INDUCTION HEATING DEVICE AND HOB HAVING SUCH AN INDUCTION HEATING DEVICE

• US 20070278215A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Original Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Inventors: Schilling, Wilfried, Dorwarth, Ralf
• Granted Patent: US 7,786,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/622
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2206/022 Special supports for the induction coils
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/1263 using coil cooling arrangements

Abstract

An induction heating device for a glass ceramic hob or cooktop is embodied as an autonomous component. Said induction heating device comprises a bearing device which, in addition to the induction coil, supports a component support comprising power electronics and control electronics. Only the control connections for the control signals in relation to the power of a line and a direct connection to the household power are provided on said induction heating device. The control electronics ensure the power of a line to the power electronics. Advantageously, said induction heating devices have external dimensions which are the same as traditional radiant heating bodies and thus can easily be used in lieu of said traditional radiant heating bodies when constructing said hob.

Claims

1. An induction heating device capable of being installed as an assembled unit for use in a cooking appliance, said induction heating device comprising:

a support device;

an induction coil placed on said support device;

a supply part comprising power electronics and control electronics, said supply part receiving houseful voltage and converting said household voltage to said induction coil, said supply part held in position by said support device;

a fan device for cooling said power electronics;

electrical power connections for receiving household voltage, said electrical power connections conveying said household voltage to said supply part; and

electrical control connections for receiving control signals, said electrical control connections conveying said control signals to said supply part.

2. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein said support device is flat and disk-like, said support device having the same surface area as said induction coil.

3. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein said supply part comprises a component support board positioned substantially parallel to said induction coil, wherein said power electronics and said control electronics are attached to said component support board.

4. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein said fan device is fixed to said support device.

5. The induction heating device according to claim 3, wherein said fan device is attached to said component support board and has spacers for engaging said support device.

6. The induction heating device according to claim 4, wherein said component support board is in contact with a plurality of spacers of said support device.

7. The induction heating device according to claim 6 further comprising:

a cover, wherein said cover surrounds said component support board, said cover further having a substantially tray-like construction and forming a reception area for covering said surface of said component support board, said cover also extending on sides up to said support device in such a way that said finished induction heating device is a substantially enclosed module.

8. The induction heating device according to claim 7, wherein said cover is affixed only to said support device.

9. The induction heating device according to claim 7, wherein said cover is only fixed via said spacers to the component support board.

10. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein said support device comprises a projecting, substantially circumferential lateral edge in an outer area forming a dish-like receptacle.

11. The induction heating device according to claim 10, wherein said supply part comprises a component support board to which said power electronics, said control electronics and said fan device are attached, wherein further, said component support board is located in said receptacle of said support device.

12. The induction heating device according to claim 11, wherein said dish-like receptacle is closed by a cover contacting said projecting lateral edge of said support device.

13. The induction heating device according to claim 12, wherein said cover is flat with a circular shape and is held in position by said lateral edge of said support device.

14. The induction heating device according to claim 13, wherein in a central area of said support device is provided at least one spacer for positioning said supply part or said component support board thereon.

15. The induction heating device according to claim 14, wherein said spacer is integrally formed as one piece with said support device.

16. The induction heating device according to claim 10, wherein said support device comprises at least two support parts, a first support part being said flat support for said induction coil and a second support part being connected to said supply part.

17. The induction heating device according to claim 16, wherein said two parts of said support device are detachably interconnected and said first support part is substantially disk-like.

18. The induction heating device according to claim 17, wherein said second support part has a circumferential lateral edge for forming a dish-like receptacle for said supply part or said component support board, said lateral edge projecting from a disk-like central part.

19. The induction heating device according to claim 18, wherein said supply part or said component support board are in contact with to said second support part.

20. The induction heating device according to claim 19, wherein said second support part has spacers for engagement on said component support, which form an integral unit with said second support part.

21. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein said supply part has a single component support board for said power electronics and said control electronics.

22. The induction heating device according to claim 21, wherein said power electronics components are located on a side of said component support board being directed towards said induction coil.

23. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein said power electronics contained therein have a single transistor inverter and form a parallel resonant circuit with said induction coil.

24. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein said fan device is positioned between said induction coil and said supply part.

25. The induction heating device according to claim 24, wherein said fan device is provided with electrical connections connected to said supply part.

26. The induction heating device according to claim 1, wherein there is one or more openings allowing passage of cooling air onto the induction heating device in the vicinity of said fan device, wherein further the fan draws in air and blows it against at least one of said power electronics or a heat sink.

27. The induction heating device according to claim 26, wherein said cooling air flows by said power electronics, said control electronics, through a central opening provided in said support device and then through a free central area of said induction coil thereby exiting the induction heating device.

28. The induction heating device according to claim 1, being constructed as a module for connection to a household voltage supply and wherein said control signals adjusting a power level of said induction coil.

29. The induction heating device according to claim 1 assembled to form a module, which is essentially enclosed and as a finished module having a lateral extension projecting only slightly beyond that of said induction coil.

30. A cooking appliance comprising:

a support tray, configured to receive and affix a plurality of modular heating devices;

wherein as least one heating device comprises an induction heating unit comprising;

a support device;

an induction coil placed on said support device;

a supply part comprising power electronics and control electronics, said supply part receiving houseful voltage and converting said household voltage to said induction coil, said supply part held in position by said support device;

a fan device for cooling said power electronics;

electrical power connections for receiving household voltage, said electrical power connections conveying said household voltage to said supply part; and

electrical control connections for receiving control signals, said electrical control connections conveying said control signals to said supply part.

31. The cooking appliance according to claim 30, further comprising:

an operating device with a control for generating operation-dependent control signals, which are conveyed to said induction heating device.

32. The cooking appliance according to claim 30, further comprising:

an electromechanical energy control device, which contains a cyclic mechanical switch, whose electrical switching signals are conveyed to said induction heating device.

33. The cooking appliance according to claim 30 further comprising a mains part with a filter providing power, wherein said induction heating unit is connected to said mains part.

34. A heating device comprising:

an induction coil configured to receive power from a power electronics circuit, wherein said power electronics circuit comprises a heat sink;

a temperature sensing device, located adjacent to said induction coil;

a support structure supporting said induction coil, said support structure configured with a plurality of receptacles to receive a plurality of elongated ferrite cores;

a printed circuit board positioned parallel to and below said induction coil, said printed circuit board comprising a first side facing said induction coil to which said power electronics circuit is mounted and a second side, said first side facing towards said induction coil to which a control circuitry is mounted, wherein said printed circuit board contacts said support structure for purposes of affixing the position of said printed circuit board;

a plurality of power connectors attached to said printed circuit board for receiving household power and supplying said household power to said power electronics circuit;

a fan for cooling said heat sink; and

a cover having a generally circular shape attached to said support structure.