WO2009010538A1

WO2009010538A1 - Hob and method for producing a hob

Info

Publication number: WO2009010538A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/059324
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adolfo Arnal Valero; Alberto Ballester Herrero; Ignacio Garde Aranda; Denis Navarro Tabernero; Armando Roy Yarza
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2007-07-17
Filing date: 2008-07-16
Publication date: 2009-01-22
Also published as: ES2324448B1; ES2324448A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a hob comprising at least one upper, pre-mounted module (10), and a lower, pre-mounted module (12). The upper module (10) comprises at least one covering plate (16) for positioning the cooking utensils, and the lower module (12) comprises at least one housing bottom (18) arranged essentially parallel to the covering plate (16), and at least one heating element (20) mounted on the housing bottom (18). The aim of the invention is to provide a hob which makes better use of the space available and/or has a simplified assembly process. To this end, the upper module (10) comprises at least one side wall (22a - 22d) which laterally closes at least a large part of an intermediate space between the covering plate (16) and the housing bottom (18), in at least part of the periphery of the housing bottom (18).

Description

Hob and method of making a hob

The invention relates to a hob according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for producing a hob according to the preamble of claim 13.

Hobs, in particular induction hobs are assembled according to the prior art of two pre-assembled modules. An upper assembly comprises a cover plate for setting up cookware, which may be made of glass, glass ceramic or other suitable material, and a mounting frame glued to the cover plate. A lower preassembled assembly comprises a trough-shaped housing made of sheet metal, which comprises a housing bottom and four arranged in a rectangle side walls of the housing. The side walls contained in the lower subassembly are bolted to the mounting frame contained in the upper subassembly.

When assembling the lower assembly, note that there must be clearance for insertion of tools, as access from the side is blocked by the side walls made integral with the case bottom, or at least in advance connected to an assembly thereof.

The object of the invention is in particular to provide a hob with improved utilization of space and / or simplified installation.

The object is achieved by the features of the independent claims, while advantageous embodiments and modifications of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims.

The invention is based, in particular, on a hob, in particular an induction hob, which comprises at least one upper, preassembled module and a lower, preassembled module. The upper assembly comprises at least one cover plate for setting up cookware, and the lower assembly comprises at least an at least substantially parallel to the cover plate arranged housing bottom and at least one mounted on the housing bottom heating element.

According to one essential aspect of the invention, it is proposed that at least one side wall, which at least in part at least part of the circumference of the housing bottom terminates at least a larger part of a gap between the cover plate and the housing bottom, is contained in the upper assembly. It can be created in the pre-assembly of the lower assembly access for tools from the side, so that free spaces for insertion of tools from above, i. can be omitted from one direction perpendicular to the housing bottom. As a result, the assembly is simplified and the space can be better utilized.

In order to achieve the stated advantages, the at least one side wall can also only in certain demarcated areas, for example in areas where a tool must engage during assembly or, for example, in partial areas of the longitudinal sides or transverse sides of the housing formed by the housing bottom and the side walls in be included in the upper module. As a major part of the gap between the cover plate and the housing base in this context, a quarter or a third of the gap, but in particular a part that covers more than half of the gap to be called. Mounting flanges or mounting edges, which protrude from one side into the intermediate space and serve to fasten the side walls, should not be referred to in this context as sidewalls.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the at least one side wall contained in the upper assembly is integrally formed over at least a portion of the circumference with a mounting frame materially connected to the cover plate. As a result, a variety of components can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced by savings in material and assembly costs.

The advantages of the invention are particularly evident in such cooktops, in which the lower assembly on the housing bottom pre-assembled cooling elements summarizes, since in such induction cooktops, the space is particularly tight. If at least one ventilation opening for introducing or discharging cooling air into the housing comprising the housing bottom and the side walls is incorporated in the at least one side wall contained in the upper module, free access to the cooling air guide can be ensured during pre-assembly of the lower module. which ends in the at least one ventilation opening. As a result, the assembly can be further simplified.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that ventilation openings are incorporated for the admission of cooling air into the housing bottom and ventilation openings for discharging the cooling air are incorporated into the at least one side wall of the upper assembly. Thereby, a reflux of the cooling air can be avoided in a short way.

It is also proposed that the side walls are contained over the entire circumference of the housing bottom in the upper assembly. As a result, a lateral mounting access is ensured over the entire circumference and a housing with a simple geometry is made possible.

If the at least one side wall contained in the upper assembly comprises a straight profile element or a plurality of straight profile elements, the use of cost-effective extruded profiles can reduce the manufacturing costs with the same or improved stability.

Another aspect of the invention is that the housing bottom includes means for releasably connecting the housing bottom to the at least one sidewall of the upper assembly. As a result, the assembly of the two modules can be simplified.

It is also proposed that the at least one side wall contained in the upper subassembly and the housing bottom are formed from the same sheet metal material. As a result, the manufacturing costs can be reduced and the at least one side wall and the housing bottom can optionally be punched out of a sheet metal web in the same punching process and / or with the same machine. If the housing bottom has means for mounting heating elements and / or cooling elements, the mounting of the heating elements and / or cooling elements can be simplified.

Since in induction hobs compared to hobs with radiant heaters, the space is particularly tight, come in this area, the advantages of the invention particularly to fruition.

If multiple sidewalls are included in the upper assembly, tool accesses can be created from multiple sides.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing a hob, which is preferably designed as an induction hob, with a cover plate, in particular with a glass or glass ceramic cover plate. A generic method comprises the steps of: fabricating a preassembled top assembly comprising the cover plate, mounting heaters and / or cooling elements on a housing bottom of a hob housing to produce a bottom, preassembled assembly, and connecting the top assembly and the bottom assembly.

In particular, it is proposed that at least one side wall, which laterally terminates at least a major part of a gap between the cover plate and the housing bottom in at least part of the circumference of the housing bottom, is connected to the housing bottom after mounting the heating elements. As a result, a lateral access is made possible when pre-mounting the heating elements and other elements of the lower assembly, which simplifies the assembly and allows effective use of space.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the at least one side wall or a part of the side walls or the at least one side wall is connected to the cover plate in the manufacture of the upper assembly. Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

Show it:

1 shows an upper subassembly and a lower subassembly of an induction cooktop before assembling the subassemblies in a schematic representation, FIG. 2 shows the induction cooktop of FIG. 1 after the joining together of FIGS

assemblies,

3 shows components of an induction hob according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which side walls of a housing

4, the two housing parts assigned in each case to an assembly after the preassembly of the upper assembly, and FIG. 5 a schematic representation of a lower assembly of an induction cooking field according to FIGS. 4th

1 shows an upper assembly 10 and a lower assembly 12 of an induction hob 14 prior to assembly of the assemblies 10, 12. The induction hob 14 includes the upper, pre-assembled assembly 10 and the lower, pre-assembled assembly 12, the assemblies 10, 12 are releasably connected to each other and each contain complementary parts of a housing of the induction hob 14. The upper assembly 10 comprises a cover plate 16 for setting up cookware, and the lower assembly 12 comprises a housing bottom 18 arranged at least substantially parallel to the cover plate 16 and heating elements 20 mounted on the housing bottom 18.

According to the invention, side walls 22a-22d which in at least part of the circumference of the housing bottom 18 have at least a larger part of a gap between them. see the cover plate 16 and the housing bottom 18 laterally complete, contained in the upper assembly 10.

The side walls 22a-22d contained in the upper assembly 10 are integrally formed with the mounting frame 24 over the entire circumference of the housing bottom 18 and a mounting frame 24, wherein the mounting frame 24 is materially connected to the cover plate 16. In the present exemplary embodiment, the mounting frame 24 forming the side walls 22a-22d of the housing is glued to the cover plate 16 made of glass ceramic.

The housing bottom 18 and the side walls 22a-22d form a housing closed on the upper side by the glass ceramic cover plate 16, in which all electrical and electronic components of the induction hob 14 are received, if necessary, on a power supply cable. The upper assembly 10 forms an upper part of the housing, while the housing bottom 18 forms a lower part of the housing.

In addition to the heating elements 20 designed as inductor coils, the lower assembly 12 includes on the housing bottom 18 preassembled cooling elements 26, which are shown in more detail in FIG.

In the housing bottom 18 means for releasably connecting the housing bottom 18 with the side walls 22a - 22d are incorporated, namely lateral mounting tabs 32 which project perpendicularly from the housing bottom 18 and have a height of 1 - 2cm. Further means for releasably connecting the housing bottom 18 to the side walls 22a-22d and the lower assembly 12 to the upper assembly 10 are holes 34 in the mounting tabs 32 which are brought into registry with corresponding holes 34 'at the bottom of the side walls 22a-22d can be so that screws for connecting the upper assembly 10 with the lower assembly 12 can be inserted and fixed.

In one conceivable embodiment, an internal thread is incorporated in the holes in the mounting tabs 32, so that no nuts must be used. The side walls 22a-22d contained in the upper assembly 10 and the housing bottom 18 are formed in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the same sheet metal material.

In addition, the housing bottom 18 is provided with means 36, namely with holes, for mounting heating elements 20 and / or cooling elements 26, by which the mounting position of the heating elements 20 and the cooling elements 26 is fixed, so that the assembly can be simplified.

