Abstract: A grill is provided including a base structure. An upper platen assembly is connected to the base structure and includes an upper grilling surface having a first cooking surface. A lower platen assembly is connected to the base structure and includes a lower grilling surface having a second cooking surface. A release sheet is removably mounted to the grill. The release sheet has a central portion configured to cover at least the first cooking surface and a joint between the upper platen assembly and the lower platen assembly.

Abstract: A grill is provided including a base structure. An upper platen assembly is connected to the base structure and includes an upper grilling plate. A lower platen assembly is connected to the base structure and includes a lower grilling plate. A plurality of leveling mechanisms is mounted to the base structure and arranged in contact with the lower grilling plate. The leveling mechanisms are configured to move the lower grilling plate relative to the upper grilling plate. At least one grease receptacle has an inboard sidewall and an outboard sidewall connected by a compartment configured to receive grease from a grilling surface of the lower plate. The inboard sidewall is mounted to the lower grilling plate at or below the grilling surface.

Abstract: A grill is provided including a base structure. A lower platen assembly is connected to the base structure and includes a lower grill plate having a first cooking surface. An upper platen assembly is connected to the base structure and includes an upper grill plate having a second cooking surface movable between a raised position and a lowered position. A backsplash is arranged at a joint between the upper platen assembly and the lower platen assembly. The backsplash includes a partially open compartment within which a back end of the upper grill plate is arranged when in the raised position. The upper platen assembly includes an extended back end configured to direct grease away from the cooking surface. When the upper platen assembly is in the lowered position, the extended back end if offset from the first cooking surface.

Abstract: A heating apparatus including a first heating plate configured to contact a first side of an object to heat the object and a second heating plate configured to contact a second side of the object opposite the first side to heat the object. The heating apparatus includes a controller configured to determine a temperature of the object based on sensor data received from a temperature sensor and to control a position of the first heating plate based on the determined temperature of the object.

Abstract: A grill includes a lower portion and a pivotably attached upper platen each having a grilling surface. A lift/latch mechanism lifts the upper platen relative to the lower portion without the use of a motor. The upper platen can be manually lifted by grabbing the handle. An arm is pivotably attached to an upper pivotable portion at an upper pivot and is pivotably attached to a lower pivotable portion at a lower pivot. When the upper platen is lifted, a heavy resilient member biases the upper platen to a raised position. When the upper platen is lowered, a light resilient member bias the upper platen to a lowered position. When a solenoid is actuated, projection engages the arm to move the arm and lift the upper platen.

Abstract: A grill includes a lower portion and an upper platen pivotably attached to the lower portion each having a grilling surface. An adjustment mechanism adjusts a dimension of the gap between the grilling surfaces between a large dimension and a small dimension. The adjustment mechanism includes a rotatable bar having a handle and a cam surface. The upper grilling surface is suspended by two cables. The cam surface is received between arms rotates the bar to move the position of the cam surface relative to the arms to adjust the gap between the grilling surfaces. This lengthens or shortens the cables to move the suspended upper grilling surface to adjust the gap between the grilling surfaces.

Abstract: A spring-set, electromagnetically released brake that requires a relatively small amount of current to release is provided. The brake includes a magnet shell disposed about a first axis. The shell includes a radially outwardly extending pole. The brake also includes an armature disposed radially outwardly of the pole and pivotable at a first axial end and a first engagement element, such as a brake shoe, coupled to the armature proximate a second axial end of the armature. The brake further includes a spring disposed about the pole. The spring biases the armature radially outwardly to urge the first engagement element towards a second engagement element such as a friction surface in a brake drum. Finally, the brake includes a coil disposed about the pole and means for selectively energizing the coil to urge the armature radially inwardly and the first engagement element away from the second engagement element. A bobbin for use in the brake is also provided.

Abstract: A coupling disc (e.g., the armature or rotor) of an electromagnetic coupling such as a clutch or brake is formed with a plurality of concentric rows of specially shaped slots which are filled with high magnetic reluctance brazing material in order to structurally strengthen the disc and reduce the tendency of the disc to deflect and bend under high loads. Optionally, an annulus of the brazing material may interconnect the rings and may back and support the non-working face of the disc to further strengthen the disc.

Abstract: An armature assembly for an electromagnetic coupling includes an armature plate made of a material having low magnetic reluctance and also includes an output hub having angularly spaced and radially extending mounting arms for supporting the armature plate. The armature plate is connected to the mounting arms by angularly spaced leaf springs which couple the armature plate and the output hub for rotation in unison while allowing the armature plate to move axially relative to the mounting arms when the coupling is engaged and disengaged. The leaf springs are made of a material having high magnetic reluctance and are formed with tabs or fingers which are sandwiched between the armature plate and the mounting arms to create a flux barrier for magnetically isolating the armature plate from the mounting arms and the output hub.

Abstract: A composition for fiber-reinforced polyurethane resin, which comprises a long-fiber mat and a polyurethane composition, said polyurethane composition comprising:(a) an organic polyisocyanate,(b) a polyether polyol having a molecular weight of from 300 to 700, and having three or more functional groups,(c) ethylene glycol and/or 1,3 butanediol,(d) an imidazole represented by the general formula (1), as a curing catalyst, ##STR1## where m is an integer of from 1 to 4, and n is an integer of from 1 to 4.