Submerged resistive electric fryer comprising cooled container bottom

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electric fryer (1) comprising: a container (4) arranged for accommodating a frying bath; an immersed electric heating device; and a water tank (30); the container (4) has a container bottom (11), the submerged electric heating device has a heating element (21) extending above the container bottom (11), the water tank (30) is arranged around and below the container bottom (11), the water tank (30) has a filling opening (31) arranged laterally with respect to the container (4), and the filling opening (31) is arranged higher than the container bottom (11). According to the invention, the container (4) is removably mounted in a housing (2), the housing (2) having a filling opening (31), and the water tank (30) is arranged in the housing (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of so-called oil bath electric fryers, in which food is fried by immersion in a frying bath, which may be oil or a melted fatty substance.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to immersion resistance electric fryers. These appliances comprise an electric heating device arranged in a container for directly heating a frying bath contained in said container. Background Art

[0003] In appliances of the aforementioned type, the frying bath has a cold zone extending below the electric heating device. The food present in the frying bath loses moisture, which evaporates but also, under certain circumstances, falls to the bottom of the container in the form of drops. These drops may gather and form a large volume of water. If this volume of water suddenly evaporates during the temperature rise of the cold zone, the conversion of liquid water into steam can cause the frying bath to splash out of the container.

[0004] Document WO2018 / 061307 discloses an immersion resistance fryer of the forced water cooling type, which uses water to cool a container containing a frying bath. The lower part of the container is surrounded by a water tank. However, the water tank also surrounds the side walls of the container over the entire height of the container, and a partition wall is interposed between the water tank and the side walls of the container.

[0005] These settings are not suitable for making a deep fryer for home use or for semi-professional use. Summary of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to propose an immersion resistance electric fryer in which the oil splashing phenomenon can be reduced and which has a low-cost construction.

[0007] These objects are achieved by an electric fryer comprising a container arranged to accommodate a frying bath, an immersion electric heating device configured to be immersed in the frying bath accommodated in the container, the container having a container bottom and an upper edge, the immersion electric heating device having a heating element extending above the container bottom, and a water tank arranged around and below the container bottom, the water tank having a filling opening arranged laterally relative to the container, the filling opening being arranged higher than the container bottom, because the container is removably mounted in a housing, the housing having the filling opening, and the water tank being arranged in the housing. Therefore, the container is independent of the water tank. This arrangement allows to simplify the construction of the electric fryer.

[0008] The filling opening can be closer to the heating element than to the upper edge. The function of the water tank is to cool the lower part of the container. Since the container is free relative to the water tank, it is not necessary to raise the water tank very high. Arranging the filling opening closer to the heating element than to the upper edge of the container allows limiting the height of the water tank and simplifying the construction of the electric fryer.

[0009] The heating element can be closer to the bottom of the container than the filling opening. In other words, the filling opening can be arranged higher than the heating element. This arrangement allows the water tank to be raised higher than the heating element extending above the bottom of the container.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the housing has a housing bottom assembled with the side wall to form a water tank, the housing bottom extending at a distance from the container bottom. Thus, the water tank is formed by the housing bottom and the lower part of the side wall.

[0011] The filling opening can then be arranged in at least one of the side walls.

[0012] The housing can have sides connected by corners.The filling opening can then be arranged in one of the corners.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the housing can have a bowl forming the water tank and a side wall provided with the filling opening together with the bowl, the bowl being arranged around the container bottom and extending at a distance from the container bottom.

[0014] The bowl can then have a free edge which partially delimits the filling opening.

[0015] The side wall may extend inside the bowl.

[0016] To facilitate filling of the water tank, the housing may have a viewing window including a lower water level indicator and an upper water level indicator.

[0017] The housing may include feet.

[0018] The feet can be arranged under the water tank. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Through research Figures 1 to 6 The invention will be better understood by the two embodiments and their variants shown in the drawings, which are in no way limiting.

[0020] Figure 1 A perspective view showing a first embodiment of an electric fryer according to the present invention is shown.

[0021] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A partially cutaway perspective view of an electric fryer is shown,

[0022] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 and Figure 2 The cutaway perspective view of the electric fryer shown,

[0023] Figure 4 Shows Figures 1 to 3The fryer is shown in a cutaway perspective view along another orientation.

