EP2256417A2 - Gas hob with a hotplate and at least one cooking surface - Google Patents

Abstract

The hob (11) has a gas burner provided at a cooking surface (14), and a pot carrier device (20) placed at the cooking surface to hold a pot over the gas burner. A functional element is arranged in an interior part of the carrier device, and a cooking hob plate (12) is provided under the carrier device in a continuous and uninterruptible manner. The carrier device comprises three pot carrier parts (22a, 22b) that are fastened on the cooking hob plate, and a sensor is utilized as the functional element that performs pot detection and excess temperature detection or monitors flame of the burner. The carrier device is partly made of glass or ceramics.

Description

Field of application and state of the art

The invention relates to a gas hob with a hob plate and at least one cooking point on it.

Usually have hotplates on gas cooktops with a cooktop plate ring-like or crown-shaped pot support means, which form multiple touchdown points. On these Aufsetzpunkte a pot can be placed on a gas burner of the hob for a cooking process. Such pan supports are often made of cast iron.

Task and solution

The invention has for its object to provide an aforementioned gas hob, can be solved with the problems of the prior art and in particular other functionalities can be achieved on the gas hob.

This object is achieved by a gas hob with the features of claim 1. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the other claims and are explained in more detail below. The wording of the claims is made explicit reference to the content of the description.

It is envisaged that the gas hob has a gas burner at the cooking area and a pot carrier device, which define in particular the cooking area. Usually, a pot is held by placing on this pot support means on the gas burner or above the gas burner. According to the invention, the pot carrier device has an inner space, which in particular is hollow, and in which various functional elements can be arranged, in particular sensors or the like, which will be explained in more detail later. Furthermore, the hob plate under the pot carriers is continuously formed and without interruptions, especially without wells or the like .. In particular, they can run continuously with their other thickness and surface.

In a fundamentally advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pot support means may consist of individual or separate components, which are therefore not formed contiguous and distributed, and having an interior. They are referred to below as pot carrier parts. They are attached to the hob plate, for example, glued. Advantageously, however, they are releasably secured, which by solid eyes, a magnetic holder or by placing on the top of the hob plate applied, in particular glued, projections is possible. This attachment of the individual pot carrier parts on the hob plate is therefore advantageous and necessary in most cases, so that they remain in a predetermined assignment to each other and around the gas burner, so that a safe and defined placement of a pot is possible.

In a fundamentally different and advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pot carrier device can be formed integrally for easier handling, possibly also in one piece or from a plurality of pot carrier parts, the like as individual areas or the like. are connected to a part or worked out of a single piece of material. In a particularly advantageous manner, it can be connected in a ring-like manner distributed around the gas burner or provided or formed on a circumferential ring. This then corresponds in this respect to a substantially known pot carrier device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least three pot carrier parts of the pot carrier device can be provided, which results in a stable three-point bearing of an attached pot. Advantageously, there may be more pot support parts, for example, five pot carrier parts. They are distributed around the gas burner, advantageously evenly distributed and in particular also firmly connected.

The above-mentioned functional elements arranged in the hollow interior can be sensors which are advantageously designed for at least one of the following functions, such as pot detection, overtemperature protection and flame monitoring for the gas burner flame. Depending on the type and a possible size of the sensors can be provided that only one of the pot carrier parts has sensors, so there is only one interior with sensors. In this respect, it can be provided that the other pot carrier parts are either of identical design with interior, which is empty. Alternatively, externally identical pot support parts can be used, which then also do not need a hollow interior.

According to a fundamental alternative, it may be provided to provide only one type of functional element or sensor per pan carrier parts or per interior space. This simplifies a sensor control and -evaluation. Furthermore, the problem can be avoided so that the sensors influence each other disturbing.

The said sensors for over-temperature protection can be known per se temperature sensors. You can pass the temperature information wirelessly to an evaluation under the closed non-metallic cooktop panel, for example with RFID technology. In this case, a resonant circuit can be provided with a temperature-dependent oscillating circuit element. On the basis of the oscillating circuit characteristic, the temperature can be determined. Alternatively, an optical temperature measurement through the hob plate, which is then advantageously a translucent glass ceramic plate, and made by at least in the longitudinal direction translucent pot carrier parts directly to the underside of a patch pot bottom. This is known from the prior art basically for directly on a cooktop patch pots. Flame monitoring for the gas burner flame can be done in a similar manner with optical scanning through the cooktop panel and the interior of the pan support means. Possibilities for pot detection in addition to optical possibilities via a type of light barrier or reflex photoelectric sensor will be explained in more detail below.

