Abstract: A knob for the lid of a cooking vessel. The knob being made of heat sensitive material and having a metal cap covering the portion of the knob that is exposed on the underside of the cooking vessel lid.

Abstract: An enamelled double pan includes an outer pan member and an inner pan member. The outer pan member has an open top, a peripheral flange formed on the open top, and a handle mounted on an outer side surface thereof. The outer pan member is coated with an enamel layer. The inner pan member has an open top and a peripheral flange formed on the open top. The inner pan member is coated with an enamel layer, and is received in the outer pan member with a space defined therebetween for reserving water. The space is covered at its upper end with the peripheral flange of the inner pan member. A packing is provided between the peripheral flange of the outer pan member and the peripheral flange of the inner pan member. A clamping ring is provided for clamping the peripheral flange of the outer pan member and the peripheral flange of the inner pan member. A water filler aperture is formed in the peripheral flange of the inner pan member for filling the water into the space.

Abstract: An improved automatic french frying machine and method uses a supply of cooking oil which remains in a cooking vat during normal operation and is heated directly in the cooking vat. A system of thermostats combines with a heating element within the cooking vat to ensure proper cooking temperature and safe operation. An automatic initialization and monitoring system ensures safe startup and operation. Preferred embodiments also include an automatic flushing cycle which is activated at predetermined intervals to clean the cooking vat and replenish the cooking oil within the vat. A specially shaped cooking vat ensures that food particles will be removed from the vat during the flushing cycle. Oil degradation is minimized by either an open-topped cooking vat or a cooking vat having a lid which remains open during cooking.

Abstract: A knob for a cooking vessel is a whistle which gives an audible signal that cooking temperature has been reached, and has a valve slide assembly including a separate leaf spring for shutting off the whistle. Inside and outside knob parts incorporate halves of a resonance chamber which makes the knob extremely simple to mold, assemble, clean, and disassemble. The inner knob is comprised of two parts: a top having a whistle orifice and a base which has two arc segments portions which extend through the lid of a cooking vessel and allow the top to be snapped into place abutting the cooking vessel lid. Because the inner knob is comprised of two parts in this fashion, the central opening in the cooking vessel top can be made small enough so that it will be difficult for a user to catch his or her fingers in the opening when the knob is dissasembled for cleaning. The valve slide rests in guides and is overlaid by a knob cover.

Abstract: A cooking vessel is provided with a whistle knob which has an internal passage for carrying steam from a hole in the cooking vessel to a rotary whistle chamber molded in the knob. The whistle chamber is displaced from and eccentric to the knob axis. The lower surface of the knob has a cavity which surrounds the knob axis, providing a steam passage inlet which is in communication with the hole in the cooking vessel regardless of the angular position of the knob relative to its axis. From the inlet cavity, steam passes through a vertically extending passage, a plenum chamber and a horizontally extending passage which introduces steam into the whistle chamber at an angle which causes an audible whistle and rotary movement of the steam. The whistle chamber has an outlet which may be opened and closed by rotational movement of a valve ring which extends circumferentially around the knob.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for controlling the level of steam condensate in a steam retort wherein sealed cans of food are exposed to incoming steam. The apparatus comprises a pneumatically actuated condensate drain valve which is controlled by a solenoid valve and opens to drain condensate if it reaches a dangerously high level, an alarm to indicate when the high level is reached, a recorder to provide a continuous permanent record of condensate level and drain valve status, and an electric control system for sensing condensate level and operating the solenoid valve, the alarm and the recorder in accordance therewith. The electric control system includes a condensate level sensor in the form of a one or more float-operated magnetically-responsive reed switches mounted in the retort. The sensor comprises a hollow stem in which a reed switch is potted in elastomeric non-displaceable material.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically turning hot dogs upon a conventional griddle which has an easily attachable and detachable motor drive unit and continuously turns the hot dogs and cooks them properly on the griddle. The turner has a grid which slidably rests upon the griddle and has a plurality of laterally elongated openings for receipt of the hot dogs. A portable, detachable drive unit rests upon a surface which is adjacent to the griddle. A releasable coupling means drivingly, but detachable connects the drive unit to the grid for driving the grid in longitudinal reciprocation so that the hot dogs are rotated in alternate directions for even cooking.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing boiled noodles. The apparatus comprises substantially a raw noodle manufacturing unit, a boiling unit for boiling raw noodle elements fabricated by the raw noodle manufacturing unit and a control unit controlling operations of the raw noodle manufacturing unit and the boiling unit. According to the apparatus, each meal of the boiled noodles can be automatically fabricated during a short time interval, by supplying and measuring grain flour and kneading water, fabricating the raw noodle elements automatically and boiling the raw noodle elements automatically by means of controlling the operations of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooking vessel comprising a cooking pan and cover, especially a steam pressure cooker, to which a temperature-dependent resistor is attached as a temperature sensor with an attached computing device for the determination of the temperature inside the cooking pot, and for the transmission of electrical signals corresponding to the temperature detected.In order for the cooking vessel to be equipped for an exact measurement of temperature without greatly increasing costs, a measuring point covered by the handle is provided, to which a temperature sensor is attached. One of the handles of the cooking pot or cover carries a plug accommodation with connection contacts, which mechanically accommodates a computing device formed as a plug unit, and connects electrically with the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Semiautomatic food frying apparatus is disclosed which provides apparatus which may be easily and safely operated to prepare small portions of various food products. In one embodiment, the food frying apparatus includes an upright cabinet with a fan assembly mounted to exhaust air through the top of the cabinet while drawing air in, through and from the lower portion of the cabinet. A removable one-piece filter unit is positioned in the path of air flow to remove odors, gases, smoke, etc. . . . from the air before the air is exhausted back into the room. The removable filter includes a paper filter together with activated charcoal particles configured as an integral unit. In another embodiment, the fan assembly and filter unit are replaced by a closed-loop air cleaning system which does not discharge the internal air of the apparatus into the room. A container for holding a supply of cooking oil is located in the lower portion of the cabinet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cooking vessel comprising a cooking pan and cover, especially a steam pressure cooker, to which a temperature-dependent resistor is attached as a temperature sensor with an attached computing device for the determination of the temperature inside the cooking pot, and for the transmission of electrical signals corresponding to the temperature detected.In order for the cooking vessel to be equipped for an exact measurement of temperature without greatly increasing costs, a measuring point covered by the handle is provided, to which a temperature sensor is attached. One of the handles of the cooking pot or cover carries a plug accommodation with connection contacts, which mechanically accommodates a computing device formed as a plug unit, and connects electrically with the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Food frying apparatus is disclosed which provides apparatus which may be easily and safely operated to prepare small portions of various food products. The food frying apparatus includes an upright cabinet with a fan assembly mounted in the upper-most portion of the cabinet to exhaust air through the top of the cabinet while drawing air in, through and from the lower portion of the cabinet. A removable one-piece filter unit is positioned in the path of air flow to remove odors, gases, smoke, etc. from the air before the air is exhausted back into the room. The removable filter includes a paper filter together with activated charcoal particles configured as an integral unit. A container for holding a supply of cooking oil is located in the lower portion of the cabinet and is positioned in an insulative shroud with a resulting decrease in BTU's required to operate the apparatus. The heater element is embedded in the bottom portion of the container and does not directly contact the cooking oil.

