GB2518480A - Hob assembly for range cookers - Google Patents

Abstract

A hob assembly for a range cooker comprises a heating zone 8 heated by at least one electric heating element. A thermally-insulated lid is movable between a closed position in which it covers the zone and permits a controlled amount of heat to escape through the lid and an open position. A controller regulates the amount of electrical power supplied to the at least one element when the zone is switched on. When the lid is closed the controller applies current to the at least one element to maintain the temperature of the zone at a predefined value for cooking. When the lid is opened the controller increases the current supplied to the at least one element to maintain the temperature of the zone at the predefined value. Ideally the at least one element comprises two 200 watt elements 14a-b arranged in parallel and one 2000 watt element 15, and the controller is a thermostat arranged between a power supply and the elements that only supplies power to the 2000W element when the lid is open and the temperature of the zone is below the predefined value. A heating element module for use in a hob assembly is also claimed.

Description

HOB ASSEMBLY FOR RANGE COOKERS

This invention relates to range cookers, especially heat storage range cookers, and to hob assemblies for use in range cookers or other cooking devices.

It is known to provide domestic cookers which arc known as heat-storage type cookers. Perhaps the most well known and loved are the applicants own Aga and Rayburn Ranges of heat storage cookers. These cookers differ from the pressed steel type because the oven waHs are formed of a thick material with high specific heat capacity so that the walls have a relatively high thermal mass. The cavity does not contain a heating element, and the walls also are not provided with a direct heating element. Instead the one or more ovens are in thermal contact with a system of ducts communicating with a combustion chamber which serves as heat source, The combustion chamber is fed with a solid fuel, or, and more commonly nowadays, with fuels such as kerosene, natural gas or propane. By making the shefl from cast iron, heat from the heat source is stored residuafly aflowing the device to provide constant high temperatures with heat source constantly topping it up if heat is lost (for instance by opening a door to the oven), It is a'so known to provide a heat storage stove with the heat exchange chamber containing one or more resistance heating elements. Two types of electric heat store stoves have been proposed. In the first the heat store is "charged" with heat to a high leve' using a high power heating element rated at 30 amps at 240 volts, This charging can be performed overnight when electricity is cheaper and then released from the store during the day as required to keep the stove at its operating temperature.

In all traditional. pre-1980's, heat storage range cookers, heat from the store passes underneath the top of the cooker on the way toward heating the oven cavities or on a return path to the heat store, The top of the cooker comprises a hob (sometimes cafled a stovetop or cooktop in some countries, the three terms being interchangeable) that is provided with, typically, two circular cast iron plates. The heat raises the temperature of the underside of the cast iron p'ates. making the top of the plates heat up due to conduction, The plates can then be used as heating zones to heat pans, Insulated Uds are provided which cover the plates when not used for cooking, retaining most of the heat in the plates but allowing some warmth to escape. One of the plates is closer to the heat source than the other and will heat up to a higher temperature suitabk for boiling water in a pan, the other heating up to a lower temperature suitable for simmering water in a pan. They are sometimes called the hotplate and simmer plate S for this reason.

Because it takes a long time to heat up the cookers are usually left on for extended periods so they arc ready to use at meal times. This style of cooking is very different to cooking with a sheet steel cooker, and many peopk fed that food cooked in a range cooker is preferable. A beneficial side effect of the heat stored in the cast iron of the ovens and heating plates is that a gentle background heat is emitted constantly which gives the room in which it is located a cosy warm feel.

In another arrangement, the top of the stove may be insulated from the stored heat and a conventional electric hob may be provided, perhaps using ceramic heating elements.

These have the advantage that they heat up quickly when required, but do not give the same impression as the conventional range cooker and do not provide the same useful levels of residual heat. Whilst convenient to use, some cooks find conventional electric hobs to lack character compared with the traditional cast iron range cooker hobs. and find they lack the same level of versatility and cosiness.

An object of the present invention is to provide an alternative hob assembly for a range cooker that provides the same, or a similar. cooling style as a conventional heat storage range cooker with cast iron hot plates, and which may be used with both heat storage and non-heat storage cookers.

