Electric hobs

Abstract

 A heating unit for supporting in an opening in a hob-plate has a heating surface in the form of a glass ceramic plate (8) surrounded by a bezel (9), and a housing (3) carrying a heating element support of insulating material having a peripheral wall, the housing being secured to the bezel by a plurality of clrcumferentially-spaced straps (14) forming a rigid unit, with the glass ceramic plete (8) clamped between the bezel and the wall of the heating element support.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to electric hobs of the kind having at least one heating unit replaceably supported within an opening in a hob-plate, and more especially to heating units for use in such hobs.

[0002] An object of the invention is to provide a heating unit of this kind having a glass ceramic heating surface which is particularly suitable for such a purpose.

[0003] According, therefore, to one aspect of the invention, a heating unit of the kind designed to be supported within an opening in a hob-plate, and having a heating surface provided by a plate of glass ceramic material, incorporates a bezel fitting over a peripheral region of the plate, a housing accommodating a insulating support structure having a surface which faces the plate and carries an electric heating element, and a wall which surrounds the element and serves to space the element from the plate, and a plurality of straps spaced around the unit and each anchored, at one end to the bezel and at the other end to the housing,so as to clamp the bezel to the housing and thereby form a substantially rigid unit with the glass ceramic plate sandwiched between the bezel and the wall of the insulating support structure.

[0004] By forming the straps of relatively thin metal, preferably having a thickness of approximately 0.6mm the unit can be arranged to get closely within α-respective opening in a hob, so as to provide the maximum practicable heating area.

[0005] The straps are preferably provided with hooked ends which fit into openings in the bezel, and with openings at their opposite ends which fit over tags on the undersurface of the housing, the tags being bent over to secure the straps in position. However other means of anchoring the straps to the bezel and/or to the housing may be employed.

[0006] Preferably the edge of the glass ceramic plate is formed with a peripheral rebate on its upper surface so that the upper surface of the bezel is substantially flush with the upper surface of the plate. Preferably also a gasket of any suitable material is disposed between the plate and the bezel, in order to provide a seal which substantially prevents any spillage from penetrating between them in use of the unit. A gasket formed of ceramic fibre has been found to be suitable for this purpose.

[0007] Preferably also the bezel is formed with a downturned outer rim which is arranged to engage the surface of the hob-plate in which the unit is fitted.

[0008] The housing may comprise a first part which carries the insulating support structure, a second part to which the straps are anchored and which is disposed beneath the first part,and spring means acting between the two parts to urge the first part, together with the insulating support structure, towards the glass ceramic plate.

[0009] Preferably the edge of the hob-opening is arranged to have an upward ridge which, on assembly, in conjunction with a downward projection on the bezel encloses an annular space within which is contained a resilient seal.

[0010] A further seal may be contained in a peripheral rebate in the upper surface of the support ting. Such a seal is preferably a plastics material such as PTFE.

[0011] The invention includes within its scope electric hobs comprising a hob-plate fitted with one or more heating units in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

[0012] Two glass ceramic hob-plate units in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying schematic drawing, in which

Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of the first unit, showing the unit mounted in an opening in a hob-plate,

Figure 2 illustrates a view of the unit itself from below, and

Figure 3 illustrates a sectional elevation of the second unit.

[0013] The unit of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a coiled wire electric heating element 1 stapled or otherwise secured'in position on one surface of a circular support 2 of ceramic material. The heating element support 2 is accommodated within a metal casing 3 having a circular base 4 and, around it, an upstanding side wall 5, a soft ceramic blanket 6 being interposed between the support 2 and the base 4 of the casing in order to insulate the staples or other fasteners (not shown) electrically from the casing.

[0014] The heating element 1 is surrounded by a ring 7 of ceramic material over which is fitted a glass ceramic plate 8, the ring serving to space the heating element from the lower surface of the plate. Insulated current supply terminals 10 are mounted on the side wall 5 of the case and are connected electrically to the ends of the heating element 1 in known manner.

