|
(11) | EP 1 938 664 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
|
|
| (54) |
DEVICE FOR FIXING A RESISTANCE ELEMENT TO CATERING EQUIPMENT EINRICHTUNG ZUM BEFESTIGEN EINES WIDERSTANDSELEMENTS AN CATERING-GERÄTEN DISPOSITIF POUR FIXER UN ELEMENT RESISTANT A UN EQUIPEMENT DE CUISINE |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for fixing a resistance element to catering equipment.
[0002] Devices for fixing electrical resistance elements to catering equipment are known, comprising a bush to which the resistance element terminals are welded, these then being inserted into a counter-bush welded to the equipment.
[0003] The seal between the bush and counter-bush is provided by O-rings housed in suitable seats provided on the bush.
[0004] However, this known device presents certain drawbacks, and in particular:
- lengthy construction time for welding the counter-bush to the vessel,
- high risk of deformation of the equipment vessel and of the counter-bush during welding,
- risk of compromising the system seal by welding,
- high cost of these operations.
[0005] GB 1470366 discloses thermally controlled immersion heater Comprising a heating unit H and a clamping unit C, the heating unit H having a flat or dished metal mounting head, and the clamping and heating units being mounted on opposite sides of a vessel wall and being clamped around an access aperture therein by a plurality of connecting means.
[0006] An object of the invention is to eliminate these drawbacks by providing a means for fixing the counter-bush to the equipment which ensures bush/counter-bush rotation and the relative hydraulic seal.
[0007] This and further objects which will be apparent from the ensuing description are attained according to the invention by a device for fixing a resistance element to catering equipment as claimed in claim 1.
[0008] The present invention is further clarified hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing showing an exploded perspective view of the device of the invention.
[0009] As can be seen from the figure, the fixing device of the invention comprises substantially a bush 2 brazed or welded to the terminals 4 of an electrical resistance element 6, the bush 2 comprising on its outer lateral surface a plurality of annular seats in which O-ring seals 8 are housed.
[0010] The device of the invention comprises a counter-bush 10 presenting a flange 12 and a cylindrical portion 14 insertable through a corresponding hole 16 provided in the wall 18 of the equipment vessel and secured thereto by a ring nut 20.
[0011] When the counter-bush 10 has been fixed to the bottom of the equipment, the bush 2 is inserted into the counter-bush and locked thereto by inserting a setscrew 22 which passes through the portion 14 of the counter-bush and engages in an annular groove 24 provided in the lateral surface of the bush, to enable it to rotate axially but to prevent its withdrawal.
[0012] From the aforegoing it is apparent that the device of the invention presents numerous advantages, and in particular:
- it reduces the counter-bush/vessel assembly time as the former is simply screwed onto the latter,
- it requires no work by third parties as assembly is easily carried out by inexpert personnel,
- it eliminates any deformation of the vessel and counter-bush,
- it enables the resistance element to be rotated in order to clean the vessel.
- a counter-bush (10) insertable into a suitable seat (16) provided in the equipment vessel and removably fixable to it,
- a bush (2) secured to the resistance element (6) and engaeable with said counter-bush (10),
- seal means (8) between said bush and said counter-bush,
- engaging means (22) of said bush when inserted into said counter-bush characterised in that said means (22) consists of a setscrew (22) which is transversely inserted through the lateral surface (14) of the counter-bush and engages in an annular groove (24) provided in the lateral surface of the bush
- eine Gegenbuchse (10), die in eine geeignete Aufnahme (16) eingesetzt werden kann, die im Gerätekessel vorgesehen ist, und an diesem lösbar befestigt werden kann,
- eine Buchse (2), die an dem Widerstandselement (6) befestigt ist und mit der Gegenbuchse (10) in Eingriff gebracht werden kann,
- Dichtungsmittel (8) zwischen der Buchse und der Gegenbuchse,
- Eingriffsmittel (22) für den Eingriff der Buchse, wenn sie in die Gegenbuchse eingesetzt ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass dieses Mittel (22) aus einem Gewindestift (22) besteht, der quer durch die Seitenfläche (14) der Gegenbuchse eingesetzt ist und in eine Ringnut (24) eingreift, die in der Seitenfläche der Buchse vorgesehen ist.
- une contre-douille (10) insérable dans un logement (16) approprié prévu dans le récipient d'équipement et pouvant être fixée de manière amovible à celui-ci,
- une douille (2) fixée à l'élément de résistance (6) et pouvant s'accoupler avec ladite contre-douille (10),
- un moyen d'étanchéité (8) entre ladite douille et ladite contre-douille,
- un moyen d'accouplement (22) de ladite douille quand elle est insérée dans ladite contre-douille, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen (22) consiste en une vis (22) qui est insérée de manière transversale à travers la surface latérale (14) de la contre-douille et s'engage dans une rainure annulaire (24) prévue dans la surface latérale de la douille.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description