GB2463691A

GB2463691A - Electric Heating Element Conversion Apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2463691A
Application number: GB0817308A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-23
Filing date: 2008-09-23
Publication date: 2010-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2028-09-23
Also published as: FR2936302A1; JP2010078314A; IE86384B1; GB0817308D0; IE20090722A1; FR2936302B1; GB2463691B

Abstract

Electric heating element conversion apparatus 10 for a fossil fuel cooker, the apparatus comprising a stand 14 and at least one electric heating element 12 which is supported by the stand 14 in a coiled arrangement.

Description

Electric Heating Element Conversion Apparatus The present invention relates to electric heating element conversion apparatus for a fossil fuel cooker.

Many homes have a fossil fuel cooker, such as a cast iron range cooker which is typified by AGA or Rayburn RTM. A fossil fuel cooker may typically comprise two, three or four ovens. A two oven cooker typically has three doors behind which are a burner, a roasting oven and a simmering oven. A three oven cooker typically also includes a baking oven, and a four oven cooker may additionally include a warming oven and warming plate on the top surface. All cookers generally have one or two hotplates, one for boiling and/or one for simmering.

The fossil fuel used for these types of cookers is generally kerosene, diesel, natural gas, propane gas, and solid fuel such as coal and wood.

In terms of weekly fuel consumption, it is not unreasonable to consume 40 litres of kerosene or diesel, 60 litres of propane gas, or 425kWh of natural gas. With the continued rising cost of fossil fuel, and the environmental impact associated with the use of such fossil fuel, these types of cookers are becoming far less desirable and difficult to pass on if wishing to change to an alternative fuel.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution whereby an owner of an existing fossil fuel cooker can convert their cooker to operate on electricity.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided electric heating element conversion apparatus for a fossil fuel cooker, the apparatus comprising a stand and at least one electric heating element which is supported by the stand in a coiled arrangement.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims2to 18.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a fossil fuel cooker which is converted for heating by electricity, the cooker comprising electric heating element conversion apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view' from one side of electric heating element conversion apparatus, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is an elevational view from another side of the electric heating element conversion apparatus; and Figure 3 is a plan view from above of the electric heating element conversion apparatus.

Referring to the dra\vings, there is shown electric heating element conversion apparatus which comprises a single elongate flexible electric heating element 12 and a stand 14. The stand 14 is formed from heat resistant material, and in this case is ceramic. The stand 14 has two intersecting planar leaves 16 of identical or substantially identical exterior dimensions. Each leaf 16 has a centreline C, defining an axis of symmetry along the longitudinal extent of the leaf 16. A slot 20 is formed partway along the centreline C from a lower edge 22 of a first one of the leaves 16, and another slot 24 is formed partway along the centreline C from an upper edge 26 of a second one of the leaves 16. The two leaves 16 can thus be slidably interengaged via the respective slots 20, 24, so that the leaves 16 extend at right angles to each other. A lateral outside dimension of the stand 14 is therefore uniform along a longitudinal extent of the stand 14.

Each leaf 16 also includes two legs 28 which are provided by a cut-out in the lower edge 22 of the leaf 16, thereby reducing material and weight, and saving cost, whilst maintain stability and improving air movement for heat transfer.

A plurality of apertures 30, preferably being circular through holes, are formed in each leaf 16 of the stand 14. In the present embodiment, each wing 32 of each leaf 16 includes two columns of the apertures 30 which are spaced apart in the lateral direction of the stand 14. Each column extends in parallel or substantially parallel with the centreline C of the leaf 16 and the apertures 30 are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the stand 14. The apertures 30 of the innermost column 34 of each wing 32 are offset from the apertures 30 of the adjacent outermost column 36 of each wing 32.

The innermost apertures 30 are positioned to be aligned midway between the apertures in the outermost column 36. Each innermost aperture 30 on one wing 32 of a leaf 16 is in the same, in use horizontal, plane as an outermost aperture 30 on the opposite wing 32 of the leaf 16.

With the two leaves 16 of the stand 14 interconnected via their respective slots 20, 24, forming a generally X' shaped lateral cross-section, the elongate flexible electric heating element 12 is slid through the apertures 30 so as to be supported by the stand 14. One tail 38 of the heating element 12 is initially passed through the lowermost aperture 40 of the outermost column 36 of apertures of the leaves 16, and then passed around the stand 14 by threading through the next apertures 30 in the adjacent wings 32 in a stepwise manner. Once the heating element 12 reaches the uppermost aperture 42 of the outermost column 36, as best shown in Figure 2, the winding direction of the heating element 12 is reversed, and the heating element 12 is passed through the immediately adjacent inner uppermost aperture 44 and then wound back down the stand 14 through the innermost column 34 of apertures 30 of the leaves 16 in a stepwise manner.

