiguous with said first layer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article of claim 45 wherein the surface area of said first layer is greater than the surface area of said second layer.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article of claim 45 wherein the surface area of said second layer is greater than the surface area of said first layer.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
35 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the Joule heat output of said article is substantially unaffected by a change in the temperature of said article up to about the effective T s of said article.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
36 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said first layer exhibits an increase in resistance of at least a factor of six (6) for a temperature increase of 30° C. or less starting at T s .
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the material of said second layer has resistivity of at least about 1 ohm-cm at 25° C.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 1 in the form of an elongate flexible strip.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-17 | 1985-11-16 | 1986-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-17 | 1989-11-16 | 1990-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-17 | 1993-11-16 | 1994-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |