WO2007071568A1

WO2007071568A1 - A cooking container for induction heaters

Info

Publication number: WO2007071568A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/069418
Authority: WO
Inventors: Levent Hasanreisoglu
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2005-12-20
Filing date: 2006-12-07
Publication date: 2007-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-20

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooking container (1) produced of a nonmetallic material such as glass or ceramic, providing to make coffee or keep the coffee warm, utilized in devices such as coffee machines with induction heaters (1), wherein heating is provided by means of a hot plate (5) assembled on the base (4) inside the body (3), which is effected by the induction heater (1).

Description

Description A COOKING CONTAINER FOR INDUCTION HEATERS

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooking container that is utilized in devices such as coffee machines comprising an induction heater.

[0002] In devices that comprise induction heaters, e.g. coffee machines, the containers used for purposes of cooking or keeping warm are usually produced of nonmetallic materials such as glass or ceramic. Glass material is preferred since it is superior in cleanliness and visual aspects with respect to other materials; however, problems are encountered in bringing the liquids contained therein up to the boiling point for cooking or keeping at the desired temperature since the thermal conductivity of glass is poor. When glass cooking containers are empkced on a heater, the heat produced by the heater has to pass through the glass material to reach the liquid contained within, an efficient heating cannot be provided particularly in cases requiring last heating since the thermal conductivity of glass is poor or a good contact cannot be established between the glass container and the heater. In order to increase the heating effectiveness of glass containers, their bases are coated with metal material with high thermal conductivity or sensitive to induction currents.

[0003] In the Japanese patent documents no. JP52096164 and JP52096165, coffee machines are explained wherein heating is done by induction.

[0004] In the Japanese patent document no. JP2000023837, an electromagnetic cooking container is described The cooking container is produced of a nonmetallic material such as glass or the like and its base is coated with metallic material.

[0005] In the Japanese patent document no. JP2002272619, in a coffee machine with double containers for brewing coffee, the lower container is made of heat-resistant glass and an induction heater is used to heat the water in the lower container.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooking container that is utilized in devices such as coffee machines having an induction heater wherein processes of effective heating or keeping warm can be maintained

[0007] The cooking container realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0008] The cooking container of the present invention is utilized in devices such as coffee machines for processes of cooking or keeping warm and are produced of glass or ceramic that is preferred in terms of cleanliness or the aesthetics. An induction heater is used for heating the cooking container. A metal disc, situated on the base in the cooking container produces heat by the effect of the induction waves generated from the induction heater. Both the lower and upper surfaces of the metal disc are in contact with the liquid poured into the cooking container to be heated.

[0009] The supports situated on the sides of the cooking container base hold up the metal disc a little above the base and form a volume wherein the liquid can pass between the base and the metal disc.

[0010] The metal disc is attached on the supports by an adhesive or fixed to the inner walls of the cooking container by snap-fitting or is prevented from being dislocated by a barrier.

[0011] There are openings on or at the sides of the metal disc that provide the circulation of the liquids contained in the compartments of the cooking container

[0012] separated by the metal disc.

[0013] The temperature of the metal disc can be regulated by a heat sensor and heat is transmitted to the heat sensor by means of a metal extension, with high heat conductivity, connected to the base of the metal disc in the center of the cooking container by extending through a hole at the center of the base up to the heat sensor, preferably produced as one piece with the metal disc.

[0014] The cooking container realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0015] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a coffee machine having an induction heater and a cooking container.

[0016] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of a cooking container and an induction heater.

[0017] Figure 3 - is the top view of a cooking container.

[0018] Figure 4 - is the schematic view of hot plate.

[0019] Figure 5 - is the detailed view of a cooking container.

[0020] Figure 6 - is the schematic view of a cooking container, an induction heater, and a heat sensor.

[0021] Figure 7 - is the schematic view of Detail A in Figure 6.

[0022] Elements shown in figures are numbered as follows :

1. Induction heater

2. Cooking container

3. Body

4. Base

5. Hot plate

6. Support 7. 107. Opening

8. Barrier

9. Assembly recess

10. Heat sensor

11. Extension

12. Hole

13. Gasket

[0023] The cooking container (1) that is used in devices such as coffee machines having induction heaters (1) provides to carry out the processes of cooking or keeping warm and is produced of a nonmetallic material such as glass or ceramic.

[0024] The cooking container (2) comprises a body (3), a base (4) situated beneath the body (3), a hot plate (5) produced of ferromagnetic material, preferably stainless steel, effected by the induction currents generated by means of the induction heater (1), one or more supports (6) providing the hot plate (5) to be held at a certain height from the top surface of the base (4) so as to be effected by the induction currents, the formation of a volume (H) underneath the hot plate (5) that fills in with liquid and thus increasing heat transfer by means of the upper and lower surfaces of the hot plate (5) being in contact with the liquid poured into the body (3), and one or more openings (7, 107) that allow the liquid poured into the body (3) to pass underneath the hot plate (5) to be in contact with the lower surface of the hot plate (5) and provide the circulation of the liquid that is in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the hot plate (5).

