Induction heaters for heating food, fluids or the like
First Claim
1. An induction heater that inductively heats an object, comprising:
- a coil;
a power supply unit that supplies high-frequency electric power to the coil, whereby the coil inductively heats a heating element; and
a shield disposed between the heating element and the coil, wherein the shield allows a substantial amount of magnetic flux generated by the coil to pass through the shield, and wherein the shield encloses the coil and the power supply unit, except for a power cord for supplying electric current.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cooking apparatus includes a fan 13 provided at the top wall of a heating chamber 2 with its front face directed downwards. A spiral coil 14 in the form of a flat disc is provided around a rotation shaft 12 above the heating chamber 2. When high-frequency current is supplied to the coil 14, the coil 14 generates an alternating magnetic flux. The magnetic flux penetrates a shielding plate 16 and the fan 13, whereby the fan 13 is inductively heated. The fan 13 draws air from the heating chamber 2 and propels the air back to the heating chamber 2, where the air is heated when it contacts the fan 13. As a result, the temperature in the heating chamber rises, so that an object placed on a turntable 5 is cooked. By such a constitution, it is not necessary to keep additional space open for a heating element because the fan 13 functions as a heating element. Accordingly, it is possible to enlarge the diameter of the fan 13 so that the blowing efficiency is enhanced. Also, by this constitution, the number of parts is reduced and the structure is simplified.
66 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An induction heater that inductively heats an object, comprising:
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a coil; a power supply unit that supplies high-frequency electric power to the coil, whereby the coil inductively heats a heating element; and a shield disposed between the heating element and the coil, wherein the shield allows a substantial amount of magnetic flux generated by the coil to pass through the shield, and wherein the shield encloses the coil and the power supply unit, except for a power cord for supplying electric current.
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2. An induction heater that inductively heats an object, comprising:
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a plurality of coils disposed in a line; a power supply unit that supplies high-frequency electric power to the plurality of coils; and a conveyor belt on a pair of rollers, the conveyor belt including a metal layer and forming a shield between the plurality of coils and a heating element placed on the conveyor belt, the shield allowing a substantial amount of magnetic flux generated by the plurality of coils to pass through the shield.
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3. An induction heater that inductively heats an object, comprising:
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a coil covered with a synthetic resin layer; a metallic layer covering the synthetic resin layer; and a power supply unit that supplies high-frequency electric power to the coil, whereby the coil inductively heats a heating element; wherein the metallic layer forms a shield between the heating element and the coil and allows a substantial amount of magnetic flux generated by the coil to pass through the shield.
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4. A cooking apparatus, comprising:
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a heating chamber; a heating element disposed inside of the heating chamber; a coil that generates magnetic flux which inductively heats the heating element; and a microwave generator that supplies microwaves in to the heating chamber;
whereina wall of the heating chamber blocks the microwaves while allowing a substantial amount of the magnetic flux to pass through the wall; the coil is disposed outside of the heating chamber and is shielded from the microwaves by the wall; and the heating element radiantly heats an object to be cooked. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A fluid heating apparatus, comprising:
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a fluid passage defined by a metallic pipe; a heating element disposed in the fluid passage; a coil disposed outside the metallic pipe; and a power supply unit that supplies high-frequency electric power to the coil, whereby the coil inductively heats the heating elements, wherein the heating element and the coil are located at a first portion of the metallic pipe that has a wall that is thinner than a wall of a second portion of the metallic pipe. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification