Encapsulated bus circuit for fluid heating systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12480686-B2
Application number	US-202117558956-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2021
Priority date	Dec 23, 2020
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A termination assembly for a heater assembly includes a plurality of resistive heaters arranged in discrete power phases, each resistive heater comprising a resistive heating element surrounded by dielectric material and a sheath. The termination assembly includes a plurality of electrically nonconductive members. Each electrically nonconductive member includes a plurality of apertures configured to receive power pins of the plurality of resistive heaters. The termination assembly includes a plurality of connectors configured to connect the power pins to the electrically nonconductive members. Each electrically nonconductive member includes a number of the plurality of connectors corresponding to a number of power pins being terminated. The termination assembly includes an electrical circuit embedded in or disposed on at least one of the plurality of electrically nonconductive members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A termination assembly for a heater assembly having a plurality of resistive heaters arranged in discrete power phases, each resistive heater comprising a resistive heating element surrounded by dielectric material and a sheath, the termination assembly comprising:
a plurality of electrically nonconductive members, each electrically nonconductive member comprising a plurality of apertures configured to receive power pins of the plurality of resistive heaters; a plurality of connectors configured to connect the power pins to the electrically nonconductive members, wherein each electrically nonconductive member comprises a number of the plurality of connectors corresponding to a number of power pins being terminated; and an electrical circuit embedded in or disposed on at least one of the plurality of electrically nonconductive members.

2 . The termination assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrically nonconductive members are spaced apart.

3 . The termination assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a dielectric encapsulant surrounding at least one of the power pins within at least one aperture.

4 . The termination assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the dielectric encapsulant is partially removed proximate a distal end face of the electrically nonconductive member, and the termination assembly further comprises an electrical connector secured to the distal end face and in electrical contact with a power pin.

5 . The termination assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an electrically conductive member disposed within at least one aperture of one of the electrically nonconductive members, the electrically conductive member being coupled to the power pin and to the electrical circuit.

6 . The termination assembly according to claim 5 , further comprising an electrical isolator disposed around the electrically conductive member and in dielectrically sealing contact with the electrically nonconductive member.

7 . The termination assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an electrical isolator disposed within at least one aperture and surrounding a power pin.

8 . The termination assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one electrically insulating plug disposed within one of the apertures.

9 . The termination assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a spare element isolator disposed around a terminal end of at least one power pin.

10 . The termination assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each electrically nonconductive member corresponds to one of the discrete power phases.

11 . The termination assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one electrically nonconductive member corresponds to one of the discrete power phases.

12 . The termination assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the electrically nonconductive members corresponds to one of the discrete power phases.

13 . The termination assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the electrically nonconductive members corresponds to a plurality of power phases.

14 . The termination assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the electrically nonconductive members are longitudinally arranged.

15 . A heater assembly comprising:
a plurality of resistive heaters arranged in discrete power phases, each resistive heater comprising a resistive heating element surrounded by dielectric material and a sheath; and a termination assembly comprising:
a plurality of electrically nonconductive members, each electrically nonconductive member comprising a plurality of apertures configured to receive power pins of the plurality of resistive heaters;
a plurality of connectors configured to connect the power pins to the electrically nonconductive members, wherein each electrically nonconductive member comprises a number of the plurality of connectors corresponding to a number of power pins being terminated; and
an electrical circuit embedded in or disposed on at least one of the plurality of electrically nonconductive members.

16 . The heater assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of resistive heaters extends along a longitudinal axis of the heater assembly.

17 . The heater assembly according to claim 15 , wherein each electrically nonconductive member corresponds to one of the discrete power phases.

18 . A fluid heat exchanger comprising:
a tube including an inlet and an outlet; a plurality of resistive heaters arranged in discrete power phases and disposed within the tube; and a termination assembly comprising:
a plurality of electrically nonconductive members, each electrically nonconductive member comprising a plurality of apertures configured to receive power pins of the plurality of resistive heaters;
a plurality of connectors configured to connect the power pins to the electrically nonconductive members, wherein each electrically nonconductive member comprises a number of the plurality of connectors corresponding to a number of power pins being terminated; and
an electrical circuit embedded in or disposed on at least one of the plurality of electrically nonconductive members.

19 . The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 18 , wherein the fluid heat exchanger operates under a medium voltage.

20 . The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 18 , further comprising a baffle disposed within the tube and extending along the plurality of resistive heaters.

21 . The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 20 , wherein the baffle defines a helical shape.

22 . The fluid heat exchanger according to claim 18 , wherein each electrically nonconductive member corresponds to one of the discrete power phases.

Assignees

• Watlow Electric Mfg

Inventors

• Lindley Jacob R
• Everly Mark D
• Jones Michael A
• Long Dennis P
• Boehmer Scott H
• Schmidt Philip S

Classifications

• H01R13/44

  Means for preventing access to live contacts {(making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036)} · CPC title

• H05B3/06

  Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders · CPC title

• H05B3/42 Primary

  non-flexible · CPC title

• F24H9/1863

  Arrangement or mounting of electric heating means · CPC title

• F24H9/1818

  Arrangement or mounting of electric heating means · CPC title