In a further further basic embodiment of the invention can be provided that the pot support means or at least one pot carrier part has at a cooking point display means with which display functions can be performed. Such display functions are, for example, status information such as the operating state of a hotplate or the gas burner, timer displays, overheating protection or possibly even of cooking stages or power levels of the hotplate. Such display means are particularly advantageous for a visual display formed either by simple lighting function or connected to a transmitted by the lights information, for example by multiple lights or displays on a Pot holder light up, possibly in different colors. In particular, a set power can be displayed.

For a visual display, it is possible that on one side of the pot support means or the pot support part electrical bulbs are arranged on it or therein or, since then no direct power supply is necessary, light leaks from bulbs, which are arranged below the hob plate. Thus, a technically manageable and easy implementation is possible. In particular, lighting means such as LED can be arranged below the hob plate and radiate through it into the pot carrier device or the pot carrier part, which is then at least partially translucent or has a correspondingly formed light channel and at the bottom of a light inlet. By light distribution means such as mirrors, prisms or built-in, bent or angled light guide or the like. Then, the light can be redirected to the side accordingly and at corresponding light exits, in particular in the manner of translucent plastic windows or the like, are emitted laterally and outwardly. A radiation can be done either in several directions or even annular outwards. Alternatively, a radiation direction for light exits can be aligned in the direction of the front of the gas hob, as usually an operator who is to recognize the light display is here.

In yet another embodiment of the invention can be provided that at least one pot support member or the interior has an additional insulation, with the arranged in its interior functional elements such as the aforementioned sensors or the aforementioned display means from heat from the attached pot or from the side adjacent gas burners emitted heat can be protected. In addition to a possibly reflective trained outside or inside this can be usual thermal insulation be either by material selection of the pot carrier part or by additionally attached thermal barrier coatings, such as vermiculite or the like. With such thermal insulation also further, explained below functional elements or devices in the pot support device can be better protected from heat, such as microcontroller or resonant circuits.

In yet another embodiment of the invention can be provided that a pot support member on its underside and / or on its upper side a cover such as a coating or the like. This may on the one hand be a metal, for example in order to achieve the best possible thermal coupling to the underside of a raised pot for arranged in the interior temperature sensors. Alternatively, it may be a temperature-resistant plastic, such as silicone, to ensure a secure state of the exposed pot and to avoid scratching. Furthermore, in the case of a ceramic pot carrier, damage to the pot carrier device can be avoided by a pot placed too roughly or falling down.

A pot support means may be made of metal, whereby it can be produced inexpensively, has an attractive appearance in a production of stainless steel or aluminum and is also robust or mechanically stable. Alternatively, it can consist of non-metallic material, which in particular enables or improves the use of capacitive pot detection sensors in or on a pot carrier part. Here are glass, ceramic or porcelain, as well as correspondingly stable and temperature-resistant plastic.

It is possible to form a pot carrier part or parts of a pot carrier device essentially as a tube, advantageously round. It may generally be a cylindrical hollow body and depending on the training on his be closed upper or lower end, for example, as the aforementioned cover on the top or bottom.

Sensors described above for a pot carrier device can be arranged in one embodiment of the invention as one or more electrically conductive upper sensor surfaces on the top of a pot carrier part. On the underside of a further electrically conductive lower sensor surface is arranged, wherein the two sensor surfaces are electrically conductively connected to each other, but electrically isolated from the rest of the pan support means. Below the pot carrier part an electrically conductive connection surface is provided on the underside of the hob plate, which in turn is connected to a control and / or an evaluation, possibly the entire gas hob. Thus, this lower connection surface is capacitively coupled to the underside of a raised pot, in order to realize in this way pot detection.

