Glass ceramic cooking hob with a reflecting surface arranged in a position corresponding with a light and/or heat generator, in particular a halogen lamp cooled by air circulation

Abstract: A glass ceramic cooking hob (1) comprises a free surface (2) on which containers (3) containing food (4) to be prepared are placed, below said surface (2) there being provided a light and/or heat generator (5), such as a halogen lamp or the like (6), at which there is positioned a reflecting element (10) having at least one face (15) facing said generator and an opposing face (16) facing an external environment (17). This latter face is exposed to an air flow generated by a cooling member positioned below the reflecting element, said air flow cooling said reflecting element, which heats up during the operation of the generator or halogen lamp (6).

Description: The present invention relates to a glass ceramic cooking hob of the type comprising a free surface on which containers containing food to be prepared are placed, below said surface there being provided at least one light and/or heat generator, such as a halogen lamp or the like, at which there is positioned an element reflecting the light and/or heat and having at least one face facing the generator or halogen lamp and an opposing face facing an external environment. The GB-A-1 433 354 describes a cooking apparatus with a cooling arrangement of the housing of the heat generators. The reflecting element is generally formed of aluminium because this material has considerable reflecting properties. This element produces optimum direction of the lamp-generated light rays towards the cooking hob, on the surface of which said container is placed, so increasing the heat transmitted to this latter. In this manner the efficiency of the cooking hob is optimized. However, the quantity of heat energy which can be fed to said container is limited by the reflecting element itself, which is generally the thermally weakest member of the glass ceramic cooking hob. An object of the present invention is to provide a cooking hob in which the reflecting element is more protected against the heat emitted by the light and/or heat generator. A further object is to provide a cooking hob of the stated type which is thermally reinforced, is of low cost and is of simple construction. A further object is to provide a cooking hob in which the reflecting element is always at a temperature lower than that at which it could suffer mechanical weakening. These and further objects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained by a glass ceramic cooking hob of the aforesaid type, having the features reported in claim 1. The present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawing, which is provided by way of non-limiting example and in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a cooking hob constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the possible use of the cooking hob of the invention built into an item of furniture, such as a kitchen unit; and Figure 3 is a cross-section through a modified embodiment of a cooking hob according to the invention. With reference to said figures, a glass ceramic cooking hob is indicated overall by 1. It comprises a surface 2 which supports in contacting relationship usual containers 3 (only one is shown in Figure 1) containing food 4 to be subjected to preparation. Several heating elements 5 are associated with the cooking hob 1, they being positioned below the hob. In the example shown in the figures, the elements 5 are halogen lamps 6 powered in any known manner and of suitable (known) shape to heat the containers 3 on the hob 1 by the heat generated during their operation. In correspondence with and below the lamps 6 there is provided a known screen or reflecting element 10 arranged to suitably direct the light and heat rays 11 generated by said lamps towards the (upperly positioned) hob 1. In particular, the screen 10 is constructed of aluminium and comprises a series of concavities and convexities 12 and 13 (with reference to the lamps), the concavities being positioned in correspondence with and below the lamps 6. By this configuration the screen 10 directs the rays 11 substantially perpendicularly onto the hob 1, thus increasing the heating effect of the rays on the hob. The aluminium screen 10 has a face 15 facing the lamps 6 and a face 16 facing an external environment, such as a compartment 17 of a usual kitchen furniture unit 18. The face 16 comprises at least one portion 20 of high heat transfer coefficient, to improve and increase the cooling of the screen 10. Specifically, in one embodiment shown in Figure 1, with the face 16 there are associated in any known manner (for example by a hot shrinkage fit) two portions 20 forming separate bodies with respect to the screen 10 and comprising a plurality of fins 22 facing the compartment 17. Advantageously, these portions are arranged in positions corresponding with the concavities 12 facing the lamps 6. In this respect, in order to strike said portions 20 with a suitable air flow and hence cool the reflecting element 10, a fan 24 (or similar cooling element) is provided in the compartment 17 and driven by a usual electric motor 25 powered in any known manner. This fan is operated on activation of the reflecting elements 5 or during discrete spaced-apart time periods. During the use of the cooking hob 1, the lamps 6 generate light and heat. Those rays 11 generated by said lamps which do not directly reach the hob 1 are reflected towards it by the screen 10. This latter therefore heats up and can reach high temperature. By conduction, the heat is transferred from the surface 15 and those layers of the screen 10 below it to the surface 16 and from there to the portions 20. The heat is removed from these latter by the air which comes into contact with the fins 22, which have a considerable heat transfer area compared with the surface 16. In practice, the portions 20 "draw" heat from the screen 10, so preventing it from reaching critical temperatures which could result in its mechanical weakening and/or in deformation which could be damaging to the proper use of the cooking hob. The heat emitted by the portions 20 is removed from these latter by forced convection by the air moved by the fan 24. If the hob 1 is associated with the furniture unit 18, an aperture 27 is provided in a wall 18A thereof to connect the compartment 17 to the room containing the furniture unit 18 (such as a kitchen). A grille 28 is placed over the aperture 27. Consequently during the preparation of a food contained in a container resting on the hob 1, the fan 24 is operated (either directly as a result of the operation of lamps 6 or via a suitable pushbutton 29 located on the control panel 30 of the heat generators 5, or following the operation of the lamps 6 but with a suitable delay set by a usual timer connected to a usual electrical feed circuit for the lamps 6). The operation of the fan results in greater cooling of the portions 20, making them more efficient in removing the heat from the screen 10. A modification of the invention is shown in Figure 3, in which parts corresponding to those of Figures 1 and 2 are indicated by the same reference numerals. In this modification a fan 24 is again associated with the hob 1, but the aluminium screen 10 comprises, associated with the face 16, a body 38 having high emissive power or emittance. The body 38 is prepared for example by depositing a layer of black or other dark coloured coating on said face. In a possible alternative, the body 38 is a solid body heat-shrunk onto the screen 10 to obtain intimate contact with this latter. During the use of the cooking hob 1, the lamps 6 generate light and heat. Those rays 11 generated by said lamps which do not directly reach the hob 1 are reflected towards it by the screen 10. This latter therefore heats up and can reach high temperature. Again in the case under examination, the heat is transferred by conduction from the surface 15 and those layers of the screen 10 below it to the surface 16 and from there to the body 38. Because of its intrinsic characteristics, this latter emits a large part of the heat absorbed by the screen towards the compartment 17 (see the arrows F in Figure 1). In practice the body 38 absorbs heat from the screen 10, so preventing it from reaching temperatures which could result in its mechanical weakening and/or in deformation which could be damaging to the proper use of the cooking hob. The heat emitted by the body 38 is removed from this latter by forced convection by the fan 24, which directs the air so that it grazes the body 38, to remove from it the heat radiated by it. If the hob 1 is associated with the furniture unit 18, an aperture 27 (previously described) is provided in this latter to connect the compartment 17 to the room containing the furniture unit 18 (such as a kitchen). A cooking hob with cooled screens as described is of simple construction and enables possible malfunction deriving from damage to the screens or reflecting elements associated with its light and/or heat generators to be prevented, where such damage is related to excessive screen heating. In addition, the upper surface of said hob on which the food containers are placed for food preparation can be raised to a very high temperature, so allowing better and quicker food treatment.

