Electric fryer having an immersed resistor with a water collector

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric fryer (1) comprising a vessel (4) intended to contain a frying bath and an electric immersion heating device (20) configured to be immersed in the frying bath contained in the vessel (4), the vessel (4) having a bottom (11) that has a sloping portion (13) leading to a depression (14) forming a water collection zone, the sloping portion (13) having a slope interruption zone (15) that extends between an upper bottom portion (16) and the depression (14), the electric immersion heating device (20) having heating wires (21) that extend above the sloping portion (13). According to the invention, the heating wires (21) extend above the upper bottom portion (16) without reaching the depression (14).

Description

ELECTRIC FRYER WITH IMMERSEABLE HEATING ELEMENT AND WATER COLLECTOR

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electric fryers known as oil bath fryers, in which food is fried by immersion in a frying bath. The frying bath can be oil, but also melted fat.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to electric fryers with immersed resistance. These appliances comprise an electric heating device arranged in a tank to directly heat the frying bath contained in said tank. The food present in the frying bath loses water. The use of foods rich in water, and / or washed and undried food, contributes to increasing this phenomenon. This water can fall to the bottom of the tank in the form of droplets. Depending on the configuration of the tank, these droplets can gather at the bottom of the tank to form a significant volume of water. Because the electric heating device is immersed in the frying bath, the temperature of the frying bath will be lower under the electric heating device than above the electric heating device.However, if the temperature rises and this volume of water is vaporized suddenly, this volume of vaporized water then creates a sudden expansion in the frying bath, which can generate significant projections outside the tank receiving said frying bath.

[0003] Document DE19907072 discloses an immersed resistance fryer comprising a tank whose bottom has an inclined portion pouring into a collection zone in which the temperature is lower than 100°C. However, the immersed resistance extends above the collection zone. To avoid explosion phenomena generated by water coming from the food, this document proposes to produce a tank having inclined portions around a central collection zone. A disadvantage of the proposed embodiment is that the immersed resistance extends above the collection zone, which requires a significant tank height to reduce the temperature in this zone.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to propose a deep fryer with immersed electric resistance, which makes it possible to avoid explosion phenomena due to the vaporization of the water contained in the tank, with a construction which remains economical.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to propose a deep fryer with immersed electric resistance, which makes it possible to avoid explosion phenomena due to the vaporization of the water contained in the tank, with a construction which remains compact.

[0006] These objects are achieved with an electric fryer comprising a tank intended to contain a frying bath, and an electric immersion heater configured to be immersed in the frying bath contained in the tank, the tank having a bottom having an inclined portion pouring into a depression forming a water collection zone, the inclined portion having a slope break zone extending between an upper bottom portion and the depression, the electric immersion heater having heating strands extending above the inclined portion, because the heating strands extend above the upper bottom portion without reaching the depression. Indeed, as soon as the heating strands are too close to the water collection zone, the water collected in the water collection zone will quickly rise in temperature and the risks of explosion remain.

[0007] The heating strands can extend above the upper bottom portion without reaching the slope break zone. This arrangement further reduces the risk of explosion.

[0008] The upper bottom part can form the majority of the bottom surface. This arrangement also increases the surface area over which the heating strands extend.

[0009] The upper bottom part may have a minimum inclination greater than or equal to 5°. This arrangement facilitates the flow of water from the food towards the depression forming a water collection area.

[0010] The upper bottom part can have an average inclination of less than or equal to 10°. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the height of the tank.

[0011] The heating strands can extend towards the depression. This arrangement facilitates the design of the electric immersion heater.

[0012] The heating strands can be inclined downwards towards the depression. This arrangement facilitates the vaporization of part of the water, the remainder being collected in the depression forming the water collection zone.

[0013] The inclination of the heating strands can correspond to the inclination of the upper bottom part. This arrangement allows for a constant distance between the heating strands and the upper bottom part.

[0014] The tank can have an elongated geometry in one direction. This arrangement simplifies the design of the electric fryer.

[0015] The inclined part may have an inclination in the said direction. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the height of the tank.

[0016] The vacuum can be arranged at one end of the tank opposite the electric immersion heater. This arrangement reduces the height of the tank.

[0017] The tank can have a rectangular geometry with two short sides and two long sides. This arrangement simplifies the design of the electric fryer.

[0018] The slope break zone can connect the two long sides.

[0019] The two short sides can be of different heights.

[0020] The inclined part can extend from the short side with the smallest height.

[0021] The depression can be delimited by the short side with the greatest height.

[0022] The depression can extend to both long sides.

[0023] A basket can be arranged in the tank above the electric immersion heater.

[0024] The basket may have a basket bottom inclined towards the depression. This arrangement increases the basket capacity.

[0025] The inclination of the basket bottom can correspond to the inclination of the heating strands. This arrangement makes it possible to optimize the capacity of the basket.

[0026] The invention will be better understood by studying an exemplary embodiment, taken without any limitation being implied, illustrated in the appended figures 1 to 4, in which:

[0027] The figure represents an elevation and cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an electric fryer according to the invention,

[0028] The figure represents a perspective view from below of the electric fryer shown in the figure,

[0029] The figure represents a side perspective view of the tank and the electrical subassembly of the electric fryer shown in figures 1 and 2,

[0030] Shows a top perspective view of the electric fryer shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the lid and basket removed.

[0031] The electric fryer 1 shown in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a tank 4 intended to contain a frying bath, and an electric immersion heating device 20 configured to be immersed in the frying bath contained in the tank 4.

[0032] The electric immersion heater 20 has heating strands 21 extending above a bottom 11 of the tank 4. The electric immersion heater 20 is connected to a control box 3. When the electric immersion heater 20 extends inside the tank 4, the control box 3 extends outside the tank 4. The electric immersion heater 20 may be associated with a temperature control device and a thermal safety device, not shown in the figures. 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] The electric fryer 1 may comprise an outer casing 2 housing the tank 4. As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, the outer casing 2 forms a skirt having four sides. The outer casing 2 comprises casing feet, best seen in the.

[0034] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the tank 4 is removably mounted in the outer casing 2. According to a usual embodiment, the tank 4 has an outer rim configured to rest on an upper edge of the outer casing 2, as better seen in figures 1 and 2. Alternatively, the tank 4 could in particular be fixed to the outer casing 2, or the electric fryer 1 could in particular be devoid of an outer casing 2.

[0035] The electric fryer 1 may include a lid 5 intended to cover the tank 4. If desired, the lid 5 may be configured to be used in the use configuration. Alternatively, the lid 5 may be configured to be used only in the storage configuration.

[0036] The electric fryer 1 may comprise a basket 6 configured to contain food immersed in a frying bath contained in the tank 4. As shown in the, the basket 6 is arranged in the tank 4 above the electric immersion heating device 20.

[0037] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the tank 4 has several side walls 12. Lower connecting walls 17 can connect the bottom 11 to each of the side walls 12. Side connecting walls 18 can connect two adjacent side walls 12. Corner connecting walls 19 can connect two lower connecting walls 17 to the adjacent side connecting wall 18.

[0038] More particularly in the embodiment shown in the figures, the tank 4 has a rectangular geometry with two small sides 10a, 10b and two large sides 10c, 10d.

[0039] As best seen in the, the bottom 11 of the tank 4 has an inclined portion 13 pouring into a depression 14 forming a water collection zone. The inclined portion 13 concerns the bottom 11 of the tank 4 and not the lower connecting walls 17 between the bottom 11 and the side walls 12 of the tank 4.

[0040] More particularly, the inclined portion 13 has a slope break zone 15 extending between an upper bottom portion 16 and the depression 14. In other words, the slope break zone 15 forms a step between the upper bottom portion 16 and the depression 14.

[0041] The inclination of the upper bottom part is not necessarily uniform.

[0042] Preferably, the upper bottom portion 16 has a minimum inclination greater than or equal to 5°, to promote the flow of water towards the depression 14.

[0043] Preferably, the upper bottom part 16 has an average inclination less than or equal to 10°, which makes it possible to limit the height requirement of the tank 4.

[0044] The slope break zone 15 has an average inclination greater than the average inclination of the upper bottom portion 16. The slope break zone 15 may have a maximum slope greater than 45°, and preferably greater than 60°.

[0045] The heating strands 21 of the electric immersion heating device 20 extend above the inclined part 13, more particularly above the upper bottom part 16. Indeed, as clearly visible in Figures 1 and 4, the heating strands 21 do not reach the depression 14. In other words, the heating strands 21 do not extend above the depression 14.

[0046] Preferably, the heating strands 21 do not reach the slope break zone 15. In other words, the heating strands 21 do not extend above the slope break zone 15.

[0047] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the heating strands 21 extend in the direction of the depression 14. In other words, the heating strands 21 extend in the direction of the slope of the upper bottom part 16.

