EP1039824A1

EP1039824A1 - Heat treatment device and method for producing the same

Info

Publication number: EP1039824A1
Application number: EP99947173A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ernst Wüst
Original assignee: Menu System Wuest and Co
Current assignee: Menu System Wuest and Co
Priority date: 1998-10-16
Filing date: 1999-10-15
Publication date: 2000-10-04
Also published as: WO2000022970A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a heatable base plate (1) which is configured in such a way that the item being treated cannot stick to it. Recesses (10) are provided in each area (2) of the plate (1) with which the item being treated comes into contact when placed thereon. These recesses (10) are filled with an antistick material (8) in such a way that the exposed surface (9) of the antistick material (8) in the indentation (10) lies practically level with the intermediate areas (4) of the plate surface (2) that extend between adjacent indentations (10).

Description

Device for heat treatment and method for producing the same.

The present invention relates to a device for heat treatment, with a heatable plate and a method for producing this device.

Devices of this type are generally known. One of these devices comprises a grill plate which has a flat or a surface provided with projections. The projections are, for example, as ribs, knobs or the like. executed. For example, when meat is grilled, residues stick to the surface of the grill plate. The burned food sticks firmly to the surface of the grill plate. Cleaning the grill plate is often very cumbersome. If the residues are not completely removed during cleaning, they can carbonize during further grilling processes. It is well known that charred fats, meat residues, oils, etc. can be harmful to health.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

This object is achieved according to the invention in the device of the type mentioned at the outset, as defined in the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

The following are embodiments of the present invention

B £ STATI6UNGS 0PIE explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 shows a vertical section of a corner section of a first embodiment of the present device, FIG. 2 shows a top view of the corner section of the grill device according to FIG. 1,

3 shows a vertical section of a first stage of a method for producing the device,

4 shows a vertical section of a second stage of the method for producing the device,

5 is a vertical section of a third stage of the method for manufacturing the device,

6 shows a vertical section of a corner section of a second embodiment of the device,

7 is a top view of a third embodiment of the present device,

Fig. 8 in a vertical section and greatly enlarged a section of the base plate of the present device and Fig. 9 in perspective an example device to which the present device can be applied.

The present device (FIGS. 1 and 2) comprises a base plate 1, which is made of a heat-conducting material, for example cast iron, steel or annealed steel, aluminum or the like. The illustrated base plate 1 has a quadrangular plan and it has a first or upper main surface 2, a second or lower main surface 3 and edge edges 16, 17, 22 and 23 (FIG. 7). 2 of these marginal edges are sections of only two of the marginal edges 16 and 17 shown because Fig. 2 shows only one of the corner portions of the base plate 1. It goes without saying that the quadrangular outline of the base plate 1 can have rounded corners. However, the outline or plan of the base plate 1 can also be round, elliptical, etc. The first main surface 2 of the base plate 1 is designed so that it can act on the dishes to be prepared or the like.

In the first main surface 2 of the base plate 1 there are depressions 10 which are designed as blind holes. The depressions 10 are distributed at least over the central region of the surface 2 of the base plate 1. Consequently, the surface 2 of the base plate 1 is free of the depressions in its edge regions 18.

The respective depression 10 has a depth T and a width or a transverse dimension B. The depth dimension T of the depression 10 extends essentially perpendicular to the first main surface 2 of the base plate 1. The minimum depth T of the blind holes 10 is 3 to 5 tenths of Millimeter. The maximum depth T of the blind holes 10 is primarily or only limited by the thickness of the base plate 1.

The depressions 10 can have an angular, for example quadrangular cross section. The depressions 10 shown in FIG. 2 have a square cross section and the mouth 9 of the respective depression thus has four edges 11, 12, 13 and 14 of equal length. The corners of the depression 10 can also be rounded. The angular depressions 10 shown in FIG. 2 are distributed over the surface 2 of the base plate 1 like a checkerboard. However, these depressions 10 can also have a different arrangement or distribution.

A section 4 of the first main surface 2 of the base plate 1 is located between two adjacent depressions 10 which are at a distance A from one another. This surface section 4 is also referred to below as the intermediate surface 4. The distance A between the adjacent depressions 10 and thus also the length or width of the intermediate surface 4 can be, for example, 1 mm, this distance A also being able to deviate significantly from the value mentioned. The size of the distance A can be, for example, between 0.5 mm and 10 mm.

In the case shown, the respective edge 11, 12, 13 or 14 of the mouth 9 of the depression 10 runs parallel to one of the side or edge edges 16, 17, 22 or 23 of the base plate 1. The length of the said edges 11 or 12 or 13 and 14 or a transverse dimension B of the depression 10 can likewise be 1 mm, this length also being able to deviate considerably from the value mentioned. The size of the transverse dimension B of one of the depressions 10 can be comparable to the size of the distance A between the adjacent depressions 10. The size of the transverse dimension B can be between 0.5 mm and 10 mm. It may be expedient to determine the size of the area of the cross section or the mouth 9 of the depressions 10 and the size of the intermediate Adjust surfaces 4 so that each of them occupies about 50% of the area 10 of the base plate 1 provided with the depressions 10.

The depressions 10 shown in FIG. 2 have side walls which adjoin the edges 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the mouth of the depression 10 at one end and the bottom 15 of the blind hole-like depression 10 on the other. Since the edges 11, 12, 13 and 14 coincide with the side walls of the recess 10 in a plan view, the reference numbers 11, 12, 13 and 14 which apply to the edges are also used to designate the side walls of the recesses 10.

Sections of a groove 6 in the first surface 2 of the base plate 1 extend along the edge edges 16, 17, 22 and 23 of the base plate 1. This groove 6 is intended for receiving juice and the like, which arises, for example, during a grilling process and onto which Base plate 1 arrives. In the case shown, the juice groove 6 has a rectangular cross section. The groove 6 at least partially surrounds the areas of the base plate 1 which have the depressions 10, the groove 6 expediently being able to represent a self-contained structure.

The respective section of the groove 6 is located between one of the edge edges 16, 17, 22 and 23 and the area of the base plate 1 which has the depressions 10 The groove section is located at a distance from the adjacent side edge 16, 17, 22 or 23 of the base plate 1 and it runs parallel to the adjacent side edge 16, 17, 22 or 23.

Heating means are assigned to base plate 1. These heating means can have at least one gas burner (not shown) which is known per se and which is expediently assigned to the second or lower main surface 3 of the base plate 1.

In the case shown, radiators 5, expediently electric heating elements 5, are arranged in the base plate 1. The radiators 5 lie in a plane which runs parallel to at least the first main surface 2 of the base plate 1. This level of the radiators 5 is closer to the second surface 3 of the base plate 1 than the depressions 10. In addition, the heating rods 5 are also parallel to one another. The heating elements 5 can be resistance heating elements of a type known per se.

FIG. 7 shows a further possible embodiment of the present device, in which the depressions 30 in the base plate 1 have a cylindrical wall 31. In Fig. 7, the depressions 30 are shown island by island to simplify the illustration. It goes without saying that the depressions 30 can be distributed uniformly over the surface 2 of the base plate 1.

The respective depression 30 has a diameter D, which rather also represents a transverse dimension of the depression 30. Consequently, for the diameter D of the depressions 30 with the circular cross-section, those numerical data apply which have been made above in connection with the transverse dimension B of the depressions 10 with a square cross-section.

In the device shown in FIG. 7, the depressions 30 are distributed over the surface of the base plate 1 such that they form two groups or families of rows standing at right angles to one another. The direction of the respective group of lines runs parallel or perpendicular to one of the edges 16, 17, 22 or 23 of the base plate 1 in the illustrated case. The direction of the respective group of lines can, however, to the plate edges 16, 17, 22 and 23 also stand at an angle which is less than 90 degrees and is, for example, 45 degrees. In this case, the depressions 30 with the circular cross section are also distributed in a checkerboard manner, as described above in the first embodiment of this invention.

