General Electric Company

Louis A Welle, Sr

Thomas R Payne

Thomas E Jenkins

Stephen C Lesmeister

Keith W Gerdes

Douglas E Corts

An improved electric cooking appliance with a plurality of heating units arranged in two groups, a first group adapted for energization by a first AC power signal and a second group adapted for energization by a second AC power signal, 180.degree. out of phase relative to the first power signal. The heating units of the first and second groups are each connected to a common neutral power line. The output power of each of the heating units is controlled in accordance with the user selected power setting for each unit by selectively applying current pulses to each heating unit at a pulse repetition rate corresponding to the user selected power setting for that heating unit, with the application of current pulses to each heating unit being further controlled to minimize the concurrent application of current pulses to those heating units energized by the same one of the first and second power signals and to maximize the concurrent application of current pulses to those heating units energized by different ones of the first and second power signals, thereby minimizing the peak current pulses in the common neutral line.

Power control for cooking appliance with multiple heating units

An improved power control system for a glas-ceramic cooktop appliance of the type having at least one radiant heating unit disposed beneath the glass-ceramic cooking surface, and a user actuable input keyboard to enable the user to select one of a plurality of power settings for the heating unit. The control system monitors the glass-ceramic temperature and the rate of change of the glass-ceramic temperature to detect abnormal thermal load conditions on the glass-ceramic cooking surface. Upon detection of an abnormal load condition, the power level applied to the heating unit is lowered as a function of the sensed glass-ceramic temperature, the temperature rate of change, and the user selected power setting, to limit the temperature of the glass-ceramic cooking surface so as to avoid damage by excessive temperatures resulting from the abnormal thermal load conditions on the cooking surface.

Temperature limiting arrangement for a glass-ceramic cooktop appliance

A refrigerator having an outer case, an inner liner with thermal insulation therebetween, and a storage compartment having an access opening surrounded by a face portion of magnetic material. A door is hingedly mounted on said cabinet for closing and opening said access opening. The door comprises an outer panel and an inner panel with a peripheral edge portion and terminal end, said panels having thermal insulation therebetween. Elongated channel member sections having top, bottom and side walls are located adjacent the peripheral edges of the door on all four sides and have spaced screw openings in the bottom and top walls with the screw openings in the bottom wall being countersunk. An open slot in the top wall interconnects the screw openings along the length of the channel member sections. The channel member sections overlie the peripheral edge portion and terminal end of the door inner panel and are secured to the door by screws having a threaded body and countersink head by passing the threaded body of the screws through the peripheral edge portion and the inwardly turned flange of the outer metal panel. A sealing gasket is made of resilient material and is removably mounted on the elongated metal channel member sections and includes in lateral cross-section a base portion with a downwardly projecting winged dart having a body and two diverging arms projecting through the open slot in the top wall of the channel member sections and overlying the screws securing the channel member sections to the door. The sealing gasket also has a cabinet engaging portion and includes a magnet to be attracted to the area of magnetic material and provides the sole means for holding the door in a closed position.

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Louisville, KY, United States of America

Louis A Welle, Sr