WO2011132004A1

WO2011132004A1 - Contact between thermostat and heating element of electric grill - toaster - barbeque

Info

Publication number: WO2011132004A1
Application number: PCT/GR2011/000017
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dimitrios Panagopoulos
Original assignee: SERTON Ltd
Current assignee: SERTON Ltd
Priority date: 2010-04-23
Filing date: 2011-04-21
Publication date: 2011-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2012-10-23
Also published as: GR20100100244A

Abstract

An assembly of multiple reflectors (3) that is screwed on with fasteners to the internal surface of the cover-lid without coming into contact perimetrically with it, there is distance among the reflectors (12), between the reflectors and the cover-lid (11) and between the cooking-grilling surface and the cover-lids (13). The heating elements (7) are placed in contact with the assembly of multiple reflectors, a metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element to transfer temperature (4) specially configured and designed, screwed (14) to the thermostat (6) with a U shape on its edge that follows the shape of the heating element (8) with spring support (9) for direct contact with the cooking-grilling surface (10). The channelling of a higher percentage of the temperature to the cooking-grilling surface is achieved (5) and the channelling of temperature towards the external surfaces is dissuaded (1) (2), which results to the control and the reflection of the heat towards the cooking-grilling surfaces of the appliances, the decrease of temperatures of the external surfaces of the appliances, as well as the increase of the appliances' life, the energy conservation and the improvement of the food's cooking-grilling.

Description

ASSEMBLY OF MULTIPLE REFLECTORS AND METAL SURFACE OF CONTACT BETWEEN SENSING DEVICE OF THERMOSTAT AND HEATING ELEMENT OF ELECTRIC CONTACT/HEALTH GRILL - TOASTER - BARBEOUE - GRILL

The invention described below is intended for electrical appliances such as contact/health grills, toasters, barbeque, grills with a metal cover-lid [lid seal], made of plastic, glass or any other industrial material which can cover these appliances as a cover-lid, aiming at the greater safety of the users, the more efficient cooking-grilling due to the control of the temperature which is generated in them, the increase of the appliances' life, as well as the energy conservation.

In the existing manufacturing solutions there is a problem with the transfer of the heat generated, a large part of which is dissipated to the upper section of the appliances (like the cover-lid for example) as well as to the components (indicatively made of plastic, glass) of the appliances, which results to the development of significantly high and prohibitive temperatures, according to the European specifications, which place the user at risk of suffering a possible burn injury. The existing appliances, at the upper section, consist, in every case of a cover-lid, a reflector with a heating element and fasteners, as well as of support fasteners (such as screws, nuts etc), plastic components (such as handles, side supports etc) while, in certain cases, they additionally consist of a metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (or any other technical solution) for transferring temperature towards the thermostat and of a thermostat. The existing appliances, at the bottom section, consist, in every case, of a cover-lid, a reflector with a heating element and fasteners, a metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element for transferring temperature towards the thermostat, a thermostat, support fasteners (such as screws, nuts etc.) and plastic components (such as handles, side supports etc).

The invention will be perceived by the experts of the present technique, with reference to the drawing (Figure 1) attached herein, in which certain preferred industrial applications of the invention are indicatively depicted, as follows: Referring to a selected, indicative example of an industrial application of the invention, and specifically to a contact/health grill, toaster, barbeque, grill in lateral section (side view) as shown in the attached drawing, a numbering of the main parts of the object follows below, with reference to the respective numbering of those parts on the attached drawing, where these are shown in a descriptive indicator display, scale-free, but merely proportional to size.

The invention at the upper cover-lid of the appliance in every case, consists of the combination of the application of the assembly of multiple reflectors, placed in succession, and where appropriate, it exists, at the lower cover-lid of the appliance, with a metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element, with a special U shape that follows the shape of the heating element to transfer temperature, with spring support, screwed to the thermostat, found at the bottom section of the appliance in every case, and at the upper where appropriate. More specifically, it is about a system of multiple components that aims, among others, to the control and the reflex of the heat towards the cooking-grilling surfaces of the appliances (5) and to the decrease of the temperatures of the external surfaces of the appliance and consists of the following:

1. Assembly of multiple reflectors (3).

This assembly consists of successive reflectors made of metal or any other industrial material, which are shown in the attached drawing, in two units (3), but there can also be more units appropriately configured and placed in succession, in order the diffusion of the heat towards the external surfaces of the appliance (1) (2) to be avoided, which results to the decrease of the temperature due to the distance between them (12) and to the channelling of the higher percentage of the heat to the cooking-grilling surfaces (5), a fact which ensures better cooking-grilling, greater safety, increase of the appliance's life, as well as energy conservation. This invention includes the construction, installation and application of the assembly of reflectors (3) at least at the upper section of the appliance, namely over the cooking-grilling surface (5) but also at the bottom section of the appliance under the cooking-grilling surface (5), if that deemed necessary. In the assembly of reflectors (3) which is screwed on with fasteners to each internal surface of the cover-lid without being tangent perimetrically to it, there is distance on the one hand among the reflectors (12), between the reflectors and the cover-lid on the other hand (11) as well as adequate space perimetrically between the cooking-grilling surface and the covers-lids (13). In our invention, the heating elements (7) are also placed into contact with the assembly of reflectors (3). There is also placed a metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element for transferring temperature (4), the thermostat (6) and their fasteners, in all cases at the bottom section of the appliance and where appropriate at the upper section of the appliance. The heating elements (7) radiate heat, which is reflected by the assembly of the reflectors (3) towards the cooking-grilling surface (5) and simultaneously the development of high temperatures at the appliance's external sections, is deterred. The aforementioned distances create an effective and protective shield of the external surfaces of the appliance against the diffusion of the heat towards them, while simultaneously succeeding the decrease of the temperature due to the distance among the reflectors (12) and more effective ventilation at points (11) and (13).

2. Metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element of electric contact/health grill-toaster, barbeque, grill.

The control of the temperature of the electric contact/health grill, toaster, barbeque, grill is achieved by the thermostat (6), which is located, in every case, at the bottom section of the appliance, which is surrounded by the cover-lid (2) and in certain cases located also at the upper section of the appliance, which is surrounded by the cover-lid (1).

The point and manner by which the heat will be transferred to the thermostat (6) plays an important role.

The metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (4) is a metal component with a special U shape on its edge that follows the shape of the heating element, is specially configured and designed to transfer the heat from the heating element (7) and the cooking-grilling surface (5) to the thermostat (6). In the existing manufacturing solutions, the metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element to transfer temperature is usually placed at the bottom section, thus located under the bottom cooking-grilling surface. The existing manufacturing solutions create problem to the appliance (overheating, especially at the upper section) particularly when the food we want to cook-grill is not properly defrosted. If, for example, the meat is not properly defrosted and we place it for cooking on the cooking-grilling surface (5), then the following will occur: the thermostat will be constantly in operation, instructing the heating element to be heated, and as a result of that, there are low temperatures at the bottom cooking- grilling surface due to the frozen food and much higher and uncontrolled temperatures at the upper surface. This occurs because the temperature is being transferred from the food to the cooking-grilling surface, then to the metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element or to any other technical solution of temperature transferring and, by extension to the thermostat, ordering it to constantly provide electricity, therefore the heating element is operating and increases in that way the temperature, therefore there is consumption of more energy and reduction of the appliance's life.

According to the invention, the metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (4) is screwed (14) to the thermostat (6) and has a special U shape on the edge that follows the shape of the heating element (8) with spring support (9) for direct contact with the cooking-grilling surface (10).

The metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (4) is placed between the heating element (7) and the cooking-grilling surface (5) for faster and more efficient operation of the appliance, so that there is immediate heat transfer from the cooking-grilling surface (5) and the heating element (7) to the thermostat (6).

With this invention, the thermostat (6) has better response and sensitivity to temperature alterations, due to the special configuration of the metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (4) and turns the appliance off and on faster, in that way the uncontrolled temperature increase in the appliance's external sections is prevented.

