Patent · US Expired

Modular control enclosure for a cooking appliance

US5726424A · kind A · utility

37Cited by
7References
37Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 13, 1996
Grant dateMar 10, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 13, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05B2219/2643
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention utilizes a self-contained control module consisting of the electronics necessary to the control the various operations of the cooking appliance in which the module is installed, preferably including the high voltage control electronics. The control module is easily accessible and removable from the front panel without the risk of exposure to high voltage due to the presence of a safety interlock that automatically cuts the high voltage to the control module and, if desired, to other subassemblies the instant the control module is removed. In addition, the control module is housed within an electrically conductive liner to control EMI emissions. Once the control module is removed, the interior of the appliance is sufficiently sealed off by a perforated cage to prevent further access to power lines or any high voltage circuits interior to the appliance which may have not been wired through the safety interlock. Moreover, to ensure that a faulty control module is replaced properly, coded connectors, such as keyed connectors, are used between the control module and other subassemblies of the appliance, such as temperature sensors, high voltage circuits and power s…

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