US2654825A

US2654825A - Electric heating

Info

Publication number: US2654825A
Application number: US117690A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry C Cunningham
Original assignee: Edwin L Wiegand Co
Current assignee: Edwin L Wiegand Co
Priority date: 1949-09-24
Filing date: 1949-09-24
Publication date: 1953-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 1970-10-06

Description

Oct. 6, 1953 H. c. CUNNINGHAM ELECTRIC HEATING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 24, 1949 T2; 4 4 rum mu rIH WUX/UNMV 2. 1 E E FIG-I HARRY C. CUNNINGHAM KNVENTOR ATTORNEY 1953 H. c. CUNNINGHAM 2,654,8 25

ELECTRIC HEATING Filed Sept. 24, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARRY Q CUNNWGHAM INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1953 ELECTRIC HEATING Harry G. Cunningham, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Edwin L. Wiegand Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 24, 1949, Serial No. 117,690

8 Claims.

My invention relates to electric heating devices comprising one or more electric surface units, including hot plates, ranges, and the like, and the principal object of my invention is to provide an improved and more economical construction.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application I have shown, for purposes of illustration, what I now consider to be the best modes of carrying my invention into practice, and in these drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating one of the selected embodiments;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail View showing the means of holding the shield plate attached to its sup porting arm;

Figures 4 and 5 are detail views showing the means of holding the races to the spider;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the surface unit in raised position for cleaning the depressed portion of the top plate and the under portion of the unit; and

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the other selected embodiment.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 through 6 includes a top plate H! which may be substantially co-extensive with the relevant portion of the hot plate, range, or the like, and cornprises a top portion H and one or more bowlshape depressed portions [2 integral with the top portion H and each adapted to receive at least the lower portion of an electric surface unit l3 herein shown as comprising two electric heating elements or races [4 and t5 secured to and supported by a frame or spider resting on and supporting the unit [3 from the upper surface of the top plate depressed portion l2.

In the present embodiment the spider 20 comprises a diametrical member 2! providing a supporting arm 22 and a leg 23 rounded on the under side of its outer end, as indicated at 24, to conform to the relevant surface of the top plate depressed portion 12, and two side members 25 riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the diametrical member 2land providing legs 26'similarly rounded on the under portion of their outer ends and extending at opposite angles of approximately one hundred and twenty degrees from the diametrical member leg 23, wherer by the spider 20 rests on the top plate depressed portion [2 at three places substantially the apices of an equilateral triangle and the surface unit [3 is afforded substantially equilateral threeoint support.

Cir

As shown additionally in Figures 4 and 5, in the present embodiment the outer race I4 is held to the spider 29 by means of loops 3G engaging over an inwardly directed finger 3| on the diametrical member leg 23 and outwardly directed fingers 32 on the side member legs 26, and the inner race I5 is held to the spider directly by a loop 33 engaging over an outwardly directed finger 34 on the diametrical member leg 23 and indirectly by a shield plate 35 carried by the diametrical member arm 22 and closely receiving both the terminal portions 36 of the outer race M and the terminal portions 31 of the inner race l5, and the various loops are releasably held engaged over the various fingers by means of a plate 38 interposed between the inner race loop 33 and the opposed outer race loop and itself held in position by means of tongues 39 entering withing the loop 33 and the respective loop 30.

As shown additionally in Figure 3, the shield plate is supported from the arm 22 by means of a reduced extension 40 provided on the end of the arm 22 and extended through a closely fitting aperture 4| in the shield plate 35 and then wedge-spread or otherwise suitably expanded to hold the shield plate firmly against shoulders 42 on the arm 22 laterally of the extension 40 resulting from the reduced dimension of the extension 40.

As shown particularly in Figure 2, the terminals 35 and 3! extend through an aperture 43 in the top plate depressed portion [2, and this aperture is sufliciently large to readily permit raising the unit [3 to the position shown in Figure 6, thus to facilitate cleaning the top plate depressed portion l2 and the under part of the unit [3, or to permit partial movement of the unit l3 sufiicient to withdraw the terminals 44 for the purpose of attaching or removing the respective conductors by which power is supplied to the unit, but as appears particularly in Figure 2, the shield plate 35 is formed sufiiciently large to entirely cover the aperture 43 when the unit is in operating position.

