With Plurality Of Separate Heating Units Patents (Class 219/395)
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Publication number: 20020113054Abstract: A vertical toaster comprising a housing, heating elements, a food support and a drive. The heating elements are connected to the housing and comprise at least one calrod. The calrod comprises an electric wire surrounded by heat conductive electrical insulation and a metal cover. The food support is movably mounted to the housing for up and down motion. The drive is for moving the food support relative to the housing. The drive comprises a motor and a linkage between the motor and the food support for moving the food support both down and up such that food on the food support passes by the calrod. The calrod prevents an electrical shock to a user if the user accidentally contacts the calrod with an electrically conductive member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2001Publication date: August 22, 2002Inventors: Robert W. Arel, Joseph Gelb, Charles Z. Krasznai, James A. Sandor
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Patent number: 6437294Abstract: A pyrolytic self-cleaning oven having a catalytic composition positioned in the oven cavity or exhaust gas passage in order to complete the combustion and/or the oxidation of gases produced by a process carried out inside the oven. The catalytic composition is supported by a ceramic coating on a metal wire. The metal wire is electrically connected to a control system of the oven for controlling the cooking and/or pyrolytic cleaning process. The catalytic composition carried on the metal wire may be part of a net-shaped catalytic element.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2001Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Riccardo Allera, Maurizio Beghi, Adriano Scaburri, Andrea Corda
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Patent number: 6437291Abstract: A convertible rotisserie and grill which includes a housing having a first mechanical interface for removably receiving a grill plate and second mechanical interface for removably receiving a spit. The convertible rotisserie and grill also includes a first heating element for heating the grill plate for grill-style cooking and a second heating element for heating an area in close proximity to the spit for rotisserie-style cooking. A probe activates and controls the temperature of one of the heating elements depending upon the desired cooking style.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: Uni-Splendor Corp.Inventor: James L. Hopponen
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Patent number: 6414283Abstract: A food warmer having closed loop heating control has a temperature sensor in a warming zone of the food warmer. The temperature sensor has a rate of heat absorption and a rate of heat loss substantially the same as a food product contained in the warming zone. First and second heat sources provide heat to the warming zone. The heat required to maintain the warming zone at a desired temperature requires heat from both the first and second heat sources. The first heat source is operated continuously while the second heat source is activated and deactivated in closed loop fashion based on input from the temperature sensor to maintain a desired set point temperature of the warming zone.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1999Date of Patent: July 2, 2002Assignee: Ultrafryer Systems, Inc.Inventor: Albert C. McNamara
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Patent number: 6399923Abstract: A multi-stage heating furnace for drying large-sized substrates arranged in a stack, including a furnace body, and shelf heaters arranged within the furnace body such that the shelf heaters are spaced from each other in a vertical direction at a predetermined spacing pitch and such that adjacent ones of the shelf heaters partially define drying chambers for accommodating the respective substrates, wherein each shelf heater consists of a far-infrared-radiation panel heater of double-side heating type including a heat radiating plate in which a heat-generating body is embedded, and the panel heater has opposite major surfaces covered with respective thin ceramic layers which emit a far infrared radiation when the heat radiating plate is heated by energization of the heat-generating body.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2001Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Noritake Co., LimitedInventors: Takahiro Kano, Hisayasu Tachikawa, Tamotsu Sakai
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Patent number: 6384380Abstract: A temperature control system includes a cabinet or system housing having a plurality of heating compartments for containing intravenous solution bags or other medical items. Each heating compartment is independently heat controlled via a controller, and includes a heating assembly including a heater, a U-shaped heating plate, a temperature sensor and a cut-out switch for disabling the heater when a threshold temperature is exceeded. The desired or set point temperature for each heating compartment may be independently entered to the controller via an input device. The heating plate has a generally U-shaped configuration with a thermally conductive bottom wall and thermally conductive side walls extending therefrom. The heater is typically affixed to the underside of the bottom wall, wherein, upon heating of the bottom wall, heat is conducted through the side walls to provide an even distribution of heat to medical items placed within the heating compartment.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2000Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Medical Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Durward I. Faries, Jr., Bruce R. Heymann, Calvin Blankenship
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Patent number: 6358548Abstract: A cooked food staging device and method is provided. The cooked food staging device allows previously cooked food items, particularly sandwich fillings such as hamburger patties, fish fillets, biscuits, Canadian bacon, pork sausage, eggs, chicken patties, chicken fillets and nuggets, to be stored over extended periods of time at an elevated temperature without significant deleterious effects to the appearance, taste and texture of the food while avoiding risk of bacterial contamination. The food staging device is composed of a plurality of discrete compartments bounded by upper and lower heated compartment surfaces. Food can be stored within the compartments in trays having sidewalls of a height such that a gap is achieved between the top of the tray and the upper compartment heated surface to limit and control the evaporation of liquid from the food stored therein.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1999Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.Inventors: Henry T. Ewald, Jimmie L. Coffey, Patricia A. Venetucci, Gerald A. Sus
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Publication number: 20020008099Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a loadlock to inhibit the formation of contaminants within the loadlock. At least one heater is attached to the walls of the loadlock to boil contaminants from the surfaces within the loadlock. These desorbed contaminants are exhausted from the loadlock by a vacuum pump. Alternatively, a purge gas can be supplied to the loadlock while the loadlock is being heated. The flow of purge gas flushes the desorbed contaminants from the loadlock.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2001Publication date: January 24, 2002Inventors: Matthew F. Davis, Douglas R. McAllister, David Evans
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Patent number: 6323472Abstract: A microwave oven (1) comprises an oven cavity (3) containing a rotatable turntable (4) for supporting one or more items to be heated. A radiant electric heater (5) is arranged for location above the turntable (4) and comprises at least one first heating element (6) and at least one second heating element (7). The at least one first heating element (6) overlies only a proportion of the total upper surface area of the turntable (4) such that, in operation, for each complete rotation of the turntable substantially all parts of the upper surface of the turntable are heated for substantially the same duration of time, the at least one first heating element (6) providing a first power density.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2000Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Assignee: Ceramaspeed LimitedInventor: Gavin John Coleman
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Publication number: 20010023055Abstract: Firing process and apparatus for uniformly heat-treating a substrate having a film-forming composition thereon, wherein the substrate is subjected to a first soaking step in which the substrate is held for a predetermined time in a first heating chamber whose temperature is maintained at a first value, so that the temperature within the substrate is held at the first value evenly throughout an entire mass of the substrate, and after feeding of the substrate into a second heating chamber whose temperature is maintained at a predetermined second value which is different from the first value by a predetermined difference, the substrate is subjected to a second soaking step in which the substrate is held for a second predetermined time in the second heating chamber, so that the temperature within the substrate is held at the second value evenly throughout the entire mass of the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2001Publication date: September 20, 2001Applicant: Noritake Co., Ltd. and Kyushu Noritake Co., Ltd.Inventors: Susumu Sakamoto, Hiroshi Oshima, Hiroyuki Mori, Hironobu Ichihara, Yoji Sato
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Patent number: 6255630Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a control system which is programmable to enable multiple, successive cooking operations to be performed in sequence, with an alphanumeric display being provided to convey information concerning the successive cooking operations, such as the amount of time until the start of a subsequent cooking operation while an initial cooking operation is proceeding. Furthermore, the control system can be used to alter factory established set-up parameters such that the appliance can be conveniently customized by the consumer.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Maytag CorporationInventors: Shelton T. Barnes, Perry A. Bennett, Kenneth E. Sauter
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Patent number: 6221203Abstract: An apparatus for controlling temperature of a process chamber which includes a plurality of heating elements mounted juxtaposed to a cylindrical chamber sidewall of the process chamber for heating the chamber, and a plurality of thermal sensors with one mounted juxtaposed to each of the plurality of heating elements such that the temperature of the chamber cavity can be more uniformly controlled. The method may be carried out by first forming a substantially air-tight chamber cavity by a cylindrical chamber sidewall, a top enclosure and a bottom enclosure, and then positioning a plurality of heating elements juxtaposed to and surrounds the cylindrical chamber sidewall and then mounting a plurality of thermal sensors to the plurality of heating elements with one sensor juxtaposed to each heating element, and then controlling the temperature of the process chamber by inputting signals from the plurality of thermal sensors into a controller and then outputting signals to the plurality of heating elements.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., LtdInventors: Ruey Horng Lin, Yi Lang Wu
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Patent number: 6222163Abstract: A gas cooking appliance includes upper and lower gas burner units, as well as an upper electric heating element, which is configured and mounted in an enhanced operational manner, within an oven cavity. A control system is provided to control the electric heating element based on the operation of at least one of the upper and lower gas burner units. For instance, during a baking mode of operation, the electric heating element is cycled on and off while the lower burner unit is in a full operating state. In a broiling mode, both the upper gas burner unit and the electric heating element are activated in order to create a substantially uniform temperature within the oven cavity. During a cleaning mode of operation, the electric heating element is used to pre-heat the oven cavity at a controlled rate prior to operation of the lower burner unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Maytag CorporationInventors: Richard J. Arntz, Isaac P. Sargunam
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Patent number: 6209447Abstract: A cooked food staging device and method is provided. The cooked food staging device allows previously cooked food items, particularly sandwich fillings such as hamburger patties, fish fillets, biscuits, Canadian bacon, pork sausage, eggs, chicken patties, chicken fillets and nuggets, to be stored over extended periods of time at an elevated temperature without significant deleterious effects to the appearance, taste and texture of the food while avoiding risk of bacterial contamination. The food staging device is composed of a plurality of discrete compartments bounded by upper and lower heated compartment surfaces. Food can be stored within the compartments in trays having side walls of a height such that a gap is achieved between the top of the tray and the upper compartment heated surface to limit and control the evaporation of liquid from the food stored therein.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1999Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.Inventors: Henry T. Ewald, Jimmie L. Coffey, Patricia A. Venetucci, Gerald A. Sus
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Patent number: 6118101Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for heating vinyl composition tiles which are then amenable to cutting with a knife along complex contours without damaging the tiles. A stack of heating trays are located within a protective housing. The housing is supported on wheel means for ease of transport about the worksite and has one open side so that tiles can be loaded onto each of the trays. A discrete electrical heating element heats each tray and tile to a uniform temperature which renders the tile sufficiently elastic to be cut along any desired contour without fracturing. The trays are spaced appropriately so that tiles can be individually seized for cutting by the installer. The combination of the number of trays and the heating element's heat transfer capability enables an installer to repeatedly seize a sufficiently heated tile, re-load the vacant tray, and then seize another heated tile from the next sequential tray on a cyclical, sustainable basis.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1996Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Inventor: George E. Choboter
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Patent number: 6114665Abstract: An electric oven with an oven muffle which can be closed by a door and in which a cooking-product support can be held on a holder element. The cooking-product support has its own cooking-product support heater element, and via a power supply element, the cooking-product support heater element can be fed with an electric voltage of the oven, is known. In order to keep the outlay for providing electrical contact for the cooking-product support heater element low, the holder element for the cooking-product support at the same time serves as the power supply conduit or element.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Jose Andres Garcia, Joachim Reichard, Felicitas Ziegler, Manfred Plankl, Hans Lappat, Armin Sigmund, Bernd Stitzl, Michael Wagner, Kurt Knebel, Klaus Erdmann, Hans Linde, Uwe Neumann, Andreas Rehklau
