Heating System and Method

Abstract

A fluid heating system includes a fluid receptacle having a fluid reservoir, and a heating control system configured to heat fluid retained within the fluid reservoir. The heating control system includes a processing unit, at least one fluid temperature sensor positioned on or within the fluid receptacle, a heating element configured to heat fluid within the fluid reservoir, and a power switch disposed within an electrical path between the heating element and the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to selectively activate and deactivate the heating element through the power switch based on the fluid temperature detected by the fluid temperature sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a partial perspective cross-sectional view of a heating system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a heating control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a graph of the temperature of a body of water over. time when there is no heat loss.

FIG. 4 illustrates a graph of the temperature of a body of water over time as heat is lost to the air.

FIG. 5 illustrates a graph of the effect over time of heat loss on a body of water as heat is introduced into the water.

FIG. 6 illustrates a graph of the temperature of a body of water over time.

FIG. 7 illustrates a graph of the temperature of a body of water over time.

FIG. 8 illustrates a duty cycle for a heating element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a duty cycle for a heating element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart of a method of controlling a heating element of a water receptacle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates an isometric view of a heated pet device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A system, comprising: a fluid receptacle having a fluid reservoir, said fluid reservoir configured to retain fluid; anda heating control system configured to heat the fluid retained within said fluid reservoir, said heating control system comprising: a processing unit;at least one fluid temperature sensor positioned on or within at least a portion of said fluid receptacle; said at least one fluid temperature sensor being in communication with said processing unit, said at least one fluid temperature sensor being configured to detect a temperature of the fluid within said fluid reservoir;a heating element configured to heat the fluid within said fluid reservoir; anda power switch disposed within an electrical path between said heating element and said processing unit, said processing unit being configured to activate said heating element through said power switch when said at least one fluid temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the fluid within said fluid reservoir is below a first threshold, and said processing unit being configured to deactivate said heating element through said power switch when said at least one fluid temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the fluid within said fluid reservoir is above a second threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said fluid receptacle is a bird bath.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said heating element is embedded in said fluid receptacle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said fluid receptacle comprises an inner receptacle and an outer receptacle, wherein said heating element is sandwiched between said inner receptacle and said outer receptacle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said power switch comprises a semiconductor switch.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said semiconductor switch comprises a triac.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said processing unit is configured to activate said heating element in a proportional mode.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one air temperature sensor in communication with said processing unit, wherein said processing unit is configured to selectively activate and deactivate said heating element based on a temperature of ambient air.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one heating element temperature sensor in communication with said processing unit, wherein said processing unit is configured to prevent said heating element from activating based on a temperature of said heating element.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one fluid level sensor in communication with said processing unit, wherein said processing unit is configured to prevent said heating element from activating based on a fluid level within said fluid reservoir.

11. A pet warming system, comprising: a pet device; anda heating control system secured on and/or within said pet device, said heating control system configured to heat said pet device, said heating control system comprising: a processing unit;at least one temperature sensor in communication with said processing unit, said at least one temperature sensor being configured to detect a temperature of at least one of said pet device, ambient air, or a pet adjacent said pet device;a heating member configured to heat said pet device; anda power switch disposed within an electrical path between said heating member and said processing unit, said processing unit being configured to activate said heating member through said power switch when said at least one temperature sensor detects that the temperature is below a first threshold, and said processing unit being configured to deactivate said heating member through said power switch when said at least one temperature sensor detects that the temperature is above a second threshold.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said pet device is one of a pet mat, pet bed, or blanket.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said pet device is a pet sweater.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said heating member is embedded in said pet device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said heating member comprises a plurality of heating elements, wherein each of said plurality of heating elements is positioned at a different location with respect to said pet device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said power switch comprises a semiconductor switch.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said semiconductor switch comprises a triac.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said processing unit is configured to activate said heating member in a proportional mode.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising at least one pressure sensing device in communication with said processing unit, wherein said processing unit prevents activation of said heating member unless said pressure sensing device detects that an animal is adjacent at least a portion of said pet device.

20. A system, comprising: a birdbath having a water reservoir, said water reservoir configured to retain water; anda heating control system configured to heat the water retained within said water reservoir, said heating control system comprising: a processing unit;at least one water temperature sensor positioned within said birdbath; said at least one water temperature sensor being in communication with said processing unit, said at least one water temperature sensor being configured to detect a temperature of the water within said water reservoir;a heating element embedded within at least a portion of said birdbath, said heating element configured to heat the water within said water reservoir; anda semiconductor switch disposed within an electrical path between said heating element and said processing unit, said processing unit being configured to selectively activate and deactivate said heating element through said semiconductor switch based on a detected temperature, said processing unit being configured to selectively activate and deactivate said heating element in a proportional mode.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising at least one air temperature sensor in communication with said processing unit, wherein said processing unit is configured to selectively activate and deactivate said heating element based on a temperature of ambient air.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising at least one heating element temperature sensor in communication with said processing unit, wherein said processing unit is configured to prevent said heating element from activating based on a temperature of said heating element.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising at least one water level sensor in communication with said processing unit, wherein said processing unit is configured to prevent said heating element from activating based on a water level within said water reservoir.