Ventilation openings 28 for discharging cooling air into the housing comprising the housing bottom 18 and the side walls 22a-22d are incorporated in one of the side wall 22a contained in the upper assembly 10. The ventilation openings 28 are vertically extending slots which are punched into the sheet metal material of a rear wall assembly 22a of the housing which is remote from the operator in the installation configuration.

Figure 2 shows the induction hob 14 in an assembled state in a view from behind obliquely below. The upper assembly 10 and the lower assembly 12 are releasably connected by screws 48, so that the housing can be easily opened for maintenance purposes.

FIG. 3 shows schematically an alternative embodiment of the invention. In the following, particular reference will be made to differences from the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, while reference is made to the description of FIGS. 1 and 2 with regard to features which remain the same.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the four side walls 22a - 22d are each formed of a profile element, while according to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the side walls 22a - 22d can be made in one piece from a bent into a rectangle sheet metal strip. As a result, by using cost-effective extruded profiles, the production costs can be reduced while maintaining the same or improved stability. The profiles are connected at the corners of the housing by plug connection parts, not shown here, and stabilized in their relative arrangement by the precisely positioned sticking to the cover plate 16. Both in a rear, facing away from the operator side wall 22a and in a front, the operator in operation facing side wall 22b ventilation openings 28 are incorporated for discharging cooling air. The vents 28 are vertically extending slots which are stamped into the sheet material of the extruded profiles.

Another advantageous aspect of the embodiment is that ventilation openings 30 for introducing cooling air into the housing bottom 18 are incorporated and ventilation openings 28 for discharging the cooling air in the side walls 22a - 22d of the upper assembly 10 are incorporated. Fans of the cooling elements 26 can thereby suck in the cooling air through the ventilation openings 30 in the housing bottom 18, drive through cooling ribs of the cooling elements 26 and blow through the ventilation openings 28 incorporated laterally into the side walls 22a, 22b extending transversely to a front edge of the induction hob 14.

When producing an induction hob 14 with a glass or glass ceramic cover plate 16, the upper assembly 10 and the lower assembly 12 are first preassembled. When manufacturing the cover plate 16 comprehensive, upper, pre-assembled assembly 10 integrally formed with the mounting frame 24, consisting of a respective extruded side walls 22a - 22d are glued to the cover 16.

For preassembling the lower assembly 12, the heating elements 20 and the cooling elements 26 are mounted by means of provided in the housing bottom 18 holes 36 etc. on the housing bottom 18 of the hob housing. For connecting the upper assembly 10 and the lower assembly 12, the lower edges of the side walls 22a-22d are bolted to the mounting edge of the housing bottom 18. The lower edges of the side walls 22a-22d are provided with holes 34 'for screws. The mounting edge is bent perpendicularly from the housing bottom 18. The housing bottom 18 extends horizontally in the installation configuration of the induction hob 14. The height of the mounting edge is 0.5-2 cm, so that it does not form a side wall in the sense of the present invention and does not disturb the assembly.

According to the method according to the invention for producing the induction hob 14, it is therefore particularly proposed that sidewalls 22a-22d which in at least part of the circumference of the housing bottom 18 at least cover a larger part of an intermediate side space between the cover plate 16 and the housing bottom 18 to be connected in the manufacture of the upper assembly 10 with the cover plate 16. The side walls 22a-22d contained in the upper assembly 10, the pre-assembly of the heating elements 20 and the cooling elements 26 and the other electrical see or electronic units on the bottom plate do not disturb, so that a space on the bottom plate can be better utilized because less Rooms for insertion of tools must be provided. The further electrical or electronic units on the bottom plate are for example a control unit, a power electronics and one or more transformer and / or inverter units, which are necessary for the operation of the inductor coils.

The mounting edge has a height of only 0.5 - 2 cm and thus hampers the pre-assembly of the heating elements 20 and the cooling elements 26 on the housing bottom 18 barely. In areas of the mounting floor in which access for a tool is to be created, the height of the mounting edge can be reduced compared to other areas.

For connecting the upper assembly 10 and the lower assembly 12, the mounting edge is provided with holes for receiving screws.

In a further, not shown embodiment, the side walls are equipped with a bent perpendicularly in the direction of the interior of the housing mounting edge, so that the housing bottom can be completely flat and does not have to be processed in an edging machine. In the installation configuration of the induction hob, the mounting edge can grip under the edge of the housing bottom and at least partially support the weight of the second assembly, so that a screw or snap connection between the upper assembly and the lower assembly can be relieved.

According to a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the upper preassembled module and the lower preassembled module are connected by a detachable latching connection, wherein suitable, not shown detent means, for example, a detent and a resilient tongue, in the sheet material of the lower edge of the side walls and are punched in the mounting edge.

