EP3836755A1 - Hotplate device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is based on a hob device (10a; 10b; 10c) with at least one cooking area (12a; 12b: 12c) and with at least one switch-off area (14a; 14b; 14c). or to provide security, it is proposed that the hob device (10a; 10b; 10c) has at least one delay unit (16a; 16b; 16c) which is at least partially between the cooking area (12a; 12b: 12c) and the switch-off area (14a; 14b; 14c) and is provided to delay a flow of a liquid from the cooking area (12a; 12b: 12c) into the switch-off area (14a; 14b; 14c).

Description

The invention relates to a hob device according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating a hob device according to the preamble of claim 12.

From the European patent application EP 3 273 751 A1 a hob plate with a cooking area, an operating area and a layer unit, which is provided to prevent a liquid from crossing over from the cooking area into the operating area, is already known. Furthermore, hob devices with at least one cooking area and with at least one switch-off area, which is provided for automatically switching off the hob device in the event of contact with a liquid, are known from the prior art.

The object of the invention is in particular, but not limited to, to provide a device of the generic type with improved properties with regard to comfort and / or high security for a user. The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claims 1 and 12, while advantageous configurations and developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

The invention is based on a hob device with at least one cooking area and with at least one switch-off area.

It is proposed that the hob device have at least one delay unit which is at least partially arranged between the cooking area and the switch-off area and is provided to delay a flow of a liquid from the cooking area into the switch-off area.

Such a configuration can in particular provide a hob device with a high degree of convenience and, at the same time, high security for a user. In particular, a high level of comfort and / or a high level of safety for a user can be improved in situations in which there is a boiling over or boiling point during a cooking process by means of the hob device Spillage, leakage of liquid in the cooking area. For example, if a user is directly present in such a situation, it can be perceived as disadvantageous if the hob device is switched off immediately when the leaked liquid flows from the cooking area into the switch-off area. This disadvantage can be advantageously eliminated by the hob device according to the invention, since the flow of the liquid from the cooking area into the switch-off area and thus switching off the hob device is delayed by the delay unit, leaving the user enough time to absorb the liquid and continue the cooking process without interruption. If, on the other hand, a user is not present in a situation where liquid is leaking into the cooking area, it can also be perceived as disadvantageous if an automatic switch-off, for example due to a layered unit that blocks the flow of liquid from the cooking area into an operating area, is completely prevented becomes. This disadvantage can advantageously be remedied by the hob device according to the invention, since automatic switch-off is delayed but not completely prevented, as a result of which safety for a user can advantageously be increased.

A “hob device” is to be understood as meaning in particular at least a part, in particular a subassembly, of a hob, in which case additional accessory units for the hob can also be included, such as a sensor unit for external measurement of a temperature of a cookware and / or an item to be cooked . The hob device can in particular be designed as an induction hob device. Alternatively, it is particularly conceivable that the hob device is part of a hob with radiant heating and / or part of a hob with resistance heating. In particular, the hob device, in particular the induction hob device, can also include the entire hob, in particular an entire induction hob. The hob device has in particular at least one hob plate. In particular, the hob plate, in an assembled state, on a side facing a user, comprises several sub-areas, in particular the cooking area and the switch-off area.

A “cooking area” is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a sub-area of the hob device, in particular a sub-area of the hob plate, which is used to set up at least one cookware and to heat at least one Food to be cooked in the cookware is provided. Below the cooking area, in particular on a side of the hob plate facing away from the user in the assembled state, there is in particular at least one heating element, in particular at least one induction heating element, of the hob device, which in at least one operating state provides heating energy for heating the cooking area and / or a cooking utensils set up on the cooking area and / or food to be cooked inside the cooking utensils.

A "switch-off area" is to be understood in particular as a further sub-area of the hob device, in particular the hob plate, which is spatially spaced from the cooking area and which is provided in particular to switch off the at least one heating element of the hob device arranged below the cooking area, in particular automatically. In particular, at least one sensor unit of the hob device is arranged in the switch-off area. The sensor unit comprises at least one sensor element, which is designed in particular as a switch-off sensor. The switch-off sensor can in particular be designed as a capacitive sensor. The switch-off sensor is provided, in particular, on the basis of at least a change in a capacitance detected by the switch-off sensor, in the event of a liquid coming into contact with a sub-area of the hob plate directly above the switch-off sensor, in particular the switch-off area, and / or in the case of direct contact with the Liquid with at least one electrode of the switch-off sensor to automatically switch off the heating element of the hob device which is arranged below the cooking area and is in at least one operating state. The switch-off area, in particular the sensor unit of the switch-off area, can in particular be designed as part of a control panel of the hob device for controlling the hob device, which in addition to the switch-off sensor can in particular comprise further sensor elements.

