GB2290945A

GB2290945A - A kettle

Info

Publication number: GB2290945A
Application number: GB9513148A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hubert Theimer
Original assignee: ABC Elektrogeraete Volz GmbH and Co
Current assignee: ABC Elektrogeraete Volz GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1994-07-05
Filing date: 1995-06-28
Publication date: 1996-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2015-06-28
Also published as: DE4423271A1; DE4423271C2; FR2722079A1; GB2290945B; GB9513148D0; FR2722079B1

Description

1 2290945 Title: Device for Heating Water The invention relates to a

device for heating water.

Devices for heating water are known, eg in the form of conventional kettles. These kettles, normally made of high-grade steel, are for example used to heat water for tea on a hob. The heat from the cooker is transferred to the water to be heated via the easing of the kettle, which usually consists of metal. Designing the kettle in the form of a hemisphere, truncated cone, cone, facetted cylinder or oval leads to a kettle with a timeless, but still pleasing appearance. However, in order to break the static and symmetrical appearance of the kettle, kettles with elliptical bottoms can be produced instead of rotationally symmetrical kettles. In addition, the opening for the lid of the kettle can be arranged asymmetrically on the kettle. However, this leads to complicated and unnecessarily expensive manufacturing processes. In kettles of this kind, a cooker is required to heat the water as the kettle does not have its own heating device.

Kettles having their own heating device have consequently been developed in the past. In this case, the kettle comprises a stainless steel vessel generally with a lid. A side handle by means of which the kettle can be held when it is hot in order to pour out the heated water is additionally provided. A tubular heating element is generally accommodated in the bottom of the kettle and transfers the heat as efficiently as possible to the water situated in the kettle. In addition,, the kettle has electrical sensors, eg a temperature sensor, and electrical actuators, eg a temperature controller, and an overheating protective device. The kettle may moreover have manual switches, eg a boiling stop switch, and indicator lights on the body of the kettle or on the handle of the kettle.

In order to avoid the disadvantage of the electric cable swinging around during filling and emptying of the water, a so-called 2 cordless base on which the stainless steel vessel can be placed has been developed. Complementary electrical connecting means are fitted to the underside of the stainless steel vessel and to the top of the cordless base so that the stainless steel vessel can be placed via its underside on the cordless base in such a manner that an electrically conductive connection is produced between the cordless base and the kettle base via the electrical connecting means. Electrical components on the underside of the stainless steel vessel, eg a heating device and other sensors or actuators, are supplied with power in this manner. The kettle can be lifted from the cordless base for filling and emptying of the water. The cordless base remains in position with the electric cable secured thereto. A plastic covering on the underside of the stainless steel vessel serves to prevent anyone coming into contact with the electrical components fitted to the underside of the stainless steel vessel in accordance with standard regulations.

The disadvantage of these kettles is that rotationally symmetrical stainless steel vessels of this kind have already been produced for decades. Their form is very static. For this reasonf attempts have been made in the past to develop asymmetrical shapes for kettles in order to make them look more dynamic. However, in the case of kettles with a stainless steel vessel. this is only possible with high production costs. The forming, punching and polishing machines for machining asymmetrical kettles are moreover considerably more expensive than in the case of rotationally symmetrical bodies. Certain manufacturing processes, such as stretching or drawing the kettle can only be applied to asymmetrical kettles at considerably greater expense. In addition, sealing flanges can hardly be produced in asymmetrical kettles.

Departing from conventional kettles, the aim of the invention is to provide an optically improved device for heating water, the amount of work and the cost of the production of the device remaining low.

3 According to the invention there is provided a device for heating water, comprising a kettle and a kettle base connected thereto, the kettle base being designed in such a manner that it has a horizontal bearing surface and a kettle receiver inclined relative thereto, or the kettle and the kettle base are connected together in such a manner that the bottom of the kettle is inclined relative to the horizontal bearing surface of the kettle base.

Preferably, a conventional. eg rotationally symmetrical kettle, is connected to a kettle base which is raised at one side, i.e. which is wedge-shaped, so that the axis of rotation of the kettle placed thereon is inclined relative to the vertical when the kettle base stands on its horizontal bearing surface.

A device for heating water of this kind can initially be produced like a conventional kettle. The bottom of the kettle is initially open and the body of the kettle is deep-drawn from the bottom or is produced by some other known forming process. The bottom of the kettle is therefore inserted into the kettle from below by means of flanging, welding and other known processes after the manufacture of the body of the kettle. A connection of this kind between the body of the kettle and the bottom of the kettle is provided in such a manner that the sealing of the kettle is retained even in the event of hot/cold stresses.