Thus, with this solution, the temperature of the insufficiently defrosted food which is placed on the cooking-grilling surface (5) is transferred through the specially configured metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (4) from the points where it comes into contact with: a) the cooking-grilling surface (10) and b) the heating element (7), by following its U shape, thanks to its special configuration (8) and as a result it transfers actual temperatures to the thermostat (6). In this way, there are neither uncontrolled and high temperatures in the appliance nor consumption of unnecessary energy, making proper use of the appliance and therefore increasing its life.

This results to the control of the temperature, together with the assembly of multiple reflectors (3), even at the appliance's external surfaces (1) (2) and to the improved cooking -grilling of the food.

The properly configured form (8) of the metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (4) is such, that when the cooking-grilling surface (5) is placed and the metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (4) is pressed as much as possible to its full length, then by the pressure applied by the spring (9) it is brought into full contact with the cooking-grilling surface (10) for better heat transfer to the thermostat (6). It is also noted that the metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (4) could also be covered by a special thermal-conductive material, which improves its thermal-conductivity, if that is necessary.

In addition to the above, this special metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (4), due to its special configuration so as to follow the U shape of the heating element on its edge (8) provides safety to the appliance, even in cases where the metal cooking-grilling surfaces (5) will not be placed (which happens very often if their placement is forgotten at the beginning of the appliance's operation).

In such case, the temperature will fluctuate within the operating limits of the appliance's thermostat. Thus, there is control of the extent of the temperature's increase, and unpleasant effects such as the melting of plastic components or even the hazard of fire are avoided.

Claims

1

The invention is intended for electrical appliances such as contact/health grills, toasters, barbeques, grills with a metal cover-lid [lid seal], made of plastic, glass or any other industrial material which can cover these appliances as a cover-lid. These electrical appliances consist, at the upper section, in every case, of a cover-lid (1), assembly of multiple reflectors placed in succession (3) over the cooking-grilling surface, with a heating element (7) and fasteners and support fasteners (such as screws, nuts etc), plastic components (such as handles, side supports etc) while, in certain cases, they additionally consist of a metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element to transfer temperature (4) screwed to the thermostat (14) which on its edge follows the U shape of the heating element (8) with spring support (9) for direct contact with the cooking-grilling surface (10) and a thermostat (6). At the bottom section, in every case, they consist of a cover-lid (2), a metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (4) screwed to the thermostat (14) which on its edge follows the U shape of the heating element (8) with spring support (9) for immediate contact with the cooking-grilling surface (10), a thermostat (6), with a heating element (7), support fasteners (such as screws, nuts etc) and plastic components (such as handles, side supports etc) while, in certain cases, they additionally consist of an assembly of multiple reflectors placed in succession (3) under the cooking-grilling surface and fasteners. The invention consists of the combination of the application of an assembly of multiple reflectors (3) made of metal or of any other industrial material, placed in succession in the upper cover-lid of the appliance in every case, and, in certain cases, also placed in the lower cover-lid of the appliance, with a metal surface of contact between sensing device of thermostat and heating element (4) made of metal, with a special U shape to follow the shape of the heating element (8) with spring support (9) screwed to the thermostat (14), in every case located at the bottom section of the appliance and in certain cases also at the upper. In the assembly of multiple reflectors (3), which is screwed on with fasteners to each internal surface of the cover-lid without coming into contact perimetrically with it, there is distance on the one hand among the reflectors (12), between the reflectors and the cover-lid on the other hand (11), as well as adequate space perimetrically between the cooking-grilling surface and the covers-lids (13). More specifically, it is about a system of multiple components that aims, among others, to the control and the reflex of the heat towards the cooking-grilling surfaces of the appliances (5), to the decrease of the temperatures of the external surfaces of the appliance due to the distance a) among the reflectors (12), b) between the reflectors and the cover-lid (11) and c) between the cooking-grilling surface and the cover-lids (13), as well as to the increase of the appliances' life, to the energy conservation and the improvement of the food's cooking-grilling.