The depressions 10 and 30 are filled with a material 8 which is repellent to grease, liquids, etc. Such materials 8 are generally known. They are referred to as non-stick materials and are commercially available, for example, under the name Teflon. This material 8 fills the interior of the respective recess 10 or 30 up to the upper edge 9 thereof. In the area of the mouth 9 of the recess 10 and 30, the plug 8 has the anti-stick material a free-standing surface 29, which is practically in the plane of the first surface 2 of the base plate 1.

No food or food residues can adhere to the free-standing surface 29 of such a material 8. Even if the heat-treated material should adhere to the intermediate sections 4 of the first surface 2, for example due to burning on these intermediate surfaces 4, the material cannot remain adhering to the free surfaces 29 of the individual plugs 8 made of the non-stick material. The plug surfaces 29 therefore represent interruptions in the surface of the heat-treated material adhering to the first surface 2 of the base plate 1. With a ratio which is matched to the type of material, the surface of the material plugs 8 and the surface of the intermediate surfaces 4 extending between them can be removed the heat-treated material can always be easily separated from the first surface 2 of the base plate 1.

It must be borne in mind that during the operation of this device there is normally a rapid change in temperature, namely between an ambient temperature when the device is not being heated and the operating temperature of, for example, 200 degrees Celsius. These temperature changes can also affect the adhesion of the material plug 8 in the recess 10 or 30 of the base plate 1 in such a way that the adhesion of the plug 8 in the recess 10 or 30 is reduced. In order to prevent the plug 8 from leaving the recess 10 or 30, suitable measures can be taken. 8 shows one of these measures. The mouth region 9 of the recess 10 or 30 is shaped in the illustrated case such that the material of the base plate 1 forms a circumferential rib or a collar 28 in the region of the mouth 9. The diameter or the width of this collar 28 is smaller than the diameter or the width B of the depression 10 or 30. After the non-stick material 8 has been introduced into the interior of the depression 10 or 30, it takes on the inside of the Recess 10 or 30 located portion of the plug 8 a diameter or a width which is larger than the inner dimension of the collar 28. As a result, the collar 28 retains the plug 8 in the recess 10 or 30.

The collar 28 can be produced, for example, in such a way that the mouth 9 is deformed with the aid of a dome (not shown). This mandrel should have a transverse dimension which is larger than the transverse dimension of the recess 10 or 30. Such a mandrel is pressed against the edge of the mouth 9 with a suitable pressure until the deformation of the mouth 9 to the collar 28 takes place. Another measure that also supports the holder of the plug 8 in the recess 10 or 30 can consist in that a thread (not shown) is made in the wall of the recess 10 or 30. Those portions of the non-stick material 8 that get into the threads of the thread hold the material plug 8 in the recess 10 or 30 reliably. The first main surface 2 of the base plate 1 is provided with a metal layer 7. This layer 7 is at least designed such that it only covers the intermediate surfaces 4 of the plate surface 2 alone. In the case shown, however, the metal layer 7 not only covers these intermediate surfaces 4 but also the side walls 11 to 14 and 31 and the bottom 15 of the depressions 10 and 30, so that the layer 7 is a layer which extends cohesively over the base plate 1. The metal layer 7 expediently also covers the walls and the bottom of the juice groove 6.

The metal layer 7 is advantageously made of hard chrome and its thickness can be between 1 Omy and 1 OOmy, whereby this thickness can expediently be about 30my. Hard chrome protects the surface 2 of the base plate 1 against the action of aggressive substances and thus against corrosion. In addition, those sections of the metal layer 7 which are located on the intermediate surfaces 4 of the base plate 1 also reduce the adhesion of the treated material to the intermediate surfaces 4 to a certain degree. The sections of the metal layer 7 which are located on the intermediate sections 4 also reduce the radiation of heat from the base plate 1. Furthermore, hard chrome is so hard that it mechanically protects the surface 2 of the base plate 1, for example against scratching.

Aggressive substances such as liquids, vapors and vapors can also enter the space between the outside of the gene plug 8 and the inner wall of the recesses 10 and 30, where they could cause the corrosion of the material of the base plate 1. If the inner wall of the depressions 10 or 30 is also covered with the said metal layer 7, then this coating 7 prevents the corrosion of the said inner wall, as a result of which the retention of the plugs 8 in the depressions 10 and 30 is further improved.

