A heater includes a folded heater wire, a first insulator provided on the heater wire, a metal sheath provided so as to be in contact with the first insulator, a first insulating member arranged parallel to a first end part of the heater wire taken out from a first end part of the metal sheath, a second insulating member arranged parallel to the first insulating member and parallel to a second end part of the heater wire taken out from the first end part of the metal sheath, a second insulator in contact with the first and the second insulating members and the metal sheath, and a lid member covering the first insulating member, the lid member being in contact with the metal sheath, the first and the second insulating members via the second insulator, and arranged parallel to the first and the second insulating members and the metal sheath.

A device having: an article having a flat surface and a lower surface opposed to the flat surface; a cavity formed in the lower surface forming a complete loop surrounding a central portion of the article; a heating element having the same shape as the complete loop in the cavity and positioned to warm a portion of the flat surface adjacent to the heating element when the heating element is activated; a cooling device positioned to cool a portion of the flat surface in the central portion; and a release layer on the flat surface. A device having: an article having an upper surface; a heating element on the upper surface forming a complete loop surrounding a central portion of the article; and an electrically insulating material on the upper surface within the central portion.

A device having: an article having a flat surface and a lower surface opposed to the flat surface; a cavity formed in the lower surface forming a complete loop surrounding a central portion of the article; a heating element having the same shape as the complete loop in the cavity and positioned to warm a portion of the flat surface adjacent to the heating element when the heating element is activated; a cooling device positioned to cool a portion of the flat surface in the central portion; and a release layer on the flat surface. A device having: an article having an upper surface; a heating element on the upper surface forming a complete loop surrounding a central portion of the article; and an electrically insulating material on the upper surface within the central portion.

The invention relates to a dental furnace, in particular a high-temperature dental furnace for oxide ceramics such as zirconium dioxide having sintering temperatures of between 1300 and 1850° C., comprising a heating element (10) which is intended to give off heating energy to the firing chamber. It is provided that the heating element (10) comprises at least two heating element sections (48, 50) adjoining one another at a transition area (34) which is not current-carrying and/or which extends away laterally, that the transition area (34) is supported on a position, in particular on the free end, spaced apart from the electrical connections (16, 18) on the dental furnace and carries at least the two adjoining parts of heating element sections (48, 50).

The invention relates to a dental furnace, in particular a high-temperature dental furnace for oxide ceramics such as zirconium dioxide having sintering temperatures of between 1300 and 1850° C., comprising a heating element (10) which is intended to give off heating energy to the firing chamber. It is provided that the heating element (10) comprises at least two heating element sections (48, 50) adjoining one another at a transition area (34) which is not current-carrying and/or which extends away laterally, that the transition area (34) is supported on a position, in particular on the free end, spaced apart from the electrical connections (16, 18) on the dental furnace and carries at least the two adjoining parts of heating element sections (48, 50).

A method of preparing non-volatile bituminous material in solid form includes first accessing molds having mold cavities defining an irregularly shaped brick having a plurality of non-planar surfaces and preparing the bituminous material for casting by heating it until it is suitably viscous for casting and optionally blending it with an additive. Then, the molds can be filled with the bituminous materials, preferably using a retractable conduit that progressively fills each mold cavity from its bottom to its top. Next, the bituminous material in the molds is solidified until substantially solid bricks are formed. Optionally, a skeleton with optional additional buoyant features can be placed in each mold cavity prior to casting so that the resulting brick has increased buoyancy throughout, and the skeleton and any buoyant features can be customized according to the needs of the customer. The resulting bricks can be removed for transport.

A method of transporting non-volatile bituminous materials from a first location to a second location involves carrying a plurality of irregular bricks formed by the bituminous material in transport chambers carried by vehicles. Bricks are defined by a plurality of non-planar surface, which create gaps between adjacent bricks, and can further include polymer skeletons and other features that help them float. The bricks can travel by land, sea, air, or rail and need not be heated while in transit. Transport chambers have active or preferably passive environmental control systems to circulate cooling air, water, or other substances through the transport chamber and the gaps between adjacent bricks. In a preferred embodiment, ambient air circulates among the bricks during travel by land and ambient water circulates among the bricks during marine travel. The vehicles carrying the transport chambers can be low-emissions or zero-emission vehicles including fuel-cell powered trains and ships.

A substantially solid brick of non-volatile bituminous material has a shape that is defined by an irregular outer surface to minimize surface contact with nearby bricks when shipped in bulk. The overall shape is preferably that of a modified tetrahedron having three non-planar face surfaces, a top surface, and a surface or point. Both the top and bottom surfaces are preferably modified domed shapes comprised of several sections. The face sections are preferably modified concave surfaces comprised of several triangular sections that can be planar, concave, or convex. Curved edges connect the face sections to each other and can include several planar edge sections. The bituminous material can include additives, and the brick can further include a skeleton distributed throughout. The skeleton can be a customizable matrix, framework of fiber groups, or other structure and can include customizable buoyant features such as air pockets or capsules.

A method of preparing non-volatile bituminous material in solid form includes first accessing molds having mold cavities defining an irregularly shaped brick having a plurality of non-planar surfaces and preparing the bituminous material for casting by heating it until it is suitably viscous for casting and optionally blending it with an additive. Then, the molds can be filled with the bituminous materials, preferably using a retractable conduit that progressively fills each mold cavity from its bottom to its top. Next, the bituminous material in the molds is solidified until substantially solid bricks are formed. Optionally, a skeleton with optional additional buoyant features can be placed in each mold cavity prior to casting so that the resulting brick has increased buoyancy throughout, and the skeleton and any buoyant features can be customized according to the needs of the customer. The resulting bricks can be removed for transport.

A food heating apparatus includes a housing, a conveyor assembly, a first heating element, a second heating element, a control unit, and a power source. The housing comprises a base portion and a top portion. The base portion forms a first interior space in which the conveyor assembly is located. The top portion forms a second interior space in which the second heating element is located. The top portion further forms a tunnel. The tunnel comprises an entrance and an exit. The conveyor assembly comprises a belt, a motor, a driving pulley, and a driven pulley. The belt comprises an upper food-carrying run and a lower return run. The control unit comprises a control circuit that is configured to control a speed of the motor.