WO2000052968A1

WO2000052968A1 - An induction hob assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2000052968A1
Application number: PCT/SE2000/000423
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antoine Dubedout; Christian Eskildsen
Original assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
Priority date: 1999-03-04
Filing date: 2000-03-03
Publication date: 2000-09-08
Also published as: AU3687800A

Abstract

An induction heating hob assembly is built around a support (3) which together with the core and coil top surface (2) support a surface layer (7) which may be sealing and decorative. The whole assembly is closed at the edge by a part of a chassis (9) which encloses the lower side of the core and electronic components for driving the coil.

Description

An induction hob assembly.

The invention relates to an induction hob comprising a soft magnetic core and a coil and a sealing and/or decorative surface layer.

Such hobs are well known in the art, such as in WO97/30567 which describes how the core and coil are embedded in a kitchen table top, and in WO96/31995 in which it is described how a strong, thin material is supported by a tough material, the thin material defining the distance between the cooking utensil and the core. These constructions may be regarded as being very integrated with the material surrounding the core and coil construction. This has the disadvantage that it may be difficult to supply an induction cooking hob to a vast range of cooktops without having to store a large number of variants. In other words, although the constructions mentioned above are solutions to proper technical problems and are in use, there is a need for a modularised construction which will enable great flexibility for the user of such hobs, i.e. the manufacturer of cooktops.

It is the purpose of the invention to provide such a modular induction hob which avoids the disadvantage of know construction. This is obtained in a construction which is particular in that the core is held in a strong support having a top surface surrounding the core which is coplanar with the top surface of the core and which supports the sealing and/or decorative surface layer.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the top surface of the coil is also coplanar with the top surface of the core. This means that the sealing surface layer is supported by the underlying support, the core, and the coil.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention a thermally insulating but mechanically strong layer is provided on the top surface of the coil, said layer being coplanar with the top surface of the core. Irrespective whether the sealing surface is either bridging a gap or it is supported by this insulating layer, the thermal time constant of the surface presented to the user is very small. This means that possible heating of the top surface by conduction from a metal cooking vessel will occur with a reduced heat capacity, so that the safety to the user is increased.

In a further advantageous embodiment the support is very stiff in the region where it surrounds the core in a coplanar manner. In this way, even a brittle sealing surface layer may be used without risk of cracking due to the build-up of stresses.

In a further advantageous embodiment the support and sealing surface layer are held by the rim of an encapsulating chassis. In this manner, a complete unit, comprising power supply electronics may be constructed. The encapsulating chassis may provide the cooling area required for the electronics.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the drawing, which shows a construction according to the invention placed in a kitchen table.

A core 1 partly surrounds a coil, the combination being of a flattened toroidal shape which has a plane top surface 2. A support 3 is in close contact with the bottom of the core and surrounds it as a cylindrical part 4. At the top, the cylinder is joined to a circular skirt 5, the top surface 6 of which is coplanar with the plane top surface 2. A surface layer 7 is in intimate contact with the skirt top surface 6 and with the top surface 2 of the core and coil. The ensemble is held together by the edge part 8 of a chassis 9 which surrounds and encloses the whole structure.

A complete unit has thereby been created which may be stored as a component for fitting into any desired location.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. An induction hob comprising a soft magnetic core (1) and a coil and a sealing and/or decorative surface layer (7), characterised in that the core (1) is held in a strong support (3) having a top surface (6) surrounding the core which is coplanar with the top surface (2) of the core and which supports the sealing and/or decorative surface layer (7).

2. An induction hob according to claim 1, characterised in that the top surface of the coil is also coplanar with the top surface of the core (2).

3. An induction hob according to claim 1, characterised in that a thermally insulating but mechanically strong layer is provided on the top surface of the coil (1), said layer being coplanar with the top surface (2) of the core.

4. An induction hob according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the support (7) is very stiff in the region (5) where it surrounds the core (1) in a coplanar manner.

5. An induction hob according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the support and sealing surface layer are held by the rim (8) of an encapsulating chassis (9).