US3684171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit for monitoring a temperature related condition and for controlling a heat generating device
Assignee: Athena Controls Inc
•
Filing: 1970-07-29
•
Granted: 1972-08-15
•
Expires: 1990-07-29
Abstract
Abstract The present invention employs a heat sensitive element to form one leg of a bridge circuit, with the bridge circuit providing the bias signals necessary to generate control signals. The present invention also includes a memory circuit connected to the bridge circuit, with said memory circuit acting to remember the presence or absence of a control signal. Further, the present invention includes switching means which is circuitry connected to activate the heating element. The switching means is also connected to the memory circuit whereby the memory circuit acts to store, or remember, a control signal during the first half of an a. c. supply signal the switching circuit acts in response to the stored control signal to turn on the heater.
Inventors
- 👤 Egils Evalds
- 👤 Ernest F Coccio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:30
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/20; G05D23/24; G05D23/1906; G05D23/1909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
389 words
A circuit for monitoring a temperature related condition and controlling a heater device comprising in combination: a source of a. c. electrical energy having first and second terminals, said source of a. c. electrical energy providing alternately out of phase first half cycle electrical energy and second half cycle electrical energy; first diode means; a bridge circuit having first and second input terminals and first and second output terminals, said bridge circuit having its first input terminal connected through said first diode means to said first terminal of said source of a. c. electrical energy and its second input terminal connected to said second Terminal of said source of a. c. electrical energy so that electrical current can pass through said bridge circuit only during the presence of said first half cycle electrical energy, said bridge circuit having one leg thereof comprising a temperature sensitive element; first and second current steering means, said first current steering means connected to said first output terminal to steer current therethrough in response to said first current steering means being activated, said second current steering means connected to said second output terminal to steer current therethrough in response to said second current steering means being activated, said first current steering means being activated in response to said bridge being unbalanced in a first direction and said second current steering means being activated in response to said bridge being unbalanced in a second direction; signal storage means connected to said second current steering means to store a control signal during the presence of said first half cycle energy in response to said second current steering means being activated; current switching means having input means, output means and control means, said control means being connected to said signal storage means to cause said current switching means to be turned on during the presence of said second half cycle energy in response to said signal storage means storing said control signal, said input means connected to said first terminal of said source of a. c. electrical energy and said output means connected to said second terminal of said source of a. c. electrical energy; heating means connected to said current switching means to be turned on only in response to said current switching means being switched on during the presence of said half cycle electrical energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
389 words
A circuit for monitoring a temperature related condition and controlling a heater device comprising in combination: a source of a. c. electrical energy having first and second terminals, said source of a. c. electrical energy providing alternately out of phase first half cycle electrical energy and second half cycle electrical energy; first diode means; a bridge circuit having first and second input terminals and first and second output terminals, said bridge circuit having its first input terminal connected through said first diode means to said first terminal of said source of a. c. electrical energy and its second input terminal connected to said second Terminal of said source of a. c. electrical energy so that electrical current can pass through said bridge circuit only during the presence of said first half cycle electrical energy, said bridge circuit having one leg thereof comprising a temperature sensitive element; first and second current steering means, said first current steering means connected to said first output terminal to steer current therethrough in response to said first current steering means being activated, said second current steering means connected to said second output terminal to steer current therethrough in response to said second current steering means being activated, said first current steering means being activated in response to said bridge being unbalanced in a first direction and said second current steering means being activated in response to said bridge being unbalanced in a second direction; signal storage means connected to said second current steering means to store a control signal during the presence of said first half cycle energy in response to said second current steering means being activated; current switching means having input means, output means and control means, said control means being connected to said signal storage means to cause said current switching means to be turned on during the presence of said second half cycle energy in response to said signal storage means storing said control signal, said input means connected to said first terminal of said source of a. c. electrical energy and said output means connected to said second terminal of said source of a. c. electrical energy; heating means connected to said current switching means to be turned on only in response to said current switching means being switched on during the presence of said half cycle electrical energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
106 words
A circuit for monitoring a temperature related condition and controlling a heater device according to claim 6 wherein said first current steering means comprises a transistor whose base element is circuitry connected to said second terminal of said source of a. c. electrical energy and whose emitter element is connected to said first output terminal of said bridge circuit and whose collector element is connected to said signal storage means and further wherein said second current steering means is a diode whose anode is connected to the base element of said transistor and whose cathode is connected to said second output terminal of said bridge circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
A circuit for monitoring a temperature related condition and controlling a heater device according to claim 1 wherein said current switching means comprises a silicon controlled rectifier and a relay coil associated with a relay, wherein said relay coil is series connected to said silicon controlled rectifier and wherein the control element of said silicon controlled rectifier is connected to said storage means such that when said signal storage means has stored a control signal thereat this control signal biases said silicon controlled rectifier so that during the presence of said second half cycle energy said silicon controlled rectifier is turned on to conduct current through said relay coil and through said silicon controlled rectifier thereby activating the relay associated with said relay coil.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |