Apparatus for controlling and adjusting heat output during the heating phase of a steam pressure cooking vessel

Claim 1

An apparatus having a control circuit means for controlling and adjusting heat output of a heating element during the heating phase of a cooking vessel prior to reaching a preset cooking temperature greater than the evaporation temperature of water, said apparatus comprising: temperature sensor means (TF) for continuously measuring an actual temperature (Ti) at said cooking vessel; first switch circuit means (S1) in communication with said temperature sensor means (TF) for measuring a first temperature increase (ΔTx) during consecutive preset time intervals (to); first measurement circuit means (M1) in communication with said temperature sensor means (TF) for monitoring said actual temperature measurements (Ti) and signalling a first comparison circuit means (V1) when a first trigger temperature (Tu) less than the evaporation temperature of water has been reached; first comparison circuit means (V1) in communication with said first switch circuit means (S1) and said first measurement circuit means (M1) for comparing each said first temperature increase (ΔTx) to a first preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTv); first timer means (Zp) in communication with said first comparison circuit means (V1) and said control circuit means (HSt) for deactivating said control circuit means (HSt) for a first shutdown cycle (tp) after said first trigger temperature (Tu) has been reached; and when said first temperature increase (ΔTx) exceeds said first preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTv); second measurement circuit means (M2) in communication with said temperature sensor means (TF) for monitoring said actual temperature measurements (Ti) and activating a second timer means (Zg) when a second trigger temperature (Ts) corresponding approximately to the evaporation temperature of water has been reached; second timer means (Zg) in communication with said second measurement circuit means (M2) and said control circuit means (HSt) for deactivating said control circuit means (HSt) for a second shutdown cycle (tg) after said second trigger temperature has been reached; second switch circuit means (S2) in communication with said temperature sensor means (TF) and said second measurement circuit means (M2) for measuring a second temperature increase (ΔTy) during consecutive preset time intervals (to) after said second trigger temperature (Ts) has been reached; second comparison circuit means (V2) in communication with said second switch circuit means (S2) for receiving said second temperature increase measurements (ΔTy) and comparing each said second temperature increase (ΔTy) to a second preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTm); signalling said control circuit (HSt) when said second temperature increase (ΔTy) is less than said second preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTm); and signalling a program memory means (PSP) when said second temperature increase (ΔTy) is equal to and greater than said second preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTm); third switch circuit means (S3) in communication with said temperature sensor means (TF) for measuring a temperature differential (Ta) between said preset cooking temperature and said actual temperature measurement (Ti) during consecutive said preset time intervals (to) after said second trigger temperature has been reached; program memory means (PSP) in communication with said second comparison circuit means (V2) and said third switch circuit means (S3) for deriving a heat output time period (s) when said second temperature increase measurement (ΔTy) exceeds said second preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTm), said heat output time period (s) being inversely proportional to said second temperature increase measurement (ΔTy) and proportional to said temperature differential (Ta); said control circuit means (HSt) in communication with said program memory means (PSP), said first and second timer means (Zp), (Zg), respectively, said second comparison circuit means (V2), and said heating element, for maintaining said heating element at a first output until said first trigger temperature (Tu) is reached; deactivating said heating element for a first shutdown cycle after said first trigger temperature (Tu) is reached; maintaining said heating element at a second output after said first shutdown cycle and until said second trigger temperature is reached; deactivating said heating element for a second shutdown cycle after said second trigger temperature (Ts) is reached; regulating said heating element according to said program memory means (PSP) in response to said heat output time period (s); and maintaining said heating element at a third output after said second shutdown cycle until said preset cooking temperature is reached.

Claim 2

An apparatus having a control circuit means for controlling and adjusting heat output of a heating element during the heating phase of a cooking vessel prior to reaching a preset cooking temperature greater than the evaporation temperature of water, said apparatus comprising: temperature sensor means (TF) for continuously measuring an actual temperature (Ti) at said cooking vessel; first switch circuit means (S1) in communication with said temperature sensor means (TF) for measuring a first temperature increase (ΔTx) during consecutive preset time intervals (to); first measurement circuit means (M1) in communication with said temperature sensor means (TF) for monitoring said actual temperature measurements (Ti) and signalling a first comparison circuit means (V1) when a first trigger temperature (Tu) less than the evaporation temperature of water has been reached; first comparison circuit means (V1) in communication with said first switch circuit means (S1) and said first measurement circuit means (M1) for comparing each said first temperature increase (ΔTx) to a first preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTv); first timer means (Zp) in communication with said first comparison circuit means (V1) and said control circuit means (HSt) for deactivating said control circuit means (HSt) for a first shutdown cycle (tp) after said first trigger temperature (Tu) has been reached; and when said first temperature increase (ΔTx) exceeds said first preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTv); second measurement circuit means (M2) in communication with said temperature sensor means (TF) for monitoring said actual temperature measurements (Ti) and activating a second timer means (Zg) when a second trigger temperature (Ts) corresponding approximately to the evaporation temperature of water has been reached; second timer means (Zg) in communication with said second measurement circuit means (M2) and said control circuit means (HSt) for deactivating said control circuit means (HSt) for a second shutdown cycle (tg) after said second trigger temperature has been reached; second switch circuit means (S2) in communication with said temperature sensor means (TF) and said second measurement circuit means (M2) for measuring a second temperature increase (ΔTy) during consecutive preset time intervals (to) after said second trigger temperature (Ts) has been reached; second comparison circuit means (V2) in communication with said second switch circuit means (S2) for receiving said second temperature increase measurements (ΔTy) and comparing each said second temperature increase (ΔTy) to a second preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTm); signalling said control circuit (HSt) when said second temperature increase (ΔTy) is less than said second preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTm); and signalling a program memory means (PSP) when said second temperature increase (ΔTy) is equal to and greater than said second preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTm); third switch circuit means (S3) in communication with said temperature sensor means (TF) for measuring a temperature differential (Ta) between said preset cooking temperature and said actual temperature measurement (Ti) during consecutive said preset time intervals (to) after said second trigger temperature has been reached; program memory means (PSP) in communication with said second comparison circuit means (V2) and said third switch circuit means (S3) for deriving a heat output time period (s) when said second temperature increase measurement (ΔTy) exceeds said second preset minimum temperature increase (ΔTm), said heat output time period (s) being inversely proportional to said second temperature increase measurement (ΔTy) and proportional to said temperature differential (Ta); said control circuit means (HSt) in communication with said program memory means (PSP), said first and second timer means (Zp), (Zg), respectively, said second comparison circuit means (V2), and said heating element, for maintaining said heating element at a first output until said first trigger temperature (Tu) is reached; deactivating said heating element for a first shutdown cycle after said first trigger temperature (Tu) is reached; maintaining said heating element at a second output after said first shutdown cycle and until said second trigger temperature is reached; deactivating said heating element for a second shutdown cycle after said second trigger temperature (Ts) is reached; regulating said heating element according to said program memory means (PSP) in response to said heat output time period (s); and maintaining said heating element at a third output after said second shutdown cycle until said preset cooking temperature is reached.