Up to this point, the manufacturing sequence is the same as in the case of conventional kettles. In a further step. the kettle is then connected to the kettle base in such a manner that the axis of rotation of the kettle is inclined relative to the vertical. This results in an attractively designed kettle which is asymmetrical when viewed from the side.

In a third step, the kettle base of the asymmetrical kettle can then be provided with a heating device and a measuring and protective device, resulting in a simple manner in a kettle in which the conventional kettle shape is used. The advantage 4 compared to kettles available on the market with a stainless steel vessel is that conventional kettles can be used in the process for the manufacture of the device according to the invention. Manufacturing steps two and three can also be interchanged.

In addition to the attractive appearance of the new kettle. the inclination of the kettle on the kettle base provides additional space in which the electrical and mechanical installations can be housed. The bottom of the kettle is advantageously raised at the operating side. so that the kettle is easier to operate. The raising of the bottom of the kettle moreover provides sufficient space for leading through the signal conductor and for the switch lever.

If the device for heating water according to this invention is designed as a kettle which is asymmetrical when viewed from the side, the kettle base is made of electrically insulating and heat-insulating material. A heating device is thereby provided in the kettle base of the device for heating water, resulting in a kettle in the form of an inclined cone,, truncated cone, hemisphere, facetted cylinder or oval. In these embodiments, the maximum kettle diameter is preferably greater than the height of the kettle. In addition, the opening receiving the lid can be asymmetrically offset relative to the axis of rotation of the kettle. This gives the device for heating water a dynamic appearance.

In another advantageous development, the device for heating water can also have a kettle shape other than a rotationally symmetrical one. eg with a bottom which is elliptical or some other shape. Similarly, the materials are not limited to stainless steel and heat-resistant plastic. Instead, any heatconducting and heat-resistant materials can be used.

Other advantages. features and details of the invention will be clear from the subclaims and from the following description.

Several embodiments will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a section through a first embodiment of a device for heating water according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section through a second embodiment of a device for heating water according to the invention; Figure 3 is a section through a third embodiment of a device for heating water according to the invention; Figure 4 is a section through a fourth embodiment of the device for heating water according to the invention with a heating device; and Figure 5 is a section through the fourth embodiment of a device for heating water according to the invention with a heating device along the line IV-IV of Figure 4.

Figure 1 shows a device 1 f or heating water in the f orm of a kettle 2 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The kettle 2 has a kettle base 3. The kettle 2 is bell-shaped and consists of a kettle body 4 and a kettle bottom 5. The kettle body 4 and the kettle bottom 5 are made of rust-free stainless steel, eg a chromium-nickel steel. The kettle bottom 5 is connected to the kettle body 4 via connecting means 6. The connecting means 6 can be produced by common joining processes such as flanging, welding and soldering. The kettle 2 has a handle 7, a spout 8 and a lid 9 with a handle 10.

The kettle base 3 has a horizontal bearing surface 11 with supporting feet 12. The kettle base 3 is made of plastic, and is pot-shaped and open towards the top. A kettle- receiver inclined relative to the horizontal bearing surface 11 is provided in order to connect the kettle base 3 to the kettle 2. The inclined kettle receiver of the kettle base 3 is provided in such a manner 6 that the axis of rotation 14 of the substantially rotationally symmetrical kettle 2 is inclined relative to the vertical 15. It is provided that the connection between the kettle 2 and the kettle base 3 can be both releasable and permanent. In this first embodiment, the kettle base 3 has an upper edge 16 parallel to the horizontal bearing surface 11. The kettle base 3 consequently has a side edge 17 of equal height on all sides and therefore has a symmetrical design, whereas the device 1 for heating water has an asymmetrical design when viewed from the side as a result of the inclined kettle, although the individual components such as the kettle 2 and the kettle base 3 are rotationally symmetrical.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a device for heating water. This second embodiment differs from that described in Figure 1 in that the potshaped kettle base 20 has an upper edge 21 which is inclined relative to the horizontal bearing surface 22 of the kettle base 20. This means that a side edge 23 on the circumference of the kettle base 20 has different heights. This gives the kettle base 20 a higher side and a lower side.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the device 1 for heating water. As in the second embodiment, a kettle base 20 has an upper edge 21 which is inclined relative to the horizontal bearing surface 22 of the kettle base 20. In the region of the higher side, there is sufficient space to fit a switch 30, an indicator light 31 and a plug 32. The kettle base 20 is thus secured on a so-called cordless basis in such a manner that the plug 32 engages a socket 33 on the cordless base 34, thereby producing a releasable electrical connection. A separate electric cable (not shown) for supplying power to the device 1 for heating water is connected to the cordless base 34. The plug 32 and the socket 33 are provided in such a manner that the device 1 for heating water can be separated from the cordless base 34 by lifting.