With the foregoing the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 6 includes also means completely preventing any rocking of the unit I3 in the depressed portion [2, comprising an annular member releasably secured to the spider 2| by engagement of its upper edge 51 in notches 52 in the

legs

23 and 23 and having its lower portion 53 formed to extend through and closely engage within a central opening 54 provided in the top plate depressed portion l2, but capable of being withdrawn for movement of the unit $3 to the ing in the central opening 54 in the depressed portion l2 in the same manner as the lower por-,- tion 53 of the annular member 50 of the embodiment of Figures 1 through 6'. 7

From the foregoing it willbe realized'by-those skilled in the art that either of the illustrated embodiments accomplishes. at least the principal object of my invention, and on the other hand,

that various changes and modifications maybe made, and other embodiments employed, within thescope of my invention, and'therefore by invention, is not limited to the particular embodiments herein described, andI' claim as my invention:

'1. An electric heating unit comprising, incombination with a top plate having a top portion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portion has a lateral opening for the passage of the terminals of an electric heating element therethrough and a substantially centrally disposed opening, an electric surface unit including a heating element movable into and out of operative'position, laterally extending terminal portions on said heating element adapted to extend through the lateral opening in said depressed portion and providing for electrical connection to saidheating element, a supporting frame for said heating element including substantially radially extending legs for carrying the heating element on the top surface thereof and to rest on their bottom surfaces on the upper surface of said depressed portion, means for securing said heating elementto said supporting frame, and a member secured to and depending from said frame toward said depressed portion, said member being adapted to enter and engage the marginal surface of the said substantially centrally disposed opening in said depressed portion on movement of the surface unit into operative position to hold the surface unit against material lateral movement relative to said depressed portion and to be withdrawn from the said opening as the surface unit is'moved to inoperative position.

2. An electric heating unit comprising, in combination with a top plate having atop portion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portion has a lateral opening for the passage of the terminals of anelectric heating element therethrough and a substantially centrally disposed opening, an electric surface unit including a heating element movable into and out of operative position, laterally extending terminal portions on said heating element adapted to extend through the lateral opening in said depressed portion and providin for electrical conmotion to said heating element, a supporting frame for said heating element including substantially radially extending legs for carrying the heating element on the top surface thereof and to rest on their bottom surfaces on the upper surface of said depressed portion, means for securing said heating element to said supporting frame, said means including a plate secured to said frame and through which the laterally extending terminals of said heating element extend, said plate being so arranged with respect to the laterally extending terminals of the heating element and the heating element supporting frame as to cover and shield the lateral opening in said depressed portion when the surface unit is in operative position, and a member secured to and depending from said frame toward said depressed portion, said member being adapted to enter and engage the marginal surface of the said substantially centrally disposed opening in said dopressed portion when on movement of the surface unit into operative position to hold the surface-unit against material lateral movement I relative tosaid depressed portion and to be withdrawn from the said opening as the surface unit is movedito inoperative position.

3. An electric heating unit comprising, in combination with a top plate having a top portion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portion has a lateral opening for the passage'of the terminals of an electric heating. element therethrough' and. a substantially centrally disposed 'opening, an electric surface unit including a heating element movable into and-out of operative position, laterally extendin terminal portions on said heating element adapted to extend through the lateral opening in said depressed portion and providing for electrical connection to said heating element, a supporting frame for said heating element including. substantially radially extending legs for carrying the heating element on the top surface thereof and to rest on their bottom surfaces on the upper surface of said depressed portion, means for securing said heating element to said: supporting frame, said means including a plate secured to said frame and through which the laterally-extending terminals of said heating element extend, said plate being so arranged with respect to the laterally extending terminals of the heating element and the heating element supporting frame as to cover and shield the lateral; opening in said depressed portion when the surface unit is in operative position and to move away from such covering and shielding position as the heater element is moved out of operative position.

