Heating element for cooking appliances

Abstract

The invention relates to a heating element for a cooking appliance, particularly for the direct or indirect electrical heating of at least one item to be cooked, including at least one supporting layer, at least one heating element layer, which contacts the supporting layer at least in sections in a direct or indirect manner, and including at least one electric contact element or conductor element, with at least one elastic arresting element, which is or can be connected to the electric contact element or conductor element. The electric contact element or conductor element can be brought into contact, at least occasionally, with at least one heating resistor and/or with at least one contact point of the heating element layer via the elastic force of the elastic arresting element.

1 . Heating element for a cooking appliance, especially for direct or indirect electrical heating of at least one cooking product, comprising: 
 at least one supporting layer,    at least one heating element layer which lies directly or indirectly against the supporting layer at least in sections,    at least one electrical contact or conducting element, and    at least one elastic arresting element, which is connected or can be connected to the electrical contact or conducting element, whereby the electrical contact or conducting element can be brought into contact, using the elastic force of the elastic arresting element with at least one heating resistor and/or with at least one contact location of the heating element layer.    
   
   
       2 . Heating element according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises an essentially flat heating plate or a device in which heating is completely or in regions essentially tubular.  
   
   
       3 . Heating element according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one separating layer is disposed between the supporting layer and the heating element layer at least in sections to make the heat input into the supporting layer at least partially uniform, and/or at least one mechanical buffer layer and/or at least a first thermal insulating layer is disposed on the side of the heating element layer, which is away from the supporting layer and/or between the heating element layer and the elastic arresting element, at least in sections.  
   
   
       4 . Heating element according to  claim 3 , further including at least one pressing means with which the elastic arresting element, the mechanical buffer layer, the first thermal insulating layer, the heating element layer and/or the separating layer, can be pressed or is/are pressed against the supporting layer for making the pressing strength onto the supporting layer and/or of the heat input into the supporting layer uniform at least in regions.  
   
   
       5 . Heating element according to  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical buffer layer, the first thermal insulating layer and/or the pressing means has/have at least one outlet for the contact or conducting element in the region of at least one second section of the elastic arresting element.  
   
   
       6 . Heating element according to  claim 5 , wherein the elastic arresting element has at least one first section which is between, on the one hand, the heating element layer, the first thermal insulating layer and/or the mechanical buffer layer and, on the other hand, the pressing means, and a second free section, which is connected to the first section, the free section being able to be connected directly or indirectly to the contact or contacting element.  
   
   
       7 . Heating element according to  claim 6 , further including one fourth section which is attached to the second and/or third section of the elastic arresting element and/or the contact or conducting element, whereby the fourth section is preferably connected or can be connected to the mechanical buffer layer, the first thermal insulating layer and/or the pressing means.  
   
   
       8 . Heating element according to  claim 7 , wherein the contact or conducting element can be connected through an insulator to the elastic arresting element.  
   
   
       9 . Heating element according to  claim 3 , wherein the supporting layer is made completely or partially of stainless steel and/or the mechanical buffer layer is made completely or partially of mica.  
   
   
       10 . Heating element according to  claim 1 , wherein looking from the supporting layer in the direction of the elastic arresting element, the supporting layer or the heating element layer is defined, at least in sections, by at least one stainless steel layer and/or, at least in sections, by at least one ceramic layer as well as furthermore at least in sections at least one layer with electrical heating resistors and/or at least in sections at least one glass layer is disposed.  
   
   
       11 . Heating element according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting layer, viewed from a free outside surface, has at least one layer containing at least one heat conducting metal, at least one layer containing at least one metal with good thermal conductivity, and at least one second insulating layer.  
   
   
       12 . Heating element according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting layer, viewed from a free outside surface, has at least one layer containing at least one metal with good thermal conductivity, at least one layer containing at least one metal with poor thermal conductivity, and at least one second insulating layer.  
   
   
       13 . Heating element according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting layer, viewed from a free outside surface, has at least one electrically insulating ceramic layer, at least one electrically conducting ceramic layer and/or at least one second insulating layer.  
   