According to a first aspect the invention provides a hob assembly for a range cooker comprising a base having a heating zone, a heating means associated with the heating zone comprising at kast one electric heating element, a thermally insulated lid which can be moved between a closed position in which it covers the heating zone and permits a controlled amount of heat from the heating zone to escape through the lid and an open position in which it is open to allow a pan to placed on the heating zone, and a control means for controfling the operation of the heating means when in use, Characterised in that during use of the hob assembly when the heating zone is switched on and the insulated lid is closed the control means is adapted to apply a current to the heating means that maintains the temperature at a predefined value suitable for cooking and in the event that the lid is subsequently opened the control means automatically causes more current to be applied to the heating means in order to attempt to maintain the temperature of the heating zone at a va'ue close to the predefined value, The assembly of the invention provides a heating zone which can be switched on permanently with the lid closed and which will hold thc temperature of thc zonc at a predefined cooking temperature iii the same way as a traditional heat storage Aga cooker, and upon opening the lid will automatically maintain the temperature of the heating zone close to the predetermined value by applying more current. By providing a highly insulated lid only a small amount of current is needed to maintain the predefined temperature when the hd is dosed, the amount of power consumed being dependent on the rate of heat loss through the lid, By close to the predefined temperature we mean it maintains a temperature that fluctuates around a temperature within, say, 10 degrees, or 20 degrees or 30 degrees.

The skilled person will understand that any control system trying to track a target will fluctuate depending on conditions. For example if a cold pan of water is placed on the heating zone the temperature will drop rapid'y until the current heating the dement brings it back up, and there may be some overshooting and undershooting of the desired temperature. Nevertheless. the invention attempts to maintain the desired temperature automaticafly, The heating means may comprise a first electric heating element that has a first power rating associated with the heating zone and a second electric heating element having a second power rating associated with the heating zone, the first and second heating elements being sekctively connected in parallel to an electrical supply through the contrd means, and a thermaHy insulated lid which can be moved between a dosed position in which it covers the heating zone and permits a controlled amount of heat from the heating zone to escape throlLgh the lid and an open position in which it is open to aflow a pan to placed on the heating zone, The heating zone may be raised above the slLrrounding base, or otherwise demarcated so that it is easy to identity the heating zone. For instance it may be flush with the surrounding base but marked out by being a different colour to the surrounding base or the same colour but marked by a co'oured outline. It may be a different material to S the surrounding base, It may typicafly be circu'ar, and may be heated uniformly or substantially uniformly by the first and/or second heating elements, Where it is circular it may have a diameter of between 20cm and 30cm, or up to 40cm.

The insulated lid may be fixed to the base or to a part of the range cooker adjacent the base. It may be fixed by a hinge. It may include a handle on the opposite side of the lid to the hinge by which it can be grabbed during opening and closing. The lid may be oversized relative to the heating zone so that the edge of the lid sits outside of the hotspot when it is closed, The edge of the lid may be provided with an insulated, heat resistant, seal, the seal sitting flush with the base or edge of the heating zone when it is closed. The seal may, for instance, comprise a length of insulated rope material.

The lid may indude a metal outer shell lined with insulating material.

The lid may be shaped so that when closed it defines an enclosed volume above the heating zone which is sealed by engagement of an edge part of the lid with a region of the hotplate that surrounds the heating zone. Alternatively, when closed the lid may contact the heating zone over the whok or substantially the whole of the heating zone, The lid when closed may permit heat to escape from the heating zone at substantially the same rate that heat energy is produced by the first heating ekment, Thus, the first heating element can be run continuously at its rated value (or some other predefined power level) with the lid closed and maintain a stable temperature of the heating zone.

Indeed it is preferred that enough heat escapes from the lid to allow items such as tea towels to be placed on the closed lid and dried or warmed through.

The lid and first heating dement may maintain a constant temperature when the heating element is running at its rated output, i,e. when connected directly to a voltage source and can freely draw current from the power supply. For example, where the first dement is rated at 200 watts and connected to a 230 volt power supply it will draw 200/240 Amps of current, The ratings set out herein after are defined in relation to a power supply of a nominal 230 volts, The first electric heating element may be rated at between 100 watts and 400 watts and the second may be rated at between 1000 watts and 4000 watts. Other ratings could be used. In one preferred arrangement the first heating dement comprises 200 watts or 400 watts, and the second element is rated at 2000 watts. It is preferred that the first heating clement has a low rating as this will be on constantly when in use, and the more insulation provided in the lid the lower the rating that can be ILsed for a given predefined temperature valiLe. The second element is preferably of a higher rating to allow rapid heating as the heating zone cools foflowing opening of the hd, The first element may comprise two sub-elements, for example two 200 watt sub-elements connected in parallel to give a 400 watt total rating and means for receiving a removable link which permits one or both of the sub-elements to be connected to a supply rail according to the overall rating required from the first heating element, one of the elements being inoperable when the link is removed. The link may, for instance, comprise a brass plate.