There are several possibilities for such pot detection. On the one hand, it is possible for a pot carrier device of a cooking station to have two pot carrier parts of the same design and as described above, which each have an electrically conductive lower capacitive connecting surface as a type of sensor surface. An electrical signal generation is connected to one of these capacitive connection surfaces or capacitive sensor surfaces, and an evaluation is made at the other capacitive connection surface. Thus, the capacitive coupling of an applied drive signal may be measured to determine if a pot has been set up, which then passes the drive signal from one upper sensor surface to the other upper sensor surface. This can also work with ceramic or glass pots with water as a food. The drive signal is transmitted in each case via a capacitive coupling from the connection surface to the lower sensor surface.

As an alternative to such a passage of a drive signal through two controlled sensor surfaces and the erected pot can be provided that one of the sensor surfaces and their corresponding lower connection surface is connected to ground. Thus, only the change in the attenuation of the drive signal to ground is detected by the presence of a pot.

As a further aforementioned functional element can be provided in a pot carrier part over-temperature protection. For this purpose, for example, at least one LC resonant circuit can be provided and a mechanical temperature switch, advantageously a bimetal switch, which can interrupt the resonant circuit. This temperature switch is thermally coupled to the top of the pot carrier part, so that heat is transferred from the bottom of the pot on him. The associated inductance of the resonant circuit is then arranged in the lower region of the pot carrier, wherein a corresponding inductor or coil is arranged on the underside of the hob plate below the pot carrier part, which cooperates with the resonant circuit or forms a system. In an alternative embodiment, the upper coil may also be surrounded by a ferrite which exceeds its Curie point at a critical temperature. Thus, then changes its typical resonant frequency, which in turn can be detected by an evaluation under the hob plate.

Said lower inductance or coil is connected to an evaluation, advantageously by means of an electrical line, so that the evaluation can sit in another place, in particular in a remote central control of the gas hob can be integrated. At a temperature set for the temperature switch, advantageously a critical temperature for the pot, for example, about 300 ° C, the switch switches and interrupts the resonant circuit in the pot carrier part. This can be detected by the inductance under the hob plate and thus can exceed the critical Temperature are recorded. Dependent on either an acoustic or optical signal, in particular in the aforementioned manner, can be generated on the pot carrier part itself or a heating power can be reduced.

As an alternative to opening or closing the resonant circuit by means of the mechanical temperature switch, a further coil can be arranged in the resonant circuit, which is bridged or switched by the temperature switch. So, so to speak, the resonant circuit can be thermally influenced in other ways to determine the achievement of a certain temperature. Alternatively, this can be recognized by the placement of a pot, especially if namely the upper coil is influenced by the placement of a metallic pot and the thereby changing damping of the resonant circuit can be evaluated as pan detection. Thus, so quasi with a resonant circuit both a pot detection and a prescribed overtemperature protection can be achieved. If the detected temperature is so high that the upper coil is bridged by the temperature switch and thus virtually no longer exists, then the pot detection does not work anymore. However, it has worked before, what can be recognized, and then it is just because of the detected temperature clear that a pot must be placed. In this respect, a control can also recognize this and process it correctly, which is advantageous to switch off the hotplate.

In yet another basic embodiment of the invention, it is possible that in the pot carrier part itself, a microcontroller is arranged, the sensors in the pot carrier part directly control and evaluate. Such a microcontroller should be advantageously designed as a high-temperature resistant component, for example in SOI technology. His power supply can by an already described resonant circuit arrangement at the bottom of the pot carrier part and below at the Bottom of the hob plate done. The microcontroller may be connected to a transmission device for transmitting sensor data by radio, near field communication of inductive or capacitive coupling. Under the hob plate a receiving electronics or another resonant circuit may be provided, which is connected to an evaluation for passing the evaluation to a controller of the gas hob.

It can be used a variety of different already known and conventional sensors, in particular for the above-described functions such as pot detection, namely capacitive or inductive, or detection of temperature, weight of an attached pot, cooking appliances or level. A signal transmission from the microcontroller to an evaluation or hob control can be done either via resonant circuit coupling, but advantageously via radio or near field communication. It is also possible to provide solar cells or a thermogenerator on the outside of the pot carrier part, together with an energy store, advantageously a small accumulator, which, in addition to the currently generated electrical energy, ensures a power supply to the microcontroller and a signal transmission.

