Patent Application
20070121704
This invention relates to a temperature detection device for a heating device in conjunction with a power controller or power regulator and a method for controlling a heating device in a first, normal power range and a second, lower power range.
For heating devices or cooktops (e.g., hobs), it is known that they operate in a first operating mode cooking utensils and their contents are heated at temperatures above 200° C. (e.g. boiling foods or frying). In a second operating mode, it is possible to keep a cooking container and its food hot at a lowerpower level and temperature well below 100° C., i.e. without boiling. In the first mode the cooktop surface is protected against damage by reaching high temperatures by means of a mechanical temperature detection device, also known as a rod controller. Such rod controllers are e.g. known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,170 or DE-A-102004023787 and have a switching point in a range 500 to 600° C. The heating device is switched then off on reaching or exceeding the same temperature. Another switching point is defined in the form of a so-called “hot” indication at approximately 70° C. This indicates by means of a lamp or the like to an operator when the hob is too hot for contact.
Thus, there is a need to provide such a device and method enabling the problems of the prior art to be avoided and so as to, in particular, permit a better control or regulation of a heating device, particularly in different operating modes.
Embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter relative to the attached diagrammatic drawings, wherein:
One embodiment of the present invention provides a temperature detection device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 20. Advantageous and preferred developments of the invention form the subject matter of the further claims and are explained in greater detail hereinafter. By express reference the wording of the claims is made into part of the content of the description. Some of the features explained hereinafter will only be described once. However, independently thereof, they apply both to the temperature detection device and to the control method.
According to the invention, the mechanical or thermomechanical temperature device has a sensor for detecting the temperature of the heating device or thereabouts and consequently from the fundamental operating standpoint corresponds to the device known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,170 and DE-A-102004023787. The heating device is advantageously a per se known radiant heating device for a hotplate of a cooktop. The sensor comprises two, advantageously elongated, rod-like parts having a different thermal expansion behaviour and thus produces a relative movement between the same, which gives rise to a switching movement. Along the switching path of this switching movement there are at least two switching points at different locations. At each switching point is provided a switch and corresponding electric contacts, which operates on reaching said switching point. A first switching point is at a temperature of several 100° C., e.g. 500 to 700° C. Another, lower, second switching point, in a first variant of the invention, is at a temperature below 100°C., e.g. 60 to 90° C., and is consequently a ‘keeping-hot’ function. In a second variant, the lower, second switching point is such that a temperature of 180 to 220° C., e.g. 200° C. is maintained at the bottom of the cooking utensil, and consequently a frying function is implemented. However, according to the invention, the lower, second temperature can vary. Thus, no matter how high the second temperature is, it can be maintained during operation.
For both switching points, the switches or electric contacts result in the power of the heating device being modified or the heating device being switched on or off or having a reduction in its capacity. In particular, on exceeding the given switching points, the power of the heating devices is reduced and in certain circumstances to a significant extent. If the heating devices are operated in a fixed cycle operation, i.e., are only switched on or off with full power, said heating devices are switched off.
Thus, the invention makes it possible for the temperature detection device to switch off the heating device so as to protect against excessive temperatures, particularly at a cooking surface or glass ceramic surface of the cooktop. Advantageously, a corresponding switch in the temperature detection device reduces the temperature of the heating device or directly switches it off. This safety function can be used for normal boiling operation. However, it is also possible in another mode, which is designed solely for keeping food hot at lower temperatures or for frying food with intermediate temperatures, to provide or use the second switching point on the temperature detection device, which here permits a type of thermostatic operation without any other regulating or controlling devices. The devices conventionally used as power regulators or power controllers, for keeping hot operation, suffer in part from the disadvantage that even in the lowest power stage they still deliver too much power to the heating device. Consequently, after a certain, but admittedly long time, the product in the cooking container could boil. However, the invention more particularly makes it possible to relatively precisely regulate, i.e., in said second, other temperature range with a predetermined temperature. Such a control precision cannot be achieved with conventional power regulators, controllers or the like. Then, in the low temperature range, it is only possible to set and maintain power stages and not the final temperatures. Also, at high temperatures it is important to keep the temperature in a roughly precise manner, independently of influences such as the saucepan quality or the like.
Whereas advantageously the first switch or electric contacts can directly switch, or switch off, the heating device at the first switching point, there are two possibilities for the second switching point. First, it is possible for a second switch or electric contact for the second switching point to also directly switch on or off the heating device and then its switching power must be designed for this purpose. Second, it is possible for the temperature detection device to contain a per se known, standard signal switch as the second switch, i.e., designed for a very low switching power. This second switch can then control or trigger a further switch or power switch for a corresponding switching of the heating device power. It is possible in this case to use a known, aforementioned temperature detection device. The device only has to be adapted to the individual use case, particularly by a corresponding setting of the second switching point to a desired temperature. The further power switch can e.g. be provided close to the temperature detection device or on a power controller. This further switch is advantageously a power relay. If the switch for the second switching point is constructed as a make contact, i.e., on exceeding the corresponding temperature at the second switching point, the second switch is closed, advantageously the further or third switch is opened in order to switch off the heating device.
