Patents by Inventor Wolfram K. Andre

Wolfram K. Andre has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4851645
    Abstract: A device for determining the temperature of a glass ceramic plate heated using heat coils or halogen lamps with a temperature sensor which emits a signal for a control circuit corresponding to the temperature of the glass ceramic plate. The heat coils or the halogen lamps are positioned in the internal space of a cylindrical vessel-like insulation support, and in which the surrounding wall of the insulation body, under spring tension, abuts on the glass ceramic plate heated by the radiation of the heating coils or the halogen lamps. Adequate control precision can be achieved by having the temperature sensor positioned in a recess in the surrounding wall of the insulation body, and is in a thermally-conductive connection with the lower side of the glass ceramic plate. The recess for the temperature sensor is positioned at a distance to the internal space of the insulation support and thus the dynamics of the control behavior can be adjusted to low hysteresis and optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Fissler GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Wolf, Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4839503
    Abstract: The invention relates to controlling the simmering or cooking time in a cooking vessel which can be heated by means of an electrical cooking plate with a control circuit, in which the temperature in or on the cooking vessel is determined in the heating phase and utilized by the control circuit to regulate the heat output of the cooking plate by shutting off the cooking plate at a length of time before the completion of the predetermined simmering or cooking time, the time before completion being greater the greater the heat quantity determined from data from the heating phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Fissler GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Wolf, Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4803344
    Abstract: This invention relates to controlling the simmering or cooking time in a cooking vessel which can be heated by means of an electrical cooking plate with a control circuit, in which the temperature in or on the cooking vessel is determined and utilized by the control circuit to regulate the heat output of the cooking plate, in which the simmering or cooking time can be set by means of an adjustable time element, in which the cooking plate can be shut off at a length of time bvefore the completion of the predetermined simmering or cooking time which is greater the slower that the rise of the temperature in the heating phase is, and in which, by using the heat content contained inthe cooking material after shutting off the cooking plate the simmering or cooking process is extended up to the preset simmering or cooking time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Fissler GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Wolf, Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4796207
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for cooking food in a roasting vessel, in which the temperature in and around the roasting vessel is measured and used to regulate the cooking temperature according to a preset program by means of a control circuit which activates and deactivates an electric heating element. By controlling the heat output according to a preset program, whereby the program is effected when a predetermined temperature differential from the preset roasting temperature is reached, the cooking temperature can be controlled without overshooting the preset roasting temperature, even during high rates of temperature increase which occur during the heating cycle of the roasting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Fissler GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfram K. Andre, Kurt Wolf
  • Patent number: 4749280
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the temperature in a heating system comprising a cooking pot with cooking material positioned on a hot plate where a radiation receiver is arranged at a distance from the wall of the cooking pot and aligned with it, which receiver produces a temperature measurement signal corresponding to the temperature of the cooking material in the cooking pot. The temperature measurement signal is derived from a detected radiation area on the wall of the cooking pot which corresponds to the radiation measuring field of the radiation receiver. The effect of different distances of the cooking pot from the radiation receiver is automatically compensated for by aligning the center axis of the radiation measurement field at an acute angle to the support surface of the hot plate, so that the distance of the center of the detected radiation area from the bottom of the cooking pot increases with an increasing distance of the wall of the cooking pot from the radiation receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kurt Wolf, Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4700052
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling and adjusting heat output during the heating phase of a steam pressure cooking vessel. The steam pressure cooking vessel is heated by an electric heating element and the temperature inside the steam pressure cooking vessel is measured. The heating element is controlled by a control circuit and a program memory which operates in a simple way at various preset rapid cooking or vitamin preserving cooking temperatures as a function of the heating characteristics and controls the heat output so that the selected cooking temperature can be adjusted and maintained constant in the simplest possible way without overshooting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kurt Wolf, Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4682012
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling and adjusting heat output during the heating phase of a cooking vessel. The cooking vessel is heated by an electric heating element and the temperature inside the cooking vessel is measured. The heating element is provided with a control circuit and two program memories which operate as a function of the temperature increase characteristics during the simmer or warming cycles, whereby in the simmer cycle, both the first and second program memories are operative whereas in the warming cycle only the second program memory is operative in a similar manner as during the simmer cycle and over the same temperature differential but at different temperature values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kurt Wolf, Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4682013