Figures 4 and 5 also show the device for heating water 1 of the 7 invention according to a f ourth embodiment, the device 1 f or heating water having the following features.

A water-tight housing 40 in which a heating device 41 with a compensating bottom 42 and a temperature-measuring and protective device 43 are situated is fitted within the kettle 2 in the region of the bottom 5 of the kettle. The heat generated by the electrical heating device 41 is transferred in a uniform manner to the water 44 situated in the kettle 2 via the compensating bottom 42. The temperature-measuring and protective device 43 can be, eg a drying protective switch. The aim of this drying protective switch is to stop the heating operation of the heating device 41 if there is no or only a little water 44 present in the kettle 2. The inclination of the bottom 5 of the kettle offers the advantage that no artificial bulge or prominence has to be introduced into the bottom in which the temperature sensor is then secured. It is precisely this inclination that provides a raised region which goes dry before the heating zone goes dry.

As can be seen from Figures 4 and 5. the heating device 41 is horseshoe shaped and is arranged in the vicinity of the inner wall 45 of the kettle 2. The temperature-measuring and protective device 43 is arranged in the region of the bottom of the kettle between the two ends 46 and 47 of the horseshoeshaped heating device 41. Electrical connecting means 48 for electrical contact are fitted to both ends 46 and 47 of the heating device 41. The temperature-measuring and protective device 43 is arranged in such a manner that it bears against the bottom of the kettle 2 in the region of the highest point of the housing 49. If a little water 44 is present in the kettle 2. the water 44 of course accumulates in the lower region 50 of the kettle 2, where the bottom 5 is provided with the heating device 41. By virtue of the arrangement of the temperature- measuring and protective device 43 according to the invention, this is situated outside the lower region 50 cooled by the water 44. A temperature sensor provided in the temperature-measuring and 8 protective device 43 is therefore also situated outside the region 50 cooled by the water 44, which very rapidly assumes high temperatures as the kettle 2 goes dry. This increase in temperature is detected by the temperature sensor, so that the temperature-measuring and protective device 43 very rapidly stops the operation of the heating device 41 when the kettle 2 goes dry. This results in very efficient protection against the destruction of the device 1 for heating water.

il 9

Claims

1. Device for heating water, comprising a kettle and a kettle base connected thereto, the kettle base being designed in such a manner that it has a horizontal bearing surface and a kettle receiver inclined relative thereto, or the kettle and the kettle base are connected together in such a manner that the bottom of the kettle is inclined relative to the horizontal bearing surface of the kettle base.

2. Device for heating water according to claim 1, wherein the kettle base has a trapezoidal or wedge-shaped vertical section so as to give the kettle base a higher side and a lower side.

3. Device for heating water according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the kettle base includes a heating device.

4. Device for heating water according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the kettle base has an upper edge parallel to the horizontal bearing surface.

5. Device for heating water according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the kettle base has an upper edge which is inclined relative to the horizontal bearing surface.

6. Device for heating water according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the kettle is rotationally symmetrical.

7. Device for heating water according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the maximum diameter of the kettle in the region of the bottom of the kettle is greater than the height of the kettle.

8. Device for heating water according to on e of the preceding claims, wherein the kettle base is releasably or permanently connected to the kettle via connecting means.

9. Device for heating water according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the kettle base and the kettle have electrical connecting means for connecting the kettle to the kettle base or a separate cordless base.

10. Device for heating water according to one of the preceding claims, wherein there are provided electrical sensors, eg a temperature sensor. and actuators,, eg a heating device, a temperature-measuring and protective device, a switch and an indicator light.

11. Device for heating water according to claim 10, wherein the kettle has an internal space in the region of its bottom. the space extends parallel to the bottom and the heating device is situated in the lower region of the space.

12. Device for heating water according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the heating device is substantially horseshoe-shaped and a temperaturemeasuring and protective device is fitted between the open ends of the heating device or in the vicinity thereof in such a manner that the temperature-measuring and protective device is arranged on the bottom in the region of the highest point of the housing.

13. Device for heating water according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the kettle has a water-tight housing in the region of the bottom of the kettle, in which a heating device, a temperature-measuring and protective device and a compensating bottom are arranged.

14. A device for heating water substantially as hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in Figure 1.

15. A device for heating water substantially as hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in Figure 2.

16. A device for heating water substantially as hereinbefore 11 described, and as illustrated in Figure 3.

17. A device f or heating water substantially as hereinbef ore described, and as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.