It is conceivable in a further basic embodiment of the invention also to use both a capacitive and an inductive function or signal transmission. Thus, the advantages of each method complement each other and thus lead to a more accurate evaluation. It is possible to provide the coils for the inductive signal transmission with an additional area as a capacitive surface. Due to the additional area, a possibly too low coupling capacity of the coils themselves can be avoided. Such an additional capacitive surface is possible, for example, by coating the coil or portions thereof. Signal transmission, both capacitive and inductive, can then be compared and this leads to a secure and more accurate signal transmission with fewer errors or problems.

In an extension of the invention, it is possible to form the pot support device or pot carrier parts electrically conductive and even as part of a sensor. These form one half of the pot support device for each two hotplates, whereby thus two different pot carrier parts are present at a cooking position. In one, a signal is capacitively coupled and decoupled in the other.

These and other features will become apparent from the claims but also from the description and drawings, wherein the individual features each alone or more in the form of sub-combinations in an embodiment of the invention and in other fields be realized and advantageous and protectable Represent embodiments for which protection is claimed here. The subdivision of the application into individual sections as well as intermediate headings does not restrict the general validity of the statements made thereunder.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine seitliche Schnittdarstellung durch ein Gas-Kochfeld mit mehreren Topfträgerteilen einer Topfträgereinrich- tung, einem Gasbrenner darunter sowie einem aufge- setzten Topf,

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf das Gas-Kochfeld gemäß Fig. 1 mit Verbindungen zwischen den Topfträgerteilen und

Fig. 3 bis 6

Variationen der Funktionselemente in den Topfträgertei- len.

Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a side sectional view through a gas hob with several Topfträgerteilen a Topfträgereinrich- tion, a gas burner underneath and an attached pot,

Fig. 2

a plan view of the gas hob according to Fig. 1 with connections between the pot carrier parts and

Fig. 3 to 6

Variations of the functional elements in the pot carrier parts.

Detailed description of the embodiments

In Fig. 1 a gas hob 11 is shown with a hob plate 12, which consists for example of glass ceramic. A cooking point 14 is essentially formed by or around a gas burner 16, above which a pot 18 with food to be cooked 19 therein, for example water, is arranged. The pot 18 is on a pot support means 20 at the cooking position 14. The pot support means 20 in turn consists of a plurality of separately formed pot support members 22, of which a pot support member 22a and a pot support member 22b are shown. In advantageous embodiments, five such pot carrier parts 22 are provided around the gas burner 16 at a uniform spacing.

The construction of the pot carrier 22 is described by way of example on the left-hand pot carrier part 22a, wherein in FIG Fig. 1 the right pot support part 22b is constructed identically. The pot support member 22a consists essentially of a ceramic tube 23 with a cavity 24. The ceramic tube is formed of a correspondingly stable and visually appealing ceramic with sufficient wall thickness of, for example, a few millimeters and a height of about 3 cm to 5 cm, so that the bottom of the Pot 18 with sufficient distance above the gas burner 16 is. On its upper side, the pot carrier part 22a has an upper cap 26 and on its underside a lower cap 27. These consist in this embodiment of metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum, and are firmly connected to the ceramic tube 22. A compound can either by flush seat or by gluing or the like. be achieved. The function of these cover caps 26 and 27 is firstly to close the ceramic tube 23 or the pot carrier part 22. Furthermore, such advantageous metal, alternatively plastic, existing cap much more robust against unsightly placing the pot 18, in which case a plastic surface is even better because of the damping properties, especially of silicone because of the hot pot bottom. Furthermore, metallic covers provide functional advantages, which will be explained in more detail below.

It can be seen that the pot carrier parts 22 are each formed individually from each other and arranged with distance to each other. They can be fastened individually on the top of the hob plate 12, either by gluing as in the illustrated embodiment or by fitting accurately on corresponding projections or brackets on the hob plate 12th

It is noted that off Fig. 1 It can be seen that the hob plate 12 in the region of the pot carrier parts 22 is not broken or has no recesses and advantageously even left unchanged. In contrast, in the area of the gas burner 16, an absolutely necessary, but not shown, implementation of a gas line and possibly an ignition line is provided for igniting the gas flame.

It can be seen that in the pot carrier part 22a, a connecting line 28 between the upper cap 26 and lower cap 27 is provided. This connecting line 28 can be realized in many ways and extend, for example, on the inside of the wall of the ceramic tube 23. Thus, the two caps 26 and 27 are electrically connected to each other and in particular thereby also the lower cap 27 is electrically or at least capacitively connected to the pot 18, which is here a metal pot.