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Patent number: 6097000Abstract: A ventilation system for electrical food-cooking appliances comprising a cooking hob and an oven with a fan positioned in a compartment between the two in order to generate air flow for cooling electronic components controlling the oven operation, in which the fan is of variable speed, its speed being gauged on the basis of the appliance use.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1998Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Luca Frasnetti, Adriano Scaburri, Davide Cabri
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Patent number: 6080963Abstract: A toaster for everyday household use includes a conveyor which carries items to be toasted past electrical heating panels. The toaster has an entrance wherein the items are inserted horizontally from a feed tray onto the conveyor. The feed tray being a cover for the entrance way, when the toaster is not in use, automatically opens to become a feed mechanism which closes after the item to be cooked has entered the toaster. The apparatus further has another door which functions as a cover for the exit hole of the toaster which automatically opens to dispense the cooked food item upon the end of a cooking cycle.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1999Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Prodesign Technology, Inc.Inventors: Alfredo Cardillo, Donald M. Lawrence
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Patent number: 5994673Abstract: A variable volume oven that can be modified to adjust its volume according to the cooking load. The volume of the oven is able to be adjusted by providing a heating element that is vertically adjustable within the oven to a position that provides better convective and radiative heating to the cooking load.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1997Date of Patent: November 30, 1999Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Youssef El-Shoubary, James Aaron White, Paul Alfred Siemers, Mark Edward Dausch, Bang Mo Kim, Norman Zethward Shilling
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Patent number: 5948301Abstract: A food thermalization device is provided, which permits the food to be thermalized and held for extended periods of time without causing the food to deteriorate. The device includes an electrically-resistance-heated plate, which is controlled to equilibrate at a set temperature in the range of 160.degree. F. to 185.degree. F., with a fluctuation not exceeding plus or minus 5.degree. F. The plate draws much less power than other food cooking devices and occupies much less space for the amount of food it can prepare. A browning oven is also provided for exposing unwrapped food to very high temperature radiation for a short period of time to brown the food.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1998Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: BEL Group LLCInventor: Benno Liebermann
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Patent number: 5943969Abstract: A furnace comprises an enclosure, a hearth plate within the enclosure for supporting combustible material, a first heater element adjacent the hearth plate for initial combustion of the combustible material, a filter disposed above the hearth plate for filtering uncombusted products of combustion of the combustible material, and a second heater element adjacent the filter for final combustion of the uncombusted products of combustion filtered by the filter. A controller controls the first and second heater elements independently.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1998Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Barnstead/Thermolyne CorporationInventor: Steven C. Peake
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Patent number: 5938959Abstract: A domestic oven includes a housing defining a cooking chamber, at least one stationary first heating element in the chamber, a shelf movably disposed in the chamber, a second heating element mounted to the shelf, and a drive operatively connected to the shelf for translating the shelf, together with the second heating element, in the housing. The shelf is made of heat conductive metal. A temperature sensor in heat conductive contact with the shelf senses the temperature of the shelf and of a metal tray or pan placed on the shelf in heat conductive contact therewith. The temperature sensor is operatively connected to an energization circuit for the second heating element for de-energizing the second heating element upon detecting a sudden rise in temperature. The second heating element is mounted to the shelf via insulating spacers. The oven is used to perform a hybrid steaming and baking method.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1998Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Testrite Baparoma International LLCInventor: Ping Wang
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Patent number: 5940579Abstract: A heating panel has a resistive heating layer formed on a substrate. Insulating layers can be formed on the substrate. The heating layer has electrodes on opposite edges connected to different phases of a multiphase power source. Capacitive currents caused in the substrate by the different phases cancel each other. Thus, leakage current is minimized through a conductor connected between the substrate and ground. The heating panel can be adapted for two phase or three phase systems. The heating panels are particularly useful for defining a heating cavity of an oven or pots on a cook top.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1997Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.Inventors: Johan Kallgren, Donald A. Coates, Sanjay Shukla, Steven M. Dishop
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Patent number: 5909533Abstract: A cooking oven having an electric heating element in the bottom for baking, warming and high temperature-self cleaning, and an infrared gas broiler in the top of the oven. The infrared gas broiler is supplied with a fuel gas/air mixture from a venturi tube that uses the stream of fuel gas to draw clean air into the oven from outside the oven. A flue duct is provided in the top rear of the oven for the discharge of the combusted gases but no other opening is provided, such as for secondary air that is normally required for a gas oven. The venturi tube assembly creates a fuel gas/air mixture that contains 100% of the air necessary for full combustion of that gas and a positive pressure for distributing the gas/air mixture through ceramic radiants for combustion to heat the radiants to a temperature for producing the infrared light waves.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1998Date of Patent: June 1, 1999Assignee: Dacor, Inc.Inventors: Joey Kitabayashi, Humberto Delgado, Carl H. Adams, Gengxin Feng
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Patent number: 5880434Abstract: A food treatment cabinet having a frame/housing defining a food treatment space. First structure is provided for at least one of heating, cooling, and adding moisture to air within the food treatment space. The frame/housing has a first wall with a first opening therethrough to selectively permit introduction of food into the food treatment space and withdrawal of food from the food treatment space. A first fin projects away from the first wall above at least part of the first opening to inhibit heat transfer between the food treatment space and the atmosphere externally of the food treatment space.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 1995Date of Patent: March 9, 1999Assignee: Restaurant Technology, Inc.Inventors: Curtis Pinnow, Robert Fortmann, Charles Hunckler, Lawrence Banovez
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Patent number: 5618458Abstract: A cooking appliance is disclosed which comprises an oven intended to be built into a space of predetermined volume in a kitchen unit. Controls for the oven are mounted externally of the space in order to maximise the volume available for the oven cavity. In preferred embodiments, the oven has a partition to divide its cavity into a plurality of cooking spaces. In a further preferred embodiment, the oven has a door assembly having a plurality of leaves which can be opened individually or together to give access to the whole cavity.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1995Date of Patent: April 8, 1997Inventor: Peris W. Thomas
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Patent number: 5577158Abstract: A heating panel has a metal substrate, ceramic inner and outer insulating layers on the substrate. A film of resistive material forms a heating layer on one of the insulating layers. The heating layer has electrodes on opposite edges connected to different phases of a multiphase power source. Another electrode is connected to a neutral of the power source. Capacitive currents caused in the substrate by the different phases cancel each other. Thus, leakage current is minimized through a conductor connected between the substrate and ground. The heating panel can be adapted for two phase or three phase systems. The heating panels are particularly useful for defining a heating cavity of an oven.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1995Date of Patent: November 19, 1996Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.Inventors: Johan Kallgren, Donald A. Coates, Sanjay Shukla, Steven M. Dishop
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Patent number: 5552579Abstract: A salvage system for on-site removal and recovery of electrical components such as IC's from PC boards. The unit may be mobile having at least two heating stations, each of which includes a mounting apparatus which positions the PCB above an array of infrared heating sources. Initial heating occurs at the first station and subsequent heating to above the eutectic point of the solder occurs at the second station. The unit is designed so that a minimum of workers can attend to the initial sorting, cleaning, sequential heating, extracting and storing of removed components. The heating apparatus includes a fan, baffle and deflector arrangement which helps to maintain even heating and avoidance of hot spots.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 1994Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Inventor: Ellison Krueger
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Patent number: 5359148Abstract: A heat-treating apparatus has a reaction vessel being adapted for performing a heat process for a workpiece to be treated and having a joint pipe portion and an outer pipe jointed to the joint pipe portion and of the reaction vessel. A sealing member is disposed between the outer pipe and the joint pipe portion. The sealing member has a relatively soft core member and a film harder than the core member. The film is disposed on the surface of the core member and has a heat resistance and a chemical resistance. Since the core member of the sealing portion has flexibility, it easily deforms corresponding to the shape of the sealing portion. The film provided on the core member prevents the sealing member from thermally adhering to the sealing portion and from thermally deteriorating.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1993Date of Patent: October 25, 1994Assignees: Tokyo Electron Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo Electron Tohoku Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Wataru Okase, Takashi Tanahashi, Takenobu Matsuo
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Patent number: 5324920Abstract: The heat treatment apparatus according to the invention comprising a process tube for holding a plurality of semiconductor wafers, a heating resistive element made mainly of molybdenum silicide and surrounding the process tube, a heat insulating member surrounding the heating resistive element and having a layer which made of material inert to silicon dioxide and faces the surface of the heating resistive element, and a securing member securing the heating resistive element to the heat insulating member, and made of material inert to silicon dioxide.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1991Date of Patent: June 28, 1994Assignee: Tokyo Electron Sagami LimitedInventor: Ken Nakao
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Patent number: 5272317Abstract: A cooking oven includes a cooking compartment with removable shelves. Each shelf includes a frame and a removable electrical resistance heater. The heater plugs into an electrical socket formed in a back wall of the compartment.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1992Date of Patent: December 21, 1993Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wook R. Ryu
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Patent number: 5170039Abstract: The toaster comprises a housing for receiving the pieces of bread to be toasted or to be reheated and on both sides of this housing an electric heating element having an electric resistor (R.sub.1, R.sub.2) wound on an elongated support made of insulating material (10, 11).On both sides of the housing there is provided at least one second electric resistor (R.sub.3, R.sub.4), commutation being provided to connect to the mains, as desired, one or both of the abovementioned resistors.Use: to permit a plurality of heating modes in toasters.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1990Date of Patent: December 8, 1992Assignee: SeB S.A.Inventor: Roger Eisenberg
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Patent number: 5164161Abstract: Apparatus and methods for proportional control of heating of a sterilizer chamber are disclosed in the application. A sterilizer chamber has heaters mounted on the walls, a wall temperature sensor and a chamber temperature sensor. The controller is operable to adjust the heat input by turning on the heaters for a variable fraction of a selected fixed interval and off for the remainder of the interval. When on the heaters provide a substantially constant heat input per unit time. The fraction of the interval during which the heaters are on is proportional to a temperature differential which comprises a setpoint temperature minus a temperature reading from one of the sensors. The controller has two, or in an alternate embodiment three, operating modes each having a unique temperature differential.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1991Date of Patent: November 17, 1992Assignee: MDT CorporationInventors: Charles H. Feathers, Charles E. Ellis
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Patent number: 4798938Abstract: A temperature control apparatus for a baking oven includes a baking heating element for heating the baking oven, a grill heating element disposed in the baking oven, a first thermostatic baking oven regulator manually settable to different temperatures for the baking heating element, a second regulator manually settable to different heating stages for the grill heating element, and a single setting device for setting and operating the first and second regulators, the setting device having a first control range in which the first regulator is adjustably controlled and a second control range in which the second regulator is adjustably controlled.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1987Date of Patent: January 17, 1989Assignee: Bosch-Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Julius Husslein, Gunther Wittauer, Helmut Knoll, Robert Dandl
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Patent number: 4590653Abstract: A turbine rotor disassembly, handling and reassembly apparatus employs a feedback-controlled electric heating oven to rapidly heat a turbine wheel while the rotor shaft is in the horizontal position. An adapter interfaces the wheel to a handling spool whose outboard end is adjusted to slide on the rotor shaft and to provide a fulcrum for supporting the wheel. A handling trolley includes a soft hydraulic system for supporting the weight of the wheel to avoid damaging the precision machined surfaces of the shrink-fit area while the wheel is being withdrawn. The handling apparatus also provides means for upending, or rotating, the removed wheel through 90 degrees to place its axis vertical for facilitating handling. A sensor system senses a radial motion of the wheel to detect clearance and to establish an appropriate fluid pressure to just balance the weight of the wheel and attached parts. The handling system includes means for rotating the wheel slightly during reassembly to align keyways or the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1985Date of Patent: May 27, 1986Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Adrian R. Ades, George S. Schmidt
