Solid plate heating unit
First Claim
1. A plate surface heating unit having a top plate defining a heating area, said top plate having a softening temperature, temperature setting means for determining the operating temperature of said top plate including a control system for maintaining said heating area substantially at the selected cooking temperature while maintaining the temperature of said heating area below the softening temperature of said top plate comprising:
- a metal sheathed electrical resistance heating element in intimate contact with the underside of said top plate, said element having a heating capacity capable of elevating the temperature of said top plate above its softening temperature;
a temperature-sensing means arranged for sensing the temperature of said top plate at a plurality of selected locations in said heating area;
cycling means in said temperature setting means operable to control energization of said heating element to maintain the temperature of said top plate at said operating temperature;
a control means in circuit connection between said temperature sensing means and said temperature setting means for deenergizing said heating element independent of said cycling means when the temperature sensed by said temperature sensing means of said top plate and said heating element at said selected locations of said heating area reaches a selected temperature below the softening temperature of said top plate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a top plate surface heating unit having a softening temperature. The control system incorporates a temperature setting means for determining the operating temperature of the surface heating unit and means for automatically limiting the temperature of the surface heating unit to a temperature below the softening temperature of the top plate.
-
Citations
8 Claims
-
1. A plate surface heating unit having a top plate defining a heating area, said top plate having a softening temperature, temperature setting means for determining the operating temperature of said top plate including a control system for maintaining said heating area substantially at the selected cooking temperature while maintaining the temperature of said heating area below the softening temperature of said top plate comprising:
-
a metal sheathed electrical resistance heating element in intimate contact with the underside of said top plate, said element having a heating capacity capable of elevating the temperature of said top plate above its softening temperature; a temperature-sensing means arranged for sensing the temperature of said top plate at a plurality of selected locations in said heating area; cycling means in said temperature setting means operable to control energization of said heating element to maintain the temperature of said top plate at said operating temperature; a control means in circuit connection between said temperature sensing means and said temperature setting means for deenergizing said heating element independent of said cycling means when the temperature sensed by said temperature sensing means of said top plate and said heating element at said selected locations of said heating area reaches a selected temperature below the softening temperature of said top plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A plate surface heating unit having an aluminum top plate defining a heating area, temperature setting means for determining the operating temperature of said top plate including a control system for maintaining said heating area substantially at the selected cooking temperature while maintaining the temperature of said heating area below a selected maximum temperature comprising:
-
a first metal sheathed electrical resistance heating element in intimate contact with the underside of said top plate in the central portion of said heating area; a second metal sheather electrical resistance heating element in intimate contact with the underside of said top plate being arranged externally of said first heating element in the outer portion of said heating area; a first temperature-sensing means arranged for sensing the temperature of said top plate and said first heating element at a plurality of selected locations in the central portion of said heating area; a second temperature sensing means arranged for sensing the temperature of said top plate and said first heating element at a plurality of selected locations in the outer portion of said heating area; a first control means in circuit connection between said first temperature sensing means and said temperature setting means for deenergizing said first heating element when the temperature sensed by said first temperature sensing means of said top plate and said first heating element at said selected locations in the central portion of said heating area reaches said maximum selected temperature; a second control means in circuit connection between said second temperature sensing means and said temperature setting means for deenergizing said second heating element when the temperature sensed by said second temperature sensing means of said top plate and said second heating element at said selected locations in the outer portion of said heating area reaches said maximum selected temperature; and cycling means in said temperature setting means operable to control energization of said first and second heating elements to maintain the temperature of said top plate at said operating temperature independent of said first and second control means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
Specification