In this way, the heating element 12 is coiled in one direction around the stand 14, and then coiled in a second direction which is opposite the first direction around the stand 14. Each turn 46 of each coil 48 is spaced apart from adjacent turns 46 by the spacing of the apertures 30.

A heating portion 50 of the heating element 12 which extends from the tails 38 is itself coiled. Therefore, the heating portion 50 is coiled around the longitudinal axis of the heating element 12, as well as the longitudinal extent of the heating portion 50 being ananged in two coils 48 on the stand 14. Each turn 46 of the respective coil 48 has the same or substantially same radius, and the radius of the inner coil 52 is less than the radius of the outer coil 54.

The tails 38 of the heating element 12 are held by the stand 14 via the inner and outer apertures 30 so as to be adjacent to each other. The stand 14 with heating element 12 is then placed within the cooker at an appropriate position. The tails 38 can then be easily connected to an electrical supply, such as a mains power supply of a home. The length of the tails 38 can be any distance dependent on necessity to enable connection to the power supply.

It has been found that forming the heating element into two coils which are supported by the stand provides better heating than simply using a single coil.

The ceramic material of the stand is also beneficial, since it acts as a heat storage element and promotes better heat transfer to the surrounding air within the oven space o the cooker.

Preferably, the electric heating element conversion apparatus is provided as a kit of parts, thus enabling assembly and installation on site.

Although the heating portion of the heating element is coiled around the longitudinal axis of the heating element, thereby extending transversely to the longitudinal axis, the heating portion may be non-coiled or extend in parallel with the longitudinal axis.

A sing'e heating e'ement is suggested above. However, more than one heating e'ement can be provided on one stand using the openings or apertures. In this case, each heating element may include the above described two coils supported by the stand, or each heating element may only be arranged as a single coil on the stand.

The coils of the heating element arranged on the stand typically describe a uniform helical form of equal turn radius. However, the or each coil may describe a spiral and thus the openings or apertures in the leaves of the stand would be positioned accordingly.

It is thus possible to provide electric heating element conversion apparatus which enables a fossil fuel cooker to be easily and cost-effectively converted to be heated by electricity. The cooker can be converted to run solely on electricity, or as a dual-fuel or multiple fuel, since it is feasible to maintain the original heating means whilst adding the electric heating element conversion apparatus. The electric heating element conversion apparatus can be fitted to new and old models of cooker, and retrofitted to previously installed cookers.

Since the apparatus is electric, no flue is required in the conversion, thereby saving costs, and there are no environmentally harmful emissions following the conversion.

Prices are low to the customer following conversion, due to the lower price of electricity compared to fossil fuel, and no storage facility is needed, unlike with oil. Servicing and maintenance of the apparatus is low, thus also reducing on-going costs, and electricity can even be supplied directly from a customer through renewable sources, such as solar or wind. By the use of electricity, transport costs, for example for oil delivery, are also dispensed with.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. Electric heating element conversion apparatus for a fossil fuel cooker, the apparatus comprising a stand and at least one electric heating element which is supported by the stand in a coiled arrangement.
2. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating element has a heating portion and a tail portion, the heating portion being formed as a coil around a longitudinal axis of the heating element, and the longitudinal extent of the heating portion being coiled and supported by the stand.
3. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein adjacent turns of the said at least one electric heating element are held in spaced apart relationship by the stand.
4. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a longitudinal extent of the said at least one electric heating element includes two coils which are supported by the stand.
5. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a first said coil has a constant or substantially constant radius, and the second said coil has a constant or substantially constant radius which is different from that of the first coil.
6. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein a first said coil is provided within a second said coil.
7. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second said electric heating element which is arranged as a coil and supported by the stand.
8. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each said electric heating element is flexible.
9. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stand includes two intersecting leaves.
10. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the leaves intersect at their centrelines and at right angles to each other.
11. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein each leaf includes a slot partway along its centreline to accept the other leaf as a sliding fit.
12. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein each leaf includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures for receiving the or each electric heating element.
13. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the apertures are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the leaf.
14. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the apertures are spaced apart in a lateral direction of the leaf.
15. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a lateral extent of the stand is uniform along a longitudinal extent thereof.
16. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stand is formed of ceramic.
17. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stand includes a plurality of legs.
18. Electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in the form of a kit of parts.
19. Electric heating element conversion apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. A fossil fuel cooker which is converted for heating by electricity, the cooker comprising electric heating element conversion apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.