The Tappan Company

Richard L Perl

Robert H McFarland

John W Gilliom

Richard E Caselani

A cooking appliance includes an elongated heat source, which may be a gas burner tube. The elongated heat source is mounted for movement in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heat source, and a driving arrangement is provided for reciprocating the heat source in the horizontal plane.

Traveling flame burner

A fan motor sequencing switch assembly is employed to effect delayed full power energization of a magnetron in a microwave oven for protecting the magnetron and energization circuit therefor against high start-up current surge and for cooling the magnetron during oven operation. The sequencing switch is connected in parallel with a start circuit consisting of a start switch and serially connected current limiting resistor, and is operated by an actuator movable by the magnetic field induced in the fan motor upon energization, the motor being connected to the start switch and sequencing switch for energization through either switch. In the preferred embodiment, the actuator is the rotor of the motor which is mounted for rotation and limited axial movement with respect to the motor stator and normally biased to a position with its magnetic center axially displaced from that of the stator, whereby upon energization of the motor, the rotor is caused to move axially by the induced magnetic forces in the rotor and stator to effect delayed actuation of the sequencing switch.

Microwave oven energization circuit and components therefor

An electro-thermal gas valve uses a mechanical energy storage device, preferably a C-spring or a coil spring, to effect a snap opening and closing of a poppet in response to the position of a heat warpable bimetal member and, therefore, is relatively insensitive to gas pressure in the valve enclosure. Application of heat to the bimetal member causes relative movement of the opposite ends of the energy storage device to effect over-center travel of one end relative to the other end, whereupon the stored potential energy in the energy storage device is released as kinetic energy to snap the poppet open or closed. The valve is adjustable and due to its relative insensitivity to pressure in fact may be calibrated before the valve container and cover are assembled. A stop mechanism may be provided to assume affirmative support of the energy storage device whether the valve is open or closed, and a light bias spring may be utilized to help maintain the poppet closed until snapped open.

Thermal valve

A gas valve has a thermally responsive actuator and an electric heater for heating the actuator normally to produce a displacement output that moves a constrained spring to an over-center position in order to snap open the valve poppet. Portions of the actuator and the poppet holder are aligned such that the actuator portion will interferingly engage the poppet holder portion to move the poppet to its closed position when the heater receives an excessive electric power input causing an excessive mechanical displacement output of the actuator.

Gas valve

A control circuit for a gas appliance includes ignition and hold circuits, the former providing for series energization of the heater of a thermal fuel valve and an electric igniter positioned proximate the appliance burner port area for ignition of the gas fuel and air mixture exiting the same and the latter providing for direct energization of only the igniter to hold or to maintain the appliance at a warm temperature. Moreover, the fuel valve includes an exterior selector mechanism for facile calibration and/or other adjustment for effective valve operation with either of two different gases at respectively different pressures, such as, for example, natural gas and bottled gas.

Control circuit and adjustable valve for a gas appliance

A gas cook top having plural burners and an electric ignition system in which a single glow coil ignites a pilot at the end of a rotating tube. The tube sweeps successively by the coil and the burners to produce the pilot flame and apply the same to ignite the burner or burners turned on for use. Igniter energization and pilot rotation is responsive to and coincident with any burner on condition, with burner valve actuation controlling the coil, tube drive, and a pilot valve for the latter.

Gas cook top

The oven cooking cavity has a perforated top wall above which there is a substantially full width plenum chamber which receives from a rear exterior duct heated air and gases under pressure for discharge of the same downwardly through the cavity top substantially uniformly over the area of the same. The heated air and gases exit from the cavity at the bottom and comingle with newly heated air and gases from a bottom forward gas burner in passage therewith to motor-driven impeller means which discharges into the delivery duct. In such gas embodiment, a small portion of the circulation within the cavity is vented to the atmosphere at the top front of the oven and compensating make-up room air supplied. The heat source can also be electric, with full instead of substantially full recirculation as in the gas embodiment.

Powered circulation oven

A gas smooth top range in which the burner beneath the glass ceramic top is of powdered blue flame, rather than radiant, type. The burner in this and other possible environments is controlled by electric circuit means including a resistance igniter element having an appreciable energy output, electrically operated valve means in circuit with the igniter, and cycle control means for cyclically energizing the igniter and valve means at a rate that can be varied to regulate the heat output of the burner. Heat transfer structure is associated with the burner and arranged so that hot exhaust gases from the burner are effective to preheat the respective inflows of ambient air and fuel making up the mixture which is combusted. The fuel valve can be adjusted from the exterior while operating in closed and sealed condition, or a simulation of such condition, so that the proper circuit relationship of the valve and the igniter with which it is used can be set as a manufacturing procedure to eliminate need for field or installation adjustment.

Blue flame gas smooth top range

A gas smooth top range in which the burner beneath the glass ceramic top is of powered blue flame, rather than radiant, type. The burner in this and other possible environments is controlled by electric circuit means including a resistance igniter element having an appreciable energy output, electrically operated valve means in circuit with the igniter, and cycle control means for cyclically energizing the igniter and valve means at a rate that can be varied to regulate the heat output of the burner. Heat transfer structure is associated with the burner and arranged so that hot exhaust gases from the burner are effective to preheat the respective inflows of ambient air and fuel making up the mixture which is combusted. The fuel valve can be adjusted from the exterior while operating in closed and sealed condition, or a simulation of such condition, so that the proper circuit relationship of the valve and the igniter with which it is used can be set as a manufacturing procedure to eliminate need for field or installation adjustment.

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Mansfield, OH, United States of America

Richard L Perl