Cooktop appliance and heating element having a thermostat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022010967-A1
Application number	US-202016926014-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2020
Priority date	Jul 10, 2020
Publication date	Jan 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cooktop appliance and heating element, as provided herein may define a heating zone having a thermostat positioned therein. The thermostat may include a base, a bimetallic disk, and a conductive spring. The base may extend axially between a first end and a second end. The bimetallic disk may be disposed within the base. The conductive spring may be disposed within the base in biased engagement with the bimetallic disk to motivate the bimetallic disk towards the first end within the base. The conductive spring may include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer may extend from a contact end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a joinder end connected to the first terminal. The second layer may extend from a biasing end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a secured end fixed within the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electric resistance heating coil assembly, comprising:
a spiral wound sheathed heating element having a first coil section and a second coil section; and a thermostat connected in series between the first and second coil sections of the spiral wound sheathed heating element, the thermostat comprising
a base extending axially between a first end and a second end,
a first terminal mounted to the base and connected to the first coil section,
a bimetallic disk disposed within the base, and
a conductive spring disposed within the base in biased engagement with the bimetallic disk to motivate the bimetallic disk towards the first end within the base, the conductive spring comprising a first layer and a second layer, the first layer extending from a contact end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a joinder end connected to the first terminal, and the second layer extending from a biasing end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a secured end fixed within the base.

2 . The electric resistance heating coil assembly of claim 1 , wherein the secured end is attached to the connected end.

3 . The electric resistance heating coil assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second layer is nested within the first layer.

4 . The electric resistance heating coil assembly of claim 3 , wherein the secured end is positioned over the connected end, and wherein the contact end is positioned over the biasing end.

5 . The electric resistance heating coil assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second layer is cladded to the first layer.

6 . The electric resistance heating coil assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a support rod extending axially from the bimetallic disk to the first layer.

7 . The electric resistance heating coil assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second terminal mounted to the base and connected to the second coil section, wherein the first layer comprises a conduction pad in selective electrical connection with the second terminal at the contact end.

8 . The electric resistance heating coil assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a first material, and wherein the second layer comprises a second material having a higher electrical resistivity than the first material.

9 . The electric resistance heating coil assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first material comprises silver, copper, or aluminum.

10 . The electric resistance heating coil assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second material comprises nickel, iron, or chromium.

11 . A cooktop appliance, comprising:
a heating element defining a heating zone; and a thermostat positioned within the heating zone of the heating element, the thermostat comprising
a base extending axially between a first end and a second end,
a bimetallic disk disposed within the base, and
a conductive spring disposed within the base in biased engagement with the bimetallic disk to motivate the bimetallic disk towards the first end within the base, the conductive spring comprising a first layer and a second layer, the first layer extending from a contact end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a joinder end connected to the first terminal, and the second layer extending from a biasing end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a secured end fixed within the base.

12 . The cooktop appliance of claim 11 , wherein the secured end is attached to the connected end.

13 . The cooktop appliance of claim 11 , wherein the second layer is nested within the first layer.

14 . The cooktop appliance of claim 13 , wherein the secured end is positioned over the connected end, and wherein the contact end is positioned over the biasing end.

15 . The cooktop appliance of claim 11 , wherein the second layer is cladded to the first layer.

16 . The cooktop appliance of claim 11 , further comprising a support rod extending axially from the bimetallic disk to the first layer.

17 . The cooktop appliance of claim 11 , further comprising a second terminal mounted to the base, wherein the first layer comprises a conduction pad in selective electrical connection with the second terminal at the contact end.

18 . The cooktop appliance of claim 11 , wherein the first layer comprises a first material, and wherein the second layer comprises a second material having a higher electrical resistivity than the first material.

19 . The cooktop appliance of claim 18 , wherein the first material comprises silver, copper, or aluminum.

20 . The cooktop appliance of claim 18 , wherein the second material comprises nickel, iron, or chromium.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Cadima Paul Bryan
• Heimerdinger Mark

Classifications

• F24C7/083

  on tops, hot plates · CPC title

• F24C7/067

  on ranges · CPC title

• H05B3/748 Primary

  Resistive heating elements, i.e. heating elements exposed to the air, e.g. coil wire heater (H05B3/742 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24C7/087 Primary

  of electric circuits regulating heat · CPC title

• H05B1/0266

  Cooktops · CPC title