US20150060435A1 - Cooktop appliance and a method for operating the same - Google Patents
Cooktop appliance and a method for operating the same Download PDFInfo
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- US20150060435A1 US20150060435A1 US14/014,826 US201314014826A US2015060435A1 US 20150060435 A1 US20150060435 A1 US 20150060435A1 US 201314014826 A US201314014826 A US 201314014826A US 2015060435 A1 US2015060435 A1 US 2015060435A1
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- heating element
- heating
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F24C7/00—Stoves or ranges heated by electric energy
- F24C7/08—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F24C7/082—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination
- F24C7/083—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices on ranges, e.g. control panels, illumination on tops, hot plates
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F24C15/00—Details
- F24C15/10—Tops, e.g. hot plates; Rings
- F24C15/102—Tops, e.g. hot plates; Rings electrically heated
- F24C15/105—Constructive details concerning the regulation of the temperature
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- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Electric Stoves And Ranges (AREA)
Abstract
A cooktop appliance is provided. The cooktop appliance includes a heating assembly with a first heating zone and a second heating zone that are radially spaced apart from each other. During a simmer or low heat mode of the cooktop appliance, the first heating zone is operated during a first portion of a time interval, and the second heating zone is operated during a second portion of the time interval.
Description
- The present subject matter relates generally to cooktop appliances and methods for operating cooktop appliances.
- Certain cooktop appliances include radiant heating elements for heating pots, pans and other containers with food items therein. The radiant heating elements can be operated at various settings. For example, the radiant heating elements can be operated at a low heat setting to simmer food items, or the radiant heating elements can be operated at a high heat setting to boil water or fry food items. When simmering certain food items, such as delicate cream sauce or tomato sauce, heat is preferably applied to such food items at a low and consistent power. The low and consistent power can prevent such food items from spattering, sticking and/or or discoloring when simmered.
- Cooktop appliances can also include radiant heating elements of various sizes. For example, cooktop appliances can include large area radiant heating elements having a greater heating area than small area radiant heating elements. Large area radiant heating elements can have higher power densities relative to small area radiant heating elements. The large area radiant heating elements' high power densities can assist with quickly boiling water; however, the large area radiant heating elements' high power densities can also make simmering food items difficult.
- Accordingly, a cooktop appliance with features for assisting with simmering of food items would be useful. In particular, a cooktop appliance having a radiant heating element and features for assisting simmering of food items with the radiant heating element would be useful.
- In addition, certain large area radiant heating elements include multiple concentrically positioned zones and relays for selectively activating each zone of the radiant heating elements. Rapidly and/or frequently cycling the relays of such radiant heating elements can be undesirable because relays generally have an expected lifetime defined by the number of cycles such relays are expected to perform. Thus, a design goal for cooktop appliances can include reducing the number of cycles for radiant heating elements and increasing duty cycles of such radiant heating elements. However, longer duty cycles can hinder or obstruct application of low, even heat to containers on the cooktop appliance because of an associated temperature rise of food items in the containers that occurs with each duty cycle. In particular, long duty cycles can cause relatively large temperature amplitudes in food items within the containers compared to shorter duty cycles.
- Accordingly, a cooktop appliance with a radiant heating element and features for assisting with simmering of food items while limiting cycling of the radiant heating element would be useful. Also, a cooktop appliance with a radiant heating element and features for assisting with simmering of food items while avoiding increasing a duty cycle of the radiant heating element would be useful.
- The present subject matter provides a cooktop appliance. The cooktop appliance includes a heating assembly with a first heating zone and a second heating zone that are radially spaced apart from each other. During a simmer or low heat mode of the cooktop appliance, the first heating zone is operated during a first portion of a time interval, and the second heating zone is operated during a second portion of the time interval. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
- In a first exemplary embodiment, a cooktop appliance is provided. The cooktop appliance defines a radial direction. The cooktop appliance includes a first heating element and a second heating element positioned concentrically relative to the first heating element. The first and second heating elements are spaced apart from each other along the radial direction. A controller is in operative communication with the first heating element and the second heating element. The controller configured for initiating a low heat mode. The low heat mode has a plurality of cycles, and each cycle of the plurality of cycles has a time interval. The controller is also configured for operating the first heating element during a first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, deactivating the first heating element after the step of operating the first heating element, operating the second heating element during a second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, and deactivating the second heating element after said step of operating the second heating element.