[0015] The glass ceramic plate 8 has a peripheral rebate in its upper surface, around which is fitted a metal bezel 9 in the form of a flat ring having a down-turned outer edge 11. A gasket 12 of ceramic fibres is interposed between the bezel 9 and the plate 8 as shown. The lower surface of the bezel 9 carries a cylindrical metal flange 13 which surrounds the edge of the glass ceramic plate 8.

[0016] In accordance with the invention the bezel 9 is secured to the casing 3 by a plurality of metal straps 14, in this case three although other embodiments of the invention may have six such straps, or indeed anothr number. The straps have hooked upper ends 15 which engage in respective openings 16 spaced around the cylindrical flange 13. The straps 14 preferably consist of zintec. The opposite ends of the straps 14 are themselves formed with openings 17 which fit over tags 18 pressed from the base 4 of the casing 3, the tags being subsequently bent inwards to secure the straps 14, and clamp the glass ceramic plate 8 between the bezel 9 and the ceramic ring 7, thereby forming a rigid heating unit.

[0017] In use the unit is arranged to be fitted, as shown in Figure 1, within an opening in a sheet metal hob-plate 21, the downturned outer edge 11 of the bezel 9 fitting over a slightly upturned rim of the opening 19. The unit is secured in position by a bridge member 23, having ends 24 which bear against the under-surface of the hob-plate 21, and a central opening through which passes a metal stud 25 secured to the base 4 of the casing 3. A nut 26 is screwed on to the end of the stud so as to draw the unit downwards and clamp it in position.

[0018] The use of relatively thin metal straps 14 clamping the bezel 9 to the casing 3 makes it possible for the unit to almost completely fill a co-operating opening 19 in the hob-plate thereby ensuring the maximum practicable heating area. The straps 14 have a thickness of approximately 0.6mm and a width of approximately 5.0mm. However any suitable means of securing the straps to the bezel and/or to the casing, other than those described by way of example, could alternatively be employed.

[0019] Referring now to Figure 3, this shows a unit similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, and comprising a heating element 1 carried by a support accommodated within a metal casing 3, and a ring 7 of ceramic material similarly serving to space the heating element 1 from a glass ceramic plate 8. The plate 8 is similarly formed with a peripheral rebate in its supper surface, around which is fitted a metal bezel 9a in the form of a flat ring having a downturned outer edge 11, an inner section shaped so as to be in contact with one or both walls of the peripheral rebate of the plate 8, and a flange 13 surrounding the edge of the plate 8 and at least part of the ceramic ring 7. The edge 11 of the metal bezel 9a is in contact with the outer surface of the hob-plate 21. The hob-plate 21 has, near the edge of its opening 19, an upward annular ridge 27 such that when the hob unit is assembled the said upward ridge 27 and the downward outer edge 11 enclose an annular space 28. Within the annular space 28 is located a resilient seal 29 for the purpose of preventing liquids passing from the outside of the assembled unit to the inside of the assembled unit via the hob-plate-bezel interface. Such a seal 29 may, as shown in the diagram, be circular in cross section or may partially fill the space 28 in any other manner or completely fill it.

[0020] The ceramic ring 7 has a peripheral rebate at its upper edge which contains a further seal 30. The seal 30 is preferably a plastics material (suitably P.T.F.E.) and is situated so as to prevent liquid passing through the interface between the plate 8 and the ring 7. In the case that the melting point of the said seal 30 is lower than the maximum working temperature within the heated chamber containing the element 1 it is desirable that the inner annular lip of the ring 7 is of sufficient thickness to prevent damage to the seal 30 from overheating.

[0021] In this embodiment the heating unit comprises, in addition, a metal plate 32 located beneath the base of the casing 3, and in this case the metal bezel 9a is secured to the plate by means of three equally spaced straps 14. Although this example shows three such straps it will of course be understood that the invention also encompasses further embodiments having three of more straps. These are similar to the straps of the first embodiment each having a hooked upper end 15 which passes through a respective opening 16 in the bezel flange 13, and an opening 17 adjacent its lower end which fits over a tag 43 pressed from the plate 32, which tag is subsequently bent inwards to secure the strap.

