Cooktop appliance and temperature switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10499459-B2
Application number	US-201615336897-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2016
Priority date	Oct 28, 2016
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A cooktop appliance is generally provided herein. The cooktop appliance may include a cooktop panel, an electric heating element, a ferromagnetic tab, and a magnetic temperature switch. The electric heating element may be positioned at the cooktop panel. The electric heating element may include a first terminal and a second terminal. The ferromagnetic tab may be in thermal engagement with the electric heating element. The magnetic temperature switch may be positioned in selective magnetic engagement with the ferromagnetic tab. The magnetic temperature switch may be electrically connected in series with the second terminal and operable to restrict a voltage to the electric heating element above a predetermined temperature.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooktop appliance comprising:
a cooktop panel;
an electric heating element positioned at the cooktop panel, the electric heating element including a first terminal and a second terminal;
a ferromagnetic tab in stationary, conductive, thermal engagement with the electric heating element; and
a magnetic temperature switch positioned in selective magnetic engagement with the ferromagnetic tab, the magnetic temperature switch being electrically connected in series with the second terminal and operable to restrict a voltage to the electric heating element above a predetermined temperature,
wherein the magnetic switch comprises a retainer bracket disposed below the ferromagnetic tab, a switch body mounted to the retainer bracket, a magnetic element housed within the switch body radially outward from the retainer bracket, an articulating connection plate fixed to the magnetic element within the switch body, and a mechanical spring motivating the connection plate and magnetic element radially outward away from the ferromagnetic tab, and
wherein the ferromagnetic tab is positioned below the heating element and received within the retainer bracket.

2. The cooktop appliance of claim 1 , wherein the electric heating element comprises a first resistive coil, the first resistive coil comprising the first terminal and the second terminal.

3. The cooktop appliance of claim 2 , wherein the electric heating element comprises a second resistive coil, the second resistive coil comprising a third terminal and a fourth terminal.

4. The cooktop appliance of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first electrical conduit connected in series with the first terminal and the third terminal,
a second electrical conduit connected in series with the second terminal and the temperature switch, and
a third electrical conduit connected in series with the fourth terminal.

5. The cooktop appliance of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to a Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic tab.

6. The cooktop appliance of claim 5 , wherein the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic tab is above 360° Celsius.

7. The cooktop appliance of claim 6 , wherein the magnetic switch includes a first prong and a second prong, and wherein the connection plate is disposed in series between the first prong and the second prong.

8. The cooktop appliance of claim 7 , wherein the connection plate is disposed in conductive engagement with the first and second prongs in the first position, and wherein the connection plate is spaced away from the first and second prongs in the second position to prevent conduction therebetween.

9. A cooktop appliance comprising:
a cooktop panel;
an electric heating element positioned at the cooktop panel;
an element frame supporting the electric heating element, the element frame being positioned below the electric heating element;
a ferromagnetic tab extending from the element frame in stationary, conductive, thermal engagement with the electric heating element; and
a magnetic temperature switch positioned in selective magnetic engagement with the ferromagnetic tab, the magnetic temperature switch being operable to restrict a voltage to the electric heating element above a predetermined temperature,
wherein the magnetic switch comprises a retainer bracket disposed below the ferromagnetic tab, a switch body mounted to the retainer bracket, a magnetic element housed within the switch body radially outward from the retainer bracket, an articulating connection plate fixed to the magnetic element within the switch body, and a mechanical spring motivating the connection plate and magnetic element radially outward away from the ferromagnetic tab, and
wherein the ferromagnetic tab is positioned below the heating element and received within the retainer bracket.

10. The cooktop appliance of claim 9 , wherein the electric heating element comprises a first resistive coil.

11. The cooktop appliance of claim 10 , wherein the temperature switch is electrically connected in series with the first resistive coil.

12. The cooktop appliance of claim 10 , wherein the electric heating element further comprises a second resistive coil.

13. The cooktop appliance of claim 12 , wherein the temperature switch is electrically connected in series with the first resistive coil and electrically isolated from the second resistive coil.

14. The cooktop appliance of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined temperature is equal to a Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic tab.

15. The cooktop appliance of claim 14 , wherein the Curie temperature of the ferromagnetic tab is above 360° Celsius.

16. The cooktop appliance of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic switch includes a first prong and a second prong, and wherein the connection plate is disposed in series between the first prong and the second prong.

17. The cooktop appliance of claim 16 , wherein the connection plate is disposed in conductive engagement with the first and second prongs in the first position, and wherein the connection plate is spaced away from the first and second prongs in the second position to prevent conduction therebetween.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Gomez Eugenio

Classifications

• H05B1/0266 Primary

  Cooktops · CPC title

• H05B1/0219

  actuated by modification of the magnetic properties of a material · CPC title