Just below the pot carrier parts 22a and 22b lower connecting surfaces 30a and 30b are provided, for example in the form of applied to the underside of the hob plate 12 or glued metal surfaces or metal plate. Alternatively, a metallic coating of the underside of the hob plate 12 is possible, which is known for example from contact switching devices for electric hobs. The lower connection surfaces 30a and 30b are connected to a controller 32 having at least one microcontroller. This controller 32 forms a control and evaluation, which will be explained in more detail below.

The lower cover caps 27 are, as previously explained, electrically conductive or at least capacitively connected to the pot 18. The lower connecting surfaces 30a and 30b opposing the lower end caps 27, which in this case are made of metal, may apply a driving signal generated and applied by the controller 32 to the upper cap 26, for example via the lower connecting surface 30a. If a pot 18 is mounted, then an electrically conductive connection or a capacitive coupling is produced via this between the lower cover caps 27. This, in turn, can be detected at the lower right interface 30b via the connection with the controller 32. Thus, pan detection can be easily realized, with the signal being transmitted at least twice capacitively between the lower cover caps 27 and the lower connection surfaces 30a and 30b.

As an alternative to a so-called forwarded drive signal from the controller 32 and back to the controller 32, for example, the lower right connecting surface 30b could be grounded or earthed. Even then, placing the pot 18 with the making of the electrically conductive connection between the upper and lower cover caps 26 and 27 would cause a change in a drive signal which is coupled in via the lower connection surface 30a. Even so, a pot detection could be realized by means of the described, electrically conductive or metallic trained caps. In the described embodiments is an alternative Training to the effect possible that the lower cover 27 does not necessarily have to be electrically conductive. If they are not, at least at the lower region of the pot carrier parts 22 opposite the lower connecting surfaces 30a and 30b, a correspondingly electrically conductive surface is provided, which must be electrically conductively connected to the upper cover caps 26. Furthermore, the upper cover caps 26 need not necessarily be designed to be electrically conductive, since instead of a direct conductive connection by means of the pot 18 again a capacitive coupling to the metallic bottom of the pot 18 is possible.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 Thus, the metallic cover caps or corresponding electrically conductive surfaces together with connecting line 28 form the described functional elements in the pot carrier parts 22.

Not shown in Fig. 1 is the ability to provide the pot carrier parts 22 with a thermal insulation, in particular to the inside. This can easily be imagined either outside a heat-reflecting coating and / or inside a thermal insulation of appropriate material.

In Fig. 2 is the arrangement off Fig. 1 shown in plan view. Here it is shown that the individual pot carrier parts 22, five of which are provided at the cooking point 14, are connected in a ring-like manner by means of connecting webs 31. These connecting webs 31 are for clarity in FIG Fig. 1 not shown. They ensure that the pot carrier parts 22 remain stable around the cooking area 14 around for placing a pot 18 also shown. The connecting webs 31 may be integrally formed with the pot carrier parts 22, for example, be machined from a single piece of material. Alternatively, they can be retrofitted to the pot carrier parts 22, for example, welded. That's just how individual pipe sections can be be used as pot carrier parts 22, which are then connected to a ring. This ring-like training can apply to all training described here.

In the alternative training according to Fig. 3 is on a gas hob 111, a left Topfträgerteil 122a turn provided with an upper cap 126 and a lower cap 127 and thus forms a cavity 124. As a functional unit in the cavity 124, a resonant circuit 134 consisting of coil 136 and capacitor 137 is provided. This resonant circuit 134 is connected to a temperature-dependent switch 140, which may be, for example, a bimetallic switch. The switch 140 should be relatively close to the bottom of the pot 118, so that it is coupled as well as possible to its temperature or has this temperature. For the bottom of the pot 118 may be defined a critical temperature, for example 300 ° C, at which the switch 140 opens. As a result, the resonant circuit is interrupted. Possible temperature differences between the bottom of the pot 118 and switch 140 can be determined experimentally and taken into account accordingly.