[0022] The base of the casing 3 has welded to it three studs 31 which project downwards through holes in the plate, the shaft of each stud being surrounded by a helical compression spring 33.

[0023] The attachment of the staps 14 to the plate 32 is such as to compress the springs 33 which causes the casing 3 and heating element support 2 with the ceramic ring 7 to be urged towards the glass ceramic plate 8, ensuring that the top edge of the ring 7 is held securely against the lower surface of the plate.

[0024] As in the previous embodiment a bridge member 23 is used to clamp the heating unit to the metal hob plate 21, the bridge member being secured by means of a nut 26 screwing, in this case, on to a stud 25 carried by the metal plate 32.

[0025] Although not shown in the diagram a gasket may be disposed between the glass ceramic plate 8 and the bezel 9a, the material for such a gasket possibly being ceramic fibres.

[0026] Although the springs 33 are shown in the drawings as helical compression springs, they may be replaced by one or more waved washers or by a number of "Z" shaped springs.

[0027] Also the heating element 1, although shown in the drawings as a spiral electrical resistance heating element, may be of any suitable form such as one or more halogen lamps.

Claims

1. A heating unit of the kind designed to be supported within an opening in a hob-plate, and having a heating surface provided by a plate of glass ceramic material, incorporates a bezel fitting over a peripheral region of the plate, a housing accommodating an insulating support structure having a surface which faces the plate and carries electric heating means, and a wall which surrounds the said heating means and serves to space the said heating means from the plate, and a plurality of straps spaced around the unit and each anchored at one end to the bexel and at the other end to the housing, so as to clamp the bezel to the housing and thereby form a substantially rigid unit with the glass ceramic plate sandwiched between the bezel and the wall of the insulating support structure.

2. A heating unit according to Claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a first part which carries the insulating support structure, a second part to which the straps are anchored and which is disposed beneath the first part, and spring means acting between the two parts to urge the first part, together with the insulating support structure, towards the glass ceramic plate.

3. A heating unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the straps are formed of relatively thin metal so as to allow the unit to fit closely within the hob-plate opening.

4. A heating unit according to Claim 3 wherein the stapes are provided with hooked ends which fit into openings in the bezel.

5. A heating unit according to Claim 1 wherein the straps are provided with openings which fit over tags on the undersurface of the housing.

6. A heating unit according to Claim 5 wherein the tags are bent over to secure the straps in position.

7. A heating unit according Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the edge of the glass ceramic plate is formed with a peripheral rebate on its upper surface so that the upper surface of the bezel is substantially flush with the upper surface of the plate.

8. A heating unit according to Claim 7, wherein a gasket is disposed between the plate and the bezel, in order to provide a seal which substantially prevents any spillage from penetrating between them in use of the unit.

9. A heating unit according to Claim 8 wherein ceramic fibres are used to form the gasket.

10. A heating unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the bezel is formed with a downturned outer rim which is arranged to engage the surface of the hob-plate in which the unit is fitted.

11. A heating unit according to any preceding claim wherein the ceramic support ring has a peripheral rebate in its upper surface, said rebate containing a resilient seal.

12. A heating unit according to Claim 11 wherein the seal consists of P.T.F.E.

13. A heating unit according to any preceding claim wherein said electric heating means comprise an electric resistance heating element.

14. A heating unit according to any of claims 1 to 13 wherein said electric heating means comprise one or more infra-red omitting lamps.

15. A heating unit substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

16. An electric hob unit comprising a hot-plate fitting with one or more heating units in accordance with any preceding claim.

17. An electric hob incorporating at least one heating unit according to Claim 10 wherein the rim of the associated hob-plate opening is provided with an upwardly directed ridge which, on assembly of the unit, in conjunction with the downturned outer rim on the bezel encloses an annular space within which is contained a resilient seal.

Drawing