Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the flow of air through an air inlet in a solid fuel burner comprises: a mechanical temperature sensor for sensing the temperature within the solid fuel burner, the sensor comprising first and second elongate parts having different coefficients of linear thermal expansion and arranged such that a first end of the first elongate part moves linearly relative to a first end of the second elongate part in response to a change in the sensed temperature; a movable valve member for controlling the flow of air through the air inlet; and a mechanism for coupling the first end of the first elongate part to the movable valve member so as to close or restrict the air inlet as the sensed temperature increases.

Abstract: A steam generator including a heating chamber for heating water to generate steam, with a sidewall of the heating chamber being a heating element. The steam generator may be installed in an appliance, and may be removably installed in the appliance.

Abstract: An appliance for making beverages comprises a container for liquid, means for creating a rotational movement of the liquid to raise a level of the liquid, and a brewing chamber mounted between a normal level of the liquid, when the means for creating a rotational movement is not rotating, and a raised level of the liquid, when the means for creating a rotational movement is rotating, so that the liquid flows into the brewing chamber when the means for creating a rotational movement is rotating above a predetermined speed.

Abstract: An appliance for making beverages comprises a container for liquid, means for creating a rotational movement of the liquid to raise a level of the liquid, and a brewing chamber mounted between a normal level of the liquid, when the means for creating a rotational movement is not rotating, and a raised level of the liquid, when the means for creating a rotational movement is rotating, so that the liquid flows into the brewing chamber when the means for creating a rotational movement is rotating above a predetermined speed.

Abstract: Arrangements are disclosed for sealing and/or retaining a component in a washproof electrical appliance. A heated liquid dispenser is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combination of an electrical heating element and a heat dissipater to be heated thereby; the heating element comprises a substrate, an insulating layer located on the substrate and a thick film conductor located on the insulating layer, wherein the second side of the metallic substrate is in contact with the heat dissipater, comprising a layer of metallic material on its face towards the heater and wherein the substrate is brazed to the heat dissipater and the surface of the heating element over which the thick film conductor extends, is substantially equal to the surface of the heat dissipater. The brazing leads to a permanent contact between the heating element and the heat dissipater, so that the possible tendency for warping as caused by the heating and cooling cycles will be withstood.

Abstract: Arrangements are disclosed for sealing and/or retaining a component in a washproof electrical appliance. A heated liquid dispenser is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of scale on a water heating element (12), the method comprising comparing signals indicative of heating element temperature to determine whether the compared signals indicate a temperature decrease (44) greater than a predetermined value during a predetermined time interval and determining the presence of scale if the indicated temperature decrease is greater than said predetermined value.

Abstract: A thick film resistive heating element having a thick film resistive track applied to the surface of an electrically insulative substrate. An encapsulating insulating layer is applied over the track to protect it while an area of the element is left uncovered by the encapsulating layer so as to define a window. A portion of a temperature sensitive control device is then placed in direct contact with the track and/or the electrically insulative substrate through the window. The window in the element is located in that area of the element which will be uncovered by the liquid prior to the rest of the element as the liquid boils away or is evacatuated from the vessel.

Abstract: A thermally-responsive current-sensitive switch having a molded plastic body containing first and second terminals in the form of metal stampings and having an internal chamber wherein a leaf spring and a snap-acting bimetallic blade of the same shape are together spot-welded to one of the terminals with the leaf spring underlying the bimetal in registry therewith and at its other end carrying a sliver contact which cooperates in switching operations with the other switch terminal. In one embodiment, the spring bias of the leaf spring tends to open the switch and the force generated by the bimetal in its contacts-closing movement is sufficient to overcome the spring bias of the leaf spring, whereas in another embodiment the leaf spring develops either a neutral force or a contacts-opening force. The leaf spring electrically shunts the bimetal, whereby the current-carrying capability of the switch is increased and different switch specifications can use the same bimetal with different leaf springs.

Abstract: An electrically heated water boiling vessel has a planar heating element incorporated into the base of the vessel, the planar heating element comprising a stainless steel plate having a printed heating element formed on the underside thereof, the printed heated element being sandwiched between electrically-insulating layers of glass. A control for switching off the element in an overtemperature situation has a primary actuator in the form of a bimetal which directly accesses the printed heating element through a window formed in the outermost glass insulating layer, and the bimetal is held in a secondary actuator in the form of a thermally-collapsible carrier for the bimetal which contacts the glass insulation around the window; by this means the primary and secondary actuators are subjected to different temperatures.

