US4554440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic circuit control for electrical resistance cooking apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-08-08
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Granted: 1985-11-19
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Expires: 2003-08-08
Abstract
Abstract In an electric resistance cooker for quickly cooking food, such as ground meat, contactably interposed between electrodes, a food doneness control circuit is connected with the supply circuit. The control circuit senses the rate of change of the root mean square of current through the food as a function of its cooked condition and stops current to the electrodes in response to a predetermined rate of change of the root mean square value of the current through the food.
Inventors
- 👤 Maurice W. Lee, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:24
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/20; G05D23/24; G05D23/2401; H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/0004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A food cooking control for an electric resistance cooker in which the magnitude of the RMS value of electrode current generated from an AC source passing through food interposed between electrodes increases until the food is substantially cooked, the improvement comprising: an electric supply circuit; thyristor means arranged in series in the electric supply circuit for uninterruptedly supplying continuous cycle current to said electrodes while the food is cooking, said thyristor means including a gate control element having an electric gate voltage supply circuit; switch means in said gate voltage supply circuit for selectively closing and opening the gate voltage circuit and respectively rendering said thyristor means conductive and nonconductive; current detection means including a differentiating amplifier/comparator circuit connected with the electric supply circuit through a current transformer for sensing the rate of change of the RMS value of current through the food as a function of its cooked condition; and, electric switch operator means including an electric circuit interposed between said current detection means and said switch means for opening the gate of the voltage supply circuit in response to a predetermined rate of change of the RMS value of the current through the food indicating the end of the cooking process and a selected cooking doneness of of the food.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A food cooking control for an electric resistance cooker in which the magnitude of the RMS value of electrode current generated from an AC source passing through food interposed between electrodes increases until the food is substantially cooked, the improvement comprising: an electric supply circuit; thyristor means arranged in series in the electric supply circuit for uninterruptedly supplying continuous cycle current to said electrodes while the food is cooking, said thyristor means including a gate control element having an electric gate voltage supply circuit; switch means in said gate voltage supply circuit for selectively closing and opening the gate voltage circuit and respectively rendering said thyristor means conductive and nonconductive; current detection means including a differentiating amplifier/comparator circuit connected with the electric supply circuit through a current transformer for sensing the rate of change of the RMS value of current through the food as a function of its cooked condition; and, electric switch operator means including an electric circuit interposed between said current detection means and said switch means for opening the gate of the voltage supply circuit in response to a predetermined rate of change of the RMS value of the current through the food indicating the end of the cooking process and a selected cooking doneness of of the food.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination according to claim 1 in which said switch means includes: a relay having a coil; and, a starting switch for initially energizing said relay.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination according to claim 2 in which said switch operator means circuit includes: a first transistor connected with one end of the relay coil; and, an amplifier having its output connected with the base of said first transistor and forming a sensed current comparator biasing said first transistor nonconductive in response to said predetermined current rate of change.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination according to claim 3 in which said amplifier is characterized by a negative volt input pin and further including: adjustable resistance means connecting a predetermined voltage potential to said input pin for a rare to "well done" setting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The combination according to claim 4 and further including: timer circuit means including a timer connected with said starting switch and said switch operator means circuit for energizing said relay when said resistance means is set at a negative potential; and, a second transistor connecting the output of said amplifier and the base of said first transistor to ground, said timer being connected with the base of said second transistor whereby said timer biases said second transistor conductive in response to closing said starting switch.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
83 words
The method of controlling power input during electrical resistance cooking of food, comprising: interposing food to be cooked between spaced-apart electrodes; uninterruptedly applying continuous cycle electric potential across the electrodes; continually sensing the current passing through the food; and, discontinuing the electrode current in response to a predetermined rate of change of the RMS value of the current as a function of the cooked condition of the food indicating the end of the cooking process and a selected cooking doneness of the food.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
83 words
The method of controlling power input during electrical resistance cooking of food, comprising: interposing food to be cooked between spaced-apart electrodes; uninterruptedly applying continuous cycle electric potential across the electrodes; continually sensing the current passing through the food; and, discontinuing the electrode current in response to a predetermined rate of change of the RMS value of the current as a function of the cooked condition of the food indicating the end of the cooking process and a selected cooking doneness of the food.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
122 words
The method of cooking food in an electrical resistance cooker in which the magnitude of electrode current generated from an AC source passing through food between electrodes increases until the food is substantially cooked, comprising: selecting a desired done condition of the food to be cooked; uninterruptedly applying the continuous cycle AC source to the electrodes; continually sensing the rate of change of the RMS value of the electrode current passing through the food; and, discontinuing the electrode current in response to a sensed predetermined rate of change in the RMS value of the electrode current magnitude as a function of the cooked condition of the food indicating the end of the cooking process and a selected cooking doneness of the food.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
122 words
The method of cooking food in an electrical resistance cooker in which the magnitude of electrode current generated from an AC source passing through food between electrodes increases until the food is substantially cooked, comprising: selecting a desired done condition of the food to be cooked; uninterruptedly applying the continuous cycle AC source to the electrodes; continually sensing the rate of change of the RMS value of the electrode current passing through the food; and, discontinuing the electrode current in response to a sensed predetermined rate of change in the RMS value of the electrode current magnitude as a function of the cooked condition of the food indicating the end of the cooking process and a selected cooking doneness of the food.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for electrically cooking food as disposed between first and second electrodes, comprising the steps of: uninterruptedly passing continuous cycle current flow from an alternating current electric source between said first and second electrodes through said food; and, allowing said current to flow continuously without interruption through the food until ceasing current flow when the rate of change in the RMS value of the current per time is equal to a selected algebraic value that yields a selected cooking doneness of the food.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
84 words
A method for electrically cooking food as disposed between first and second electrodes, comprising the steps of: uninterruptedly passing continuous cycle current flow from an alternating current electric source between said first and second electrodes through said food; and, allowing said current to flow continuously without interruption through the food until ceasing current flow when the rate of change in the RMS value of the current per time is equal to a selected algebraic value that yields a selected cooking doneness of the food.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said selected algebraic value is zero.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said selected algebraic value is a negative value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said selected algebraic value is a positive value.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-11-18 | 1989-05-20 | 1989-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-18 | 1993-05-20 | 1993-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-18 | 1997-05-20 | 1997-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |