EP2658340A1

EP2658340A1 - Induction range including an air layer for improving heat resistance and shock resistance

Info

Publication number: EP2658340A1
Application number: EP11850777.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yong-Jai KWON
Original assignee: Dipo Induction Co Ltd
Current assignee: Dipo Induction Co Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-21
Filing date: 2011-09-28
Publication date: 2013-10-30
Also published as: KR20120069990A; WO2012086902A1; US20130264334A1; CN103370983A; JP2014502023A; KR101282916B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an induction heating range with improved thermal resistance and impact resistance and, more particularly, to an induction heating range, which can prevent electronic devices inside the heating range from being damaged or malfunctioning due to heat transferred into the heating range from a heating target that receives heat in use of the induction heating range, thereby improving thermal resistance and impact resistance. The induction heating range includes an upper body including an upper plate exposed outside to provide a seating surface for a heating target to be heated by electromagnetic induction, a lower plate separated from the upper plate, and a support protrusion interposed between the upper plate and the lower plate, the upper body having an air layer formed by the upper and lower plates and the support protrusion to block heat transfer; and a lower body including a housing supporting a lower side of the upper body, a coil formed inside the housing and generating an electromagnetic field upon application of voltage to the coil, and a controller controlling generation of the electromagnetic field in the coil.

Description

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to an induction heating range with improved thermal resistance and impact resistance and, more particularly, to an induction heating range, which can prevent electronic devices inside the heating range from being damaged or malfunctioning due to heat transferred into the heating range from a heating target that receives heat in use of the induction heating range, thereby improving thermal resistance and impact resistance.

[Background Arm]

With various merits, such as a high energy efficiency of about 90%, minimal fire hazard, and no generation of toxic gases, as compared with a hot plate, a hi-light range and a gas range having an energy efficiency of 30% to 40%, induction heating ranges have been spotlighted as an eco-friendly high-quality cooking device and increasingly used in large restaurants, hotels, and the like.
When a heating target receives heat from a coil of an induction heating range, the heat is transferred from the heating target to an upper plate placed between the heating target and the coil to support the coil, and is then transferred to internal devices of the heating range, causing damage to components within the range.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an induction heating range, which can prevent components such as a board and the like inside the heating range from damage or malfunction by heat transferred from a heating target heated by electromagnetic induction from a coil of the heating range, thereby improving thermal resistance and impact resistance.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide an induction heating range, which can prevent heat from being transferred from a heating target to the interior of the heating range, thereby improving thermal resistance and impact resistance.
It is a further another aspect of the present invention to provide an induction heating range, which can protect electronic devices inside the heating range via a unique structure of a heat sink or a cooling fan, thereby improving thermal resistance and impact resistance.

[Technical Solution]

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an induction heating range having improved thermal resistance and impact resistance includes: an upper body including an upper plate exposed outside to provide a seating surface for a heating target to be heated by electromagnetic induction, a lower plate separated from the upper plate, and a support protrusion interposed between the upper plate and the lower plate, the upper body having an air layer formed by the upper and lower plates and the support protrusion to block heat transfer; and a lower body including a housing supporting a lower side of the upper body, a coil formed inside the housing and generating an electromagnetic field upon application of voltage to the coil, and a controller controlling generation of the electromagnetic field in the coil.
The upper plate may include a horizontal guide piece horizontally extending from the upper plate to guide heat transferred to the air layer, and the lower plate may include a vertical guide piece separated downwards from the horizontal guide piece and vertically extending upwards from the lower plate.
A space between the upper plate and the lower plate may serve as a flow channel of air in the air layer.
The horizontal guide piece may be curved upward to allow smooth discharge of heat transferred to the air layer.
The horizontal guide piece may cover the vertical guide piece while being spaced above the vertical guide piece to prevent foreign matter from entering the space between the horizontal guide piece and the vertical guide piece.
The air layer may have a thickness of 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm.
The support protrusion may be formed on a lower side the upper plate or on an upper side of the lower plate.
The lower body may further comprise a cooling fan placed inside the lower body to discharge heat from the lower body, a heat sink placed on the controller and dissipating heat from the controller, and an outlet through which heat of the lower body is discharged.
The upper plate may be formed at a lower side thereof with a coupling groove coupled to the support protrusion to secure the upper plate and the support protrusion.
The upper plate and the lower plate may be formed of a heat-resistant plastic or tempered glass having a thickness of 2 mm to 4 mm.

[Advantageous Effects]

According to the present invention, the induction heating range may prevent electronic devices inside the heating range from damage by heat transferred from a heating target, increasing reliability of products while decreasing economic loss by reducing component replacement frequency.
According to the present invention, the induction heating range has an inner structure capable of preventing heat of the heating target from being transferred to the interior of the heating range.
According to the present invention, the induction heating range may protect electronic devices inside the heating range from the heat by preventing heat from transfer to the interior of the heating range, and may also decrease a work burden of cooling a heat sink and a coil by lowering the inner temperature.

[Description of Drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an induction heating range with improved thermal resistance and impact resistance in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the induction heating range in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention in operation.
Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the induction heating range in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the induction heating range in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

[Best Mode]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These embodiments will be described such that the present invention can be easily realized by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art. Here, although various embodiments are disclosed herein, it should be understood that these embodiments are not intended to be exclusive. For example, individual structures, elements or features of a particular embodiment are not limited to that particular embodiment, but can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, it should be understood that locations or arrangement of individual components in each of the embodiments may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following embodiments are not to be construed as limiting the invention, and the present invention should be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof. Like components will be denoted by like reference numerals, and lengths, areas, thicknesses and shapes of the components are not drawn to scale throughout the accompanying drawings.
Now, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so as to be easily realized by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art.
In the following description, it will be appreciated that technical features of an induction heating range (particularly, an upper body) with improved thermal resistance and impact resistance according to embodiments of the invention may also be applied to an overall technical field for preventing electronic devices inside the heating range from damage or malfunction by heat transferred from a heating target.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an induction heating range with improved thermal resistance and impact resistance in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
Referring to Fig. 1, an induction heating range according to one embodiment includes a housing 210 and a coil 220, which is placed inside the housing 210 and generates an electromagnetic field upon application of high voltage.
When high voltage is applied to the coil 220, the coil 220 induces an electromagnetic field, whereby a metallic object placed within an area influenced by the electromagnetic field can be heated. A heating target 30 is disposed in such an area that is affected by the electromagnetic field.
In this embodiment, an upper body 100 is placed under the heating target 30, and the coil 220 is placed under the upper body 100.
An electromagnetic field generated from the coil 220 affects the heating target 30 to generate heat, thereby heating the heating target 30.
The upper body 100 includes an upper plate 110, which supports a lower side of the heating target 30, and a plurality of support protrusions 120 vertically formed on a lower side of the upper plate 110.
The upper body 100 includes a lower plate 130 separated from the upper plate 110 while supporting the support protrusions 120.
Alternatively, the support protrusions 120 may be formed on an upper side of the lower plate 130, as needed, such that the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130 are separated from each other by the support protrusions 120.
The support protrusions 120 may be secured to the lower plate 130 and then detachably coupled to the upper plate 110.
Specifically, an air layer 140 is formed in a space defined between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130 by the support protrusions 120.
Here, the support protrusions 120 may have various shapes so long as the support protrusions can form the space for the air layer 140 between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130.
The upper plate 110 receives heat from the heating target 30 that is heated by the electromagnetic field generated from the coil 220.
The upper plate 110 may be made of a heat-resistant plastic or tempered glass, which can withstand in a temperature range from 9000 to 1200□.
Further, the lower plate 130 may be made of a heat-resistant plastic or tempered glass, which can withstand in a temperature range from 100□ to 160□.
The upper plate 110 receives heat directly transferred from the heating target 30, the lower plate 130 is separated from the upper plate 110, and the air layer 140 prevents heat from being directly transferred from the upper plate 110 to the lower plate 130.
Since the upper plate 110 is separated from the lower plate 130 and the air layer 140 blocks heat from the upper plate 110, heat transferred to the upper plate 110 is prevented from being transferred to the lower plate 130.
Further, a plurality of coupling grooves 114 is formed on the lower side of the upper plate 110 such that the support protrusions 120 can be coupled to the upper plate 110 therethrough.