Abstract: Automatic food frying and dispensing apparatus is disclosed which is housed in a supporting cabinet and includes a device for holding a supply of cooking oil and a heating device for maintaining the temperature of the cooking oil at a predetermined temperature. A fan assembly exhausts air through the top of the cabinet. A derated precipitator, a flame arrester and a charcoal filter are positioned upstream of the fan assembly and in the path of air flow. A switch device is positioned in the path of air flow and shuts off the heating device if the air flow drops below a predetermined value. Food handling apparatus automatically lowers the food to be cooked into the cooking oil when a customer selects a desired cooking time and automatically raises the food from the cooking oil and dumps the food into a container positioned at the food collection station at the end of the preselected cooking time.

Abstract: Food frying and dispensing apparatus is disclosed which is housed in a supporting cabinet and includes a device for holding a supply of cooking oil and a heating device for maintaining the temperature of the cooking oil sufficiently high for cooking successive batches of food products introduced into the oil by a food support basket. A fan assembly exhausts air through the top of the cabinet. A derated precipitator, a charcoal filter, a fragrance holding apparatus and an ozone generator are positioned upstream of the fan assembly and in the path of air flow to eliminate any smoke or odor produced within the apparatus prior to discharge of the air from the cabinet. Food handling apparatus pivotally positions the food support basket in three separate and distinct positions with the three positions being in the cooking oil in a "cook" position, out of the oil in a food product "dispense" position and out of the oil in a "ready" position.

Abstract: A control for a thermal oven having a manually settable timer for establishing preselected broiling and baking times. The control includes an alarm and circuitry for sounding the alarm at the end of the timed cooking period. The control further de-energizes the heating elements a short preselected time after the time period set by the user in the event the user does not take affirmative steps in response to the alarm. The control continues to provide a reminder alarm operation at predetermined intervals, such as five-minute intervals, until such time as the user provides the affirmative input to terminate the control operation and reset the system.

Abstract: Apparatus for the cooking of foods, includes a chamber for holding a volume of cooking oil and defining a cooking region therein for receiving food to be cooked. The chamber includes a wall having an opening therethrough for placement of food into the cooking region of the chamber and removal of the food therefrom. Displacement means are provided within the chamber adjacent the cooking region and movable between (a) a first oil displacing position wherein, in use, with a selected amount of cooking oil in the chamber, the upper level of the oil is sufficiently high that the oil substantially surrounds the food to be cooked; and (b) a second substantially non-oil displacing position wherein the upper level of the selected amount of oil is below both the lower extremities of the opening and the food. The wall opening is positioned and arranged such that, in use, the food may be inserted and removed from the cooking region of the chamber in a lateral or horizontal direction.

Abstract: A frying pan lid is provided on which a retaining knob is secured centrically. The retaining knob is formed as a housing accommodating a short-time bell. At the retaining knob there are provided an adjusting element for the operating time of the short-time bell and an indicating element.

