Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for cooling, storing and inductively reheating complete meals

US4881590A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
10References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 17, 1988
Grant dateNov 21, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 17, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S165/918
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The apparatus consists of a refrigerator (10) into which it is possible to insert trays (27, 28, 29) on which various tableware containing different foods and/or drinks are placed. The refrigerator contains, in addition to the cooling unit (13), a high-frequency generator (17) which interacts with induction coils which are arranged in the trays, making it possible to heat suitable tableware inductively. Furthermore, a temperature monitoring means (19) is provided which switches the high-frequency generator off or on during a settable heating time and on reaching a predetermined temperature. A preferred embodiment of the temperature monitoring means contains an induction coil (41), which corresponds to the coils in the trays, and a metal element (42), the heat capacity of which approximately corresponds to that of a piece of tableware. The metal element is connected to the refrigerator housing by a heat-conducting connection (43, 44, 46). The heat conduction corresponds approximately to the heat absorption of the food in the tableware. A temperature sensor (47) which switches the high-frequency generator off or on at the settable temperature is arranged on the metal element. The app…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.