[0025] The hot plate (5) is empkced on the support (6) such that there is a certain distance between itself and the upper surface of the cooking container (2) base (4), is attached on the support (6) preferably by an adhesive or fixed on the inner surface of the body (3) by snap-fitting. Accordingly, the hot plate (5) is ensured not to be displaced during the boiling of the liquid or serving into other drink containers from the cooking container (2). The circulation of the liquid in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the hot plate (5) is provided and the homogeneity of the boiled liquid is maintained by means of the opening (7, 107).

[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooking container (2) comprises an opening (7) between the side of the hot plate (5) and the inner surface of the body (3) that allows the liquid to pass between the supports (6) (Figure 3).

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking container (2) comprises an opening (107) formed by boring a hole on the hot plate (5) that provides to increase the circulation of the liquid in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the hot plate (5) (Figure 4).

[0028] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooking container (2) comprises one or more barriers (8) situated on the body (3) providing to prevent the displacement of the hot plate (5) empkced on the support (8) (Figure 5).

[0029] In this embodiment, the cooking container (2) comprises one or more assembly recesses (9) that form a niche from the side of the hot plate (5) inwards and provides the hot plate (5) to be easily passed over the barrier (8) while being assembled into the body (3) and afterwards turned to be fixed in between the barrier (8) and the support (6) and also allowing for the circulation of the liquid in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the hot plate (5) (Figure 4).

[0030] In another embodiment of the present invention, the induction heater (1) comprises a heat sensor (10) situated under the base (4) of the cooking container (2) that detects the temperature of the hot plate (5) disposed on the base (4).

[0031] In this embodiment, the cooking container (2) comprises an extension (11) having a high heat conductivity, to which the hot plate (5) is connected, that passes from the base (4) of the cooking container (2) providing to transmit the temperature of the hot plate (5) to the heat sensor (10), a hole (12) on the base (4) through which the extension (11) passes and a gasket (13) that prevents the liquid in the body (3) from leaking out between the extension (11) and the hole (12). The extension (11) transmits heat to the heat sensor (10) and also maintains the fixing of the hot plate (5) to the cooking container (2) since its end extending out of the hole (12) is attached to the base (4) of the cooking container (2) with an element such as a nut or the like.

[0032] The heat sensor (10) detects the temperature of the hot plate (5) inside the cooking container (2), thus keeps the temperature of the hot plate (5) constant when desired and keeps the liquid in the cooking container (2) at the desired warmth, furthermore in the case of overheating, stops the operation of the induction heater (1) by controlling the energy transfer from the induction heater (1) to the hot plate (5).

[0033] In the cooking container (2) empkced on the induction heater (1), produced of glass material having the advantage of aesthetics and cleanliness, drinks such as Turkish coffee can be prepared in a short time by pouring in cold water and heating up to the boiling point and also preheated coffee can be kept at a temperature suitable for drinking. It is possible to heat the liquid much more efficiently and keep at the desired temperature since the glass material of which the cooking container (2) is made is not used to conduct the heat.

Claims

[0001] A cooking container (2) for induction heaters (1) utilized to carry out the processes of cooking or keeping warm, produced of a nonmetallic material such as glass or ceramic comprising a body (3), and a base (4) situated beneath the body (3), characterized by a hot plate (5) situated on the base (4) of the inner volume of the body (3), produced of ferromagnetic material preferably of stainless steel effected by the induction currents generated by means of the induction heater (1), one or more supports (6) providing the hot plate (5) to be held at a certain height from the top surface of the base (4) so as to be effected by the induction currents, providing the formation of a volume (H) underneath the hot plate (5) that fills in with liquid and thus increasing heat transfer by means of the upper and lower surfaces of the hot plate (5) being in contact with the liquid poured into the body (3) and one or more openings (7, 107) that provide the liquid poured into the body (3) to pass underneath the hot plate (5) to contact with the lower surface of the hot plate (5) and the circulation of the liquid in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the hot plate (5).

[0002] A cooking container (2) as in Claim 1, characterized by an opening (7) that provides the passage of the liquid through between the supports (6) that are between the side of the hot plate (5) and the inner surface of the body (3).

[0003] A cooking container (2) as in Claim 1, characterized by an opening (107) that is formed by boring a hole on the hot plate (5) that increases the circulation of the liquid in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the hot plate (5).

[0004] A cooking container (2) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by one or more barriers (8) situated on the body (3) providing to prevent the displacement of the hot plate (5) that is emplaced on the support (6).

[0005] A cooking container (2) as in Claim 4, characterized by one or more assembly recesses (9) that form a niche from the side of the hot plate (5) inwards and provides the hot plate (5) to be easily passed over the barrier (8) when assembled into the body (3) and afterwards turned to be fixed in between the barrier (8) and the support (6).

[0006] A cooking container (2) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by an extension (11) having a high heat conductivity, to which the hot plate (5) is connected and providing to transmit the temperature of the hot plate (5) to the heat sensor (10) on the induction heater (1) by passing from its base (4), a hole (12) on its base (4) through which the extension (11) passes and a gasket (13) that prevents the liquid leaking out from between the extension (11) and the hole (12).