- In a second exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a cooktop appliance is provided. The method includes initiating a low heat mode. The low heat mode has a plurality of cycles, and each cycle of the plurality of cycles has a time interval. The method also includes operating a first heating element of the cooktop appliance during a first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, deactivating the first heating element after the step of operating the first heating element, operating the second heating element during a second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, and deactivating the second heating element after the step of operating the second heating element.
- In a third exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a cooktop appliance is provided. The cooktop appliance includes a heating assembly with a first heating zone and a second heating zone that are radially spaced apart from each other. The method includes activating a low heating mode of the cooktop appliance, retrieving a predetermined on time and a predetermined off time in a lookup table of the cooktop appliance, operating the second heating zone of the heating assembly for the predetermined on time, the first heating zone of the heating assembly being in a deactivated state during the step of operating the second heating zone, deactivating the second heating zone after the step of operating the second heating zone, maintaining the second heating zone and the first heating zone in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time after the step of deactivating the second heating zone, operating the first heating zone of the heating assembly for the predetermined on time after the step of maintaining the second heating zone and the first heating zone in the deactivated state, the second heating zone being in the deactivated state during the step of operating the first heating zone, deactivating the first heating zone after the step of operating the first heating zone, and keeping the second heating zone and the first heating zone in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time after said step of deactivating the first heating zone.
- These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
- A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
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FIG. 1 provides a top, plan view of a cooktop appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. -
FIG. 2 provides a top, plan view of a two element, radiant heating assembly of the exemplary cooktop appliance ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 provides a top, plan view of a three element, radiant heating assembly of the exemplary cooktop appliance ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 provides a schematic view of certain components of the exemplary cooktop appliance ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5 illustrates a method for operating a cooktop appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. -
FIG. 6 illustrates a graph of an operating state of a heating assembly over time according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. -
FIG. 7 illustrates a method for operating a cooktop appliance according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. - Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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FIG. 1 provides a top, plan view of acooktop appliance 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.Cooktop appliance 100 can be installed in various locations such as in cabinetry in a kitchen, with one or more ovens to form a range appliance, or as a standalone appliance. Thus, as used herein, the term “cooktop appliance” includes grill appliances, stove appliances, range appliances, and other appliances that incorporate cooktops. -
Cooktop appliance 100 includes atop panel 110 for supporting cooking utensils, such as pots or pans, thereon.Radiant heating assemblies top panel 110 such thatheating assemblies top panel 110, e.g., along a vertical direction V. While shown with fourheating assemblies FIG. 1 ,cooktop appliance 100 may include any number ofheating assemblies Heating assemblies heating assemblies - As discussed in greater detail below,
heating assembly 120 includes one heating element or zone. Conversely,heating assemblies 122 include two heating elements or zones, andheating assembly 124 includes three heating elements or zones. However,cooktop appliance 100 is provided by way of example only and is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 1 . For example, a cooktop appliance having one or more heating assemblies in combination with one or more electric or gas burner heating elements can be provided. In addition various combinations of number of heating assemblies, position of heating assemblies and/or size of heating assemblies can be provided. - A
user interface 130 provides visual information to a user and allows a user to select various options for the operation ofcooktop appliance 100. For example, displayed options can include a desiredheating assemblies User interface 130 can be any type of input device and can have any configuration. InFIG. 1 ,user interface 130 is located within a portion oftop panel 110. Alternatively,user interface 130 can be positioned on a vertical surface near a front side ofcooktop appliance 100 or anywhere convenient for a user to access during operation ofcooktop appliance 100. - In the exemplary embodiment shown in
FIG. 1 ,user interface 130 includes a capacitive touch screeninput device component 132. Capacitive touch screeninput device component 132 can allow for the selective activation, adjustment or control of any or allheating assemblies input device component 132.User interface 130 also includes adisplay component 134, such as a digital or analog display device designed to provide operational feedback to a user. -