A “liquid” is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a fluid based on water that is in a liquid state of aggregation. A "fluid based on water" should in particular mean pure water and / or a solution with water as solvent and / or a suspension in water and / or an oil-in-water emulsion with a molar proportion of water of at least 55%, advantageously at least 65%, preferably at least 75%, particularly preferably at least 85% and especially advantageously at least 95%. “Provided” is to be understood in particular as specifically designed and / or equipped. The fact that an object is provided for a specific function should be understood in particular to mean that the object fulfills and / or executes this specific function in at least one application and / or operating state.

The fact that the delay unit is intended to "delay the flow of a liquid from the cooking area into the switch-off area" is to be understood in particular as meaning that a first period of time within which the liquid flows from the cooking area into the switch-off area of the hob device according to the invention is longer lasts as a second period of time within which the same liquid would flow from a cooking area into a switch-off area of a hob device which is at least essentially structurally identical to the hob device of the present invention, but which is designed without a delay unit. An "at least essentially structurally identical hob device" is to be understood in this context in particular as a hob device with a hob area and a switch-off area, with geometrical dimensions, distances, and material and surface properties that are identical to the present hob device.

It is also proposed that the delay unit have at least one fluid channel, in particular a fluid labyrinth. In this way, a delay in the flow of a liquid from the cooking area into the switch-off area can advantageously be controlled in a targeted manner. A “liquid channel” is to be understood in particular as a sub-region of the delay unit which specifies a main flow direction of a liquid flowing within the liquid channel through at least one delimitation, in particular perpendicular to the main flow direction. A "liquid labyrinth" is to be understood in particular as a liquid channel which, due to its geometric shape, causes a change in the main flow direction of a liquid flowing from an entry point to an exit point of the liquid channel at at least two points.

It is also proposed that the delay unit have at least one hydrophobic delay element. In this way, a particularly reliable delay unit with an especially precise delay can advantageously be provided. A “hydrophobic” object is to be understood in particular as an object which has at least one surface which is provided to repel water applied to this surface. In particular, a hydrophobic object can be provided to avoid binding with water. In particular, the at least one surface of the hydrophobic object with a water drop forms a contact angle of more than 90 °, advantageously of more than 100 °, preferably of more than 120 ° and particularly preferably of more than 150 °.

It is also proposed that the hydrophobic delay element form at least one delimitation of the liquid channel, in particular the liquid labyrinth. In this way, the liquid channel of the delay unit can advantageously be implemented with particularly simple technical means. In addition, a flat design can be made possible since bulky walls of the liquid channel can be dispensed with.

It is also proposed that the delay unit have at least one further hydrophobic delay element spaced apart from the hydrophobic delay element. The further hydrophobic delay element preferably forms a further delimitation of the liquid channel. In this way, a delay in the flow of a liquid from the cooking area into the switch-off area can advantageously be controlled particularly precisely.

It is also proposed that the hydrophobic delay element and / or the further hydrophobic delay element consist to at least a large part of a chemical compound from the group of organohalosilanes. The hydrophobic delay element and / or the further hydrophobic delay element preferably consists at least for the most part of octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODTS). In this way, a manufacturing process can advantageously be improved. In particular, the use of environmentally harmful fluorinated chemical compounds and the use of toxic solvents can advantageously be dispensed with. Alternatively, the hydrophobic delay element and / or the further hydrophobic delay element could consist at least for the most part of methyltrichloromethylsilane, hexamethyldisilazane, hexamethyldisiloxane, titanium dioxide and / or another chemical compound with hydrophobic properties that appears useful to a person skilled in the art. The expression "at least to a large extent" is intended in particular to mean one Mass and / or volume fraction of at least 55%, advantageously at least 65%, preferably at least 75%, particularly preferably at least 85% and particularly advantageously at least 95%.