Below the left pot support member 122a, so the coil 136 opposite, another resonant circuit or a further coil 141 is arranged, advantageously attached to the underside of the hob plate 112. It is in turn connected to a controller 132. The controller 132 controls the lower coil 141, which is damped by the oscillation circuit 134 in the pot carrier part 122a. This damping changes significantly in the above-described opening of the switch 140, wherein for the switch 140 when reaching the critical temperature from below, both opening and closing can be provided. Both changes the mentioned attenuation strongly. Thus, the controller 132 can determine the achievement of the critical temperature and implement accordingly in a control of the gas hob 111, which may itself be them. With this solution, over-temperature protection can be both for metal pots as well as for pots made of other material.

In the solution according to Fig. 3 It should be noted that in the coupling of the resonant circuit 134 in the pot carrier part 122a with the lower coil 141 should be no metal parts between them, in particular the lower cap 127 should not be made of metal. In this case, it may consist of the aforementioned plastic. The formation of the upper cap 126 is irrelevant. In the right pot support member 122b further functional elements may be attached, which will be described, for example, a lighting described at the end.

In the gas hob 211 according to Fig. 4 is in extension to the execution according to Fig. 3 in the left pot support member 222a a resonant circuit 234 installed. This resonant circuit 234 has close to the upper cap 226 and the bottom of the pot 218 turn on a temperature-dependent switch 240, a coil 236 and a capacitor 237. In addition, however, a second coil 238 is provided, which is likewise arranged like the switch 240 in the upper region of the pot carrier part 222a. The temperature-dependent switch 240 is formed as for Fig. 3 described and in turn has an identical switching temperature.

With this arrangement, on the one hand, when the switch 240 is open, by controlling the coil 241 arranged under the hob plate 212, damping thereof can be achieved by the oscillating circuit 234 in the pot carrier part 222a. Since the behavior of the second coil 238 changes by setting up a pot with the switch 240 open, the damping of the coil 241 also changes. This can therefore be recognized by the controller 232 as the presence of the pot 218. In a further functionality or depending on a modified damping of the lower coil 241 is on reaching the critical temperature, as for Fig. 3 switch 240 closes and bridges upper second coil 238. Again, this greatly alters the attenuation on lower coil 241, which in turn can be evaluated by controller 232 as reaching the critical temperature. As a result of detecting the reaching of the critical temperature, the burning power at the gas burner 216 may be reduced or shut off altogether.

Here, it should be noted that the pan detection described does not work when the critical temperature is exceeded, because then yes, in any case, the upper second coil 238 is bridged. Since in this case, yes, the temperature would be too high, the flame of the gas burner 216 would have to be turned off anyway, so it does not matter. Furthermore, in the event that after exceeding the critical temperature, that is, when the upper second coil 238 is bridged and the pot 218 is then removed, this removal is not recognized immediately. At the same time, however, with the pot 218 removed, the temperature in the upper region of the pot carrier part 222a will decrease rapidly, so that the switch 240 in turn would quickly close. Then, the upper second coil 238 is reactivated, as it were, and can determine that the pot 218 has been removed.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4 So is achieved with the resonant circuit 234, a combination of overtemperature protection and pan detection. Because of the operation of the upper second coil 238 is here to pay attention, as in Fig. 3 described for the lower cap 127 that the upper cap 226 is made of a material that affects the damping of the upper second coil 238 too much.

The in Fig. 4 shown switch is a so-called Klixon. This can be closed as normal. The arrangement shown has a high inductance, which is considered to be favorable, since then a small capacity is sufficient. In this respect, an alternative arrangement is possible in which compared to Fig. 4 Switch 240 and capacitance 237 are reversed, so the capacitance 237 is parallel to the coil 236 and these are in series with the switch 240. So a standard Klixon can be used.

Furthermore, it should be noted that when approaching the pot not only the damping of the resonant circuit changes. It also changes the inductance itself and thus the resonance frequency. From the two changes in the damping and the resonant frequency can also draw conclusions on the pot material, which makes it possible to detect unsuitable pots and display this state of an operator.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 5 On the gas hob 311, a left pot carrier part 322a is shown, which has at least one sensor 343 in its cavity 324 in the upper region or on the underside of the upper cap 326. This sensor 343 can have different functions, for example a temperature sensor, in particular with a temperature-dependent electrical resistance, or a capacitive or inductive pan detection sensor. Furthermore, it could be a weight sensor, on the upper cap 326 then in accordance with known manner, the bottom of the pot 318 and is pressed by the weight against the hob plate 312. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a sensor 343 could be provided in a detection window of the ceramic tube 323 to the gas burner 316 out as flame monitoring for the gas burner flame. For example, further sensors may detect cooking sounds in the pot 318 as reaching a cooking point for food to be cooked 319 therein.