FIG. 2 provides a top, plan view ofheating assembly 122 of cooktop appliance 100 (FIG. 1 ). As may be seen inFIG. 2 ,heating assembly 122 includes a first orinner heating element 200 and a second orouter heating element 210.Outer heating element 210 ofheating assembly 122 is positioned concentrically relative toinner heating element 200 ofheating assembly 122. In particular,inner heating element 200 ofheating assembly 122 andouter heating element 210 ofheating assembly 122 are spaced apart from each other, e.g., along a radial direction R. Operation of inner andouter heating elements heating assembly 122 is discussed in greater detail below. -
FIG. 3 provides a top, plan view ofheating assembly 124 of cooktop appliance 100 (FIG. 1 ). As may be seen inFIG. 3 ,heating assembly 124 includes aninner heating element 300 and anouter heating element 310.Outer heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 is positioned concentrically relative toinner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124. In particular,inner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124 andouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 are spaced apart from each other, e.g., along the radial direction R. -
Heating assembly 124 also includes amiddle heating element 320.Middle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 is positioned betweeninner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124 andouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124, e.g., along the radial direction R. In particular,middle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 is spaced apart from inner andouter heating elements heating assembly 124, e.g., along the radial direction R. Operation of inner, outer andmiddle heating elements heating assembly 124 is discussed in greater detail below. -
FIG. 4 provides a schematic view of certain components ofcooktop appliance 100. As may be seen inFIG. 4 ,cooktop appliance 100 includes acontroller 140. Operation ofcooktop appliance 100 is regulated bycontroller 140.Controller 140 is operatively coupled or in communication with various components ofcooktop appliance 100, includinguser interface 130. In response to user manipulation of theuser interface 130,controller 140 operates the various components ofcooktop appliance 100 to execute selected cycles and features. -
Controller 140 may include a memory and microprocessor, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with a cleaning cycle. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively,controller 140 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software.User input 130 and other components ofcooktop appliance 100 may be in communication withcontroller 140 via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. -
Controller 140 is also in operative communication withheating assemblies cooktop appliance 100. As may be seen inFIG. 4 ,heating assembly 122 includesrelays Relays heating assembly 122 are each coupled to a respective one ofinner heating element 200 ofheating assembly 122 andouter heating element 210 ofheating assembly 122. Utilizingrelays heating assembly 122,controller 140 can selectively activate and deactivateinner heating element 200 ofheating assembly 122 andouter heating element 210 ofheating assembly 122. -
Heating assembly 124 includes similar features. As may be seen inFIG. 4 ,heating assembly 124 includesrelays Relays heating assembly 124 are each coupled to a respective one ofinner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124,outer heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 andmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124. Utilizingrelays heating assembly 124,controller 140 can selectively activate and deactivateinner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124,outer heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 andmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124.Cooktop appliance 100 also includes features for controlling operation ofheating assemblies -
FIG. 5 illustrates amethod 500 for operating a cooktop appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.Method 500 can be used to operate any suitable cooktop appliance. As an example,method 500 may be used to operate cooktop appliance 100 (FIG. 1 ). Controller 140 (FIG. 4 ) may be programmed to implementmethod 500. Utilizingmethod 500, a low or simmer heat mode ofcooktop appliance 100 can be performed or implemented. - At
step 510,controller 140 determines whether a low or simmer heat mode has been activated. As an example, a user can actuateuser interface 130 to activate the simmer heat mode ofcooktop appliance 100. In particular, the user can setcooktop appliance 100 to a low power setting, such as a level one or level two power setting on a scale of one to ten with level one being the lowest power setting, to activate the simmer heat mode ofcooktop appliance 100.Controller 140 terminatesmethod 500 if the simmer heat mode is not activated atstep 510. - At
step 520,controller 140 retrieves a predetermined on time and a predetermined off time in a lookup table ofcooktop appliance 100 atstep 520 if the simmer heat mode is activated atstep 510.Controller 140 also looks up a number of heating elements in the lookup table atstep 520. The lookup table can be stored in the memory ofcontroller 140 or in any other suitable component ofcooktop appliance 100. - As discussed in greater detail below, the predetermined on time and the predetermined off time correspond to time intervals during which each heating element of
heating assemblies heating assemblies heating assemblies heating assemblies heating assemblies heating assemblies - At
step 530,controller 140 determines whether a double element heating assembly, e.g.,heating assembly 122, or a triple element heating assembly, e.g.,heating assembly 124, was activated atstep 510. Ifcontroller 140 determines thatheating assembly 124 was activated atstep 510,controller 140 initiates a triple element simmerheating control loop 540. Conversely,controller 140 initiates a double element simmerheating control loop 550 ifcontroller 140 determines thatheating assembly 122 was activated atstep 510.Loops heating assemblies middle heating elements loop 540 in alterative exemplary embodiments. Similarly, it should be understood that inner andouter heating elements loop 550 in alternative exemplary embodiments. - During
