EP1290917A1 - Improvements relating to electric heating elements - Google Patents

Improvements relating to electric heating elements

Info

Publication number
EP1290917A1
EP1290917A1 EP01934150A EP01934150A EP1290917A1 EP 1290917 A1 EP1290917 A1 EP 1290917A1 EP 01934150 A EP01934150 A EP 01934150A EP 01934150 A EP01934150 A EP 01934150A EP 1290917 A1 EP1290917 A1 EP 1290917A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heating
track
electrically insulating
heating element
thick film
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP01934150A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1290917B1 (en
Inventor
David Andrew Smith
Robin Keith Moore
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Otter Controls Ltd
Original Assignee
Otter Controls Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Otter Controls Ltd filed Critical Otter Controls Ltd
Publication of EP1290917A1 publication Critical patent/EP1290917A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1290917B1 publication Critical patent/EP1290917B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
    • H05B3/20—Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional plane, e.g. plate-heater
    • H05B3/22—Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible
    • H05B3/28—Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional plane, e.g. plate-heater non-flexible heating conductor embedded in insulating material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B2203/00—Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
    • H05B2203/013—Heaters using resistive films or coatings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B2203/00—Aspects relating to Ohmic resistive heating covered by group H05B3/00
    • H05B2203/017—Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters

Definitions

  • This invention concerns improvements relating to electric heating
  • Ceramics material substrates are also known. Such thick film heating
  • the low power density of the lower power track means that it cannot
  • this object can be achieved by a
  • thick film heating element having a multi-layered construction with different
  • intermediate layer would only have to withstand 250N, perhaps with a high
  • the intermediate insulating layer can be
  • the reduced thickness of the intermediate layer will also be acceptance.
  • the reduced thickness of the intermediate layer will also be acceptance.
  • the various firing operations may be combined by firing multiple layers at
  • the additional track(s) may include other features, such as an
  • Patent Application No. for example, and tappings from either track
  • underlying track could be made through holes in the intermediate insulating layer, and access to the tracks for bimetal or other sensors can also be similarly provided.
  • Figures 1A to IE illustrate various steps in the manufacture of an exemplary thick film heating element embodying the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a thick film heating
  • Figure 1A illustrates the provision of a
  • the dielectric layer 1 on one surface of a stainless steel substrate 2.
  • material can for example consist of a glass, ceramics or glass ceramics
  • Figure IB shows the provision of a main
  • printing step employing electrically conductive ink followed by a firing step.
  • Figure 1C illustrates the provision of an intermediate electrically
  • second window opening 8 exposes a portion of the main heater track 3 for
  • the terminal parts 5, 6, 14 and 15 are provided with low resistance silver
  • the heating element tracks 3, 9 turn back upon themselves so as to avoid the
  • Figure 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a thick film heating

Landscapes

  • Surface Heating Bodies (AREA)
  • Resistance Heating (AREA)
  • Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)