In addition, the upper plate 110 is formed with a horizontal guide piece 112 which horizontally extends from an edge of the upper plate 110.
Further, the horizontal guide piece 112 may be curved upward to allow smooth discharge of heat transferred to the air layer 140.
Further, the lower plate 130 includes a vertical guide piece 132 which vertically extends from an edge of the lower plate 130 corresponding to the horizontal guide piece 112.
Here, the upper plate 110 including the horizontal guide piece 112 and the lower plate 130 including the vertical guide piece 132 are separated from each other, whereby the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130 can provide an open lateral side.
Heat transferred to the air layer 140 may be discharged outside from the upper body 100 along the air layer 140 formed between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130.
As a result, when transferred to the upper plate 110, heat is also transferred to the air layer 140.
Then, the heat transferred to the air layer 140 flows along the horizontal guide piece 112 and the vertical guide piece 132 and is discharged outside from the upper body 100.
The upper body 100 is supported by a lower body 200.
The lower body 200 includes a housing 210 which has a box shape and defines an accommodating room therein, the coil 220 placed inside the housing 210, and a controller 230 which control generation of an electromagnetic field from the coil 220.
In addition, the lower body 200 includes a heat sink 250 for dissipating heat from the controller 230 to the outside when the controller 230 is heated, and a cooling fan 240 for discharging heat from the housing 210.
Further, the lower body 200 includes an outlet 260, through which hot air blown by the cooling fan 240 is discharged outside from the housing 210.
Here, a coupling bolt 50 may be used to couple the upper body 100 to the lower body 200. The coupling bolt 50 is coupled to the upper plate 110 through the lower plate 130 such that the upper body 100 and the lower body 200 can be coupled to each other.
Here, it is publicly known that the controller 230 and the coil 220 are operated by AC voltage, and thus descriptions of the socket, electric wires and the like will be omitted.
The controller 230 controls generation of an electromagnetic field from the coil 220.
As a result, the controller 230 and the coil 220 receive AC voltage through a socket (not shown), so that an electromagnetic field can be generated from the coil 220, thereby heating the heating target 30.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the induction heating range in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention in operation.
Referring to Fig. 2, an electromagnetic field is induced from the coil 220 when high voltage is applied to the coil 220, and the heating target 30 placed in an area affected by the electromagnetic field is heated by the electromagnetic field.
Here, application of high voltage to the coil 220 and generation of the electromagnetic field are controlled by the controller 230.
Further, in order to allow easy control of the electromagnetic field in the coil 220, a control button (not shown) is provided outside the lower body 200 to control voltage supply from the controller 230 to the coil 220.
When the heating target 30 is heated, heat 40 of the heating target 30 is transferred to the upper plate 110 supporting the lower side of the heating target 30.
Then, the heat 40 transferred to the upper plate 110 is transferred to the air layer 140, and discharged outside from the upper body 100 along the air layer 140 formed between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130.
As a result, the space between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130 serves as a flow channel of air in the air layer 140 to which heat 40 is transferred.
In addition, the support protrusions 120 are coupled to the coupling grooves 114 formed on the lower side of the upper plate 110 to support the upper plate 110, whereby some of the heat 40 of the upper plate 110 can be transferred to the support protrusions 120.
In particular, the air layer 140 is formed between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130. The upper plate 110 is formed with a horizontally extending horizontal guide piece 112, and the lower plate 130 is formed with a vertically extending vertical guide piece 114.
With this structure, the space between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130 serves as an air flow channel while heat is transferred from the upper plate 110 to the air layer 140.
In addition, heat 40 transferred to the air layer 140 may flow along the horizontal guide piece 112 and the vertical guide piece 114 to be discharged outside from the upper body 100.
Further, the lower body 200 includes the heat sink 250 connected to the controller 23-0 to discharge heat from the controller 230 to the outside.
Further, the lower body 200 includes an outlet 260 through which heat inside the housing 210 can be discharged through the heat sink 250.
In particular, the horizontal guide piece 112 horizontally extends above the vertical guide piece 132 to cover the vertical guide piece 132 while being separated from the vertical guide piece 132.
With such a structure of the horizontal guide piece 112, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering a space between the horizontal guide piece 112 and the vertical guide piece 132.
The horizontal guide piece 112 of the upper plate 110 covers an upper side of the outlet 260 while being separated therefrom, thereby preventing foreign matter from entering the outlet 260 exposed outside.
The lower body 200 further includes the cooling fan 240 to allow smooth discharge of heat from the housing 210.
With this structure, heat inside the housing 210 smoothly flows by the cooling fan 240 and is then discharged outside from the housing 210 via the outlet 260.