Under the left pot support part 322a is again, similar to in Fig. 4 , a lower coil 341 including controller 332 arranged. Through the coil 341 and control 332, a voltage is induced in a resonant circuit 334 with connected sensor control 345 to supply the sensor control 345 inductively with energy. Thus, the sensor controller 345 can control and evaluate the sensor 343.

A transmission of the signals detected by the sensor control 345 via the sensor 343 to a control of the gas hob 311, in particular to the controller 332, can be carried out according to an embodiment of the invention in a known manner via radio or so-called near field communication. Alternatively, a correspondingly variable damping could be generated at the lower coil 341 with appropriate evaluation of this damping for different sensor signals. This is especially easy to perform if not different values of the sensor 343 must be transmitted as the exact temperature, but only states such as falling below or exceeding a critical temperature at the pot 318 or potted pot or not attached pot.

In Fig. 6 In the case of a gas hob 411, a further variation of functional units on the pot carrier parts 422 is shown. Here no electrical functional units are integrated, but a lighting or optical display. For this purpose, there is a pot support member 422 or its cylinder body of a glass tube 423 or other material with translucent areas. In the inner cavity 424 different light distribution means or prisms 447a and 447b are arranged, which could alternatively also be mirrors. From below radiated light is laterally deflected by the prisms 447, and that at the prism 447 a in the left pot support part 422 a more or less around as a luminous ring or the like .. In the prism 447 b in the right pot carrier part 422b, the light is redirected in one direction only, forming a luminous point or small area.

Light is irradiated upwardly through the translucent cooktop panel 412 either by means of an LED 449 mounted under the cooktop panel 412 or a light bulb 450. LED 449 and light bulb 450 are controlled accordingly by a controller 432, in particular depending on certain conditions on the gas hob 411, which need not be explained further here. Also, the pot support members 422 are translucent on the underside by the above-described metallic bottom caps either have a central opening, alternatively, the caps are made of translucent material or none are provided. Upper cover caps 426 may be formed in the manner described above. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the upper caps 426 are at least partially transparent, so that here also can be done lighting.

In a further development of the invention, it is easy to imagine that of several bulbs below the hob plate 412 in a pot support member 422 different light beams are coupled up in the pot support member and then decoupled laterally at different locations. Thus, a variation of the visual display can be realized. In yet another embodiment, the entire pot carrier parts 422 could be illuminated, for example by a plurality of lamps arranged below. Here also variations of the color are possible, for example to convey certain information.

Based on Fig. 6 is also easy to see how a pot detection can be realized by means of a reflex photoelectric sensor from below the hob plate 412, namely also by a translucent cooktop panel along with corresponding translucent upper and lower areas the pot carrier parts. One possibility of an optical display can be for example a so-called hot display. For this purpose, advantageously, a combination of pot carriers 422 according to Fig. 6 with pod bearer parts according to one of the previous ones Fig. 3 to 5 be provided when a temperature detection is still possible. Furthermore, the activation of the gas burner 416 can be represented by such a visual display, for example at all. This is particularly advantageous if it has a very small flame, which may then be difficult to see. It can be provided with optical display on a gas hob or a pot support also several pot carrier parts, which then fulfill different display purposes. In the above, it has been described that advantageously five pot carrier parts are provided, so that a multiplicity of functional combinations can be achieved both with regard to sensors and also by a visual display.

Claims (18)