As described hereinbefore, for the ‘keeping-hot’ function, the second switching point should be chosen in such a way that food is heated, but not yet boiled and should therefore be below 100° C. Particularly advantageous for the keeping hot function are temperatures of 50 or 60 to 90° C., particularly advantageously approximately 70 to 80° C. The switching point is chosen or set taking into account of certain tolerances in the detection precision of the temperature detection device, so that food only to be kept hot on the hob or over the heating device does not boil. Advantageously, account is taken of the fact that there is normally a temperature difference between the temperature below a hob surface and on the temperature detection device and on a mounted cooking product container. To this extent, the aforementioned temperatures for the second switching point may have to be modified in such a way that the indicated temperatures or temperature ranges for the second switching point should, if possible, prevail on the top of a hob or a cooking product container placed thereon. The corresponding points apply to the frying function, but which are at higher temperatures.
Advantageously, the device according to the invention is connected to an electromechanical power controller or cooperates therewith and in a particularly advantageous manner, an inventive means can have one of these devices. Such a power controller is e.g. known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,582. It advantageously has at least two switching ranges, which in one variant, is a rotary controller having rotation angle ranges. In one of the switching ranges, the power supply for the heating device is set to reach the first switching point, i.e., for boiling operation with high power levels and temperatures. In another or second switching range, the power supply to the heating device is only intended to bring about the reaching of the second switching point, i.e., at a much lower level for keeping hot purposes. Advantageously, the different switches or contacts in the temperature detection device are activated or controlled. In particular, the second switch for the second switching point only interrupts the power supply to the heating device when the power controller in the corresponding, second switching range is operating or set. It can be particularly advantageous for lower temperatures to have a range with small rotation angles or a smaller rotation of the power controller from a zero setting until the second switching point is reached. A further extending or following range with larger rotation angles is used for reaching the first switching point, i.e., the higher temperatures in boiling operation. If a higher temperature is to be regulated for the frying function, obviously larger rotation angles are possible. However, advantageously use is made of the alternatives described hereinafter.
An alternative to the aforementioned permanent or basic subdivision into different rotation angle ranges in a rotary controller, for reaching or setting the second switching point is possible. This involves a different setting or rotary movement than for the first switching point or for the normal boiling operation. For reaching or setting the second switching point, the rotary controller is firstly rotated in one direction, preferably starting with the otherwise highest boiling stage, up to a stop or beyond a given point. It is then once again rotated in the other “normal” direction with a minimum rotation angle for activating the ‘keeping hot’ operation with the second switching point. Thus, with the aforementioned power controllers, rotation starts from the zero setting and continues by a small amount in one direction, directly towards the normally highest boiling stage, and then back in the other direction, e.g., then with a rotation angle of at least 60° or even over 90°. This serves to provide a power timing for the heating device, which in the case of 9 stages for the ‘keeping hot’ function, should correspond advantageously to at least stage 4 or 5. This makes it possible to ensure that the power timing in itself does not lead to the power at the heating device being too low in order to achieve the desired keeping hot temperature with the second switching point or that this is reached as rapidly as possible. For the frying function the power timing should correspond to stage 7 to 9. This can be shown by inscriptions on the rotary controller. In place of a setting by means of the rotation angle, the function can be activated by axially pulling or pressing the rotary controller. This does not impair the rotation angle range. Inscriptions concerning operation of the additional function over the rotation range can be provided on the rotary toggle or on the panel. Thus, the additional function is made clear to an operator and in particular the corresponding rotation angle range is indicated.
As conventionally with the aforementioned temperature detection devices, a prescribed residual heat indication is activated at the second switching point. In the described other use of said switching point, it is either possible to use the reaching of the switching point occurring in all cases, or alternatively a RC-element with a capacitor can be provided. The latter is charged upon switching on the heating device and is discharged following the switching off of the heating device by means of a glow lamp, or the like, as an optically readily detectable residual heat indication. The capacitance of the capacitor is advantageously determined in such a way that the indication or display time of the residual heat display lasts at least a few minutes. In this case, the residual heat indication does not take place through the detection of the temperature actually present on the hob after switching off the heating device, but instead on the basis of empirical values.
The actual power at the heating device applied on operating with the second switching point, i.e., for the keeping hot function, can be defined to be in a range between 5 and 20% of the maximum power. In one embodiment, it can be advantageously approximately 10%. For the frying function, the range can be between 70 and 90%.