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Patent number: 4580035Abstract: An apparatus for heating food-warmer plates includes a housing into which a plurality of the food-warmer plates may be slid through slots in a wall of the housing. An electrical heating element is disposed under each food-warmer plate inserted into the housing. The heating elements may be switched on and off individually. In this way it is possible to heat only that number of food-warmer plates which is actually needed.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1984Date of Patent: April 1, 1986Assignee: Lukon, Fabrik fur elektrothermische Apparate und elektrische StabheizkorperInventor: Paul Luscher
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Patent number: 4570053Abstract: A turbine rotor disassembly, handling and reassembly apparatus employs a feedback-controlled electric heating oven to rapidly heat a turbine wheel while the rotor shaft is in the horizontal position. An adapter interfaces the wheel to a handling spool whose outboard end is adjusted to slide on the rotor shaft and to provide a fulcrum for supporting the wheel. A handling trolley includes a soft hydraulic system for supporting the weight of the wheel to avoid damaging the precision machined surfaces of the shrink-fit area while the wheel is being withdrawn. The handling apparatus also provides means for upending. or rotating, the removed wheel through 90 degrees to place its axis vertical for facilitating handling. A sensor system senses a radial motion of the wheel to detect clearance and to establish an appropriate fluid pressure to just balance the weight of the wheel and attached parts. The handling system includes means for rotating the wheel slightly during reassembly to align keyways or the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1985Date of Patent: February 11, 1986Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Adrian R. Ades, George S. Schmidt
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Patent number: 4567649Abstract: A turbine rotor disassembly, handling and reassembly apparatus employs a feedback-controlled electric heating oven to rapidly heat a turbine wheel while the rotor shaft is in the horizontal position. An adapter interfaces the wheel to a handling spool whose outboard end is adjusted to slide on the rotor shaft and to provide a fulcrum for supporting the wheel. A handling trolley includes a soft hydraulic system for supporting the weight of the wheel to avoid damaging the precision machined surfaces of the shrink-fit area while the wheel is being withdrawn. The handling apparatus also provides means for upending, or rotating, the removed wheel through 90 degrees to place its axis vertical for facilitating handling. A sensor system senses a radial motion of the wheel to detect clearance and to establish an appropriate fluid pressure to just balance the weight of the wheel and attached parts. The handling system includes means for rotating the wheel slightly during reassembly to align keyways or the like.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1983Date of Patent: February 4, 1986Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Adrian R. Ades, George S. Schmidt
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Patent number: 4544025Abstract: A high gradient directional solidification furnace is disclosed which includes eight thermal zones throughout the length of the furnace. In the hot end of the furnace, furnace elements (25, 26, and 40) provide desired temperatures. These elements include Nichrome wire (28) received in a grooved tube (30) which is encapsulated by an outer alumina core (32). A booster heater (40) is provided in the hot end of the furnace which includes toroidal tungsten/rhenium wire (42) which has a capacity to put heat quickly into the furnace. An adiabatic zone is provided by insulation barrier (62) to separate the hot end of the furnace from a cold end. The cold end of the furnace is defined by heating elements (80 and 90). A heat transfer plate (70) provides a means by which heat may be extracted from the furnace and conducted away through liquid cooled jackets (72).Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1984Date of Patent: October 1, 1985Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Billy R. Aldrich, William D. Whitt
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Patent number: 4538049Abstract: A new and improved electric toaster oven is disclosed, wherein the heating ratio between upper and lower heat sources can be readily changed to suit the different requirements of the food item being cooked, while the rate at which the total heat is applied to the food item remains substantially constant throughout.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1984Date of Patent: August 27, 1985Assignee: Black & Decker, Inc.Inventor: William D. Ryckman, Jr.