4. In an electric heatin unit comprising a top plate having a top portion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portion has alateral opening for the passage of the terminals of an electric heating element therethrough, a heating element movable into and out of operative position, laterally extending terminal portions on said heating element adapted to extend through the lateral opening in said depressed portion and providing for an electrical connection to said heating element, and a plate through which the laterally extending terminal portions of the heating element extend, said plate being in advance of the lateral opening through the depressed portion and so positioned with respect to the laterally extending terminal portions of the heating element as to cover and shield the lateral openin in the said depressed portion when the heating element is in operative position and to move away from such covering and shielding position as the heating element is moved out of operative position.

5. In an electric heating unit comprising a top plate having a top portion and a depressed por tion, and which depressed portion has a lateral opening for the passage of the terminals of an electric heating element therethrough, a heating element movable into and out of operative position, laterally extending terminal portions on said heating element adapted to extend through the lateral opening in said depressed portion and providing an electrical connection to said heating element, a supporting frame for said heating element, and means for securing said heating element to said supporting frame, said means including a plate secured to said frame and through which the laterally extending terminals of the heating element extend, said plate being so arranged with respect to the laterally extending terminals of the heating element and the heating element supporting frame as to cover and shield the lateral opening in said depressed portion when the heatingelement is in operative position and to move away from such covering and shielding position as the heating element is moved out of operative position.

6. In an electric heating unit comprising a top plate having a top portion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portion has a lateral opening for the passage of the terminals of an electric heating element therethrough, a heating element movable into and out of operative position, laterally extending terminal portions on said heating element adapted to extend through the lateral opening in said depressed portion and providing an electrical connection to said heating element, a supporting frame for said heating element, including substantially radially extending legs for carrying the heating element on the top surface thereof, and means for securing said heating element to said supporting frame, said means including a plate secured to one of the legs of said frame and through which the laterally extending terminals of the heating element extend, said plate being so arranged with respect to the laterally extendin terminals of the heating element and the heating element supporting frame as to cover and shield the lateral opening in said depressed portion when the heating element is in operative position and to move out of such covering and shielding position as the heating element is moved out of operative position.

7. In an electric heating unit comprising a top plate having a top portion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portion has a substantially centrally disposed opening therein, an electric surface unit including a heating element and a supporting frame for said heating element, said supporting frame including substantially radially extending legs for carrying the heating element on the top surface thereof and to loosely rest on their bottom surfaces on the upper surface of said depressed portion, means for securing said heating element to said supporting frame, and a member secured to and depending from said frame toward said depressed portion, said member being adapted to enter and engage the marginal surface of said substantially centrally disposed opening in said depressed portion when the surface unit is in operative position to hold the surface unit against material lateral movement relative to said depressed portion and to be withdrawn from said openingas the surface unit is removed from operative position.

8. In an electric heating unit comprising a top plate having a top portion and a depressed portion, and which depressed portion has a substantially centrally disposed opening therein, an electric surface unit including a heatin element and a supporting frame for said heating element, said supporting frame including substantially radially extending legs for carrying the heating element on the top surface thereof and to loosely rest on their bottom surfaces on the upper surface of said depressed portion, means for securing said heating element to said supportin frame, and means depending from said frame and extending into the said substantially centrally disposed opening in said depressed portion when the surface unit is in operative position to hold the surface unit against material lateral movement relative to said depressed portion, said last named means including a plurality of fingers extending downwardly from said legs and arranged to engage the periphery of said opening.

HARRY C. CUNNINGHAM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,998,308 Causse Apr. 16, 1935 2,145,684 Calhoun June 31, 1939 2,262,507 Lightfoot Nov. 11, 1941 2,392,692 Price Jan. 8, 1946 2,399,423 Bletz Apr. 30, 1946 2,413,477 Wiegand Dec. 31, 1946 2,442,659 McCormick June 1, 1948 2,506,554 Tuttle May 2, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 29,714 Great Britain Dec. 24, 1913 143,719 Austria Nov. 25, 1935 405,594 Great Britain Feb. 8, 1934 443,494 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1936 618,177 Germany Sept. 8, 1935 627,122 Great Britain July 28, 1949 823,439 France Jan. 20, 1938