US 11,867,430 B2
Heater bundle for adaptive control and method of reducing current leakage
Mark D. Everly, St. Charles, MO (US); Michael W. Ruhr, St. Louis, MO (US); Louis P. Steinhauser, St. Louis, MO (US); Mark L. G. Hoven, St. Louis, MO (US); and Richard T. Williams, Genoa City, WI (US)
Assigned to WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/841,171.
Application 16/841,171 is a division of application No. 15/204,672, filed on Jul. 7, 2016, granted, now 10,619,888.
Application 15/204,672 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/058,838, filed on Mar. 2, 2016, granted, now 10,247,445.
Prior Publication US 2020/0232677 A1, Jul. 23, 2020
Int. Cl. F24H 9/20 (2022.01); F24H 1/10 (2022.01); H05B 3/48 (2006.01); H05B 3/82 (2006.01); H05B 3/04 (2006.01); H05B 1/02 (2006.01); F24H 15/37 (2022.01); F24H 15/25 (2022.01); F24H 15/124 (2022.01); F24H 15/238 (2022.01); F24H 15/132 (2022.01)
CPC F24H 9/2028 (2013.01) [F24H 1/103 (2013.01); F24H 15/124 (2022.01); F24H 15/238 (2022.01); F24H 15/37 (2022.01); H05B 1/0283 (2013.01); H05B 3/04 (2013.01); H05B 3/48 (2013.01); H05B 3/82 (2013.01); F24H 15/132 (2022.01); F24H 15/25 (2022.01); H05B 2203/014 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heater system comprising:
a heater bundle comprising:
a plurality of heater assemblies, each heater assembly comprising a plurality of heater units and an insulating material, each heater unit defining at least one independently controlled heating zone; and
power conductors electrically connected to each of the independently controlled heating zones in each of the heater units; and
a power supply device configured to modulate power to each of the independently controlled heater zones of the heater units through the power conductors, wherein a voltage is selectively and sequentially supplied to each of the independently controlled heating zones at a rate based on at least one operational characteristic of at least one of the heating zones such that a reduced number of independently controlled heating zones receives the voltage at a time or at least a subset of the independently controlled heating zones receive a reduced voltage at all times to reduce leakage current through the insulating material.