Abstract

In order to accommodate different heating tracks with different power densities on a thick film heating element the thick film heating element is formed with a multi-layer structure in which different heating tracks 3, 9 are in different layers separated by electrical insulation. Windows in the insulation locations 11, 13 are provided for respective sensors and terminals, 5, 6, 16, 15.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO ELECTRIC HEATING ELEMENTS
Field of the Invention:
This invention concerns improvements relating to electric heating
elements and more particularly concerns thick film heating elements which
comprise a resistive heating track or layer formed on a substrate which
commonly comprises stainless steel with an electrically insulating layer
between the stainless steel and the resistive heating track or layer, though
ceramics material substrates are also known. Such thick film heating
elements are nowadays used in liquid heating appliances, such as kettles and hot water jugs for example, and also find wider application.
Background of the Invention:
It has previously been proposed to provide more than one heating
track on a thick film heating element, see for example GB-A-2 343 352,
GB-A-2 335 588 and our British Patent Application No. 0013545.9. In
such previous applications for thick film elements with multiple tracks,
the power density of the additional heater track(s) has always been
sufficiently low to allow it to be located on the heating element surface and
not occupy too much space. However, where the power required from the
additional tracks(s) becomes significant, there may be insufficient space on an
element disk to accommodate the required tracks. An example of an
appliance where this is the case is one which is intended to heat
a range of different liquids, where a high power (2-3kW) is needed for rapid boiling of water, and a lower power (6-700 W), and lower power density,
is needed for heating milk, without the milk becoming burnt on the base of the
vessel. The low power density of the lower power track means that it cannot
be tightly laid into a small area, but may occupy as much space as the high
powered track. A large element diameter to give sufficient area is not
desirable, since this leads to appliance styling difficulties and high costs.
Objects and Summary of the Invention:
It is thus the principal object of the present invention to overcome or at
least substantially reduce the abovementioned problem.
According to the present invention this object can be achieved by a
thick film heating element having a multi-layered construction with different
heating tracks on different layers which are separated by electrically insulating
material.
More particularly, in order to overcome the abovementioned problem,
it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to print two or more
tracks one on top of the other, separated by a thin dielectric layer. With this
proposal, which is based on multi-layer thick film electronics technology, the
withstand voltage for the intermediate layer does not have to be as great as the
basic insulation required between the mean heating element and the steel
substrate which has to withstand a high voltage test of 1250N. The
intermediate layer would only have to withstand 250N, perhaps with a high
voltage test of only 500N. thus the intermediate insulating layer can be
thinner than the main insulation, say 60-80 microns compared to 150 microns for example. The increased total insulating thickness between the additional
track(s) and the substrate will raise the running temperature of that track, but
since we are aiming for a low power density, the resulting temperature rise
will be acceptance. The reduced thickness of the intermediate layer will also
assist in keeping temperature rises down.
The manufacturing process for such a thick film heating element might
for example comprise the following steps:
1. Onto a prepared steel substrate print the main dielectric layer and fire;
2. Print the main heater track and fire;
3. Print the intermediate insulating layer and fire;
4. Print the additional heater track and fire;
5. Print silver connection pads and fire; and
6. Print a protective cover coat and fire.
The various firing operations may be combined by firing multiple layers at
once, as is usual in the manufacture of thick film elements, and operations 5
and 6 may be reversed or combined.
The additional track(s) may include other features, such as an
adjustable resistance control track as described in our aforementioned British
Patent Application No. for example, and tappings from either track
may be provided to give access for controls or indicators, similar to that
described in our GB-A-2 329 759 or GB-A-2 325 396. Connections to the
underlying track could be made through holes in the intermediate insulating layer, and access to the tracks for bimetal or other sensors can also be similarly provided.
The above and further features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims and will be clearly understood from consideration of the
following description which is given with reference to the accompanying
drawings. Description of the Drawings:
Figures 1A to IE illustrate various steps in the manufacture of an exemplary thick film heating element embodying the present invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a thick film heating
element manufactured by the steps of Figures 1 A to IE. Detailed Description of the Embodiment:
In the following, since the manufacture of thick film heating elements is well known, only brief details of the various manufacturing steps will be
described.
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1A illustrates the provision of a
dielectric layer 1 on one surface of a stainless steel substrate 2. The dielectric
material can for example consist of a glass, ceramics or glass ceramics
material which is applied onto the surface of the substrate in powder form and
is then fired, as is well known. Figure IB shows the provision of a main
heater track 3 on top of the dielectric layer 1, for example by means of a
printing step employing electrically conductive ink followed by a firing step.
Note that the form of the track 3 that is shown in Figure IB is exemplary only. Figure 1C illustrates the provision of an intermediate electrically
insulating layer 4 over the track 3, but with connector terminal parts 5 and 6 of
the track 3 left exposed in a window opening 7 provided in the layer 4. A
second window opening 8 exposes a portion of the main heater track 3 for
access by a thermally-responsive control (not shown). Figure ID shows the
provision of a further heating element track 9 on top of the intermediate
electrically insulating layer 4 and Figure IE shows the provision of a further,
protective electrically insulating layer 10 overlying the further heating element
track 9, the layer 10 being formed with window openings 11, 12 and 13
which, respectively, register with the window opening 7 in the intermediate
insulating layer 4, provide access to the terminal parts 14 and 15 of the
heating element track 9, and expose a portion of the additional heating
element track 9 for access by a further thermally-responsive control (not
shown).
At appropriate stages in the manufacturing process as abovedescribed
the terminal parts 5, 6, 14 and 15 are provided with low resistance silver
coatings which may also be provided, as is well known, at the locations where
the heating element tracks 3, 9 turn back upon themselves so as to avoid the
phenomenon of current crowding.
Figure 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a thick film heating
element manufactured as described above. It is to be noted that the
thicknesses of the various layers are greatly exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Having described the invention in the foregoing in relation to a
particular embodiment, it is to be well appreciated that the embodiment is in
all respects exemplary and that modifications and variations thereto are
possible without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set
forth in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:
1. A thick film heating element having a multi-layered construction in
which different heating tracks are provided at different layers which are
separated by electrically insulating material.
2. A thick film heating element as claimed in claim 1 comprising a metal
substrate provided with an electrically insulating layer upon which at lest one
heating track is provided, and wherein the thickness of said electrically
insulating layer is greater than that of an electrically insulating layer overlying
said at least one heating track.
3. A thick film heating element as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein
window openings are provided in the one or more electrically insulating layers
which cover the heating tracks so as to provide access to terminal portions of
the tracks.
4. A thick film heating element as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3 wherein at
least one window opening is provided in one or more of the electrically
insulating layers of the element for enabling access to at least one of the
heating element tracks by a thermally-responsive control.
5. A thick film heating element as claimed in any preceding claim
wherein a main heating track is provided at one layer and an additional heating track is provided at another layer together with a means for adjusting
the power output of such additional track.
6. A thick film heating element as claimed in claim 5 wherein said power
adjustment means comprises a resistive track coupled to said additional
heating track, said resistive track being configured to enable its resistance to
be adjusted by operation of a control associated therewith.
7. A thick film heating element substantially as herein described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
8. A liquid heating appliance incorporating a thick film heating element
as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
9. A liquid heating appliance as claimed in claim 8 having a high power
(eg. 2 to 3kW) heating track for rapid boiling of water and a low power (eg. 6
to 700W) heating element for the heating of milk without the milk becoming
burnt on the heating element.
10. A method of manufacturing a thick film heating element comprising:
(i) preparing a metal (eg. stainless steel) substrate;
(ii) providing an electrically insulating layer on a surface of said substrate;
(iii) providing a first heating track on said electrically insulating layer; (iv) providing a second electrically insulating layer overlying said first
heating track;
(v) providing a second heating track on said second electrically insulating
layer; and
(vi) providing a third, protective electrically insulating layer overlying said
second heating track; wherein access openings are provided in said second and third electrically insulating layers which enable terminal portions of said first and second heating tracks to be accessed for supplying electricity to the tracks.
EP01934150A 2000-06-05 2001-05-25 Improvements relating to electric heating elements Expired - Lifetime EP1290917B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0013687 2000-06-05
GB0013687A GB2363307A (en) 2000-06-05 2000-06-05 Thick film heating element stack
PCT/GB2001/002358 WO2001095670A1 (en) 2000-06-05 2001-05-25 Improvements relating to electric heating elements

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1290917A1 true EP1290917A1 (en) 2003-03-12
EP1290917B1 EP1290917B1 (en) 2004-10-13

Family

ID=9893031

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01934150A Expired - Lifetime EP1290917B1 (en) 2000-06-05 2001-05-25 Improvements relating to electric heating elements

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1290917B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1214694C (en)
AT (1) ATE279846T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2001260456A1 (en)
DE (1) DE60106440T2 (en)
GB (1) GB2363307A (en)
WO (1) WO2001095670A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE20218792U1 (en) * 2001-12-05 2003-04-30 Strix Ltd., Ronaldsway, Isle of Man Heaters with several power levels
US8680443B2 (en) 2004-01-06 2014-03-25 Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company Combined material layering technologies for electric heaters
NZ773086A (en) * 2011-06-16 2022-08-26 ResMed Pty Ltd Humidifier and layered heating element
US11225001B2 (en) * 2018-04-25 2022-01-18 Matriq Ag Mold and device for marking work pieces
GB2618803A (en) * 2022-05-17 2023-11-22 Dyson Technology Ltd Thick film heating elements

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2153190B (en) * 1984-01-14 1987-09-09 Emi Ltd Improvements in or relating to heaters for water vessels
DE3810586A1 (en) * 1988-03-29 1989-10-12 Ego Elektro Blanc & Fischer Heating system for electric cooking appliances
US5157240A (en) * 1989-09-13 1992-10-20 Chow Loren A Deposition heaters
GB9211331D0 (en) * 1992-05-28 1992-07-15 Chinacraft Ltd Hot plate for food
DE4338539A1 (en) * 1993-11-11 1995-05-18 Hoechst Ceram Tec Ag Method of making ceramic heating elements
GB9423900D0 (en) * 1994-11-26 1995-01-11 Pifco Ltd Improvements to thick film elements

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0195670A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE279846T1 (en) 2004-10-15
EP1290917B1 (en) 2004-10-13
AU2001260456A1 (en) 2001-12-17
GB2363307A (en) 2001-12-12
CN1214694C (en) 2005-08-10
CN1446440A (en) 2003-10-01
DE60106440T2 (en) 2006-03-02
GB0013687D0 (en) 2000-07-26
DE60106440D1 (en) 2004-11-18
WO2001095670A1 (en) 2001-12-13

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