   
       14 . Heating element according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating element layer is designed as a thick film or as a thin film.  
   
   
       15 . Heating element according to  claim 14 , wherein the heating element layer can be produced by serigraphy or by a printing process.  
   
   
       16 . Heating element according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating element layer has a plurality of individual heating resistors which are arranged in at least two heating tracks in such a way that the heating resistors within each heating track are connected electrically parallel to one another and that the heating tracks are connected in series to one another, and all heating resistors can be supplied simultaneously with electrical energy, whereby at least two different heating resistors have different heating powers and/or the heating resistors are arranged on the heating element layer at different distances to one another, at least in regions, and the heating resistors are produced as a thick film.  
   
   
       17 . Heating element according to  claim 16 , wherein the heating resistors can be produced on the heating element layer with a serigraphic or a printing process.  
   
   
       18 . Heating element according to  claim 16 , wherein at least two heating resistors with different heating powers have different electrical resistances.  
   
   
       19 . Heating element according to  claim 18 , wherein at least two of the heating resistors have different surface areas with different peripheral shapes, different peripheral lengths, different side lengths, and/or different thicknesses.  
   
   
       20 . Heating element according to  claim 16 , wherein the heating power and/or the distance of the heating resistors is adjusted at least in regions based on a pressing strength of the heating element layer onto the supporting layer present at least in regions, or to a predetermined heating power density distribution within the heating element layer which is present at least in regions, and/or to a predetermined heat density distribution within the supporting layer at least in regions.  
   
   
       21 . Heating element according to  claim 20 , wherein the heating power of a first heating resistor which is arranged in a first region of the heating element layer with a first pressing strength of the heating element layer onto the supporting layer, is smaller than the heating power of at least one second heating resistor, which is arranged in a second region with a second pressing strength of the heating element layer onto the supporting layer, which is smaller in comparison to the first pressing strength and/or the distance of two heating resistors to one another is larger in the first region than the distance between two heating resistors to one another in the second region.  
   
   
       22 . Heating element according to  claim 21 , wherein the first region is located near at least one, attachment or pressing location for at least partial leadthrough or partial penetration of an attachment device for applying the heating element layer to the supporting layer, and/or the second region is located further removed in comparison to the first region from at least one attachment or pressing location.  
   
   
       23 . Heating element according to  claim 21 , wherein the heating power of a third heating resistor which is located in a third region of the heating element layer with a first heating power density of the heating element layer, is smaller than the heating power of at least one fourth heating resistor which is located in a fourth region with a second heating power density of the heating element layer which is smaller in comparison to the first heating power density, and/or the distance of two third heating resistors in the third region is larger than the distance of two fourth heating resistors in the fourth region.  
   
   
       24 . Heating element according to  claim 23  wherein the third region of the heating element layer is located near at least one first region of the supporting layer with a first thermal conductivity and/or with a first heat density and that the fourth region of the heating element layer is located near at least one second region of the supporting layer with a second thermal conductivity which is smaller in comparison to the first thermal conductivity and/or with a heat density larger in comparison to the first heat density.  
   
   
       25 . Heating element according to  claim 16 , wherein the electrical heating resistors of a heating track have essentially the same heating power, essentially the same geometric dimensions, are essentially at the same distance from one another and/or are made essentially of the same materials.  
   
   
       26 . Heating element according to  claim 4 , wherein the separating layer, the heating element layer, the mechanical buffer layer, the first thermal insulating layer, the elastic arresting element and/or the pressing means are designed as one element.  
   
   
       27 . Heating element according to  claim 4 , wherein the pressing means, the elastic arresting element, the mechanical buffer layer, the first thermal insulating layer, the heating element layer and/or the separating layer can be joined to one another separably or in a fixed manner.  
   
   
       28 . Heating element according to  claim 16 , wherein the heating tracks each have a large number of heating resistors, at least pair-wise neighboring one another, whereby the heating resistors have a surface which is limited at least partially by first and second side edges, whereby two neighboring heating resistors have facing neighboring first side edges in order to produce electrical parallel circuits and the two neighboring heating resistors are at least partially at a distance from one another and/or are electrically insulated.  
   