Although heat 40 transferred to the upper plate 110 is blocked by the air layer 140 so as not to be transferred to the lower plate 130, the heat can be partially transferred to the lower plate 130 through the support protrusions 120 connected to the upper plate 110.
A small amount of heat 40 transferred to the lower plate 130 may also smoothly flow by the cooling fan 240 and be discharged outside from the housing 210 through the outlet 260.
As a result, most heat 40 transferred to the upper plate 110 from the heating target 30 heated by the electromagnetic field of the coil 220 can be discharged outside from the upper body 110 through the air layer 140.
Thus, transfer of heat 40 from the upper plate 110 to the lower body 200 is blocked, whereby electric devices of the lower body 200 can smoothly function without damage.
Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the induction heating range in accordance with the embodiment.
Referring to Fig. 3, the upper body 100 includes the upper plate 110 supporting a lower side of a heating target 30, the support protrusions 120 supporting the lower side of the upper plate 110, the lower plate 130 supporting the support protrusions 120, and the air layer 140 formed in a space defined between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130.
Here, the lower plate 130 may be formed of a heat-resistant plastic plate or a tempered glass plate.
The lower plate 130 may have a thickness of 2 mm to 4 mm.
If the thickness of the lower plate 130 is less than 2 mm, the lower plate can have insufficient rigidity to support the support protrusions 120 as well as the upper plate 110.
If the thickness of the lower plate 130 exceeds 4 mm, the lower plate 130 can inhibit supply of a strong magnetic field to the heating target 30 on the upper plate 110.
In addition, the vertical guide piece 132 is vertically formed on one edge of the lower plate 130.
The vertical guide piece 132 serves to guide air flow in the air layer 140 formed between the lower plate 130 and the upper plate 110.
The plurality of support protrusions 120 is vertically placed in the form of a column on the upper side of the lower plate 130.
Further, the upper plate 110 is stacked on the lower plate 130 to be separated from the lower plate 130 while being supported on the support protrusions 120.
Likewise, the upper plate 110 includes the horizontal guide piece 112, which has a plate shape to support the heating target 30, is separated from the vertical guide piece 132 in a vertical direction, and extends in a horizontal direction of the upper plate 110.
The horizontal guide piece 112 serves to guide air in the air layer 140 such that the air in the air layer 140 can flow to the outside of the upper body 100.
In particular, the horizontal guide piece 112 may be placed above the upper plate 110 to allow smooth flow of air in the air layer 140.
Here, the upper plate 110 may have a thickness of 2 mm to 4 mm.
If the thickness of the upper plate 110 is less than 2 mm, the upper plate 110 can have insufficient rigidity to efficiently support the heating target 30.
If the thickness of the upper plate 110 exceeds 4 mm, the upper plate 110 can inhibit supply of a strong magnetic field to the heating target 30 on the upper plate 110.
The air layer 140 formed between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130 prevents heat transfer from the upper plate 110 to the lower plate 130 when the heat is transferred to the upper plate 110.
The air layer 140 may have a thickness of 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm.
If the thickness of the air layer 140 exceeds 1.2 mm, the air layer 140 can inhibit supply of a strong magnetic field to the heating target 30 on the upper plate 110.
In an exemplary embodiment, the air layer 140 may have a thickness of about 1 mm to achieve sufficient heat insulation.
As a result, when heat transferred to the upper plate 110 is transferred to the air layer 140, the heat is transferred between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130 along the air layer 140.
Then, the heat transferred to the air layer 140 may be guided to the horizontal guide piece 112 and the vertical guide piece 132 to be discharged outside from the upper body 100.
The lower body 200 includes the housing 210, which has a box shape and defines an accommodating space therein, and the coil 220 placed in the housing 210 and generating an electromagnetic field upon application of voltage thereto.
Further, the lower body 200 includes the controller 230 controlling generation of an electromagnetic field from the coil 220. The heat sink 250 connected to the controller 230 dissipates heat from the controller 230.
In addition, the lower body 200 includes the cooling fan 240 for discharging heat from the housing 210, and the outlet 260 through which heat inside the housing 210 can be discharged from the lower body 200.
As described above, the coil 220 generates an electromagnetic field upon application of high voltage to heat the heating target 30.
Further, the controller 230 adjusts the electromagnetic field generated in the coil 220 to control heating of the heating target 30.
Of course, the controller 230 may adjust the electromagnetic field generated in the coil 220 in response to user control through a control button (not shown) placed outside the lower body 200.
Further, when the controller 230 generates heat, the heat sink 250 dissipates heat from the controller 230.
Further, if heat dissipated from the controller 230 by the heat sink 250 remains inside the housing 210, the cooling fan 240 operates to discharge the heat from the housing 210 to the outside of the lower body 200 through the outlet 260.
The upper body 100 and the lower body 200 are firmly coupled to each other by the coupling bolt 50 which is coupled to the upper plate 110 through the lower plate 130 and a part of the housing 210.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the induction heating range in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 illustrates the upper plate 110 of the upper body 100, and the heating target 30 supported on the upper plate 110.