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Patent number: 4517452Abstract: An electric oven toaster construction wherein a unique cam follower and rotatable cam accurately sets the threshold temperature of a thermostat switch. The rotatable cam includes relatively steep rise surfaces and the cam follower includes a generally flat mounting portion, a short blade portion and a slide portion in contact with the rotatable cam. An adjusting screw is threaded through the short blade portion close to the mounting portion. With this construction, the rotary position of the cam may be manually adjusted to accurately move the short blade portion and the adjusting screw to accurately move a thermostat switch contact only approximately one-third of the distance that the steep cam surfaces move the cam follower to accurately set the position of the thermostat switch contact to set the threshold temperature of the oven toaster.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 1983Date of Patent: May 14, 1985Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.Inventors: Charles Z. Krasznai, Richard L. Norwood
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Patent number: 4496827Abstract: An apparatus in a cooking device, e.g., an oven, is disclosed for enhancing heat and mass transfer during the food cooking process. The apparatus applying differently controlled corona currents to food surfaces in order to reduce cooking times relative to cooking times of conventional ovens. Two low potential electrodes, one fixed and the other movable, are provided in the oven and food, located intermediate the electrodes, is maintained at a high potential. A pair of electrically conductive fields for supporting corona currents at predetermined different corona current densities are defined between each electrode and its nearest food surface. Electrical circuitry is provided for maintaining a constant corona current flow in each one of the two electrical fields and each electrical field is controlled to support corona current flow at a different optimum density found to maximize heat and mass transfer.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1983Date of Patent: January 29, 1985Assignee: Proctor-Silex, Inc.Inventor: Eugene J. Sturdevant
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Patent number: 4493976Abstract: A cooking oven of the heat-cleaning type in which substantially all of the energy for heating the oven to heat-cleaning temperature is initially supplied by the upper or broil heating element. The broil unit is initially energized to raise the oven cavity temperature to the heat cleaning range during which time volatile portions of food by-products are evaporated, whereupon the broil unit is de-energized and the lower or bake heating element energized to maintain the temperature of the oven cavity in the heat cleaning range. The location of the lower bake unit relative to the lower wall of the oven cavity is dimensioned to insure that the temperature of the more difficult to clean front portion of the lower wall of the oven adjacent the door opening is maintained at heat-cleaning temperature for a time sufficient to effect removal of food by-products.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1983Date of Patent: January 15, 1985Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Arthur C. Wilson
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Patent number: 4369352Abstract: A temperature control system for an electronically-controlled thermal cooking oven having a single oven temperature sensor, which system facilitates varying the calibration set point in the field for normal cooking modes, without affecting the self-cleaning temperature calibration which is factory preset. A sensor-developed analog voltage is employed to control self cleaning temperature in the oven, with the oven temperature during normal cooking modes, such as bake and broil, controlled by the same voltage modified by an independently developed offset value or signal. The required summing of the sensor voltage and the offset voltage preferably is done by means of a suitably-programmed microprocessor-based control system. With this arrangement, the offset can be changed to vary the set point for normal cooking modes without affecting the self-cleaning temperature which is detected solely by the sensor, and cannot be readily varied by field adjustment.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1980Date of Patent: January 18, 1983Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Howard R. Bowles
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Patent number: 4215266Abstract: A baking oven having a baking chamber preferably divided into a plurality of baking compartments disposed in a vertical stack separated from one another by a deck and enclosed by a cabinet having an access door. Each such deck comprises top and bottom plates with a space therebetween and a heating element therein spaced from said plates. The deck is provided with a narrow vent to said space across its width adjacent the access door. A sensing bulb or other temperature sensing means of a thermostat is located in the said space with the sensing tip of the sensing means being substantially at said vent. The top surface of the bottom plate is selectively blackened and the heating element is located to provide progressively less heating toward the back of the baking compartments. The top side of the baking chamber is defined by a like deck and the bottom side of the baking chamber is defined by a similar deck which does not have a blackened lower plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1978Date of Patent: July 29, 1980Inventors: Gilbert L. Smith, Gilbert Trick, David L. Swanson
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Patent number: 4198555Abstract: The invention relates to a cabinet or the like for storing and taking to a suitable temperature prepared meals carried on trays adapted to be introduced in a storage space in the cabinet which comprises at least one source of electromagnetic microwave radiation placed in a chamber, separated from the storage space, and individual metallic flaps placed at the level of each tray and comprising at least one movable part, for separating or placing in communication, at the level of the tray, the storage space and the chamber containing the microwave source, depending on whether the movable part of the flap is in a first or a second position. The invention is more particularly applied to the distribution of meals in hospitals.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1978Date of Patent: April 15, 1980Assignee: De Pruines Iseco S. A.Inventor: Robert Bellavoine