Abstract: A heating arrangement for an oven includes a heating assembly including a plurality of elongate heating members extending along respective longitudinal axes oriented in a first direction and mutually spaced apart in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The heating arrangement further includes a cover unit having a body extending along a plane oriented parallel with the plurality of elongate heating members and spaced apart therefrom in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. A plurality of openings extend through the body with at least some of the openings being aligned with respective ones of the elongate heating members in the first and second directions.

Abstract: A method of heat treating post-tensioning strand wedges that enhances efficiency, repeatability and safety is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of post-tensioning strand wedges, transporting each post-tensioning strand wedge to a heating assembly having a first induction heater, heating each post-tensioning strand wedge using the first induction heater of the heating assembly to form a heated post-tensioning strand wedge in a plurality of heated post-tensioning strand wedges, and delivering the plurality of heated post-tensioning strand wedges to perform a series of actions.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, and a turntable rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. An upper pan is mounted above the turntable. The cooking appliance also includes a motor operatively coupled to the turntable to rotate the turntable and the upper pan within the cooking cavity.

Abstract: An induction heating apparatus including an inverter comprising a switching element, the inverter configured to supply a power to a first node based on an operation of the switching element; a first heating coil around which a wire is wound in a first winding direction with respect to the first node and configured to be heated by the power supplied from the first node; a second heating coil around which a wire is wound in a second winding direction different from the first winding direction with respect to the first node and configured to be heated by the power supplied from the first node; and at least one processor configured to control a resonance frequency of a current flowing through the first heating coil and the second heating coil.

Abstract: A hand protecting cavity ventilation system for an oven is provided. The system includes an air duct, positioned at a top of a cavity of the oven, the air duct having a duct outlet aimed toward a door to the cavity to provide an airflow along an inner surface of the door. The air duct extends downward from the ceiling of the cavity in front of and below a heating element disposed below the ceiling of the cavity. The air duct forms a vertically displaced hand protection portion to act as a barrier in front of the heating element, thereby guarding the heating element when the door of the oven is opened.

Abstract: A heater that inhibits the formation of ice in an air gap separating a stationary stator and a rotatable rotor of a rotating machine. The heater includes a plurality of stringers configured to be arranged in associated winding slots of the associated stator adjacent the air gap, and extending between two ends of the heater. Each of the stringers includes two electrical resistance heating traces arranged between two electrical insulation layers that are arranged between two thermal conduction layers. The traces extend along an entire length of each of the stringers between the two ends of the heater. The traces are electrically isolated from each other.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing an object by generation of laser radiation as a collimated laser beam, influencing the intensity distribution and/or the phase progression over the cross section of the laser beam, splitting the laser beam into two partial beams, and deflection and focusing of the partial beams so that the partial beams are superimposed in a processing zone in the material of the object.

Abstract: A griddle includes a griddle plate, a heating element, a frame, and a plurality of nuts. The heating element provides heat to the griddle plate when the griddle is used. The frame includes a plurality of walls, a flange that extends from top edges of the plurality of walls, a plurality of studs mounted to extend upward from the flange, and a bottom wall that extends from bottom edges of the plurality of walls toward an interior of the plurality of walls. The heating element is mounted to the bottom wall. A nut of the plurality of nuts is mounted on each stud of the plurality of studs. A bottom surface of the griddle plate is mounted to abut each nut of the plurality of nuts to define an air gap around a perimeter of the griddle plate between the flange and the bottom surface of the griddle plate.

Abstract: An externally driven conveyor pulley with an integrated thermal control system by which the temperature of the pulley may be controlled whether the pulley is rotating or stationary. The present invention includes a rotary connection device (or plurality of such devices) designed to transfer fluid (liquid or gaseous) or electrical current into/out of a rotating object. The rotary connection device may be a slip-ring for electrical power transfer or a rotary union for liquid transfer, but any device designed to transmit fluid or electricity into a rotating object could be utilized. In one embodiment, temperature control is achieved by transmitting temperature controlled fluids through the pulley via at least one rotary connection device. In an alternative embodiment, temperature control is achieved by transmitting electricity via the rotary connection device to a temperature regulating device in the rotating object. The temperature regulating device could be any electrical heating or cooling unit.

Abstract: A door assembly for a microwave reactor including a microwave waveguide to direct microwaves from an external microwave source to inside the microwave reactor, and having a waveguide interface for preventing backflow of a process gas into the waveguide; an inlet for entry of matter to be treated in the microwave reactor; a first seal at the periphery of the door assembly to sealably interface with a static front of the microwave reactor; a second seal inserted into a groove on an inside face of the door assembly to sealably interface with an opening of a microwave reactor drum, the groove having a width of about 12.9 inches (32.766 cm) divided by an integer, and the second seal configured to prevent solids and liquids from flowing outside of the reactor drum; and a ring choke to contact a choke arranged on the periphery of the opening of the reactor drum.

