Ceramaspeed Limited

Micropore International Limited

Germamaspeed Limited

Ceramasdeed Limited

George A Higgins

Kevin R McWilliams

Peter Ravenscroft Wilkins

Richard Charles Scott

Stuart Lamb

Kevin F McWilliams

A radiant electric heater includes at least first () and second () adjacent heating zones. The first heating zone () includes a first heating element portion () and the second heating zone includes a second heating element portion (). An electrical terminal () is provided at a periphery of the heater for connecting the first and second heating element portions to a source of electrical energy. The heating element portions () are integral with conjoined ends connected to a first electrical connector (), with one free end connected to a second electrical () connector, and with another free end connected to a third electrical connector (). The first, second and third electrical connectors include means for connecting to the heating element portions in such a way that the heating element portions are not deflected from their intended path to any substantial extent.

Radiant electric heater

A radiant electric heater ( ) comprises a dish-like support ( ) having a base layer ( ) of thermal insulation material. At least one heating element ( ) is supported relative to the base layer. A temperature-responsive device ( ) has a rod-like component ( ) secured at one end at a peripheral region of the dish-like support ( ) and extends without support partly across the heater over the at least one heating element ( ). Restraining means ( ) is provided at a free end region ( ) of the rod-like component ( ). The restraining means ( ) has a first portion ( ) thereof secured in the base layer ( ) of thermal insulation material and a second portion ( ) thereof at least partially surrounding and spaced from the rod-like component ( ) to allow limited relative movement between the rod-like component and the second portion of the restraining means ( ). The restraining means ( ) serves to limit displacement of the free end ( ) of the rod-like component ( ) away from and/or towards the base layer ( ) of thermal insulation material.

An asymmetric radiant electric heater has multiple heating zones which can be arranged in a plurality of configurations. The heater comprises a dish-like support having two orthogonal axes of symmetry, a base of thermal and electrical insulation material in the dish-like support, a first heating element and a second heating element supported adjacent one another on a major surface of the base and forming an asymmetric arrangement in the dish-like support, a terminal block secured at a fixed location at an edge of the dish-like support, and a wall arrangement of thermal insulation material supported on the base and comprising a peripheral wall extending around the heater and a dividing wall, integral therewith, extending between the adjacent first and second heating elements to form at least two asymmetric heating zones. The wall arrangement is adapted and arranged to cooperate with the base and the terminal block whereby the wall arrangement is fitted to the heater in a first position to accommodate a first configuration of the adjacent first and second heating elements and in a second position, representing 180 degrees of rotation of the wall arrangement from the first position about an axis perpendicular to a base of the dish-like support, to accommodate a second configuration comprising a mirror image arrangement of the adjacent first and second heating elements.

Asymmetric radiant electric heater with multiple heating zones

A radiant electric heater comprises concentrically-arranged heating elements separated by a dividing wall to form inner and outer heating zones, the heater having a peripheral wall. A tunnel extends between the peripheral wall and the dividing wall. A rod-like temperature-responsive device extends through the tunnel and across the inner heating zone. An end portion of the inner element extends along the tunnel. A terminal block is located at the periphery of the heater, end portions of the inner and outer elements being electrically connected to terminals provided in the terminal block. An elongate electrically conductive link is provided having a first end electrically connected to one terminal and bridging an end portion of the outer element connected to another terminal, the link being profiled such that a second end thereof is located within the tunnel and connected to an end portion of the inner element.

A radiant electric heater comprises a base (,) of thermal insulation material having supported thereon or adjacent thereto at least two concentrically-arranged heating elements (,) separated by a dividing wall (,) of thermal insulation material to form an outer heating zone (,) and an inner heating zone (,), the heater having a peripheral wall (,) of thermal insulation material. A tunnel (,) formed of thermal insulation material extends between the peripheral wall and the dividing wall across the outer heating zone such that heating element or elements of the outer heating zone are substantially absent from an area occupied by the tunnel. A rod-like temperature-responsive device (,) extends from a periphery of the heater through the tunnel (,) and at least partly across the inner heating zone (,), through an aperture provided in the dividing wall (,). One or more portions of one or more heating elements (,) of the inner heating zone extend into the tunnel. Ventilation means (,) is provided for the tunnel (,) intermediate the ends thereof to reduce temperature within the tunnel to a desired level.

