| Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
| 20120121795 | HIGH TEMPERATURE MATERIAL COMPOSITIONS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE THERMAL CUTOFF DEVICES - The present disclosure provides a high-temperature thermal pellet composition that maintains structural rigidity up to a transition temperature of about 240° C. The composition comprises at least one organic compound (e.g., triptycene or 1-aminoanthroquinone). The pellet can be disposed in a housing of a thermally-actuated, current cutoff device, such as a high-temperature thermal cutoff device (HTTCO). Also provided are material systems, which include the pellet composition and a high-temperature seal that provides substantial sealing up to at least the transition temperature. Methods of making such high-temperature pellet compositions and incorporating them into a thermally-actuated, current cutoff device are also provided. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20110286889 | Robust Low Resistance Vapor Sensor Materials - Compositions for sensor films used for detecting chemical analytes within sensors, such as polymer-absorption chemiresistors (i.e., conductometric sensors) are provided. Robust sensor film compositions that have low resistance, high conductivity, and greater temperature stability and sensitivity to chemical analytes are provided, as well as methods of making these sensor films. Such sensor film compositions include a matrix having a polymer resin and a plurality of conductive particles comprising an axial-geometry conductive particle. Exemplary axial-geometry conductive particles comprise graphene, such as a carbon nanotube. Blends of conductive particles are also contemplated, including blends of axial-geometry conductive particles, such as carbon nanotubes, and carbon black. | 11-24-2011 |
| 20110044374 | TEMPERATURE SENSOR - A temperature sensor includes a plastic bottom shell, a plastic cap mating the plastic shell, and a temperature responsive element mounted to the plastic cap and received in a cavity of the plastic bottom shell. The temperature responsive element is positioned in the plastic bottom shell by the cap. An insulating coating is applied to the temperature responsive element. The insulating coating and the plastic bottom shell provide dual electrical insulation for the temperature responsive element. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20100272612 | Vapor Sensor Materials Having Polymer-Grafted Conductive Particles - A composition for sensor films is provided that detects chemical analytes within sensors, such as polymer-absorption chemiresistors (i.e., conductometric sensors). The disclosure provides robust sensor film compositions that have low resistance, high conductivity, and greater temperature stability and sensitivity to chemical analytes. Methods of making these sensor films are also provided. Sensor film compositions include a matrix having a polymer resin and a plurality of conductive particles comprising a polymer-grafted conductive particle. Blends of conductive particles are also contemplated. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100033295 | HIGH TEMPERATURE THERMAL CUTOFF DEVICE - The present disclosure provides high temperature thermal cutoff devices having a high-temperature thermal pellet with a transition temperature of greater than or equal to about 240° C. and comprising at least one organic compound. The pellet is disposed in a housing, which is sealed with a high-temperature seal that provides substantial sealing up to at least the transition temperature. The high-temperature TCO also has a current interruption assembly, which establishes electrical continuity in a first operating condition corresponding to an operating temperature of less than said transition temperature and discontinues electrical continuity when the operating temperature exceeds the transition temperature. Methods of making such high-temperature thermal cut off devices are also provided. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20090130421 | Single-Use Flammable Vapor Sensor Films - A single-use replaceable (one-shot) conductometric sensor film for use with a conductometric sensor, such as flammable vapor sensors, is provided that detects one or more volatile organic compound chemical analytes. Such sensor films exhibit a sustained change in resistance after exposure to the target analytes. The sensor film compositions undergo substantially inelastic deformation after a detection event and thus exhibit a sustained resistance change, ensuring only one-time use for certain applications. Methods of sensing analytes using the single-use sensor film compositions are also provided. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090100924 | Fluid Flow Rate Sensor And Method Of Operation - A fluid flow rate sensor includes a detection circuit which generates a first signal corresponding to an output voltage of a bridge circuit, and a second signal corresponding to a fluid temperature. A control module can more accurately and quickly determine the fluid flow rate based on the first signal, the second signal and a look-up table. The look-up table includes a plurality of curves plotted according to data, indicating relationship among the fluid temperature, the output voltage and the fluid flow rate. The fluid flow rate sensor is inherently temperature compensated and has a shorter response time. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090007636 | Chemiresistor Sensor System Compensated for Temperature and Aging Effects - A chemiresistor sensor system compensated for temperature and aging effects is disclosed and includes a sensing element exposed to an atmosphere of an ambient environment to be monitored for the presence and/or concentration of a flammable vapor and a temperature compensation element which is isolated from the atmosphere of the ambient environment. The sensing element and the temperature compensation element are electrically connected in series and have similar performance in response to temperature changes and temperature cycling. The output of the chemiresistor sensor system, which is the voltage drop across the sensing element, remains unchanged despite the changes in resistance of the sensing element in response to temperature changes. Therefore, the chemiresistor sensor system can more accurately and consistently detect the presence of flammable vapor in environments subject to temperature changes and/or over long periods of time. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090004612 | Gas-Fired Heating Appliance Having a Flammable Vapor Sensor Control Device - A gas-fired heating appliance includes a burner, a gas valve module for supplying a fuel gas to the burner, a power module for applying a voltage to the gas valve module, and a flammable vapor sensor module for detecting a flammable vapor. The flammable vapor sensor module interrupts the voltage to the gas valve to shut off the gas valve and the burner when the flammable vapor module detects the presence or a predetermined concentration of flammable vapor. The voltage of the power module is applied to the gas valve module through the flammable vapor sensor module. The voltage to the gas valve module is interrupted if the flammable vapor sensor module is short-circuited. This arrangement is tamper-resistant to promote a safe operation of the gas-fired heating appliance. | 01-01-2009 |