Abstract: An electric immersion heating element has an elongate, metal-sheathed, electrically insulated, resistance heating portion (1) engaged at its ends in bores formed in an element head (2) which may be formed of a synthetic plastics material, a heat transfer element (8) formed of a high thermal conductivity material extends from a heated part of the resistance heating portion adjacent one of its ends through the element head to enable the element temperature to be sensed from the opposite side of the head, and a tubular enclosure (7) extends from the element head (2) and surrounds the part of the resistance heating portion of the element. The element construction enables dry-boil protection and automatic switch-off on boiling to be achieved by use of a single thermal sensor coupled to the heat transfer element (8) since the steam generated in the enclosure when water boils causes water to be expelled from the enclosure thereby mimicing a dry boil situation.

Abstract: Described is an electric immersion heating element for a water boiling vessel which has a single thermal sensor which protects the element against overheating by switching on and off dependant on dryness and water boiling conditions.

Abstract: A thermally-responsive switch, designed to go open circuit in response to relatively low overload currents of the order of 2 amps and below, comprises a moulded plastics body capturing therein first and second simple copper wire terminals and having an internal chamber wherein a snap-acting bimetal blade of very low thickness is spot-welded to one of the wire terminals and carries a silver contact which co-operates in switching operations with the other wire terminal, the internal construction of the switch body chamber being arranged to provide physical support to the bimetal blade by way of the respective one of the wire terminals to which the bimetal blade is secured.

Abstract: An element protector control for protecting the electrically powered heating element of a kettle against overheating has primary and secondary (or back-up) modes of operation. The primary protection mode utilizes a dished, snap-acting bimetal which is oriented so that the side of the bimetal which is convex when the blade is cold faces the heating element head, and the bimetal is sprung against a flat rear surface of the element head so that the bimetal in its cold condition flattens against the element head. The bimetal determines the condition of a pair of switching contacts provided in the control.

Abstract: An element protector unit for an electrically heated water boiling vessel comprises primary and secondary bimetals responsive to the element head temperature and each arranged for actuating a respective one of primary and secondary switching contacts connected in the line and neutral sides of the element supply via respective push rods. The secondary bimetal and associated switch contacts provide back-up protection in the event of failure of the primary protection on account for example of welding of the primary switch contacts. The primary and secondary bimetals are partially overlapped in the element protector unit for correspondingly reducing the combined area they present to the element head, and the element head plate is provided with a double-dimple formation having a first portion adapted to nest with one of the two overlapped bimetals and a second portion adapted to nest with the other bimetal.

Abstract: An electric immersion heating element dry switch-on or boil dry protector unit for an electrically heated water boiling vessel comprises primary and secondary bimetals (31,32) responsive to the heating element head temperature and each arranged for actuating a respective one of primary and secondary switching contacts (11,12) connected in the line and neutral sides of the heating element supply via respective push rods (38,44). The secondary bimetal (32) is arranged to break later than the primary bimetal (31) in a dry switch-on or boil dry situation giving rise to excessive element temperatures, and to reset before the primary in a reducing temperature situation. The secondary bimetal (32) and associated switch contacts (12) provide back-up protection in the event of failure of the primary protection on account for example of welding of the primary switch contacts (11).

Abstract: An overload protection switch for an electric motor comprises a bimetallic switch-actuating element carrying a moving contact of the switch, a first terminal part having an extension which defines a mounting for the bimetal, and a second terminal part having an extension which mounts a fixed contact of the switch, the first and second terminal parts being received in a moulded plastics switch body portion. In contrast to prior art switches of this type where the terminal parts were manufactured of material having a low electrical resistance, the invention manufactures these parts of high resistance material selected such that under very high overload current levels the resistance heating in the terminal parts does not significantly determine the switching characteristics of the switch on account of the overwhelmingly predominant bimetallic heating, but towards the other end of the overload current scale the self-heating of the terminal parts significantly affects the switch operation.

Abstract: A thermally-responsive electric switch has a manually-releasable latching arrangement which makes use of a latching member (6) comprising an L-shaped or bellcrank lever having an integrally formed part (11) which constitutes a release member and connects to the end of one limb (9) of the L-shaped lever via a resilient hinge portion (12). The end of the other limb (8) of the L-shaped lever constitutes a latching abutment (10) for engagement with a member (3) of the switch. The latching member (6) is so arranged that, when the switch operates, the latching abutment (10) engages with the respective member (3) of the switch so as to preclude its return and thereby latch out the switch. Resetting is achieved by depression of the release member part (11) of the latching member (6), this causing the L-shaped lever to pivot generally about the junction of its two limbs such that the latching abutment (10) moves out of its latching position and permits the switch to reset.

Abstract: A snap-acting thermally-responsive actuator for an electric switch comprises a pear-shaped dished bimetallic blade having a U-shaped cut-out defining a tongue extending from its root or attached end at the larger end of the pear-shaped blade axially of the blade towards the smaller end of the blade, the tongue extending between outer leg portions of the blade which each have a width which decreases in a direction from the larger towards the smaller end of the blade.