Abstract: A knob for a cooking vessel is a whistle which gives an audible signal that cooking temperature has been reached, and has a valve slide assembly including a separate leaf spring for shutting off the whistle. Supporting inside and outside knob parts incorporate halves of a resonance chamber, which makes the knob extremely simple to mold, assemble, clean, and disassemble. The valve slide rests in guides which make it impossible to assemble incorrectly, and is overlaid by a knob cover. The leaf spring biases the valve slide against the top wall of the resonance chamber so that when the slide valve is closed the passage from the resonance chamber to the ambient air is effectively blocked.

Abstract: A wafer baking oven has a set of baking tongs which move through the oven to effect baking of the wafers. The oven is particularly for wafer products such as flat wafers, low hollow wafers, sugar cones, wafer cups and wafer figures. There is a baking chamber through which the baking tongs move and a front end at which baked wafers are discharged from the baking tongs and fresh batter is poured into the tongs for baking. The region in which this takes place is referred to as a front port. The front port includes a batter pouring station and a discharge station with a chute and at least one discharge spider. To reduce loss of heat and to reduce the noise level of the wafer oven, the front port is surrounded by a housing which comprises, at least in part, an enclosure attached to a frame. The housing has two passage openings at the side which face the baking chamber, and the baking tongs pass through these passage openings as they move in a circuit between the baking oven and the front port.

Abstract: A miniature size doughnut fryer has a portable hopper easily removed from the frying machine and which is automatically positioned in an aligned cutting position when installed on the machine. An improved safety cut-out device is provided for a belt drive to assure that the doughnut conveyor stops in an overload condition but which signals the operator that the overload condition is existing. The drive and safety cut-out are provided housed within the heater housing adjacent the frying tank of the machine for ease of assembly and manufacturing cost. The heater element housing is mounted on pivots which allow easy pivotal removal of the heating elements from the frying tank as well as providing a wide stance support for the heating elements when pivoted out of the tank. The drive and control circuitry for the conveyor and the cutter head are interlocked to prevent repetitive cycling of the cutter head during a conveyor overload position. An improved dual head doughnut cutter is also provided.

Abstract: A toaster has a casing, two or more walls of which define between themselves an upright food-receiving space, and a base defining with the lower edges of these walls a clearance open to the food-receiving space. A separate food carrier is insertable into the clearance so that food-holding portions of the carrier project from the clearance into the space. Heating elements toast or warm the food in the space. Guides are provided to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the carrier from the clearance.

Abstract: A pressure cooker the casing thereof carrying a pressure relief valve assembly comprising a relief valve having a valve member and a valve seating one of which acts against the other under pressure of biasing means to close a valve port opening into the interior of the cooker and a timer which can be preset to act on an operating member after a predetermined time period, said timer having an actuating member which moves to engage and move said operating member in a substantially linear direction, and said operating member being mechanically connected to means for relieving the pressure of the biasing means.

Abstract: This invention features an automatic egg cooker in which one of the eggs to be cooked is continuously tested for consistency by being placed in an oscillatory system. The magnitude and duration of oscillations due to an initial displacement of the system are measured. An alarm is set to ring when the desired consistency of the egg is reached.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for telemetry of the temperature of a mass undergoing temperature change, typically of a comestible being heated in an oven, and the like. The device includes a probe having a cavity which receives a thermally expansive material such as wax, a displacement member responsive to pressure developed by the temperature expansive material, a sonic or ultra-sonic signal generator, a latch mechanism inhibiting operation of the audio signal generator and a rod mechanically interconnecting the displacement member with the latch so that expansion of the material in the probe cavity trips the latch mechanism to permit generation of an output signal. The device also includes adjustment means for variation in the relative positions of the latch mechanism to the displaceable member whereby the triggering temperature for the latch mechanism can be fixedly adjusted.

Abstract: A portable food thermometer affording an audible alarm at a preset cooking completion temperature. A water reservoir defined within a two-part housing is fillable by the user in advance of use. An elongated sensing probe insertable in the food is secured extending through one of the housing parts inward of the reservoir and contains a slideable rod supported on a confined temperature sensing material. Expansion of the sensing material in response to increasing food temperature forces the rod outward of the probe. Opposite the free end of the rod is a spring loaded ball valve sealing the reservoir from a whistle outlet. Temperature graduations on the housing enable adjusting the spacing between the rod and valve at room temperature for presetting the operating temperature of the unit. On reaching set point cooking temperature, the outwardly forced position of the rod acts to open the valve enabling steam in the reservoir to activate the whistle alarm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety control shut-off device for the heating element of a cooking stove. In one embodiment of this safety device, a burner plate of the stove is provided with several declining U-shaped grooves for collecting any spillage or overflow of water from the cooking operations. Water drops collected in the declining grooves are led through a discharge outlet, at the lowest portion of the grooves, and into a water drop detector located beneath the outlet, to complete an electrical circuit, which in turn will actuate and sound an alarm and will also actuate means for disconnecting the fuel source of the plate burner.