Ceramaspeed Limited

Germamaspeed Limited

Kevin R McWilliams

George A Higgins

Peter Ravenscroft Wilkins

Stuart Lamb

An electrical heating assembly () includes a control system (). The control system () comprises cooking mode selection means () having a plurality of settings whereby a predetermined cooking mode is user-selectable for the electrical heating assembly (), and cooking value selection means () adapted for user-selection of a cooking temperature within a predetermined temperature range. The control system () is adapted whereby operation of the cooking mode selection means () from one setting to at least one other setting results in a change in the predetermined temperature range provided by the cooking value selection means (). In at least a first setting of the cooking mode selection means () only the first of first and second temperature-responsive devices () is effective to control operation of a heater () and in at least a second setting of the cooking mode selection means () both the first and second temperature-responsive devices () are effective to control operation of the heater.

Electrical heating assembly

In apparatus and a method for providing electronic control of an electric heating assembly, a radiant electric heater () is arranged at a lower surface () of a glass-ceramic cooking plate (), the plate having an upper surface () for receiving a cooking vessel (A,B). A temperature sensor () monitors temperature at or adjacent to the cooking plate () and provides an electrical output as a function of temperature. Control means () connected to the temperature sensor () and to the heater () controls energising of the heater from a power supply () for energising the heater at a plurality of user selectable power levels including a full power level. When the heater () is energised at the full power level it is energised to heat the cooking plate () to a first temperature level during a predetermined initial period (A) of 20 to 50 minutes and is thereafter (C) energised to heat the cooking plate to a second temperature level, lower than the first temperature level.

Apparatus and method for controlling an electric heating assembly

In the manufacture of an electric heater, means () is provided for feeding and guiding a ribbon heating element () progressively into overlying edgewise relationship with a base (). Means () is provided for supporting the base () and for effecting relative motion between the base () and the feeding and guiding means (), such that motion of the base () is synchronised with feeding of the element () as it is fed and guided into the relationship with the base (), to urge the heating element () towards the base () and cause an edge portion () of the heating element () to become embedded in the base ().

Method and apparatus for manufacturing an electric heater

An electric heating assembly includes a cooking plate () having a lower surface () relative to which is supported an electric heater () and an upper surface () adapted to receive a cooking utensil () on a heating zone () overlying the electric heater. The electric heater incorporates an electric heating element () and a temperature-responsive device () adapted to monitor temperature of the cooking utensil through the cooking plate at a predetermined region () of the overlying heating zone. The predetermined region is provided with visual identification () on the upper surface of the cooking plate for location of the cooking utensil at least partially over the visual identification.

Electric heating assembly

An electric heating assembly comprises a plate () having a front face () and a rear face (), and at least one electric heater unit () located at the rear face () of the plate (). The electric heater unit () is secured to the rear face () of the plate () by adhesive (), the adhesive () being adapted to withstand a maximum temperature to which it is subjected during operation of the heating assembly.

An electrical heating assembly () comprises a glass-ceramic cooking plate () having an upper surface () for receiving a cooking vessel () and a lower surface (). A radiant electric heater () incorporating at least one electric heating element () is supported in contact with the lower surface of the cooking plate. Temperature sensing means () is spaced above the at least one heating element (). The temperature sensing means includes a support member () which has provided on an upper surface a film form temperature-sensitive electrical resistance element () and which is provided with electrical connecting leads (). Thermal insulation means () is adapted and arranged to shield the support member () and a corresponding region of the lower surface () of the cooking plate () from direct thermal radiation from the at least one electric heating element ().

The appliance has a cooking plate () and a radiant electric heater () having multiple heating zones () arranged substantially side-by-side. A temperature sensing assembly () incorporates an electrical component () located in a position confined within a first heating zone () and having an electrical parameter which changes as a function of temperature. Electronic control apparatus () is connected to the electrical component () by means of electrical leads (), the electronic control apparatus being adapted to detect the number of heating zones that are energised and to control energisation of the heater in dependence thereon.

Cooking appliance

An electric heater () is arranged for location in an oven () intermediate a cavity () of the oven and a flue arrangement () for venting the cavity (). The heater () comprises a dish-like support () containing at least one electric heating element () and having a first face () open to the cavity () and a second face () having an aperture () adapted to interface with the flue arrangement (). Catalyst means () is provided incorporated in the heater ().

Electric heater

An electric heating element () for an oven () is provided at least in part with a coating () of a catalyst means.

Electric heating element

A temperature sensor ( ) for use in a cooking appliance of the kind in which an electric heater ( ) incorporating at least one heating element ( ) is located behind a cooking plate ( ). The temperature sensor is adapted to be located between the at least one heating element and the cooking plate. The sensor ( ) comprises a sensing element ( ) having an electrical parameter which changes as a function of temperature and a housing ( ) for the sensing element. The housing has a first surface region ( ) with high thermal radiation absorption relative to a second surface region ( ). The sensor is adapted to be located with the first surface region ( ) of the housing facing substantially towards the cooking plate ( ) and the second surface region ( ) facing substantially towards the at least one heating element ( ).

Temperature sensor

An electric heater (1) arranged beneath a glass-ceramic cook top (2) is controlled with the aid of a temperature sensor (7) for monitoring temperature at or adjacent to the glass-ceramic cook top. The sensor provides an electrical output as a function of temperature and permits monitoring, in time controlled manner, temperature at or adjacent to the glass-ceramic cook top. In a first stage the temperature of the glass-ceramic cook top (2) is permitted to exceed a predetermined continuous safe level (Y) for up to a predetermined maximum time period (X, W.sub.2, W) and such that a predetermined temporary safe level (Z) of temperature, in excess of the predetermined continuous safe level (Y), is not exceeded. In a second stage the heater (1) is regulated in accordance with the monitored temperature to achieve a selected temperature of the glass-ceramic cook top in a range up to the predetermined continuous safe level (Y) of temperature.

Method and apparatus for controlling an electric heater

Radiant stove heater

A radiant electric heater for use in a smooth top cooker includes a base of electrical and thermal insulating material and two heating elements supported on the base. One of the heating elements is energisable independently of the other element, for example to permit the heater to be adapted to different size cooking utensils. A peripheral wall of thermal insulating material extends laterally around the heating elements and a dividing wall is arranged between the heating elements such that, in use, separate and distinct heating zones are formed on the smooth top of the cooker. The dividing wall is received in the base of electrical and thermal insulating material and is retained in the base by friction. The dividing wall may additionally be constructed and arranged as a barrier effectively only to thermal convection currents generated in the heater.

Radiant electric heater

A device for controlling or limiting temperature in an electric cooking appliance includes a switch and a temperature sensor operatively coupled to the switch. The temperature sensor takes the form of a rod arranged substantially coaxially within a tube. The rod is made of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the tube is made of at least two tube portions, one of the tube portions being made from a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the first coefficient of thermal expansion and another of the tube portions being made from a ceramic material having a third coefficient of thermal expansion intermediate the first and second coefficients of thermal expansion. The temperature controlling or limiting device may be incorporated into a radiant electric heater incorporating at least first and second heating elements defining separate heating areas for the cooking appliance.

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Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Kevin R McWilliams