[0048] More particularly in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the heating strands 21 are inclined downwards towards the depression 14. The inclination of the heating strands 21 corresponds to the inclination of the upper bottom part 16.

[0049] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the tank 4 has an elongated geometry in one direction. The inclined part 13 has an inclination in said direction.

[0050] As clearly visible in the, the upper bottom portion 16 forms the major part of the surface of the bottom 11. The slope break zone 15 connects the two large sides 10c, 10d. The depression 14 is arranged at one end of the tank 4 opposite the electric immersion heater 20. Due to the presence of the depression 14, the two small sides 10a, 10b are of different heights. The inclined portion 13 extends from the small side 10a having the smaller height. The depression 14 is delimited by the small side 10b having the greater height. The depression 14 extends to the two large sides 10c, 10d.

[0051] The electric fryer 1 illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 is used in the following manner.

[0052] The user places the tank 4 in the outer casing 2, places the electric immersion heater 20 in the tank 4, adds a frying bath to the tank 4, and starts the electric fryer 1 to heat the electric immersion heater 20. When the temperature of the frying bath has reached a satisfactory temperature value, the user can immerse food in the frying bath, preferably by placing said food in the basket 6. The water contained in the food is gradually vaporized under the effect of the temperature of the frying bath. However, if water falls to the bottom of the tank 4, this water will be collected by the bottom 11 of the tank 4, in particular by the inclined part 13 or by the depression 14. The inclined part 13 will conduct the collected water towards the depression 14 unless this water is vaporized by the heating strands 21.The upper bottom portion 16 discharging towards the slope break zone 15 allows the evacuation of water from the area covered by the heating strands. The slope break zone 15 promotes the rapid evacuation of water towards the depression 14. The depression 14 allows the water and cooking residues to be collected. The depth of the depression 14 is configured so that the temperature of the lower part of the frying bath remains well below the vaporization temperature of the water during operation of the electric fryer 1, to avoid the phenomena of vaporization of a large quantity of water likely to generate explosions.

[0053] As a variant, the tank 4 does not necessarily have several side walls 12. The tank 4 could in particular have a circular geometry, or an elliptical geometry.

[0054] As a variant, the basket 6 does not necessarily have a base parallel to the support plane of the electric fryer 1. The basket 6 may in particular have a base inclined in the direction of the depression 14. According to a preferred embodiment, the inclination of the base of the basket may correspond to the inclination of the heating strands 21.

[0055] Various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art may be made to the embodiment of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims.

Claims

An electric fryer (1) comprising a tank (4) intended to contain a frying bath, and an electric immersion heater (20) configured to be immersed in the frying bath contained in the tank (4), the tank (4) having a bottom (11) having an inclined portion (13) pouring into a depression (14) forming a water collection zone, the inclined portion (13) having a slope break zone (15) extending between an upper bottom portion (16) and the depression (14), the electric immersion heater (20) having heating strands (21) extending above the inclined portion (13), characterized in that the heating strands (21) extend above the upper bottom portion (16) without reaching the depression (14). Electric fryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating strands (21) extend above the upper bottom part (16) without reaching the slope break zone (15). Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper bottom part (16) forms the major part of the surface of the bottom (11), Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper bottom part (16) has a minimum inclination greater than or equal to 5°. Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the upper bottom part (16) has an average inclination less than or equal to 10°. Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the heating strands (21) extend in the direction of the depression (14). Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the heating strands (21) are inclined downwards in the direction of the depression (14). Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inclination of the heating strands (21) corresponds to the inclination of the upper bottom part (16). Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the tank (4) has an elongated geometry in one direction. Electric fryer (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the inclined part (13) has an inclination in said direction. Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the depression (14) is arranged at one end of the tank (4) opposite the electric immersion heating device (20). Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the tank (4) has a rectangular geometry with two small sides (10a, 10b) and two large sides (10c, 10d). Electric fryer (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the slope break zone (15) connects the two large sides (10c, 10d). Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the two small sides (10a, 10b) are of different heights. Electric fryer (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the inclined part (13) extends from the small side (10a) having the smallest height. Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the depression (14) is delimited by the small side (10b) having the greatest height. Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the depression (14) extends to the two large sides (10c, 10d). Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that a basket (6) is arranged in the tank (4) above the electric immersion heating device (20). Electric fryer (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that the basket (6) has a basket bottom inclined in the direction of the depression (14). Electric fryer (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the inclination of the basket bottom corresponds to the inclination of the heating strands (21).

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