[0024] Figure 5 Shows Figures 1 to 4 A front view of the deep fryer shown,

[0025] Figure 6 A perspective view showing a second embodiment of an electric fryer according to the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Figures 1 to 5 An electric fryer 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 6 An electric fryer 1 ' according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0027] The electric fryer 1, 1' comprises a housing 2, 2' having side walls 26, 26' defining an upper opening. The housing 2, 2' comprises feet 8, 8' arranged to rest on a work surface.

[0028] The electric fryer 1, 1' comprises a container 4, 4', which is arranged to contain a frying bath. The container 4, 4' has a container bottom 11, 11' and an upper edge 12, 12'. The container 4, 4' is removably mounted in the housing 2, 2'. The container 4, 4' is carried by the side wall 26, 26'. More specifically, the upper edge 12, 12' of the container 4, 4' rests on the upper edge of the side wall 26, 26'.

[0029] The electric fryer 1 may include a lid 5, 5', which is arranged to cover the container 4, 4'. If desired, the lid 5, 5' may be configured to be used in the use configuration. Alternatively, the lid 5, 5' may be configured to be used only in the storage configuration.

[0030] The electric fryer 1 , 1 ′ may include a basket 6 , 6 ′ configured to receive food immersed in a frying bath contained in the container 4 , 4 ′.

[0031] The electric fryer 1 , 1 ′ may comprise a filtering screen 7 , 7 ′ which is arranged in the container 4 , 4 ′ below the basket 6 , 6 ′ and is configured to filter the frying bath when the frying bath is lifted from the container 4 , 4 ′.

[0032] The electric fryer 1, 1' comprises an immersion electric heating device 20, 20', which is configured to be immersed in a frying bath contained in a container 4, 4', such as Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 6As shown. The immersion electric heating device 20, 20' extends inside the container 4, 4'. The immersion electric heating device 20, 20' has a heating component 21, 21' and a control box 22, on which the heating component 21, 21' is mounted. The heating component 21, 21' extends above the container bottom 11, 11'. The immersion electric heating device 20, 20' can be associated with a temperature control device and a thermal safety device not shown in the figure. The temperature control device is, for example, a thermostat. The thermal safety device is, for example, a thermal fuse or a resettable thermal limiter.

[0033] In order to cool the container bottom 11, 11', the electric fryer 1, 1' comprises a water tank 30, 30', which is arranged in the housing 2, 2'. The water tank 30, 30' is arranged around and below the container bottom 11, 11'.

[0034] The water tank 30, 30' has a filling opening 31, 31' arranged laterally relative to the container 4, 4'. The filling opening 31, 31' is arranged higher than the container bottom 11, 11'. Figure 4 and Figure 6 It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the filling openings 31 , 31 ′ are closer to the heating elements 21 , 21 ′ than to the upper edges 12 , 12 ′.

[0035] exist Figures 1 to 5 In the first embodiment shown, the housing 2 has a housing bottom 25, which is assembled with a side wall 26 to form a water tank 30. The housing bottom 25 extends at a distance from the container bottom 11.

[0036] More specifically, in Figures 1 to 5 In the embodiment shown, the housing 2 has sides 27 connected by corners 28. Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 It can be clearly seen that the filling opening 31 is arranged in one of the corners 28. Figure 4 It can be clearly seen in FIG. 1 that the heating element 21 , 21 ′ is closer to the container bottom 11 , 11 ′ than the filling opening 31 , 31 ′. The support foot 8 is arranged below the water tank 30 , more specifically below the housing bottom 25 .

[0037] exist Figure 6 In the second embodiment shown, the housing 2' has a bowl 35' forming a water tank 30'. The bowl 35' is arranged around the container bottom 11'. The bowl 35' extends at a distance from the container bottom 11'. The side wall 26' of the housing 2' is provided with a filling opening 31' together with the bowl 35'. However, the side wall 26' does not necessarily form part of the water tank 30'.

[0038] More specifically, in Figure 6In the embodiment shown, the bowl 35' has a free edge 36' which partially delimits the filling opening 31'. The side wall 26' extends inside the bowl 35'. Thus, the upper part of the bowl 35' surrounds the lower part of the side wall 26'. The foot 8' is arranged below the water tank 30', more specifically below the bowl 35'.

[0039] from Figure 1 and Figure 5 As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2 , the housing 2 has a viewing window 40 , which includes a lower water level indicator 41 and an upper water level indicator 42 . The viewing window 40 is arranged on one of the side walls 26 .