The temperature detection device is advantageously constructed as a mechanical or thermomechanical functional unit and the power regulators or controllers are advantageously constructed as electromechanical functional units. It is possible to make use of the aforementioned, known functional units and to correspondingly slightly modify the same. The invention can also be embodied using the aforementioned means constituted by the temperature detection device and power regulator/controller, as well as heating device, i.e., as a ready-to-operate appliance, particularly as a hob. Such a hob with several radiant heaters for the hotplates can be constructed in such a way that some hotplates are designed for the keeping hot function and other hotplaces are designed for the frying function.
These and further features can be gathered from the claims, description and drawings and the individual features, both singly or in the form of subcombinations, can be implemented in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields and can represent advantageous, independently protectable constructions for which protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual sections and the subheadings in no way restrict the general validity of the statements made thereunder.
A rod controller 25 is connected to changeover switch 19 as the temperature detection device. As a conventional rod controller, such as is e.g. known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,170 or DE-A-102004023787, it has a first controller contact 27 and a second controller contact 28. The latter are operated by means of an e.g. ceramic longitudinal rod 30 mechanically connected thereto. Said longitudinal rod runs in a metallic rod controller tube 31 and in this way both the rod and tube form the sensor 32.
Sensor 32 projects over the radiant heater 13, which has a spirally directed heating resistor 34 as the actual heating device, whose power supply is provided by means of one of the two controller contacts 27 or 28 and the second power controller switch 17 of power controller 15, which is used merely for two-pole disconnection.
The basic function of power controller 15, changeover switch 19, rod controller 25 and the structure of radiant heater 13 largely correspond to what is known from the prior art in connection with their function. The special feature is more particularly constituted by the changeover switch 19 or the control or wiring of the controller contacts of rod controller 25, particularly the second controller contact 28.
On the front of hob 12 there are four rotary toggles 22a to 22d and their association with the hotplates is such that the far left rotary toggle 22c is associated with the front left hotplate. The association of the rotary toggle 22 to the right thereof takes place clockwise from hotplate 13c.
The association of the additional functions of hotplates 13 is as follows. The two rear hotplates 13a, 13b have as the additional function the keeping hot function with a setting to a temperature between 70 and 90° C. The two front hotplates 13c, 13d have as the additional function the frying function with a second switching point for a pan bottom temperature of around 200° C.
For rotary toggle 22d of hotplate 13d, use can be made of a so-called three-circuit power controller, such as is known from the prior art.
By modifying the switching contacts or switching paths in the power controller, it is possible to obviate the need for an additional switch or changeover switch 19. A pilot lamp or the like can be used for indicating the selected function.
Function
In connection with FIGS. 1 to 3 it will be firstly be explained how the rod controller 25 functions with the two positions 1 and 2 of the changeover switching contact 20 and switching points I and II according to
If the changeover switching contact 20 is in the upper position 2, the power control of the radiant heater 13 takes place via the second controller contact 28. As is also shown in
This means that switching point II is reached much earlier or at much lower temperatures than switching point I. The approximately 80° C. of switching point II roughly corresponds to what is implemented in part as the switching point for activating the hot display via rod controller 25. The second controller contact 28 is constructed in such a way that it is closed at the second switching point II in order to activate an optical hot display through LEDs or the like. If the switching procedure of the second controller contact 28 cannot, or is not to be redesigned according to FIGS. 1 to 3, i.e., it remains a closing switch on exceeding the second switching point II, via said second controller contact 28, a separate power relay can be provided in the control of radiant heater 13. It opens on closing the second controller contact 28, i.e. on exceeding the temperature of approximately 80° C. and therefore switches off the heating device in the corresponding mode. This power relay is then provided in a second branch starting from the changeover switch 19 to heating resistor 34.
In the aforementioned operating procedure it must be borne in mind that in particular for mode 1, i.e. the normal heating operation for boiling or frying, the level of power generated is adjusted by means of power controller 15 and the first power controller switch 16. As will be explained hereinafter, this power level can be adjusted by means of rotary toggle 22. Rotary toggle 22 can also influence the position of the changeover switching contact 20 and in theory a further switch can be provided here.
This is illustrated by
If mode 2 is chosen, i.e. only keeping hot at a low temperature of approximately 80° C. or a frying process with a maintained high temperature, the rotary toggle 22 is firstly turned to the right up to the position designated 2, e.g. up to a stop or beyond a locking stage. It is then turned to the right by a certain minimum rotation angle, e.g. 60°. Due to the fact that the rotary toggle 22 is firstly turned to the left and then to the right, changeover switch 19 is operated, only the ‘keeping hot’ or thermostatic operation is possible on radiant heater 13. The choice of specific power stages is now no longer possible. In particular, through the illustrated rotation angle of roughly 60° a power stage is set on power controller 15 which makes more power available than can be transferred to radiant heater 13 via the temperature switching behaviour of rod controller 25 at switching point II. The specific construction of the rotary toggle 22 for power controller 15 and changeover switch 19 is left to the expert and causes no problem to him due to his routine skill. Such switching movements are also basically known through the activation of so-called parboiling stages or the like.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102005057105.0 | Nov 2005 | DE | national |