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided to control the cooking process in a pressure cooker heated by an electrical heating element. By measuring values related to the temperature-time characteristic curve during the heating up phase, the cooking system is operated in an energy saving manner utilizing the inertia of the system by switching off the heating element prematurely to maintain the desired cooking time. By providing an additional mode of operation, the cooking process can be carried out in several successive cooking phases while still providing the energy saving feature of prematurely switching off the heating element in all cooking phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfram K. Andre, Kurt Wolf
  • Patent number: 4682298
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for deriving a measuring signal proportional to the temperature rise of a temperature-time characteristic curve in a heating system having a cooker with cooking material on a heating plate, in which the temperature of the cooker is measured by means of a temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4629852
    Abstract: A regulator circuit for controlling the heat output of a heating element adapted to be switched on and off by a semiconductor switch energized by a zero crossing switch having cycle group control, whereby a sensor signal derived from the sensed temperature is supplied to the zero crossing switch. In order to avoid an overriding of the control or operating temperature in the heating phase and to improve the accuracy of the temperature control, a secondary control voltage is derived from the sensor voltage according to the rate of rise and drop of the sensor voltage which in the heat phase the switch-off of the heating element is reset to lower temperatures depending on the secondary control voltage and in the cooling phase the switch-on of the heating element is reset to higher temperatures depending on the secondary control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4620083
    Abstract: A device for regulating the cooking process in a cooking vessel which is heated by a heating element provided with a control circuit. The temperature in the cooking vessel is measured and is utilized by the control circuit to regulate the heating element. The cooking time can be preset by an adjustable timer. The cooking time in the cooking vessel is made independent of the inertia inherent in the cooking system by causing the timer to start metering the preset cooking time only after the cooking temperature has been reached. The operation of the timer may be governed by the slope of the temperature-time curve during the heating phase to enable the timer to shut off the heating element prematurely, relative to the preset cooking time, as the temperature-time curve rises less steeply during the heating phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4608260
    Abstract: A process and apparatus to control the cooking process in a steam pressure cooker heated with a heating element controlled through a control circuit wherein the temperature of the pressure cooker is detected and utilized by the control circuit to regulate the heat output of the heating element, and wherein a cooking time can be preset by means of an adjustable timing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4587405
    Abstract: A device for the control of the cooking process in a steam pressure cooker filled with water and the food to be cooked and heatable by means of a heating element controlled by a control circuit wherein the temperature of the pressure cooker is detected and utilized by way of the control circuit for the adjustment of the heat output of the heating element and in which by means of an adjustable timing element a cooking time can be preselected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4587406
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the cooking process in a cooking vessel placed on an electric heating element, particularly a stovetop burner, comprising signal transmitter controlled by the temperature in the cooking vessel, a signal receiver in communication with the signal transmitter by a transmitter for activating a control circuit to adjust the heat output of the heating element, and a switch for turning the apparatus on and off. During the entire cooking operation and when the heating element is set at full heating capacity, a periodical surveillance is effected to determine whether the temperature varies, remains steady or decreases. If a temperature increase is measured during a monitoring cycle, the heating element is not turned off, but if the temperature remains constant or falls, the heating element is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4585925
    Abstract: A system to control and regulate heat output during the heat-up phase of a pressure cooker heated by a heating element which can be turned on and off by means of a control circuit. The heat-up phase is adjusted, depending on the rate of temperature increase before it reaches the boiling temperature, and is controlled by a different program after the boiling temperature is reached, which determines rates of further temperature increases and also the temperature differentials between a preset cooking temperature and the current cooking temperature. Using this apparatus, the cooking temperature can be reached as quickly as possible, regardless of the characteristics of the heating phase, dependent upon the type and amount of cooking material in the pressure cooker. Energy utilization efficiency can be increased and the preset cooking temperature not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4574184
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kurt Wolf, Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4541733
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fitting for a cooking vessel comprising a cooking pot and a cover, especially a steam pressure cooker, with a temperature sensor attached to the cooking vessel, the temperature sensor emitting an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature inside the cooking vessel. In order to precisely detect the temperature of water contents during the heating phase, and in order to be able to use it for indicators, control, and regulation, the temperature sensor is attached to a measuring point in a heat-conducting contact to the external side of the cooking pot in the transition area between the pot bottom and the pot wall, at which point the temperature difference between the temperature of the water contents and the external temperature at the measuring point during the heating process is approximately nil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfram K. Andre
  • Patent number: 4535229
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: Kurt Wolf & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kurt Wolf, Wolfram K. Andre