A further improvement in the adhesion of the plug 8 in the depression 10 or 30 can be achieved by ventilating the interior of the depression 10 or 30. For this purpose, at least one channel 27 (FIG. 8) is implemented in the plug 8. One end of this channel 27 lies in the area of the free-standing surface 29 of the plug 8 and via this end the channel 27 is connected to the surroundings of the plate 1. The other end of the channel 27 opens against the bottom 15 of the recess 10 or 30. Cooling air can get into the interior of the recess 10 or 30 through this channel 27. In addition, liquids, vapors, vapors etc. can escape through this channel 27 from the recess 10 or 30, which have penetrated into the recess 10 or 30 through the gap between the outer wall of the plug 8 and the inner wall of the recess.

3 to 5 show the individual phases or stages of a method for producing the present device. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the depressions 10 and also the juice groove 6 are first made in the blank of the base plate 1. The depressions 10 can be drilled, milled, ren, be produced with the help of a laser, etc. It is expedient to also carry out bores for receiving the heating rods 5 in the base plate 1 during this working phase. The upper main surface 2 of the base plate 1 can now also be ground flat.

Then the upper main surface 2 of the base plate 1 is coated with the metal layer 7 (FIG. 4), which not only covers the intermediate surfaces 4 of the upper plate surface 2 but also the side walls 11 to 14 or 31 and the bottom 15 of the depressions 10. If the interior of the depressions 10 and 30 is covered in a suitable manner before the metal layer 7 is applied, then the metal layer 7 is located only in the region of the intermediate surfaces 4 of the upper plate surface 2.

The non-stick material 8 (FIG. 5) is then applied to the base plate 1 prepared as described above in such a way that the non-stick material 8 fills at least the depressions 10. Expediently, however, the non-stick material 8 also forms a coherent layer 19 which extends over the depressions 10 in the base plate 1 and which is integral with the non-stick material 8 located in the depressions 10 and 30. However, this non-stick layer 19 is located only in the area of the base plate 1 in which the depressions 10 and 30 are made.

Finally, the non-stick layer 19 is removed from the base plate 1, for example peeled off, so that the one in FIG and 2 or 7 arrangement shown reached. In these arrangements, the intermediate surfaces 4 of the base plate 1 provided with the metal layer 7 alternate with the surfaces 9 of the quantities of the non-stick material 8 located in the interior of the depressions 10. On a surface of the grill plate 1 designed in this way, no food or food residues can stick over a large area because the surfaces 9 of the non-stick material 8 in the adjacent depressions 10 are at a small distance A of only about 1 mm from one another. Consequently, it is possible to remove any food residues etc. adhering to the plate 1 by simply scraping from the plate surface 2, without impairing the non-stick properties of the device.

The diameter of the depressions 10 and 30 can be kept so small that the non-stick material 8 cannot be brought out of the depressions 10 or 30, for example cannot be scratched out, if the surface 2 of the base plate 1 is covered with a wire sponge or the like, for example Means is treated. The depth of the depressions 10 and 30 can be so large that a supply of non-stick material 8 remains in the depressions 10 and 30 even if a certain amount of non-stick material 8 is in the area of the mouth 9 of the depressions 10 and 30, for example by scratching or the like.

In the device shown in detail in FIG. 8, the metal layer 7 is formed after the upsetting of the mouths 9 Wells 10 and 30 applied to the base plate 1. And only after the application of the metal layer 7 is the non-stick material applied to this metal layer 7 in the still flowable state and cured.

6 shows a further embodiment of the present device. The basic structure of this device is the same as the basic structure of the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2 or 7. This means that depressions 20 are made in the material of the base plate 1, that a non-stick material 8 is accommodated in the depressions 20 and that there is a layer 7 is made of a metal between the wall 21 of the recesses 20 and the non-stick material 8. This still further embodiment of the present device differs from the above embodiments above all in that the respective depression 20 is approximately funnel-shaped in the material of the base plate 1. This means that an axially or vertically running longitudinal section through the wall 21 of the recess 20 presents itself approximately like the legs of the letter V, namely approximately as shown in FIG. 6. In addition, such an inner wall 21 of the depression 20 has an irregular course. The irregular course of the side wall 21 of the recess 20 supports the adhesion of both the metal layer 7 on this wall 21 and the holding of the plug 8 made of the non-stick material 8 in the recesses 20.

