Ceramaspeed Limited

Stylewell Limited

Stuart Lamb

George A Higgins

Kevin R McWilliams

Brian Roger Alves

A temperature sensor assembly () is provided for an electrical heating arrangement (). The temperature sensor assembly () includes a substrate () located in a heater (). The substrate () has an upper surface () in contact with the lower surface () of a cooking plate (). The upper and/or lower surface or surfaces () of the substrate () is provided with a first temperature-sensitive resistance element () at a first region () of the substrate () proximate a peripheral region () of the heater. The upper () and/or lower () surface or surfaces of the substrate () is or are provided with a second temperature-sensitive resistance element (A;B) at a second region () of the substrate () proximate the central region () of the heater. A support member () is secured to the substrate () and underlies at least the first region () of the substrate () and thermal insulation means () is interposed between the lower surface () of the substrate () and the support member () only at the first region () of the substrate ().

Electrical heating arrangement

A radiant electric heater () comprises a base () of insulation material having a surface supporting at least one electric heating ribbon element () supported on edge. A rod-like temperature-responsive device () extends lengthwise partly across the heater () from an edge and over the at least one electric heating element (). The surface of the base () is provided with an elongate recess () with sloping sides () extending beneath and along the length of the temperature-responsive device (). The ribbon () is supported in and traversing the elongate recess () such that an upper edge () of the ribbon () substantially follows a contour of the surface of the recess. The upper edge () of the ribbon () at a region () underlying the temperature-responsive device () is provided at a predetermined distance from the temperature-responsive device () and is at a lower level relative to the upper edge () of the ribbon () at regions at either side of the elongate recess ().

Radiant electric heater

A temperature-limiting device () is provided for an electric heater (), the heater () being located behind a heatable surface () and comprising a dish-like support () having therein at least one electric heating element () having first and second terminal regions (A,B). The device comprises thermally responsive bimetallic means () provided in a housing (). The housing () is supported at a peripheral region of the heater (), at least partially externally of the support (). The bimetallic means () is thermally coupled with the heater () to sense heat generated therein by the heating element () and to respond at a predetermined temperature to operate at least one switch means () located in the housing (). The housing () has first and second sides () opposite each other provided with first and second electrically conductive elements () accessible at the sides of the housing (), externally of the dish-like support (), for electrical connection to the terminal regions (A,B) of the heating element ().

Temperature-limiting device

A temperature-responsive device () is provided for an electric heater (). The heater () is located behind a heatable surface and comprises a dish-like support () having therein at least one electric heating element () having first and second terminal regions, (A,B). An electrical component (), having an electrical parameter which changes as a function of temperature, is supported inside the heater () by an elongate member (). The elongate member () is secured to the heater () and extends at least partially across the heater (). An electrically insulating carrier member () is secured to the elongate member () at a location externally of the periphery of the heater (). The carrier member () has first and second side edges () at opposite sides of the elongate member () and is provided with first and second electrically conductive elements () accessible at the opposite side edges () for electrical connection to the first and second terminal regions (A,B).

Temperature-responsive device

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.

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.

Growing community of inventors

Redditch, United Kingdom

Stuart Lamb