The upper plate 110 may support a plurality of heating targets 30 thereon.
Thus, it should be understood that a plurality of coils 220 and controllers 230 are separately provided in the housing 210 to heat the plurality of heating targets 30, respectively.
In addition, the horizontal guide piece 112 horizontally extends from a lateral edge of the upper plate 110.
As described above, the horizontal guide piece 112 is formed to allow air in the air layer 140 to be guided by the horizontal guide piece 112 and the vertical guide piece 132 and be discharged outside from the upper body 100.
As such, the upper body 100 includes the upper plate 110, the lower plate 130 separated from the upper plate 110, and the air layer 140 formed in the space between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130.
With the structure of the air layer 140 formed between the upper plate 110 and the lower plate 130, heat of the heating target 30 is prevented from being transferred from the upper plate 110 to the lower plate 130.
Further, the air layer 140 prevents heat transferred to the upper plate 110 from being transferred to the lower plate 130, thereby protecting electronic devices placed under the lower plate 130 in the lower body 200 from heat.
Although some embodiments have been described herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are provided for illustration only, and various modifications, changes, alterations and equivalent embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope and sprit of the present invention should be defined only by the accompanying claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

An induction heating range having improved thermal resistance and impact resistance, comprising:
an upper body including an upper plate exposed outside to provide a seating surface for a heating target to be heated by electromagnetic induction, a lower plate separated from the upper plate, and a support protrusion interposed between the upper plate and the lower plate, the upper body having an air layer formed by the upper and lower plates and the support protrusion to block heat transfer; and

a lower body including a housing supporting a lower side of the upper body, a coil formed inside the housing and generating an electromagnetic field upon application of voltage to the coil, and a controller controlling generation of the electromagnetic field in the coil.
The induction heating range according to claim 1, wherein the upper plate comprises a horizontal guide piece horizontally extending from the upper plate to guide heat transferred to the air layer, and the lower plate comprises a vertical guide piece separated downwards from the horizontal guide piece and vertically extending upwards from the lower plate.
The induction heating range according to claim 2, wherein a space between the upper plate and the lower plate serves as a flow channel of air in the air layer.
The induction heating range according to claim 2, wherein the horizontal guide piece is curved upward to allow smooth discharge of heat transferred to the air layer.
The induction heating range according to claim 4, wherein the horizontal guide piece covers the vertical guide piece while being spaced above the vertical guide piece to prevent foreign matter from entering the space between the horizontal guide piece and the vertical guide piece.
The induction heating range according to claim 1, wherein the air layer has a thickness of 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm.
The induction heating range according to claim 1, wherein the support protrusion is formed on a lower side the upper plate or on an upper side of the lower plate.
The induction heating range according to claim 1, wherein the lower body further comprises a cooling fan placed inside the lower body to discharge heat from the lower body, a heat sink placed on the controller and dissipating heat from the controller, and an outlet through which heat of the lower body is discharged.
The induction heating range according to claim 1, wherein the upper plate is formed at a lower side thereof with a coupling groove coupled to the support protrusion to secure the upper plate and the support protrusion.
The induction heating range according to claim 1, wherein the upper plate and the lower plate are formed of a heat-resistant plastic or tempered glass having a thickness of 2 mm to 4 mm.