The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 14, 1981
Filed:
Jul. 30, 1979
Bernard G Koether, Westport, CT (US);
Gary G Matison, Wilton, CT (US);
Food Automation-Service Techniques, Inc., Stratford, CT (US);
Abstract
A temperature controller for use with a fryer of the type comprising a vat containing cooking oil and heater, such as a gas burner or electrical heating element, for heating cooking oil comprises a temperature probe for sensing the temperature of the cooking oil, a temperature selector switch producing a signal corresponding to the selected temperature for the cooking oil and also producing a signal corresponding to a normal temperature approximately 25.degree. below the selected temperature. A heat demand comparator produces a heat demand signal when the temperature of the cooking oil is below the selected temperature. A normal temperature comparator compares the temperature of the cooking oil with the normal temperature and provides a signal when the cooking oil is in the normal temperature range, and a cooking gate inhibits this signal if cooking is taking place in the fryer. A heating element control oscillator provides pulses. A gate passes the heat demand signal to operate the heater in a full on mode when the temperature of the cooking oil is below the normal temperature or when the temperature of cooking oil is below the selected temperature and cooking is taking place in the fryer. If the temperature of the cooking oil is in the normal range and no cooking is taking place in the fryer, the gate gates the pulses from the heating element control oscillator to operate the heater in a pulsed mode which minimizes overshoot of the temperature beyond the selected temperature. A melt cycle comparator determines if the temperature of the cooking oil is below a melt cycle reference temperature of approximately 190.degree., and causes the gate to operate the heating means in the pulsed mode until the melt cycle reference temperature is attained. An open switch comparator monitors the temperature selector switch for an output, and inhibits operation of the heating means if there is no output. An open probe comparator and a shorted probe comparator monitor the probe signal for open or shorted condition, respectively, and also inhibit operation of the heater if the probe is open or shorted.