Emerson Electric Company

William W Holmes

Daniel A Copeland

William H Owen

Randall T Markum

John C Stoops

Richard J Dillard

Radiant heating apparatus (10) for use on a stove (1). The heating apparatus is mounted beneath a glasstop type cooking surface (2) for radiating heat at the surface to heat the surface for cooking food. A pan (14) is installed adjacent an underside (2u) of the cooking surface. A liner (30) formed of an insulation material is installed in the pan. An electrical heating element (32) is supported atop the liner. The heating element is formed of a strip (34) of an electrically resistant foil material to which an electrical current is supplied. The strip is a corrugated strip of foil laid upon an upper surface (36) of the liner in a predetermined pattern for heat generated by the heating element to be radiated directly at the cooking surface. A staple (42) secures the heating element to the liner. A temperature sensitive element (48) controls current flow to the heating element, and cuts-off current flow if the temperature exceeds a predetermined level. Installation of a corrugated strip heating element on the liner and securing the heating element such that it can flex when a current is supplied to it, without permanently distorting the strip, effects a maximum heat transfer to the cooking surface using energy directly radiated from the heating element.

Corrugated strip, radiant heater element

Electrical heating apparatus (10) is used in an electric stove (R) having a glass/ceramic cooking surface (S). A pan (12) is mounted adjacent an underside of the cooking surface. An electrical heating element (20) installed in the pan heats a defined area (A) of the cooking surface when electrical current is applied to the element. A sensor (34) installed in direct contact with the cooking surface senses the temperature of the cooking area. A control unit (42), to which an output of the sensor is supplied, is responsive to the output to control current flow to the heating element. This allows the apparatus to respond to temperature changes at the cooking area to insure food is properly cooked.

Growing community of inventors

Columbus, MS, United States of America

William W Holmes