Each heating clement may comprise a resistive element which is located below an upper surfacc of the heating zonc, It may be embcddcd within a portion of the hob that that forms the upper surface of the heating zone. For example, each heating clement may comprise a generafly flat p'ate of ceramic or glass ceramic covering a coil of electrical resistive heating element.

The contro' means may include at least one temperature sensitive switch means which is connected in series bctwccn a part of the heating means and a power supply, the switch means being normally open when the heating zone is switched on and the lid is closed so that current does not flow through the switch means, but opening when the lid is opened to allow current to flow from the power supply to part of the heating means.

The switch means may comprise a temperature sensing means, such as a thermostat, the set point of the thermostat at which it starts to close being slightly lower than the predefined temperature value. Alternativ&y it may comprise a discrete switch, such as a transistor, that is opened and closed under the control of a discrete temperature sensor. This would allow the current to be modulated in a precise manner.

The control means may also include an on/off switch which may comprise a rotary knob, a button, a lever or a switch, or a touch sensitive pad or a non-contact switch such as a capacitive switch. The on/off switch may be operated to selectively switch S the heating zone on and off as required.

The hob assembly may be operable, upon operation of the on/off switch in at least two control modes: a first mode (OFF) in which no current is passed through any of the heating elements of the hotspot; and a second mode (ON) in which current is passed through one or both of the heating elements.

The user may select the first or second modes using the on/off switch, The bob assembly may be adapted when switched on and at a steady temperature to pass current through the first heating element but not the second heating element when the temperature is above a threshold temperature, and in the event that the temperature drops below the threshold is adapted to cause current to flow through the second heating element to provide increased heat output from the hot plate, the flow of current being regulated to control the temperature to a preset temperature. This preset temperature may be above the threshold at which the second heating element is switched on.

When first switched on, current may flow through both first and second elements to ensure rapid heating of the heating zone, or perhaps the current may only flow through the second heating element with the first element being switched once it is up to temperature to ensure it remains at the predefined temperature.

Thus, when above the threshold the switch means may connect the first heating element to the supply but not the second, and when below the threshold may selectively connect the second element to the supply. When the second element is connected the first element may remain constantly connected, or may be disconnected from the supply. Because the first element and lid are in thermal equilibrium at the set temperature the first element can be permanently on and does not require any modulation to maintain the predefined temperature value.

The assembly may be arranged such that the first element atone is sufficient to hold S the temperature above the threshoM when the insulated lid is dosed and the heating zone is switched on in the second mode, the rating of the first element being chosen so that the temperature drops below the threshold upon opening the lid. With the lid closcd thc first clcmcnt may hold thc hotspot at a temperature of around 250 dcgrccs Centigrade or 365 degrees Centigrade. The should aflow enough heat to escape when closed to prevent the first heating element from burning out if left on for an extended period, say for 24 hours. The rating of the first element, and the amount of power applied to it. should be tailored to the amount of heat loss pernutted by the lid, yet aflow the heating zone to reach the predetermined temperature va'ue at which it is ready for use in cooking. For the avoidance of doubt this temperature could be anywhere in the range of 150 degrees Centigradc to 400 degrees Centigrade or more.

The temperature sensor may comprise a thermostat which performs the combined rok of sensing temperature and selectively connecting the second heating element to the supply when the temperature drops to or below the threshold, the threshold corresponding to the changeover point of the thermostat.

The set point of the thermostat may correspond to a temperature that is just below that which is achieved at the hotspot by continuously passing an unmodulated current from the power supp'y through the first heating element with no current flowing through the second element while the lid is closed. The temperature at which the control means applies current to the second heating element may be no more than 20 degrees, or 10 degrees, or S degrees, below the predefined temperature value. Keeping it close to the equilibrium temperature achieved when the lid closed effectively means that the temperature when the lid is open is kept the same as that when dosed within a tolerance range of no more than 20 degrees, or S degrees.

