Glass ceramic cooking hob in which a reflecting surface in a position corresponding with a light and/or heat generator is protected against overheating

Abstract: A glass ceramic cooking hob (1) comprises a 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), said surface and said reflecting element (10) defining a chamber in which said generator (5) is located, between the generator (5) and said element there being positioned a body (20) transparent to the energy emitted by the generator (5) and defining an interspace (22) at the reflecting element (10), so as to insulate it from a part (21) of said chamber (19), containing said generator (5), which is more sensitive to the heat generated during the operation of said generator (5).

Description: This invention relates to a glass ceramic cooking hob of the type comprising a 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, said surface and said reflecting element defining a chamber in which said generator is located. The reflecting element is generally formed of aluminium because this material has considerable reflecting properties. This element allows 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. Because of the properties of aluminium, there is only a limited dispersion of the power radiated by the lamp, so resulting in improved heating of said container. 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. This element heats up both because of the energy (eg. light energy) which reaches it and also because of conduction between the air present in the chamber containing the generator and the element itself. DE-A-3 903 540 discloses a radiator having a parabolic reflector and a convection channel between the reflector and the housing of the radiator. An object of the present invention is to provide a cooking hob in which the reflecting element is thermally protected so as to prevent it overheating, or generally to prevent it reaching a temperature which could induce mechanical damage. A further object is to provide a reflecting element which is thermally reinforced and allows a greater transfer of energy to the container placed on the hob. A further object is to provide a cooking hob in which the reflecting element can be maintained at a temperature lower than that at which damage or deformation could result. 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, characterised by comprising at least one body between the light and/or heat generator and the reflecting element, said body being transparent to the energy emitted by the light and/or heat generator and defining an interspace at the reflecting element, so as to thermally insulate this latter from a part of the chamber, containing said generator, which is more sensitive to the heat generated during the operation of said generator. 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 utility model; and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the possible use of the cooking hob of the utility model built into an item of furniture, such as a kitchen unit. With reference to said figures, a glass ceramic cooking hob is indicated overall by 1. It comprises a surface 2 which supports with direct contact 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. According to the invention, between said lamps and the reflecting element 10 there is positioned a body 20 advantageously having the same shape as the element 10 and lying parallel to it. The body 20 is formed of a material which is transparent to the light energy emitted by the lamps 6 but has a low capacity to conduct heat and a low refractive index, such as the usual constituent material of the glass ceramic hob. The body 20 divides the chamber 19 into two portions 21 and 22. One of these, namely the portion 21, contains the lamp with the result that the air contained in it is subject to greater heating by virtue of their operation. The other portion 22 is substantially insulated from the portion 21 by the body 20, the air present in it being subject to lesser heating by virtue of the operation of the lamps 6. Thus during the use of the cooking hob 1, the element or screen 10 is less subject to heating by conduction deriving from the contact between the screen and the (hot) air present about the lamps. The heating of the reflecting element is hence reduced overall, so preventing its temperature reaching a value critical or its mechanical stability. Any heat absorbed by the reflecting element 10 is removed from it by natural or forced convention. In this latter case, a usual fan 24 driven by its own electric motor 25 (powered in known manner) is provided in the compartment 17 to direct the air so that it grazes the element or screen 10 and removes from it the heat absorbed by it during the operation of the lamps 6. If the hob 1 is associated with the furniture unit 18, an aperture 26 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 27 is placed over the aperture 26. Consequently during the use of the hob 1 the fan 24 is operated (either directly as a result of the operation of lamps 6 or via a suitable pushbutton 28 located on the control panel 29 for 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 causes cooling of the screen 10, thus reducing its probability of suffering mechanical damage as a result of excessive overheating caused by the heat stored during the operation of the lamps 6. A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described. It is possible to position the body 20 about the lamps 6 rather than as a continuous configuration as shown in Figure 1. A cooking hob 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 with safety, so allowing better and quicker food treatment.

Claims: A glass ceramic cooking hob of the type comprising a surface (2) on which containers containing food to be prepared are placed, below said surface there being provided at least one light and/or heat generator (5), such as a halogen lamp or the like, at which there is positioned an element (10) 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, said surface (2) and said reflecting element (10) defining a chamber (19) in which said generator is located, characterised by comprising at least one body (20) between the light and/or heat generator (5) and the reflecting element (10), said body (20) being transparent to the energy emitted by the light and/or heat generator (5) and defining an interspace (22) at the reflecting element (10), so as to thermally insulate this latter from a part (21) of the chamber (19), containing said generator (5), which is more sensitive to the heat generated during the operation of said generator (5). A cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the reflecting element (10) is exposed to an air flow generated by a fan (24) driven by its own electric motor (25). A cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the body (20) has the same shape as the reflecting element and is positioned, within the chamber (19) containing the light and/or heat generator (5), parallel to said element. A cooking hob as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the body (20) is arranged around the light and/or heat generator (5). 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) within said furniture unit (18), said compartment opening to the outside of this latter via at least one suitable aperture (26) advantageously provided with a grille (27). A cooking hob as claimed in claim 2 and 5, characterised by comprising within the compartment (17) the fan (24) for cooling the reflecting element.

Inventors: CIGARINI ENZO, KOKKELER FRANCISCUS, CIGARINI, ENZO, KOKKELER, FRANCISCUS, 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: F24C15, H05B3