Abstract: Provided is an induction heating device with which discharging can be easily avoided even when a large electric current is used. The induction heating device comprises a high-frequency power supply provided with a connection portion for an alternating-current power supply, and a heating coil portion connected to the high-frequency power supply. In the heating coil portion, a plurality of coils include n coils surrounding a cavity portion in a plane, wherein the plurality of coils are mutually connected in series via one of a plurality of capacitors.

Abstract: A control system for use with an outdoor cooking apparatus may include a hub and an axle housing adapted to slidably couple with a hub. The control system may also include a motor mounted at or near the upper end of the axle housing and an axle mechanically coupled to the motor and extending through the axle housing to a free end emerging from the lower end of the axle housing. The control system may also include a support coupling attached to the free end of the axle, the support coupling being adapted to support a food support below the axle housing. The axle housing may be selectively arranged and secured relative to the sleeve to position the height of the support coupling relative to the lower end of the axle housing and the axle may rotate about its longitudinal axis when the motor is turned on.

Abstract: A hob plate above a radiant heating device and a safety temperature limiter between said radiant heating device and hob plate, which safety temperature limiter is designed to deactivate the radiant heating device when a switch-off temperature is reached. To actuate the radiant heating device, a cooking vessel is first placed on the hob plate above the radiant heating device and then the radiant heating device is activated and at the same time detection of a first switch-on time starts. When a switch-off temperature is reached at the safety temperature limiter, the radiant heating device is deactivated by said safety temperature limiter. The first switch-on time that has elapsed up to that point between activation and deactivation of the radiant heating device is detected and compared with a predefined limit switch-on time. If the first switch-on time lies below the limit switch-on time the radiant heating device is switched off.

Abstract: A food smoker includes a smoker body having a lid and a removable smoke and heat source secured within a base. Located adjacent the upper portion of the smoker body is a plurality of apertures configured to support at least one hanger rod. The hanger rods are capable of suspending foodstuff within the smoker body.

Abstract: A pellet fueled apparatus having a continuous spark ignition system and swing-away warming rack is disclosed. The apparatus may include a power supply controller configured to cause a spark generator to create a continuous spark in a gap space between two electrodes for a duration greater than 2 seconds and up to 20 minutes uninterrupted. The apparatus, when embodied as a grill may include a warming rack that swings away from an underlying cooking surface when the grill lid is opened.

Abstract: A microwave heating sheet includes a substrate and a heating layer disposed on a first surface of the substrate. The heating layer includes a polar solvent that has a boiling point of not less than 100° C. and a polyelectrolyte that is dissolved in the polar solvent.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting brittle material comprises an aspheric focusing lens, an aperture, and a laser-source generating a beam of pulsed laser-radiation. The aspheric lens and the aperture form the beam of pulsed laser-radiation into an elongated focus having a uniform intensity distribution along the optical axis of the aspheric focusing lens. The elongated focus extends through the full thickness of a workpiece made of a brittle material. The workpiece is cut by tracing the optical axis along a cutting line. Each pulse or burst of pulsed laser-radiation creates an extended defect through the full thickness of the workpiece.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices may include a toaster device. The toaster may include a toaster body having a housing having a top outer surface, a bottom outer surface, and a side outer surface extending between the top and bottom outer surfaces. The toaster device may include a control system comprising a power supply and a switch configured to cut power to the heating element when in a cut-power state. The toaster device may include a toaster cover comprising an actuation element. The toaster cover may be alterable between a detached state in which the toaster cover is separated and remote from the toaster body and an assembled state in which the toaster cover rests atop the toaster body to cover the bread slot and the actuation element of the toaster cover actuates the switch into the cut-power state.

Abstract: A heating assembly for a cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven, has a support and/or heating element with a curved shape having a concave side facing a cooking cavity. The support and/or heating element may be flexible, e.g., having a planar shape when unstressed and a curved shape when stressed. The support and/or heating element may define a sheet, e.g., having a length and width. The heating element may have openings in the sheet. The heating element may be coupled to the support so as to be slidable movable relative to the support, e.g., so the heating element can slide relative to the support when the support and heating element are bent into a curved shape.

Abstract: A cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven, has a lifting arm including ribs that form a support surface for a food product in a cooking cavity of the appliance. Each rib can include an opening configured to permit infrared radiation from a heating assembly to pass through the rib to the food product supported by the lifting arm and/or to reduce a thermal mass and capacitance of the lifting arm. The heating assembly can include a support and/or heating element with a curved shape having a concave side facing a cooking cavity. The support and/or heating element can have a planar shape when unstressed and a curved shape when stressed. The heating element may be coupled to the support so as to be slidably movable relative to the support, e.g., so the heating element can slide relative to the support.