This type of recesses 20 can be Shooting the material of the base plate 1 in the area of the surface 2 of the same can be achieved with sufficiently large, sharp-edged objects, the hardness of which is greater than the hardness of the material of the base plate 1. Such a production of the depressions 20 is rapid and is therefore very inexpensive . With this method, an average depth of the depressions 20 can easily be achieved, which is 5 to 7 tenths of a millimeter. With this small depth and with the irregular structure of the depressions 20, it can happen that the side walls of the adjacent depressions 20 already meet below the surface 2 of the base plate 1, so that there is no intermediate surface 4 between such depressions 20. Nevertheless, there are a sufficient number of these intermediate surfaces 4 in the first surface 2 of the base plate 1, which define the support surface 2 for the material to be treated.

The device can be operated in the position shown in FIG. 1. Fig. 9 shows a device to which the present device can also be applied. This device has a flat, stationary lower part 31, to which a likewise flat upper part 32 is pivotably articulated. The present device can be attached either to one of the parts 31 or 32 or to the two parts 31 and 32 of this device.

The present device can also be used as one of the walls of a hollow device such as an oven where, for example, grease splashes etc. are expected. The walls of the facility mentioned in this way are extremely easy to clean and thus make the aggressive solvents superfluous.

Claims

claims

1. Device for heat treatment, with a heatable plate, characterized in that the plate (1) is designed so that the heat-treated material can not stick to the plate (1).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that in that surface (2) of the plate (1) on which the material to be treated comes to lie, depressions (10; 20; 30) are made such that these depressions (10; 20; 30) are present in at least one area of the plate (1), that intermediate surfaces (4) of the plate surface (2) can extend between the recesses (10; 20; 30), that a non-stick material (8) extends in the recesses (10; 20; 30) and that the free-standing surface (29) of the non-stick material (8) is practically at the same level as the intermediate surfaces (4).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the recess (10; 20; 30) is designed as a blind hole, that the recess (10; 30) has a wall (11, 12, 13, 14; 21; 31), and has a mouth (9) and that means are provided which hold the plug (8) made of the non-stick material in the recess (10; 20; 30).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the holding means are designed as a circumferential rib (28), that this rib (28) in the region of the mouth (9) of the Recess (10; 30) and that the rib (28) protrudes from the inner wall of the recess (10; 30) towards the inside of the recess.

5. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that at least that main surface (2) of the plate (1), in which the recesses (10; 20; 30) are made, is provided with a layer (7) made of a metal that this layer can be made of hard chrome, and that this metal layer (7) is at least on the intermediate surfaces (4) of the plate (1).

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the metal layer (7) also at least still covers the wall of the recesses (10; 30), so that this metal coating (7) forms a coherent layer.

7. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that means for ventilating the interior of the recess (10; 30) are provided.

8. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that there is a groove (6) in the edge region of the base plate (1), that this groove (6) is provided with the depressions (10; 20; 30) region of the base plate (1) at least partially surrounds and that this groove (6) is expediently also covered with the metal layer (7).

9. Process for producing the device according to patent claim 1, characterized in that depressions (10; 20; 30) in one of the surfaces (2) of a base plate (1) are made of a heat-conducting material and that these depressions (10; 20; 30) with a non-stick material (8) be filled in such a way that the surface (29) of this non-stick material (8) is practically at the same level as those sections (4) of the surface (2) of the plate (1) which are located between the adjacent depressions (10; 2 :; 30) extend.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the surface (2) of the base plate (1) is covered with a metal layer (7) before the plate (1) is provided with the non-stick material (8), and that this metal layer ( 7) can cover not only the intermediate surfaces (4) on the plate (1) but also the walls of the depressions (10, "20; 30).