Claims: A glass ceramic cooking hob of the type comprising a free surface on which containers containing food to be prepared are placed, below said surface there being provided at least one light and/or heat generator, such as a halogen lamp or the like, at which there is positioned an element reflecting the light and/or heat and having at least one face facing the generator or halogen lamp and an opposing face facing an external enviroment, characterised in that that the face (16) of the reflecting element (10) facing the external environment is exposed to an air flow generated by a cooling member positioned below the reflecting element and is provided with at least one portion (20, 38) of high heat transfer coefficient for increasing heat transfer between the reflecting element and said air flow. A cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said portion (20, 38) has a shape such as to increase the free heat transfer surface of the reflecting element (10). A cooking hob as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the portion (20) is formed by providing finning on the reflecting element (10). A cooking hob as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the portion (20) is a body separate from the reflecting element (10), said body comprising finning facing the external environment (17). A cooking hob as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the portion (20) is associated with the reflecting element (10) by a heat-shrinkage fit. A cooking hob as claimed in claim 3 or 4, whereby at least one light and/or heat generator is a halogen lamp (5), characterised in that the portion (20) is located in a position corresponding with the halogen lamp (5). A cooking hob as claimed in claim 3 or 4, whereby at least one light and/or heat generator is a halogen lamp (5), characterised in that the portion (20) comprises two separate parts each located in a position corresponding with the halogen lamp (5). A cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said portion (20, 38) comprises a coating layer of black or other dark colour deposited on said face (16). A cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said portion (20, 38) comprises a solid body (38), black or dark coloured, intimately associated, by heat-shrinkage, with the reflecting element (10). A cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, of the type associated with a known kitchen furniture unit, characterised in that the external environment is a compartment (17) provided within said furniture unit (18), said compartment opening to the outside of this latter via at least one suitable aperture (27) provided with a grille. A cooking hob as claimed in claim 10, characterised by comprising in the compartment (17) a fan (24) for removing from the reflecting element (10) the heat stored within it.

Inventors: BRALIA RENZO C O WHIRLPOOL ITA, CIGARINI ENZO C O WHIRLPOOL IT, KOKKELER FRANCISCUS C O WHIRLP, BRALIA, RENZO, C/O WHIRLPOOL ITALIA S.R.L., CIGARINI, ENZO, C/O WHIRLPOOL ITALIA S.R.L., KOKKELER, FRANCISCUS, C/O WHIRLPOOL ITALIA S.R.L.
Applicants: WHIRLPOOL EUROP, WHIRLPOOL EUROPE B.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F24C15
IPC codes: H05B3, F24C15