[0040] Figures 1 to 5 or Figure 6 The electric fryers 1, 1' shown in the figures are used as follows.

[0041] The user places the container 4, 4' in the housing 2, 2' and places the immersion electric heating device 20, 20' in a suitable position so that the heating element 21, 21' extends above the container bottom 11, 11'. The user then adds a fatty substance to the container 4, 4' to form a frying bath. The user then pours water into the water tank 30, 30' by pouring water through the filling opening 31, 31' until the water reaches the container bottom 11, 11'. Preferably, the user controls the water level using the viewing window 40. The user can then start the electric fryer 1, 1'. The bottom 11, 11' of the container is soaked by the water present in the water tank 30, 30', thereby allowing the temperature of the cooking bath to be limited to below 100°C in the lower part of the container 4, 4' located below the heating element 21, 21' of the immersion electric heating device 20, 20', which allows limiting the risk of explosion when the temperature of the cooking bath rises and contains watery residues at the bottom of the container 4, 4', for example when the cooking bath is not filtered or replaced after the cooking operation and remains in the container 4, 4'. The filling opening 31, 31' of the water tank 30, 30' arranged in the housing 2, 2' allows distinguishing between the operation of filling the water tank 30, 30' with water and the operation of filling the container 4, 4' with greasy substances, thus contributing to improving the safety of the electric fryer 1, 1'. The container 4, 4' can be removed from the housing 2, 2' to perform the cleaning operation that the user is accustomed to.

[0042] Alternatively, the filling opening 31 can be arranged in at least one side wall 26 .

[0043] Alternatively, the filling opening 31 may be located closer to the container bottom 11 than the heating element 21 .

[0044] Alternatively, the filling opening 31 ′ may be arranged higher than the heating member 21 ′.

[0045] Alternatively, the housing 2' may have a viewing window 40 arranged on the bowl 35'.

[0046] Various modifications and / or improvements that will be apparent to a person skilled in the art may be made to the embodiments of the invention described in this specification without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electric fryer (1, 1'), comprising: A container (4, 4') configured to contain a frying bath; An immersion electric heating device (20, 20') configured to be immersed in a frying bath contained in the container (4, 4'); and a water tank (30, 30'), the container (4, 4') having a container bottom (11, 11') and an upper edge (12, 12'), the immersion electric heating device (20, 20') having a heating element (21, 21') extending above the container bottom (11, 11'), and the water tank (31, 31') being arranged on the container bottom (11, 1 1'), the water tank (30, 30') has a filling opening (31, 31') arranged laterally relative to the container (4, 4'), the filling opening (31, 31') is arranged to be higher than the bottom (11, 11') of the container, characterized in that the container (4, 4') is removably installed in the housing (2, 2'), the housing has the filling opening (31, 31'), and the water tank (30, 30') is arranged in the housing (2, 2').

2. The electric fryer (1, 1') according to claim 1, characterized in that: The filling opening (31, 31') is closer to the heating element (21, 21') than to the upper edge (12, 12').

3. The electric fryer (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that: The heating element (21, 21') is closer to the container bottom (11, 11') than the filling opening (31, 31').

4. The electric fryer (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The housing (2) has a housing bottom (25), which is assembled with the side wall (26) to form the water tank (30), and the housing bottom (25) extends at a distance from the container bottom (11).

5. The electric fryer (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The filling opening (31) is arranged in at least one of the side walls (26).

6. The electric fryer (1) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that: The housing (2) has side faces (27) connected by corners (28), and the filling opening (31) is arranged in one of the corners (28).

7. The electric fryer (1') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The housing (2') has a bowl (35') forming the water tank (30') and a side wall (26') which together with the bowl (35') provides the filling opening (31'), the bowl (35') being arranged around the container bottom (11') and extending at a distance from the container bottom (11').

8. The electric fryer (1') according to claim 7, characterized in that: The bowl (35') has a free edge (36') which partially delimits the filling opening (31').

9. The electric fryer (1') according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that: The side wall (26') extends inside the bowl (35').

10. The electric fryer (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The housing (2, 2') has an observation window (40), which includes a lower water level indicator (41) and an upper water level indicator (42).

11. The electric fryer (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The housing (2, 2') comprises feet (8, 8').

12. The electric fryer (1, 1') according to claim 11, characterized in that: The supporting feet (8, 8') are arranged below the water tank (30, 30').

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