Figure 5 shows schematically a lower assembly 10 with a housing bottom 18 and cooling elements 26 according to the invention, which in the manufacture of the lower assembly 12 with the housing bottom 18 were connected. Two modules 38, 40 of heating elements 20 and cooling elements 26 have been mounted on the housing bottom 18. A fan 48 draws cooling air from below through the ventilation openings 30 (Figure 3) in the housing bottom 18 and drives the cooling air through cooling fins 42 of a Peltier heat exchanger. The cooling air flow exits the housing again through the ventilation openings 28 contained in the side walls 22a-22b and transports heat generated by the heating elements 20 of the induction hob 14 out of the housing.

The idea of the invention is also particularly advantageously applicable to induction cooking fields in the so-called matrix construction, in which a plurality of heating elements 20, for example 16 or 25 heating elements 20, are arranged in a grid or grid distributed over the cooking surface and flexibly combined into variably definable heating zones - can be taken. In such induction hobs, the individual heating elements 20 must be arranged very tightly in order to achieve as complete a surface coverage as possible, so that the installation space is particularly tight.

FIG. 6 shows a cooling element 26 of one of the modules 38 in a side view. The height of the cooling element shown in Figure 6 is about 4 - 5 cm. The heating elements 20, not shown here, are arranged on a surface of a heat exchanger body 46 with cooling fins 42. The power electronics 44 of the hob is arranged below the heat exchanger body 46 in a shielded by the cooling element 26 of the heating elements 20 area.

reference numeral

10 module

12 assembly

14 induction hob

16 cover plate

18 caseback

20 heating elements

22a side wall

22b sidewall

22c side wall

22d side wall

24 mounting frame

26 cooling element

28 ventilation opening

30 ventilation opening

32 funds

34 funds

34 'means

36 funds

38 module

40 module

42 cooling fin

44 power electronics

46 heat exchanger body

48 blowers

Claims

claims

A hob comprising at least one upper preassembled assembly (10) and a lower preassembled assembly (12), the upper assembly (10) including at least one cover plate (16) for mounting cookware, and wherein the lower assembly (12) comprises at least one housing bottom (18) arranged at least substantially parallel to the cover plate (16) and at least one heating element (20) mounted on the housing bottom (18), characterized in that at least one side wall (22a-22d) is provided in at least one part the periphery of the housing bottom (18) at least a larger part of a gap between the cover plate (16) and the housing bottom (18) laterally terminates, in the upper assembly (10) is included.

2. Hob according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one in the upper assembly (10) contained side wall (22a - 22d) formed integrally over at least part of the circumference with a materially connected to the cover plate (16) mounting frame (24) is.

3. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower assembly (12) comprises at least one on the housing bottom (18) preassembled cooling element (26).

4. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that ventilation openings (28) for admitting or discharging cooling air in the housing bottom (18) and the side walls (22 a - 22 d) comprising housing in the at least one in the upper assembly (10 ) included side wall (22a - 22d) are incorporated.

5. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one ventilation opening (28) for introducing cooling air into the housing bottom (18) is incorporated and at least one ventilation opening (28) for discharging the cooling air into the at least one side wall (22a - 22a). 22d) of the upper assembly (10) is incorporated.

6. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls (22a - 22d) over the entire circumference of the housing bottom (18) in the upper assembly (10) are included.

7. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one in the upper assembly (10) contained side wall (22a - 22d) comprises at least one straight profile element.

8. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing bottom (18) at least one means (32, 34) for releasably connecting the housing bottom (18) with the side walls (22a - 22d).

9. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized marked, that the at least one in the upper assembly (10) contained side wall (22a - 22d) and the housing bottom (18) are formed from the same sheet metal material.

10. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized marked, that the housing bottom (18) has at least one means (36) for mounting at least one heating element (20).

11. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one heating element (20) is formed as an induction heating.

12. Hob according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of side walls (22a - 22d) included in the upper assembly are.

13. A method for producing a hob (14) with a cover plate (16), in particular with a glass or glass ceramic cover plate (16), comprising the steps:

Producing a top, pre-assembled assembly (10) comprising the cover plate (16),

- Mounting of heating elements (20) and / or cooling elements (26) on a housing bottom (18) of a hob housing for producing a lower, pre-assembled assembly and

- connecting the upper assembly (10) and the lower assembly (12), characterized in that at least one side wall (22a - 22d) in at least part of the circumference of the housing bottom (18) at least a major part of a gap between the cover plate (16) and the housing bottom (18) laterally closes, after mounting of at least one heating element (20) and / or cooling element (26) on a housing bottom (18) with the housing bottom (18) is connected.

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the at least one side wall (22a - 22d) in the manufacture of the upper assembly (10) with the

Cover plate (16) is connected.