By unmodulated we mean that the power supply comprises a continuous sinusoidal AC signal and is ab'e to allow the heating element to draw power at its rated value. The switch connecting the element to the power supply remains closed, and does not alternate between open and closed states as a function of temperature, The switch needs only move between open and closed position (or vice versa) when the heating zone is switched on or off, This means that the life of the switch will be pr&onged compared with a switch that is constantly cycling, such as a thermostatic switch or other temperature controfled switch. This aflows the heating zone to be eft on with the lid closed for extended periods of time, In contrast, the control circuit may modulate the current flowing through the second hcating clcmcnt whcn it is in usc to maintain thc tcmperaturc of thc hot sport at thc sct temperature when the lid is open. This modu'ation may comprise switching the current to the element on and off periodically using a pulse width modulation scheme, which will occur as the thermostat or other temperature controlled switch opens and closes, When current is flowing in the second heating element it may also flow in the first heating element, The elements may, in the second mode, be connected in parallel across the powcr supply, thc current flowing in both elements being modulated.

In an additional or alternative arrangement, the hotplate assembly may include a position sensor which senses the position of the insulated lid, This may be used to provide a signal causing the control circuit to apply current only to the first element if the lid is closed and to the first and/or second elements if the lid is opened. This may, for examp'e, mean that there is no need to wait for the temperature to drop on opening the lid before the second heating element is brought into use to bring the temperature back up. Heat can be applied the instant the lid is opened rather than waiting for a drop in temperature.

The control circuit may be further arranged to cut the power supply to the first heating element in the event that the temperature of the heating zone exceeds a maximum allowable temperature. This will ensure that the heating element does not burn out if there is insufficient heat loss through the closed hd, perhaps if the lid is covered by accident with a high'y insu'ated item, or if there is otherwise a fault in the electrical circuit that might cause overheating. The circuit may include The hob assembly may include a second heating zone, a secondary first electric heating denient having a fourth rating associated with the heating zone and a secondary second dectric heating element having a fifth rating associated with the heating zone, the fourth rating exceeding the third rating, and an additional insulated lid which can be moved between a closed position in which it covers the heated zone and a second position iii which it is open to allow a pan to p'aced on the heated zone during cooking.

S The first and second heating dements of the first and second heating zones may be identical. Where the first element comprises two sub-elements, the first hotspot may have both sub-elements connected together or one of the hotspots may have only one of the sub-elements connected, such that the ratings of the first elements of the two hotspots are different.

Each hotspot may have a respective temperature sensing means, and may be controlled by the switch means to allow independent control of the hotspots. The set temperature of each hotspot may be different, one being higher than the other.

Each heating zone may be covered by its own lid.

The two heating zones and respective lids may be located side by side along the hotplate.

Where there is a second heating zone, a second switch means may also be provided that is operaHe to contro' a heating circuit that in use selectivdy connects the first and second heating elements to an electrical supply.

The present invention provides a hot p'ate assembly for a range cooker which mimics the behaviour of the traditional insulated cast iron hotplate of a range cooker. When not in use the hotplates are covered and will provide a gentle heat from the cover, yet are ready to use instantly if required as they can be left heated with the lids closed. On opening the lid, additional energy is provided to stop the temperature from dropping rapidly.

According to a second aspect the invention provides a range style cooker comprising in combination a body including at least one oven cavity and a hotplate mounted to the body, the hotplate assembly being in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

The oven cavity may be electrically heated or heated indirectly using heat stored in a heat store. Because the hotplate does not require indirect heating from a heat store, the electrically heated cavity is preferred.

S The range style cooker may comprise a heat storage cooker comprising a kast one oven cavity formed by walls of high thermal mass, such as cast iron. By walls of high thermal mass we mean walls which are made of cast iron or similar and are relatively thick so that thcy rctain hcat for gradual release over an extended pcriod of time.

According to a third aspect the invention provides a heating element module for use in making a hotplatc assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the heating element module comprising a heating means and a support which carries the heating means and enabks the module to be secured to the underside of a base of the hotplate assembly.

The module may be secured to the underside of a g'ass plate forming the base of the hotplate assembly.

