Control system for glass-top cooking unit

US4993401A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Cramer GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Helmut Diekmann · Karben, DE
• Gunter Krohn · Hemer, DE
• Wilhelm Cramer · Brilon, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 28, 1989
• Grant date: Feb 19, 1991
• Expiry date: Nov 28, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F23N2241/08
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A cooking unit has a ceramic cooking surface, a gas burner underneath the surface, a gas supply including a solenoid valve for feeding a combustible gas to the burner, and an electric igniter juxtaposed with the burner and electrically energizable to ignite the combustible gas issuing from the burner. An electricity supply is connected to the igniter and to the gas supply for electrically energizing the igniter whenever the valve is open and supplying gas to the burner. In addition an electronic controller connected to the valve and to the electric supply monitors current consumption of the igniter and closes the valve when the current consumption of the igniter indicates same is malfunctioning. The controller includes a digital circuit that is also typically operated by the user of the cooker to turn the burners on and off and control their temperatures and an analog circuit connected parallel to each other. At least one of these circuits controls opening and closing of the valve. One of these arrangements is provided with a temperature display.