Whirlpool Corporation

Robertshaw Controls Company

James Charles Johncock

David Wayne Mundy

Cristiano Vito Pastore

Robert Scott Donarski

John F Hines

Darpan Dinkar Patil

Joel Matthew Sells

Steven M Swayne

Mark A Boyer, Iii

Anders B Zeijlon

Foad Mobini Kesheh

Alberto Morandotti

Jack Xu

Winner Wang

Rodger An

Sky W Carman

Lai Kwok Wah

Nathan C Wier

Douglas C Lanz

Anthony M Wickey

A method of regulating the temperature of a cooking liquid during sous vide cooking in a cooking vessel on a burner of a cooktop includes setting a desired cooking temperature and measuring the temperature of the cooking liquid inside the sous vide cooking vessel at a plurality of predetermined time intervals with a first temperature sensor mounted on an interior surface of a wall of the sous vide cooking vessel. The temperature of the cooking liquid is compared to the desired cooking temperature at each of the predetermined time intervals. The energy output of the burner is controlled based on the difference between the temperature of the cooking liquid and the desired cooking temperature. A cooking vessel and system for sous vide cooking using this method are also disclosed.

Method of regulating temperature for sous vide cooking and apparatus therefor

A method of operating an electric oven includes generating a door-closed signal if the oven door is in a closed position. The electric broiling element is activated to perform a closed-door broil operation in response to generation of the door-closed signal. The temperature within the cooking chamber of the electric oven is determined during the closed-door broil operation and the electric broiling element is deactivated if the temperature within the cooking chamber exceeds a shutoff temperature.

Electric oven with a closed-door broiling operation

A cooking system includes a kitchen utensil and a cooking hob, wherein the kitchen utensil is provided with one or more sensors arranged on the kitchen utensil. The sensors include acceleration sensors, gyroscopic sensors, and inclination sensors. The cooking appliance is provided with a control unit configured to receive data from the sensors and to elaborate information on how the kitchen utensil is being used, and to control the cooking appliance accordingly.

Cooking system

A method of popping popcorn in a microwave includes operating an energy source to provide energy to a cooking chamber and detecting, by a microphone sensor, sound waves in the cooking chamber and providing an output signal indicative of the detected sound waves to a control unit. The control unit can determine that the output signal is indicative of a popping sound generated by popcorn kernels popping and control the energy source to stop providing energy to the cooking chamber based on the detected popping sounds.

Method for detecting the status of popcorn in a microwave

A burner assembly for a cooktop includes a housing defining a first group of radially-spaced fuel outlets extending from an interior to an exterior of the housing, a first aperture extending through the housing and spaced outward of the first group of outlets, and a second group of radially-spaced fuel outlets extending from the interior to the exterior and spaced outward of the first aperture. A first switch assembly is mounted within the housing and includes a first pin extending upwardly through the first aperture to an end positioned above the housing. The end of the first pin is moveable in a first direction inward and outward with respect to the housing to control a direction of a first portion of a flow of fuel to the second group of outlets. A second portion of the flow of fuel is continuously directed to the first group of outlets.

Method of pan detection and cooktop adjustment for multiple heating sections

A method for selectively restricting movement of an appliance position switch from a closed position to an open position includes positioning the pin within a channel of a body portion of a switch retention device and moving the body of the switch retention device in a first direction into an opening in a face of the appliance within which the pin is moveable from the open position to the closed position. Such movement is carried out to cause movement of the pin in the first direction toward the closed position. The method further includes continuing to move the switch retention device in the first direction such that a cap thereof contacts the face, and a tab extending outwardly from the body engages with the opening to retain the switch retention device in the opening and the pin in the closed position.

Method of controlling an appliance door position switch for sabbath mode operation

An electric oven broils foodstuffs with either its oven door opened or closed. The operating parameters of the oven's broiling elements are altered based on the position of the door.

An appliance includes a first gas-burning heating element, a first gas path extending from an inlet to the first heating element, and a first solenoid valve positioned within the first gas path. The appliance further includes a second gas path extending from upstream of the first solenoid valve to the first heating element and supplying a base gas flow to the first heating element. A controller is electronically coupled with the first solenoid valve for controlling a supplemental flow of gas through the first gas path to the first heating element such that the supplemental gas flow combines with the base gas flow to achieve a total gas flow. The controller controls the supplemental flow to adjust the total gas flow by pulsing the first solenoid valve at a first rate corresponding to a desired rate of the total gas flow to the first heating element.

Appliance with electronically-controlled gas flow to burners

A method of popping popcorn in a microwave having a cooking chamber, an energy source which provides energy to the cooking chamber, a humidity sensor, and a microphone sensor, includes the steps of placing a plurality of popcorn kernels in the cooking chamber. The energy source is operated during a popcorn popping cycle. Popping sounds generated when the popcorn kernels are popped are detected, as is the humidity level in the cooking chamber. The energy source is directed to stop operating when the popping sound and the humidity level satisfy one or more end status indicators. The current disclosure also includes a microwave for carrying out the above described process.

A position switch retention device for use with an appliance including a body defining a first end, a cap extending outwardly from a second end of the body opposite the first end, and a first tab extending from a side of the body. The first tab defines a ramp extending away from the body to an edge directed toward and spaced from the cap.

An oven for performing a rotisserie cooking operation includes an oven cavity having a door for selectively accessing the oven cavity, at least one heating element for heating the oven cavity and a rotisserie arm adapted to support a food product within the oven cavity. A motor is operatively coupled to the rotisserie arm for rotating the rotisserie arm and a food product. The oven also includes a control interface having a rotisserie cooking mode input and a control system for controlling the rotisserie motor and the heating element. In addition to other functions, the control system automatically causes the rotisserie motor to cycle on and off to allow for intermittent rotation of the food product supported on the rotisserie arm when the oven door is opened.

System and method for operating rotisserie oven

A burner assembly for a cooktop includes a housing that defines first and second concentric outlet sections, the first outlet section being inset relative to the second outlet section. The housing further defines a first aperture between the first outlet section and the second outlet section. A first switch assembly is mounted within the housing and includes a lever coupled with the housing and a first pin extending from the lever and upwardly through the aperture to an end positioned above the housing. The end of the pin is moveable in a first direction inward and outward with respect to the housing by rotation of the lever to control a flow of energy to the second outlet section.

A position switch retention device for use with an appliance including a body defining a switch-receiving cavity open on at least a first end of the body, a cap extending outwardly from a second end of the body opposite the first end, and a first tab extending from a side of the body. The first tab defines a ramp extending away from the body to an edge directed toward and spaced from the cap.

Growing community of inventors

Shelbyville, MI, United States of America

James Charles Johncock