A radiant electric heater includes a base (2) of insulation material and a lamp-form heating element (3) supported adjacent to a surface of the base. The lamp-form heating element is in the form of a filament (4) inside an elongate envelope (5). The surface of the base (2) is locally depressed (dished or ramped) beneath the envelope (5). A corrugated ribbon heating element (7) is supported on edge relative to the surface of the base (2). A portion of the corrugated ribbon heating element (7) crosses the at least one lamp-form heating element (3) beneath the envelope (5) and substantially conforms to the contour of the locally depressed surface and is free from contact with the envelope (5).

A base for an electric heater comprises a base layer (13) of compacted insulation material (12) and a substantially U-shaped electrically conductive link (6) having upstanding leg portions (8, 9) with an elongate portion (7) extending therebetween. The link is embedded in the base layer with the leg portions protruding therefrom. The base layer (13) incorporates at least one recess (14) extending from a surface thereof to the elongate portion (7) of the link

Base for an electric heater and method of manufacture

A radiant electric heater has first, second and third heating zones (1, 2, 3) arranged substantially side-by-side. The first heating zone (1) is provided with at least one first heating element (9). The second heating zone (2) is arranged adjacent to the first heating zone and is provided with at least one second heating element (10). The third heating zone (3) is arranged adjacent to the second heating zone and is provided with at least one third and one fourth heating element (11, 12). A switch (15) is provided for switching between first, second and third heating states. In the first heating state the at least one first heating element (9) of the first heating zone (1) is energised alone, the at least one second, third and fourth heating elements (10, 11, 12) of the second and third heating zones (2, 3) being de-energised. In the second heating state the at least one first heating element (9) of the first heating zone (1) is electrically connected and energised in parallel with the at least one second heating element (10) of the second heating zone (2), the at least one third and fourth heating elements (11, 12) of the third heating zone (3) being de-energised.

A radiant electric heater arrangement for a glass-ceramic top cooking appliance includes a heater in the form of a dish-like support supporting a first heating element and a second heating element. The first heating element has a predetermined minimum operating life expectancy at a predetermined optimum operating temperature. During user-selectable periods of boost heating the first heating element is connected independently to a voltage supply and operates at a first temperature higher than the predetermined optimum operating temperature. In contrast, during user-selectable periods of normal heating, the second heating element is connected to the voltage supply in series with the first heating element, the first heating element operating at a second temperature lower than the predetermined optimum operating temperature.

Radiant electric heater arrangement and method of operating the same

An infra-red heater arrangement for a glass-ceramic top cooking appliance includes a heater connected to a manually adjustable cyclic energy regulator having a full power setting and a plurality of other, lower power, settings. The heater incorporates at least one infra-red heating element having a substantial positive temperature coefficient of electrical resistance and first and second electrical resistance heating elements having low temperature coefficients of electrical resistance relative to that of the at least one infra-red heating element. The first electrical resistance heating element can be connected in series with the at least one infra-red heating element and to a power supply in the full power setting of the cyclic energy regulator, which setting is attainable directly from an `OFF` setting of the regulator. The infra-red heating element and the first and second electrical resistance heating elements are provided in an undivided heating zone and the first and second electrical resistance heating elements can be connected in series and in series with the at least one infra-red heating element, and to the power supply, for cyclic energisation, at duty cycles including 100 percent, in the other settings of the cyclic energy regulator.

Infra-red heater arrangement

A radiant heater for a glass ceramic top cooking appliance includes a base of thermal and electrical insulating material and at least first and second heating elements arranged such that at least the first heating element provided in a first heating zone is adjacent to at least the second heating element provided in a second heating zone, the first heating element comprising a bright radiating element. A peripheral wall of thermal insulating material surrounds the heating elements and a dividing wall is arranged between the first and second heating elements and extends to a height substantially the same as that of the peripheral wall. A plurality of passages communicates between the first and second heating zones and is disposed in the region of the base of the dividing wall such that, when the bright radiating element is energized, light from the bright radiating element laterally illuminates the second heating zone through the passages.

Radiant stove heater

A visual indication is provided in a heater of an electric cooking appliance which incorporates a user-operable multi-position switch for switching the heater from one power output to another. The heater incorporates at least one heating element which is capable of emitting a significant amount of visible radiation, the at least one heating element being de-energized and subsequently re-energized as the heater is switched from one power output to another. Such a heater is of particular value where the heating element is capable of emitting fewer distinct levels of visible radiation than the number of distinct heat settings of the heater selectable from the multi-position switch. The heating element may be de-energized and subsequently re-energized only between adjacent heat settings in which there is no substantial change in the level of visible radiation.

Growing community of inventors

Hagley, United Kingdom

George A Higgins