loop 540,controller 140 turns on or operatesouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 usingrelay 212 for the predetermined on time atstep 542. Duringstep 542,inner heating element 300 andmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 are in a deactivated state (e.g., turned off or operating with negligible heat output). After operatingouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 for the predetermined on time atstep 542,controller 140 deactivatesouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 usingrelay 312 and maintainsinner heating element 300,outer heating element 310 andmiddle heating element 320 in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time. - At
step 544 ofloop 540,controller 140 turns on or operatesinner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124 usingrelay 302 for the predetermined on time. Duringstep 544,outer heating element 310 andmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 are in the deactivated state. After operatinginner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124 for the predetermined on time atstep 544,controller 140 deactivatesinner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124 usingrelay 302 and maintainsinner heating element 300,outer heating element 310 andmiddle heating element 320 in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time. - At
step 546 ofloop 540,controller 140 turns on or operatesmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 usingrelay 322 for the predetermined on time. Duringstep 546,inner heating element 300 andouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 are in the deactivated state. After operatingmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 for the predetermined on time atstep 546,controller 140 deactivatesmiddle heating element 320 usingrelay 322 ofheating assembly 124 and maintainsinner heating element 300,outer heating element 310 andmiddle heating element 320 in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time. -
Loop 540 continues to operateheating assembly 124 according tosteps cooktop appliance 100 is terminated. As an example, a user ofcooktop appliance 100 can actuateuser interface 130 to terminate the simmer heat mode ofcooktop appliance 100. As discussed above, it should be understood thatsteps FIG. 5 and may be performed in any suitable order in alternative exemplary embodiments. As discussed in greater detail below,loop 550 operates in a similar manner toloop 540 to operateheating assembly 122. - During
loop 550,controller 140 turns on or operatesouter heating element 210 ofheating assembly 122 usingrelay 212 for the predetermined on time atstep 552. Duringstep 552,inner heating element 200 ofheating assembly 122 is in the deactivated state. After operatingouter heating element 210 ofheating assembly 122 for the predetermined on time atstep 552,controller 140 deactivatesouter heating element 210 ofheating assembly 122 usingrelay 212 and maintainsinner heating element 200 andouter heating element 210 in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time. - At
step 554 ofloop 550,controller 140 turns on or operatesinner heating element 200 ofheating assembly 122 usingrelay 202 for the predetermined on time. Duringstep 554,outer heating element 210 ofheating assembly 122 is in the deactivated state. After operatinginner heating element 200 ofheating assembly 122 for the predetermined on time atstep 554,controller 140 deactivatesinner heating element 200 ofheating assembly 122 usingrelay 202 and maintainsinner heating element 200 andouter heating element 210 in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time.Loop 550 continues to operateheating assembly 122 according tosteps cooktop appliance 100 is terminated. As discussed above, it should be understood thatsteps FIG. 5 and may be performed in an opposite order in alternative exemplary embodiments. -
Method 500 can assist with applying heat evenly to a container oncooktop appliance 100 during the heat simmer mode. For example, by sequentially activating the various heating elements ofheat assemblies method 500 can assist with applying heat evenly such that tomato sauces do not boil and/or spatter and white or cream sauces do not adhere to a bottom of a container and are smooth during the simmer heat mode ofcooktop appliance 100. -
FIG. 7 illustrates a method for operating a cooktop appliance according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.Method 700 can be used to operate any suitable cooktop appliance. As an example,method 700 may be used to operate cooktop appliance 100 (FIG. 1 ). Controller 140 (FIG. 4 ) may be programmed to implementmethod 700. Utilizingmethod 700, a simmer heat mode ofcooktop appliance 100 can be performed or implemented.FIG. 6 illustrates a graph of an operating state ofheating assembly 124 over time whilecontroller 140 operatesheating assembly 124 according tomethod 700. It should be understood that inner, outer andmiddle heating elements method 700 in alternative exemplary embodiments. - At
step 710,controller 140 initiates a simmer heat mode ofcooktop appliance 100. The simmer heat mode has a plurality of cycles, and each cycle of the plurality of cycles having a time interval.FIG. 6 illustrates a single cycle of simmer heat mode. It should be understood thatcontroller 140 can operateheating assembly 124 such that the single cycle illustrated inFIG. 6 is repeated during the simmer heat mode ofcooktop appliance 100. - At
step 720,controller 140 turns on or operates a first heating element, such asinner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124 usingrelay 302. In particular,controller 140 operatesinner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124 during a first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles duringstep 720. Thus, as shown inFIG. 6 ,controller 140 maintainsinner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124 in an activated state during the first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, andcontroller 140 also maintainsouter heating element 310 andmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 in a deactivated state during the first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles atstep 720. A power output ofinner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124 may be about a maximum power output ofinner heating element 300 duringstep 720. - At