There will now bc described, by way of example only, one embodimcnt of a hotplate assembly according to thc prescnt invcntion fitted to a rangc stylc cooker to form a cooker in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure I is an overview of the key parts of an embodiment of a range cooker in accordance with the prescnt invention that includes a hob assembly showing two heating zones with closed lids; Figure 2 is a view from above and in front of the hob assembly with the lids of the heating zones opened; Figure 3 is a circuit diagram for the range cooker of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates the different operating modes of the hob control switch of Figure 3 for controlhng the hob; and

H

Figure 5 illustrates the different operating modes of the oven control switch of Figure A range cooker I for domestic use is shown in Figure I of the drawings. It comprises S a shefl comprising front, side, rear and base panels (although only the front is shown) bolted and screwed to a support frame (not shown), The front panel 2 is about 120cm wide in tins example, although it may be wider or narrower. and is located above a plinth 3. It can be styled in a variety of different manners depending on whether a tradition& or contemporary effect is required, and also can be provided in a range of different colours, It is provided with three openings which are covered by respective hinged insulated doors 4.5 and 6 Each door is provided with a handle (not shown) to enable the door to be opened and closed. Behind each door is an oven cavity (not shown), each one intended to be maintained at a different temperature.

The top panei 7 forms a hob, and is inset with two circular hotpiates defining respective heating zones S, 9. Each hot plate is covered by a hinged insulated lid 8a, 9a, not shown in Figure 1 but visible in the open position in Figure 2. Each lid is fixed to the top panel by a respective hinge 10, 11 and provided with a respective grab handle 12, 13, Figure 1 shows the lids in the lowered position, and Figure 3 shows the lids raised to expose the heating zones beneath the lids.

Each lid comprises a metal or enamel shell that is lined with a highly thermally insulating material such as (what is the lid lined with?). The edge of the lid is provided with a rope seal that contacts the top plate in a region surrounding the hotplate. When lowered, the lids 8a, 9a retain heat in the heating zones whilst allowing a controlled amount of heat to escape through the lid, and perhaps also between the seal and the top plate. As will be explained, when the hotplates are switched on the lids provide sufficient insulation for the heating zone to be heid at a constant predefined temperature when a constant leve' of power is supplied to the heating zone as will be described, The heat loss from the dosed lids shouM therefore be closely matched to the heat input of the heating zone to achieve the desired thermal equilibrium.

As shown in Figure 3 a first one of the heating zones S is provided with two heating elements each comprising resistive coils, a first heating element rated at 400 watts and a second heating element rated at 2000watts. The first heating element actually comprises two sub-elements I 4a. I 4b of 200 watts each that are connected in paraflel by a removable electrically conductive link 16. The second element comprises a single element 15 rated at the 2000 watts, although this again cou'd be made up from S multiple sub-elements. This first heating zone defines a Hotspot and the amount of insulation provided by the closed lid ensures the heating zone is held at a predefined temperature of 365 degrees Centigrade when the first element is running at its rated temperature and the second element is switched off.

The second heating zone 9 is also provided with three heating elements 17a, 17b and 18. each the same as those of the first heating zone, with one rated at 200 watts, one more at 200 watts and the other at 2000 watts. The second heating zone differs from the first in that no electrical link is provided (the link is removed during instaflation) so that the first element is made up of only one active 200 watt sub-element iSa with the other sub-element having no part in any heating. This allows an identical ILnit to be fitted for each of the heating zones during assembly with the two zones having different ratings. Using an identical lid to the first zone, the higher rating of the first element will hold the temperature of this heating zone at a lower temperature of 250 degrees with the lid closed and the first clement run at its rated power.

in each ease, the second heating dement is connected to the power supply through a respective thermostatic switch. The set point of the thermostat, by which we mean the temperature at which it changes from an open to a closed position, is chosen to be approx 20 degrees below the temperature of the heating zone. i.e. 240 degrees and 345 degrees respectively, the difference being considered to be no more than an acceptable tolerance, The arm containing the second heating element and thermostat is connected in parallel with the arm containing the first heating element.

The heating elements of the two heating zones 8.9 are connected by an electrical circuit through dectricai wires to a power cord, optionafly terminated with a plug, which can be connected to a domestic electrical power supply of 230 volts (for the UK and Europe). A control means comprising an on/off switch 16 and a pair of thermostats is provided in the electrical circuit.

