Abstract: A heating unit suitable for mounting in a cooking hob includes a circular tray having a layer of thermally-insulative material disposed therein and a peripheral thermally-insulative wall, within which four infra-red lamps, each containing a tungsten filament, are supported. The tray also includes an inner thermally-insulative wall, which encloses the length of each filament. Between the peripheral and inner walls, two conventional, wire-wound heating elements are disposed. The filaments and the elements are energizable independently and/or concurrently, and series and/or parallel combinations of the filaments and the elements may be switched to provide various discrete power outputs.

Abstract: A thermal limiting device for controlling one or more sources of infra-red radiation, preferably tungsten-halogen lamps, mounted in heating apparatus, consists of a metallic wire arranged to de-energize the sources when it is subjected to a predetermined temperature. The wire is accommodated within a quartz tube, which selectively transmits and absorbs infra-red radiation of different wavelengths. An infra-red reflective coating is applied either to the wire or to the inner surface of the quartz tube to prevent infra-red radiation transmitted through the quartz tube from reaching the wire, while infra-red radiation of a particular wavelength, which is absorbed by the quartz tube, heats the wire by thermal conduction and convection, so that the limiter is primarily responsive to radiation only of that particular wavelength.

Abstract: A sifting device consists of a mesh with a vertical wall and protrusions, which attach the device to the rim of a bowl of a food processor. An open-based cone is co-axial with a central rotatable hub and is provided with protuberances on the inner surface thereof. In operation, ingredients are placed in the device and protuberances engaged in turn with a projection, as the hub is rotated, so as to provide undulations of the mesh, thus tossing the ingredients in the device and introducing them into the bowl through the mesh.

Abstract: Heating apparatus includes a tray having a layer of insulative material disposed therewithin, above which a number of infra-red lamps are supported. The ends of each lamp are provided with a pinch seal having an amp tag connector, which is connected to the respective end of a filament within the lamp, sealed therein. Each pinch seal is enclosed within a ceramic housing and the heating apparatus is mounted beneath a layer of glass ceramic. A heat-conductive stud is intimately disposed between the layer and the pinch seal, via an aperture in the housing, so as to provide a good heat-conductive path from the pinch seal to the relatively cool glass ceramic.

Abstract: Heating apparatus includes a tray having a layer of insulative material disposed therewithin, above which a number of infra-red lamps are supported. The ends of each lamp are provided with a pinch seal having an amp tag connector, which is connected to the respective end of a filament within the lamp, sealed therein. Each pinch seal is enclosed within a ceramic housing and the heating apparatus is mounted beneath a layer of glass ceramic.A plate of heat-conductive material is intimately disposed between the top surface of one or more of the ceramic housings and the under surface of the glass ceramic, so as to encourage heat from the pinch seals to conduct in an upward direction towards the glass ceramic.

Abstract: Heating apparatus includes a tray having a layer of insulative material disposed in the base thereof and a number of infra-red lamps disposed thereabove. The apparatus is accommodated within a housing having a layer of glass ceramic to form a hotplate. Each end of each lamp is provided with a pinch seal enclosed within a ceramic end cap. To improve substantially dissipation of heat from the pinch seals, first apertures are provided in a hollow bar and second apertures are provided in a base plate below the pinch seals, so as to permit air to flow into the housing via the second apertures, substantially around the pinch seals, and out of the housing via the first apertures.