step 730,controller 140 deactivatesinner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124 usingrelay 302 afterstep 720. In particular,controller 140 can deactivateinner heating element 300 ofheating assembly 124 immediately after the first portion of the time interval has elapsed. Thus, as shown inFIG. 6 ,inner heating element 300,outer heating element 310 andmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 are deactivated afterstep 720 and duringstep 730. - At
step 740,controller 140 turns on or operates a second heating element, such asouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 usingrelay 312. In particular,controller 140 operatesouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 during a second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles duringstep 740. Thus, as shown inFIG. 6 ,controller 140 maintainsouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 in the activated state during the second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, andcontroller 140 also maintainsinner heating element 300 andmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 in the deactivated state during the second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles atstep 740. A power output ofouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 may be about a maximum power output ofouter heating element 310 duringstep 740. - At
step 750,controller 140 deactivatesouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 usingrelay 312 afterstep 740. In particular,controller 140 can deactivateouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 immediately after the second portion of the time interval has elapsed. Thus, as shown inFIG. 6 ,inner heating element 300,outer heating element 310 andmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 are deactivated afterstep 740 and duringstep 750. -
Controller 140 can also operateheating assembly 122 according tomethod 700. In particular,controller 140 can be programmed to operateheating assembly 122 according tosteps - The first and second portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles can be any suitable periods of time. For example, the first and second portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles may be about equal to each other. In particular, the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles may be about one minute, the first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles may be about one second and the second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles may also be about one second.
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Method 700 can also include operating a third heating element, such asmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124. For example, afterstep 750,controller 140 can turn on or operatemiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 during a third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality ofcycles using relay 322. Thus, as shown inFIG. 6 ,controller 140 maintainsmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 in the activated state during the third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles, andcontroller 140 also maintainsinner heating element 300 andouter heating element 310 ofheating assembly 124 in the deactivated state during the third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles. -
Controller 140 can also deactivatemiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 usingrelay 322. In particular,controller 140 can deactivatemiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 immediately after the third portion of the time interval has elapsed. Thus, as shown inFIG. 6 ,inner heating element 300,outer heating element 310 andmiddle heating element 320 ofheating assembly 124 are deactivated after the third portion of the time interval has elapsed. The first, second and third portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles may be about equal to each other. -
Method 700 can assist with applying heat evenly to a container oncooktop appliance 100 during the heat simmer mode. For example, by sequentially activating the various heating elements ofheat assemblies 122 and/or 124,method 700 can assist with applying heat evenly such that tomato sauces do not boil and/or spatter and white or cream sauces do not adhere to a bottom of a container and are smooth during the simmer heat mode ofcooktop appliance 100. - This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
Claims (20)
1. A cooktop appliance, the cooktop appliance defining a radial direction, the cooktop appliance comprising:
a first heating element;
a second heating element positioned concentrically relative to the first heating element, the first and second heating elements spaced apart from each other along the radial direction; and
a controller in operative communication with the first heating element and the second heating element, the controller configured for
initiating a low heat mode, the low heat mode having a plurality of cycles, each cycle of the plurality of cycles having a time interval;
operating the first heating element during a first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles;
deactivating the first heating element after said step of operating the first heating element;
operating the second heating element during a second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles; and
deactivating the second heating element after said step of operating the second heating element.
2. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein said step of operating the first heating element comprises:
maintaining the first heating element in an activated state during the first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles; and
maintaining the second heating element in a deactivated state during the first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles.
3. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein said step of operating the second heating element comprises:
maintaining the first heating element in a deactivated state during the second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles; and
maintaining the second heating element in an activated state during the second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles.
4. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first heating element is an inner heating element and the second heating element is an outer heating element, further comprising a middle heating element positioned between the inner and outer heating elements along the radial direction, the controller in operative communication with the middle heating element and configured for:
operating the middle heating element during a third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles; and
deactivating the middle heating element after said step of operating the middle heating element.
5. The appliance of claim 4 , wherein said step of operating the middle heating element comprises:
maintaining the inner heating element in a deactivated state during the third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles;
maintaining the outer heating element in the deactivated state during the third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles; and
maintaining the middle heating element in an activated state during the third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles.
6. The appliance of claim 4 , wherein the first, second and third portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles are about equal to each other.
7. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured for looking up the first and second portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles in a memory of the controller.
8. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles are about equal to each other.
9. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein a power output of the first heating element is about a maximum power output of the first heating element during said step of operating the first heating element and a power output of the second heating element is about a maximum power output of the second heating element during said step of operating the second heating element.
10. The appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles are defined as a ratio the watt density of first and second heating elements, respectively.
11. A method for operating a cooktop appliance, comprising:
initiating a low heat mode, the low heat mode having a plurality of cycles, each cycle of the plurality of cycles having a time interval;
operating a first heating element of the cooktop appliance during a first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles;
deactivating the first heating element after said step of operating the first heating element;
operating a second heating element during a second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles; and
deactivating the second heating element after said step of operating the second heating element.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of operating the first heating element comprises:
maintaining the first heating element in an activated state during the first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles; and
maintaining the second heating element in a deactivated state during the first portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of operating the second heating element comprises:
maintaining the first heating element in a deactivated state during the second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles; and
maintaining the second heating element in an activated state during the second portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first heating element is an inner heating element and the second heating element is an outer heating element, further comprising:
operating a middle heating element of the cooktop appliance during a third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles; and
deactivating the middle heating element after said step of operating the middle heating element.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said step of operating the middle heating element comprises:
maintaining the inner heating element in a deactivated state during the third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles;
maintaining the outer heating element in the deactivated state during the third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles; and
maintaining the middle heating element in an activated state during the third portion of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first, second and third portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles are about equal to each other.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the time interval of each cycle of the plurality of cycles are about equal to each other.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein a power output of the first heating element is about a maximum power output of the first heating element during said step of operating the first heating element and a power output of the second heating element is about a maximum power output of the second heating element during said step of operating the second heating element.
19. A method for operating a cooktop appliance having a heating assembly with a first heating zone and a second heating zone that are radially spaced apart from each other, comprising:
activating a low heating mode of the cooktop appliance;
retrieving a predetermined on time and a predetermined off time in a lookup table of the cooktop appliance;
operating the second heating zone of the heating assembly for the predetermined on time, the first heating zone of the heating assembly being in a deactivated state during said step of operating the second heating zone;
deactivating the second heating zone after said step of operating the second heating zone;
maintaining the second heating zone and the first heating zone in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time after said step of deactivating the second heating zone;
operating the first heating zone of the heating assembly for the predetermined on time after said step of maintaining the second heating zone and the first heating zone in the deactivated state, the second heating zone being in the deactivated state during said step of operating the first heating zone;
deactivating the first heating zone after said step of operating the first heating zone; and
keeping the second heating zone and the first heating zone in the deactivated state for the predetermined off time after said step of deactivating the first heating zone.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising repeating said steps of operating the second heating zone, deactivating the second heating zone, maintaining the second heating zone and the first heating zone in the deactivated state, operating the first heating zone, deactivating the first heating zone and keeping the second heating zone and the first heating zone in the deactivated state for a duration of the low heat mode.
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US14/014,826 US20150060435A1 (en) | 2013-08-30 | 2013-08-30 | Cooktop appliance and a method for operating the same |
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US14/014,826 US20150060435A1 (en) | 2013-08-30 | 2013-08-30 | Cooktop appliance and a method for operating the same |
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Owner name: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MCPHERSON, JAIME ALEXANDER;REEL/FRAME:031117/0937 Effective date: 20130829 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
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