Located behind a door 11 at the upper left front of the cooker is a user interface panel 19 with the two switches of the electrical circuit. One switch permits the mode of operation of the hob to be set, and the other permits the mode of operation of the ovens to be set. This panel can be seen in Figure I of the drawings.

The hob control switch can be placed in the following positions: Position 1: All hotplates off; Position 2: One hotplate on; Position 3: The other hotpate on; Position 4: Both hotplates on.

These positions are illustrated in Figure 4 which should be interpreted in combination with Figure 3, The switch may comprise a rotary switch and Figure 6 shows the actual angular position of the rotary switch for each mode.

\\Then a hotplate is switched off, the On/off switch is opened and isolates afl of the resistive heating dements of that hotpate from the supp'y voltage so that no current flows in the elements, When a hotplate is switched on with the insulated lid closed and starting from cold, initiafly both of the elements of that hotplate are connected to the supply voltage by the switch and the thermostat which will be closed as it is below its sct point temperature. Current then flows through the both of the first and second heating elements at their maximum rated power causing them to heat up the heating zone to a predetermined temperature. For the higher rated heating zone, both of the sub-elements of the associated first heating element are connected to the supply and so current flows through both clements. This means that the heating zone will be at a higher temperature than the other one when that is switched on, as only one sub-element of that other zone conducts current.

Once a predefined temperature value is nearly reached, the thermostat associated with the hcating zone opens and cuts off eurrcnt from flowing in the second heating element. Current continues to flow unmoduated through the first heating element. The temperature of the heating zone is then set by the rating of the first heating element and the insulating properties of the lid, The amount of insulation provided by the lid and the heat output of the elements is chosen to provide a known predefined temperature value of the two heating zones, the so called hotspot (the higher rated zone) and the simmerspot (the lower rated zone).

S These temperatures correspond to those achieved by a conventional heat storage range cooker in which heat is applied to the undcrside of a east iron hotplate from an energy store. The temperatures are as already stated 365 degrees centigrade and 250 degrees centigrade in this example. The hotplatcs can be left in this switched on state as long as desired, and a p'easant heat wifl be radiated from the insulated hds while the hotplates remain ready for instant use. If not needed for longer periods of time they can be switched off.

Upon opening the lid of a heating zone, the temperature will start to drop as the heating elements are no longer insulated by the lid. When it has dropped to the set point of the thermostat, the thermostat will start to close allowing current again to flow in the second heating element of the hotspot.

The set point of the thermocouple is selected so that it maintains the temperature of the hotspot at a level slightly below the temperature of the hotspot that is achieved with the lid closed and the hotspot switched on, in this example 20 degrecs Centigrade below the predefined temperature value. This ensures that the thermocouple does not cause any current to flow in the higher rated element with the lid closed and that the temperature only drops slightly when the lid is opened, cycling around the set point of the thermostat.

The use of the lower rated elements and the higher rated elements enables a constant "ready to use" heat level to bc achieved with the lid closed. This is achieved without the need to open and close switches repeatedly to provide a steady temperature by matching the heat output to the heat loss of the lid, Since it is envisaged that the hotspot may be eft in this constant on state for extended periods of time, this ensures that there is no switch that could wear out over time, as would be the case if a higher power element was used and has to be regulated when the lid is closed to prevent the temperature of the hot spot reaching an excessive level above that at which it is ready to be used to cook.

The use of the higher rated element allows additional heat to be applied when the lid is open, maintaining the temperature at a preset level. This aflows a lower power first element to be used with a better insulated lid whilst still raising the hotspot to the cooking temperature when the lid is closed. Of course, if too low a power first dement is used it may take too long to reach a ready to use temperature. An acceptable heat up time of less than 1 minute is considered ideal (is this time right?), Bccause it is of a higher rating it is well suited to achieving the rapid rise in temperature that may be needed after the lid is opened and, perhaps, a cold pan is placed on the hotspot.

Although not shown, it is envisaged that the hob switch and switch for the ovens could be controlled on a timer circuit, and may be programmable to set one or more times for turning the heating zones and ovens on or off For instance, it may be arranged to cause the switch to turn both heating zones off in the evening so they do not consume any significant electrical energy overnight, and then to switch them back on (if they were previously on) at a preset time the following morning. They may be controlled remotdy by connecting the controfler to a wide area network such as the internet.

Claims (17)

1. CLAIMS1 A hob assembly for a range cooker comprising a base having a heating zone, a heating means comprising at least one electric heating element, a thermafly insu'ated S lid which can be moved between a dosed position in which it covers the heating zone and permits a controlled amount of heat from the heating zone to escape through the lid and an open position in which it is open to allow a pan to placed on the heating zone and a control means for controlling the operation of the heating means when in use, Characterised in that dnring nse of the hob assembly when the heating zone is switched on and the insulated lid is closed the control means is adapted to apply a current to the heating means to maintain the temperature at a predefined value suitable for cooking and in the event that the hd is subsequently opened the control means automatically causes more current to be applied to the heating means in order to attempt to maintain the temperature of the heating zone close to the predefined value.
2. 2, A hob assemb'y according to daim I in which the control means includes at least one temperature sensitive switch means which is connected in series between a part of the heating means and a power supply, the switch means being normally open when the heating zone is switched on and the lid is closed so that current does not flow through the thermostat, but opening when the hd is opened to aflow current to flow from the power supply to part of the heating means.
3. 3, A hob assembly according to claim 2 in which the temperature sensitive switch means comprises a temperature sensing means, such as a thermostat, the set point of the thermostat at which it starts to close being slightly lower than the predefined temperature value.
4. 4, A hob assembly according to claim 2 or 3 in which the heating means comprises a first electric heating element having a first power rating associated with the heating zone and a second electric heating element having a second power rating associated with the heating zone. the first heating element being permanently connected to the power supp'y when the heating zone is switched on so that the current through the first element is not modu'ated and the second heating element being selectively connected to the power supply by the switch means.
5. 5. A hob assembly according to claim 4 in which the output of the first heating element when running at its rated power output is balanced with the insulating property of the lid such that with the lid closed the thermal equilibrium temperature at the surface of the heating zone under the lid is substantially equal to the predefined temperature.
6. 6. A hob assembly according to claim 4 or 5 in which the first electric heating element is rated at between 100 and 300watts.
7. 7. A hob assembly according to claim 4, 5 or 6 in which the second heating element has a higher rating than the first heating element.
8. 8. A hob assembly according to claim 7 in which the second heating element is rated at between 500 and 3000 watts.
9. 9. A hob assembly according to one of claims 4 to 7 in which the first heating clement additionally comprises two sub-elements and means for receiving a removable link which permits one or both of the sub-elements to be connected in parallel to a supply rail according to the overall rating required from the first heating element.
10. 10. A hob assembly according to any one of claims 4 to 9 in which each heating element comprises a resistive element which is located below the surface of the heating zone.
11. 11. A hob assembly according to any preceding claim which further comprises a second heating zone, a second heating means associated with second heating zone comprising at least one electric heating element, a thermally insulated lid associated with the second heating zone which can be moved between a closed position in which it covers the second heating zone and permits a controlled amount of heat from the second heating zone to escape through the second lid and an open position in which it is open to allow a pan to placed on the second heating zone, the control means being adapted to control the operation of the second heating means independent of the first heating means, Characterised in that during use of the hob assembly when the second heating zone is switched on and the insu'ated lid is closed the control means is adapted to apply a current to the heating means that raises the temperature to a predefined value suitable for cooking and in the event that the hd is subsequently opened the control means S automaticafly causes more current to be applied to the heating means in order to maintain the temperature of the heating zone as the predefined value.
12. 12. A hob assembly according to claim 11 in which the heating elements of tile first heating zone and second heating zone are substantiafly identicaL
13. 13. A range style cooker comprising in combination a body including at least one oven cavity and a hotpiate assembly mounted to the body, the hotpiate assembly being in accordance with any preceding daim,
14. 14. A range style cooked according to claim 13 in which the oven cavity is directly heated or heated indirectly using heat stored in a heat store.
15. 15. A heating element module for use in making a hotplate assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the heating element module comprising a heating means and a support which carries the heating means and enables the module to be secured to the underside of a base of the hotpate assembly.
16. 16. A heating eiement module according to claim 15 in which the heating means comprises a first electric heating element having a first power rating associated with the heating zone and a second electric heating element having a second power rating associated with the heating zone, and in which the first heating element comprises two sub-elements and means for receiving a removable link which permits one or both of the sub-elements to be connected together in parallel.
17. 17. A hotplate assembly for a range cooker, a range styk cooker or a heating element module substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.