   
       29 . Heating element according to  claim 28 , wherein two facing neighboring second side edges of the heating resistors of neighboring first and second heating tracks, in order to achieve electrical series connection of the heating tracks, have at least partially at least one first electrically conducting means lying against the second side edge of the heating resistors of the first heating track, and against the second side edge of the heating resistors of the second heating track, and can be connected to one another or are connected to one another, whereby, using a first electrically conducting means, an electric current can be conducted through electrical heating resistors of neighboring first and second heating tracks.  
   
   
       30 . Heating element according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one second electrically conducting means connects at least two second side edges of heating resistors of an outer heating track to one another in a connecting manner, whereby the at least one second electrically conducting means has at least one contact position and/or is in working relationship with a contact position.  
   
   
       31 . Heating element according to  claim 30 , wherein at least one third electrically conducting means is connected to at least one first and/or second side edge of a heating resistor of at least one first outer heating track.  
   
   
       32 . Heating element according to  claim 31 , wherein the first, second and/or third electrically conducting means comprises at least one electrical material with high conductivity.  
   
   
       33 . Heating element according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one set of neighboring heating tracks are arranged essentially parallel to one another and/or at least one heating track is arranged along a straight, curved or circular path.  
   
   
       34 . Heating element according to  claim 16 , wherein at least two of the heating tracks have different dimensions.  
   
   
       35 . Heating element according to  claim 16 , wherein each heating track has at least three electrical heating resistors and/or the heating element includes at least three heating tracks which can be connected to one another through at least one electrically conducting means and can be connected electrically to a power source through at least two contact positions.  
   
   
       36 . Cooking appliance comprising: 
 at least one heating element having; 
 at least one supporting layer,  
 at least one heating element layer which lies directly or indirectly against the supporting layer at least in sections,  
 at least one electrical contact or conducting element, and  
 at least one elastic arresting element which is connected or can be connected to the electrical contact or conducting element, whereby the electrical contact or conducting element can be brought into contact using the elastic force of the elastic arresting element with at least one heating resistor and/or with at least one contact location of the heating element layer.  
   
   
   
       37 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 36 , wherein the at least one heating element can be secured separably on the cooking appliance.  
   
   
       38 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 36 , further including a control and/or regulating unit which is in working connection with at least one heating element and/or with at least one electrical heating resistor, and/or with at least one sensor.  
   
   
       39 . Cooking appliance according to  claim 38 , wherein the control and/or regulating unit is capable of operating so that the heating power of the heating element can be controlled and/or regulated.  
   
   
       40 . Method for the production of a heating element layer of a heating element, having a supporting layer, at least one electrical contact or conducting element, and at least one elastic arresting element, which is connected or can be connected to the electrical contact or conducting element, whereby the electrical contact or conducting element can be brought into contact using the elastic force of the elastic arresting element with at least one heating resistor and/or with at least one contact location of the heating element layer, and in which the heating element layer lies directly or indirectly against a supporting layer at least in sections, comprising: 
 preparing a substrate; and    applying the heating resistors and/or one or more electrical conducting paths to the substrate with a serigraphic technique.    
   
   
       41 . Method according to  claim 40 , wherein a covering layer is subsequently applied to the heating resistors and/or one or more electrical conducting paths at least in regions.  
   
   
       42 . Method according to  claim 40 , wherein the substrate is provided with at least one electrically conducting material, glass, ceramic and/or plastic and/or, before applying the heating resistors, applying at least in regions at least one thermally- and/or electrically insulating layer onto the substrate.  
   
   
       43 . Method according to  claim 42 , wherein the thermally- and/or electrically insulating layer is provided with at least one ceramic material and/or at least one glass material.  
   
   
       44 . Method according to  claim 41 , wherein the covering layer is provided with an electrically insulating material and/or a material which protects against mechanical influences.  
   
   
       45 . Method according to  claim 40 , wherein the heating power, the electrical resistance and/or the distance of the heating resistors to one another is adjusted by dimensioning the geometric measurements of the heating resistors.  
   
   
       46 . (cancelled)