Method for mounting ceramic cooktops in appliance

Abstract

Stoves having a ceramic cooktop mounted within a metal frame with a silicone sealant therebetween are manufactured in a labor saving process involving minimal waste, hand tooling, and cleanup, by providing a leakage-preventing dam paralleling the periphery of the cooktop support surface, positioning the cooktop within the frame, resting on the dam, and applying as a seal, a flowable, curable silicone which cures at a rate such as to allow it to self level, the dam preventing leakage of low viscosity silicone into the stove interior.

1 . A process for mounting a ceramic cooktop in a stove, comprising: 
 a) supplying a frame having an opening therein dimensioned to receive a ceramic cooktop, the opening having a periphery, and having a support surface extending inwardly from the periphery of the opening, the support surface and opening periphery connected by side walls extending therebetween, the ceramic cooktop having a bottom surface, a top surface, and an edge connecting the top surface and bottom surface;    b) providing a dam on the support surface extending continuously around the support surface and having a height such that a ceramic cooktop, when positioned within the opening in the frame and resting on the dam, will have a spaced relationship between the bottom surface of the ceramic cooktop and at least a portion of support surface;    c) positioning a ceramic cooktop within the opening in the frame, the ceramic cooktop bottom surface resting on the dam, and the edge of the ceramic cooktop spaced apart from the side walls of the frame;    d) applying a flowable, curable silicone between the side walls of the frame and the edges of the ceramic cooktop and allowing the silicone to level to provide a visible seal between the frame and the ceramic cooktop.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said dam comprises an applied bead of rapidly setting polymer.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said rapidly setting polymer is an RTV-2 silicone elastomer.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein said RTV-2 silicone elastomer is an addition curable elastomer.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said rapidly setting polymer is a viscous and/or thixotropic composition which forms a dam having a semi-circular or flattened semi-circular cross-section.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said dam is applied to said support surface by a robot.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said ceramic cooktop is positioned within said opening by a robot.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said flowable curable silicone is applied by a robot.  
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of steps b), c), and d) are performed by a robot.  
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said dam is applied in such a manner so as to define a seal volume extending from the inner periphery of the dam to the top of the visible seal, and wherein a volume of flowable silicone substantially the same as the seal volume is applied.  
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein said flowable silicone is supplied by a robot.  
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein no hand tooling or cleanup is necessary following step d).  
   
   
       13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said dam is formed from a solid elastomer applied to said support surface.  
   
   
       14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said solid elastomer is applied in the form of a continuous strip by a robot.  
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said dam is provided as a raised portion of the support surface.  
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein said raised portion is provided by a metal stamping operation.  
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein prior to step c), said raised portion is coated with a tacky substance.  
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said flowable curable silicone is an addition-curable silicone.  
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said flowable curable silicone has an initial viscosity of 6,000 mPa·s to 9,000 mPa·s at 25° C.  
   
   
       20 . A stove having a ceramic cooktop within a metal frame and having a silicone seal therebetween, produced by the process of  claim 1.