Induction heating device and hob having such an induction heating device

• US 7,786,414 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Van; Quang T
• Application Number:
  US11/828,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20070278215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 219620-627, 219/632, 219/663, 219/667, 219/676, 219/677, 994/51, 993/25, 99D/IG.14
• US Class Current: 219/623
• 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. A cooking appliance comprising:

a support tray, configured to receive and affix a plurality of modular heating devices, said modular heating devices comprising at least two induction heating modules, wherein each induction heating module is physically distinct from another and wherein each induction heating module comprises;

a support device comprising having a circular shape;

a single induction coil placed on top of said support device;

a supply part comprising power electronics and control electronics, said supply part receiving household 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 wherein said fan is located within said induction heating module positioned underneath said induction coil, wherein said fan device is fixed to said support device;

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

a cover positioned below induction coil and said support device wherein said cover is of a shape that largely encloses said supply part and said fan; and

electrical control connections for receiving control signals, said electrical control connections conveying said control signals to said supply part, said induction heating module configured to be installed within said cooking appliance as an assembled unit with said electrical power connections engaged with household voltage connections of said cooking appliance, and with said electrical control connections being connected to control connections of said cooking appliance.

2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein said support device is flat and disk-like, said support device having a greater diameter than said induction coil.

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

5. The cooking appliance according to claim 3, wherein said component support board is in contact with a plurality of spacers of said support device.

6. The cooking appliance according to claim 5 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.

7. The cooking appliance according to claim 6, wherein said cover is affixed only to said support device.

8. The cooking appliance according to claim 6, wherein said cover is only fixed via said spacers to the component support board.

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

10. The cooking appliance according to claim 9, 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.

11. The cooking appliance according to claim 10, wherein said dish-like receptacle is closed by a cover contacting said projecting lateral edge of said support device.

12. The cooking appliance according to claim 11, wherein said cover is flat with a circular shape and is held in position by said lateral edge of said support device.

13. The cooking appliance according to claim 12, 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.

14. The cooking appliance according to claim 13, wherein said spacer is integrally formed as one piece with said support device.

15. The cooking appliance according to claim 9, 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.

16. The cooking appliance according to claim 15, wherein said two parts of said support device are detachably interconnected and said first support part is substantially disk-like.

17. The cooking appliance according to claim 16, 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.

18. The cooking appliance according to claim 17, wherein said supply part or said component support board are in contact with to said second support part.

19. The cooking appliance according to claim 18, wherein said second support part has spacers for engagement on said component support, which form an integral unit with said second support part.

20. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein said supply part has a single component support board for said power electronics and said control electronics.

21. The cooking appliance according to claim 20, wherein said power electronics components are located on a side of said component support board being directed towards said induction coil.

22. The cooking appliance 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.

23. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein said fan device is positioned between said induction coil and said supply part.

24. The cooking appliance according to claim 23, wherein said fan device is provided with electrical connections connected to said supply part.

25. The cooking appliance 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.

26. The cooking appliance according to claim 25, 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.

27. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein said control signals are for adjusting a power level of said induction coil.

28. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 wherein said induction heating module has a lateral extension projecting only slightly beyond that of said induction coil.