Gas hob with a hob plate and at least one hob on the hob plate and a gas burner at the hob and a pot carrier device at the hob to a pot odgl. to hold above the gas burner, characterized in that the pan support means is arranged on the hob plate and has at least one interior, in which at least one functional element for the gas hob is arranged, wherein the hob plate is formed in each case continuously and uninterrupted under the pot support means. Gas hob according to claim 1, characterized in that the pot support means comprises a plurality of pot carrier parts, in particular at least three pot carrier parts, which are arranged distributed on the hob plate, preferably releasably secured. Gas hob according to claim 2, characterized in that the individual pot carrier parts of the pot carrier device are connected together and connected to one another, in particular in one piece. Gas hob according to claim 2, characterized in that the individual pot carrier parts of the pot carrier device are arranged separately from each other and fixed on the hob plate. Gas hob, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pot carrier device, in particular a pot support member, a hollow interior and having in the interior comprises sensors as functional elements for at least one of the following functions pot detection, overtemperature protection Flame monitoring for the gas burner flame, wherein in particular in a pot carrier device only a single pot carrier part has sensors. Gas cooking field according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pot carrier device display means comprises for display functions, preferably as a functional element, in particular for an optical display, preferably arranged on the side of a pot support part of lamps or light outputs of light sources. Gas hob according to claim 6, characterized in that the pot support means is at least partially translucent or has light passages as a display means and at the bottom has a light inlet for a arranged under the cooktop lamp such that radiated from below into the pot support means light by Lichtverteilmittel in the pot support means is at least partially deflected to the side to the light passages and emitted there. Gas hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an interior of the pot carrier device or a pot carrier part has an additional thermal insulation to protect a mounted in its interior sensor according to claim 5 or display means according to claim 6 from heat. Gas hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pot support means consists at least partially of glass or ceramic. Gas hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pot carrier device, in particular a pot carrier part, on its underside and / or on its upper side has a cover, preferably made of metal or temperature-resistant plastic, wherein the pot carrier device with this cover rests on the hob plate and / or a pot thereupon stands up on this cover. Gas hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pot carrier part consists essentially of a cylindrical, in particular round cylindrical, hollow body, in particular of a tube. Gas hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pot support means comprises on an upper side at least one electrically conductive upper sensor surface and on a lower side at least one further electrically conductive lower sensor surface, which are electrically conductively connected to each other and electrically from the rest of the pan support means are isolated, wherein under the lower sensor surface of the pot support means on the underside of the hob plate at least one electrically conductive capacitive connection surface is provided which is connected to a control and / or evaluation of the gas hob for determining a on the pot support means and thus on the upper sensor surface set up metallic pot. Gas hob according to claim 12, characterized in that two identically designed pot carrier parts are provided for a pot carrier device, each having upper sensor surfaces and lower sensor surfaces, wherein below the lower sensor surfaces each at the bottom of the hob plate, an electrically conductive capacitive connection surface is provided at one of the connecting surfaces, an electrical signal is fed and an evaluation is connected to the at least one other capacitive connection surface under the other pot carrier part for determining the capacitive coupling between the two surfaces. Gas hob according to claim 12, characterized in that a first electrically conductive connection surface is connected under a first pot carrier part with a drive for coupling an electrical signal and a second electrically conductive connection surface is connected under a second pot carrier part with an evaluation for measuring an over capacitive Coupling between hob plate and pan support part transmitted signal. Gas hob according to claim 5, characterized in that as overtemperature protection in the pot support means a resonant circuit and a mechanical temperature switch, in particular a bimetal switch, which is set to a temperature of about 300 ° C, are arranged, the temperature switch thermally to the Top of the pot support means is coupled for transmitting the heat of the pot bottom to him, wherein the resonant circuit is disposed in the lower region of an interior of the pot support means and below the pot support means on the underside of the hob plate, a further resonant circuit is arranged, which is connected to an evaluation, in particular the evaluation is arranged via an electrical line connected away from it. Gas cooktop according to claim 15, characterized in that in addition to the temperature switch in the upper region of the pot carrier part, a further coil or resonant circuit is arranged, said coil by a temperature switch provided for this purpose at a critical temperature, in particular approx. 300 ° C, can be bridged for pot detection or completely switched off. Gas hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor selected from the group: temperature sensor, capacitive pan detection sensor or inductive pan detection sensor is arranged in an upper region of the pot support means, in particular for contact with a bottom of the raised pot and with a in a microcontroller is connected to a transmission device for transmitting sensor data by radio, near-field communication inductive or capacitive coupling, wherein below the cooktop receiving electronics is provided, which is connected to an evaluation for forwarding the evaluation of a control of the gas hob. Gas hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pot support means is electrically conductive and itself part of a sensor, which forms one half of the pot support means for each two hotplates, whereby thus two different pot carrier parts are present at a cooking place, wherein in the one capacitive coupled a signal and is coupled out in the other.

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