It is further proposed that the delay unit, in particular the hydrophobic delay element and / or the further hydrophobic delay element, has a coating and is preferably designed as such. In this way, a hob device with a high degree of convenience can advantageously be provided. In particular, a hob device that is easy to clean can be provided. Furthermore, a particularly long-lasting hob device with particularly high mechanical stability can be provided. For example, the delay unit, in particular the hydrophobic delay element and / or the further hydrophobic delay element, by a coating process, in particular by a screen printing process, by spin coating, by dip coating, by a sol-gel process, by spraying, by a Inkjet printing method, by a chemical gas deposition method (CVD: Chemical Vapor Deposition) and / or by a physical gas deposition method (PVD: Physical Vapor Deposition), be applied to the hob plate. Alternatively or additionally, it would be conceivable that the delay unit, in particular the hydrophobic delay element and / or the further hydrophobic delay element, is designed as a material recess and / or as a material accumulation and / or as a material deformation of the hob plate and by a mechanical shaping process, for example by a Milling and / or by drilling, is applied to the hob plate. For example, it is conceivable that the delay unit is formed from small holes and / or small grooves and / or grooves and / or channels on / or in the hob plate.

It is also proposed that the delay unit, in particular the hydrophobic delay element and / or the further hydrophobic delay element, be invisible to the naked eye. In this way, a particularly simple and / or inconspicuous delay unit can advantageously be provided. In particular, the delay unit can advantageously be integrated particularly well into a desired external appearance of the hob device. In particular, external appearances that are already known and in particular valued on the market can be advantageous for users already established hob devices are at least substantially retained, while at the same time properties with regard to comfort and / or safety for the user can be improved by the delay unit. In particular, a hob device with a high degree of aesthetics can be provided. “Invisible to the naked eye” should be understood to mean at least barely, preferably not, perceptible to the average, healthy human eye. For example, it would be conceivable that the delay unit, in particular the hydrophobic delay element and / or the further hydrophobic delay element, is at least essentially transparent and thus barely perceptible to the human eye, that is to say invisible to the naked eye. The fact that the delay unit is "at least substantially transparent" is to be understood in particular to mean that the delay unit has a share of at least 60%, in particular at least 70%, advantageously at least 80%, particularly advantageously at least 90% and preferably at least To transmit 95% visible light incident on at least one first surface of the delay unit and in particular to transport it to at least one second surface of the delay unit, which is in particular opposite to the first surface of the delay unit. Alternatively, it is particularly conceivable that the delay unit, in particular the hydrophobic delay element and / or the further hydrophobic delay element, is designed in the same or a similar color to the hob plate of the hob device, so that the delay unit, in particular due to a very low or no contrast to the Hob plate, barely noticeable to the human eye, i.e. invisible to the naked eye.

It is also proposed that the delay unit is provided to delay the flow of the liquid from the cooking area into the switch-off area by a period of at least 1 second. The delay unit is preferably provided to delay the flow of the liquid from the cooking area into the switch-off area by a period of at least 3 seconds, particularly preferably by a period of at least 5 seconds. In this way, convenience for a user can advantageously be increased. In particular, in the event of liquid escaping in the cooking area, a user can be provided with a sufficient period of time to remove the liquid and avoid an automatic switch-off of the hob device.

It is further proposed that the delay unit is provided to delay the flow of the liquid from the cooking area into the switch-off area by a duration of at most 30 seconds. The delay unit is preferably provided to delay the flow of the liquid from the cooking area into the switch-off area by a duration of at most 20 seconds and particularly preferably by a duration of at most 15 seconds. In this way, a high degree of security can advantageously be provided for a user. In particular, in the event of liquid escaping into the cooking area, for example caused by boiling over, in particular when the user is absent, the hob device can be switched off promptly, thus advantageously reducing the risk of the escaping liquid burning on and the resulting dangers and / or risks to minimize excessive contamination of the hob device.

The invention is also based on a method for operating a hob device with at least one cooking area and with at least one switch-off area.

It is proposed that a flow of a liquid from the cooking area into the switch-off area is delayed by at least one delay unit arranged at least partially between the cooking area and the switch-off area. In this way, convenience and / or security for a user can advantageously be increased.

The hob device is not intended to be restricted to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the hob device can have a number of individual elements, components and units that differs from a number of individual elements, components and units mentioned herein in order to fulfill a functionality described herein.

Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawings. Three exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

Fig. 1

Ein Kochfeld mit einer Kochfeldvorrichtung, welche einen Kochbereich, einen Ausschaltbereich und eine Verzögerungseinheit aufweist,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Verfahrens zu einem Betrieb der Kochfeldvorrichtung,

Fig. 3

ein alternatives Ausführungsbeispiel einer Kochfeldvorrichtung und

Fig. 4

ein weiteres alternatives Ausführungsbeispiel einer Kochfeldvorrichtung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

A hob with a hob device which has a cooking area, a switch-off area and a delay unit,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a method for operating the hob device,

Fig. 3

an alternative embodiment of a hob device and

Fig. 4

a further alternative embodiment of a hob device.

Figure 1 shows a hob 54a with a hob device 10a, which has a cooking area 12a and a switch-off area 14a. The hob device 10a has a hob plate 30a. The hob device 30a has a circumferential edge region 50a which laterally delimits the hob plate 30. The cooking area 12a is designed as a partial area of the hob plate 30a. Below the cooking area 12a of the hob plate there is at least one heating element (not shown) which is provided for heating the cooking area 12a and / or cooking utensils (not shown) placed on the cooking area 12a. The switch-off area 14a is designed as a further sub-area of the hob plate 30a arranged at a distance from the cooking area 12a. The switch-off area 14a has a switch-off sensor 46a. The switch-off sensor 46a is provided to deactivate the cooking area 12a, that is to say the at least one heating element assigned to the cooking area 12a, upon contact with a liquid 48a.

The hob device 10a has a delay unit 16a. The delay unit 16a is arranged between the cooking area 12a and the switch-off area 14a. The delay unit 16a is provided to delay a flow of a liquid 48a from the cooking area 12a into the switch-off area 14a. In the present case, the liquid 48a is pure water. Alternatively, however, the liquid 48a could also be a water-based liquid, for example a solution and / or a suspension and / or an emulsion based on water. The delay unit 16a is provided to delay the flow of the liquid 48a from the cooking area 12a into the switch-off area 14a by a period of at least 1 second. The delay unit 16a is provided to delay the flow of the liquid 48a from the cooking area 12a into the switch-off area 14a by a maximum of 30 seconds. In particular, the delay unit 16a delays the flow of the liquid 48a from the cooking area 12a into the switch-off area 16a by a period of between 5 and 15 seconds.

The delay unit 16a has a hydrophobic delay element 22a. The hydrophobic delay element 22a consists for the most part of a chemical compound from the group of organohalosilanes, in particular of octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODTS). The delay unit 16a is designed as a coating 38a. The delay unit 16a is designed to be transparent and is therefore invisible to the naked eye. For the purpose of a better illustration of the arrangement of the delay unit 16a on the hob plate 30a, the delay unit is shown in FIG Figure 1 , as well as in the following exemplary embodiments of Figures 3 and 4th , each shown visibly.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a method for operating the hob device 10a. In a first method step 40a, the flow of the liquid 48a from the cooking area 12a is triggered, for example, by boiling over the liquid 48a from a cookware set up in the heated cooking area 12a or by a user spilling the liquid 48a in the direction of the switch-off area 14a. In a second method step 42a, the flow of the liquid 48a is delayed by the delay unit 16a. In a third method step 44a, the liquid 48a reaches the switch-off sensor 46a in the switch-off area 14a, as a result of which a switch-off signal 52a is automatically emitted by the switch-off sensor 46a, thereby deactivating the heating of the cooking area 12a.

In Figures 3 and 4th further embodiments of the invention are shown. The following descriptions are essentially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, with reference to the description of the exemplary embodiment in terms of components, features and functions that remain the same Figures 1 to 2 can be referenced. To distinguish the exemplary embodiments, the letter a is in the reference numerals of the exemplary embodiment in FIG Figures 1 to 2 by the letter b in the reference numerals of the embodiment of Figure 3 and by the letter c in the reference numerals of the embodiment of FIG Figure 4 replaced. With regard to components with the same designation, in particular with regard to components with the same reference numerals, the drawings and / or the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIG Figures 1 to 2 to get expelled.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a hob device 10b with a cooking area 12b and a switch-off area 14b. The hob device 10b has a delay unit 16b. The delay unit 16b has a liquid channel 18b. The liquid channel 18b forms a liquid labyrinth 20b. The delay unit 16b has a hydrophobic delay element 22b. The hydrophobic delay element 22b forms a delimitation 24b of the liquid channel 18b. The delay unit 16b has a further hydrophobic delay element 26b. The further hydrophobic delay element 26b is arranged at a distance from the hydrophobic delay element 22b. The further hydrophobic delay element 26b forms a further delimitation 28b of the liquid channel 18b. The hydrophobic delay element 22b and the further hydrophobic delay element 26b are designed as a coating 38b and consist to a large extent of a chemical compound from the group of organohalosilanes, in particular octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODTS).

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of a hob device 10c with a cooking area 12c and a switch-off area 14c. The hob device 10c has a delay unit 16c. The delay unit 16c has a hydrophobic delay element 22c and several further hydrophobic delay elements 26c. In addition, the hob device 10c has a hydrophobic edge region 50c. The hydrophobic edge region 50c forms two hydrophobic edge delay elements 56c of the delay unit 16c. The hydrophobic edge delay elements 56c are arranged at a distance from the hydrophobic delay element 22c and from the further hydrophobic delay elements 26c. The delay unit 16c forms two liquid channels 18c. The hydrophobic delay element 22c forms a delimitation 24c of the liquid channels 18c. The edge delay elements 56c each form a further delimitation 28c of the liquid channels 18c.

Reference number

10

Hob device

12th

Cooking area

14th

Switch-off range

16

Delay unit

18th

Fluid channel

20th

Liquid maze

22nd

hydrophobic delay element

24

Limitation

26th

another hydrophobic delay element

28

further limitation

30th

Hob plate

32

Sensor unit

34

Sensor element

36

Switch-off sensor

38

Coating

40

first procedural step

42

second procedural step

44

third process step

46

Switch-off sensor

48

liquid

50

Edge area

52

Switch-off signal

54

Hob

56

Edge delay element

Claims (12)

Hob device (10a; 10b; 10c) with at least one cooking area (12a; 12b: 12c) and with at least one switch-off area (14a; 14b; 14c), characterized by at least one delay unit (16a; 16b; 16c) which is at least partially between the cooking area (12a; 12b: 12c) and the switch-off area (14a; 14b; 14c) and is provided to prevent a flow of a liquid (48a, 48b; 48c) from the cooking area (12a; 12b: 12c) into the switch-off area ( 14a; 14b; 14c) to delay. Hob device (10b; 10c) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the delay unit (16b; 16c) has at least one liquid channel (18b; 18c), in particular a liquid labyrinth. Hob device (10a; 10b; 10c) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the delay unit (16a; 16b; 16c) has at least one hydrophobic delay element (22a; 22b; 22c). Hob device (10b; 10c) according to Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the hydrophobic delay element (22b; 22c) forms at least one delimitation (24b; 24c) of the liquid channel (18b; 18c). Hob device (10b; 10c) according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the delay unit (16b; 16c) has at least one further hydrophobic delay element (26b; 26c) spaced from the hydrophobic delay element (22b; 22c). Hob device (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the hydrophobic delay element (22a; 22b; 22c) consists for the most part of a chemical compound from the group of organohalosilanes. Hob device (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the delay unit (16a; 16b; 16c) has a coating (38a; 38b; 38c). Hob device (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the delay unit (16a; 16b; 16c) is invisible to the naked eye. Hob device (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the delay unit (16a, 16b, 16c) is provided to prevent the flow of the liquid (48a, 48b; 48c) from the cooking area (12a; 12b; 12c) into the switch-off area (14a; 14b; 14c) by a period of at least 1 second. Hob device (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the delay unit (16a; 16b; 16c) is provided to prevent the flow of the liquid (48a; 48b; 48c) from the cooking area (12a; 12b; 12c) in the switch-off area (14a; 14b; 14c) by a maximum of 30 seconds. Hob (54a; 54b; 54c) with a hob device (10a; 10b; 10c) according to one of the preceding claims. Method for operating a hob device (10a; 10b; 10c), in particular according to one of Claims 1 to 10, with at least one cooking area (12a; 12b; 12c) and with at least one switch-off area (14a; 14b, 14c), characterized in that a liquid (48a) flowing from the cooking area (12a; 12b; 12c) into the switch-off area (14a; 14b; 14c) through at least one at least partially between the cooking area (12a; 12b; 12c) and the switch-off area (14a; 14b; 14c) arranged delay unit (16a; 16b; 16c) is delayed.

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