Electric fryer with submerged resistor comprising a cooled vessel bottom

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric fryer (1) comprising a vessel (4) for holding a frying bath, an electric immersion heating device, and a water tank (30), wherein the vessel (4) has a vessel bottom (11), the electric immersion heating device has a heating portion (21) extending above the vessel bottom (11), the water tank (30) is arranged around and below the vessel bottom (11), the water tank (30) has a filling opening (31) arranged laterally with respect to the vessel (4), and the filling opening (31) is arranged higher than the vessel bottom (11). According to the invention, the vessel (4) is removably mounted in an outer housing (2), the outer housing (2) has the filling opening (31) and the water tank (30) is arranged in the outer housing (2).

Description

ELECTRIC FRYER WITH IMMERSION HEATING ELEMENT WITH A COOLED TANK BOTTOM

[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 devices comprise an electric heating device arranged in a tank to directly heat the frying bath contained in said tank.

[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 water which is evaporated but which can also, under certain conditions, fall back to the bottom of the tank in the form of droplets. These droplets can collect and form a significant volume of water. If, during a rise in the temperature of the cold zone, this volume of water is suddenly vaporized, the transformation of liquid water into water vapor can generate projections of the frying bath outside the tank.

[0004] WO2018 / 061307 discloses a forced water-cooled type immersion heater fryer, using water to cool a tank containing a frying bath. The lower part of the tank is surrounded by a water reservoir. However, this water reservoir also surrounds the side walls of the tank over their entire height, and an insulating wall is interposed between the water reservoir and the side walls of the tank.

[0005] These provisions are not very suitable for the construction of an electric fryer intended for domestic or semi-professional use.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an electric fryer with immersed resistance, in which the phenomena of oil projection can be reduced, and which has an economical construction.

[0007] These objects are achieved with an electric fryer comprising a tank intended to contain a frying bath, an electric immersion heater configured to be immersed in the frying bath contained in the tank, and a water reservoir, the tank having a tank bottom and an upper rim, the electric immersion heater having a heating portion extending above the tank bottom, the water reservoir being arranged around and below the tank bottom, the water reservoir having a filling opening arranged laterally relative to the tank, the filling opening being arranged higher than the tank bottom, because the tank is removably mounted in an outer housing, the outer housing has the filling opening, and the water reservoir is arranged in the outer housing. Thus the tank is independent of the water reservoir.This arrangement makes it possible to simplify the construction of the electric fryer.

[0008] The filling opening can be closer to the heating part than to the upper rim. The water tank is intended to cool the lower part of the tank. Since the tank is free from the water tank, it is not necessary for the water tank to rise significantly. Placing the filling opening closer to the heating part than to the upper rim of the tank limits the height of the water tank and simplifies the construction of the electric fryer.

[0009] The heating part may be closer to the bottom of the tank than the filling opening. In other words, the filling opening may be arranged higher than the heating part. This arrangement results in a water tank rising higher than the heating part extending above the bottom of the tank.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the outer housing has a housing bottom assembled with side walls to form the water tank, the housing bottom extending away from the tank bottom. Thus the water tank is formed by the housing bottom and the lower portion of the side walls.

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

[0012] The outer casing may have side faces connected by corners. The filling opening may then be provided in one of the corners.

[0013] According to another embodiment, the outer housing may have a bowl forming the water reservoir and side walls providing the filling opening with the bowl, the bowl being arranged around the bottom of the bowl, the bowl extending away from the bottom of the tank.

[0014] The bowl may then have a free edge partially delimiting the filling opening.

[0015] The side walls may extend into the bowl.

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

[0017] The outer casing may have feet.

[0018] The feet can be arranged under the water tank.

[0019] The invention will be better understood by studying two exemplary embodiments, taken without any limitation being implied, illustrated in the attached figures 1 to 6, and variants.

[0020] The figure represents a perspective view of a first example of an electric fryer according to the invention,

[0021] It represents a perspective and partial sectional view of the electric fryer illustrated in the,

[0022] The figure represents a perspective and sectional view of the electric fryer illustrated in figures 1 and 2,

[0023] The figure represents a perspective and sectional view of the electric fryer illustrated in figures 1 to 3, according to another orientation,

[0024] The figure represents an elevational view of the electric fryer illustrated in figures 1 to 4,

[0025] The figure represents a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of an electric fryer according to the invention.

[0026] Figures 1 to 5 illustrate an electric fryer 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. 1 illustrates an electric fryer 1' according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0027] The electric fryer 1, 1' comprises an outer casing 2; 2' having side walls 26; 26' delimiting an upper opening. The outer casing 2; 2' comprises feet 8; 8' intended to rest on a work surface.

[0028] The electric fryer 1, 1' comprises a tank 4; 4' intended to contain a frying bath. The tank 4; 4' has a tank bottom 11; 11' and an upper rim 12; 12'. The tank 4; 4' is removably mounted in the outer casing 2; 2'. The tank 4; 4' is carried by the side walls 26; 26'. More particularly, the upper rim 12; 12' of the tank 4; 4' rests on the upper edge of the side walls 26; 26'.

[0029] The electric fryer 1 may include a cover 5; 5' intended to cover the tank 4; 4'. If desired, the cover 5; 5' may be configured to be used in the use configuration. Alternatively, the cover 5; 5' may be configured to be used only in the storage configuration.

[0030] The electric fryer 1; 1' may comprise a basket 6; 6' configured to contain food immersed in a frying bath contained in the tank 4; 4'.

[0031] The electric fryer 1; 1' may comprise a filter screen 7; 7' arranged in the tank 4; 4' under the basket 6; 6' and configured to filter the frying bath when it is lifted out of the tank 4; 4'.

[0032] The electric fryer 1; 1' comprises an electric immersion heater 20; 20' configured to be immersed in the frying bath contained in the tank 4; 4', as seen in Figures 3, 4 and 6. The electric immersion heater 20; 20' extends inside the tank 4; 4'. The electric immersion heater 20; 20' has a heating part 21; 21' and a control box 22 on which the heating part 21; 21' is mounted. The heating part 21; 21' extends above the tank bottom 11; 11'. The electric immersion heater 20; 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] To cool the tank bottom 11; 11', the electric fryer 1; 1' comprises a water tank 30; 30' arranged in the outer casing 2; 2'. The water tank 30; 30' is arranged around and below the tank bottom 11; 11'.

[0034] The water tank 30; 30' has a filling opening 31; 31' arranged laterally with respect to the tank 4; 4'. The filling opening 31; 31' is arranged higher than the tank bottom 11; 11'. As seen in Figures 4 and 6, the filling opening 31; 31' is closer to the heating part 21; 21' than to the upper rim 12; 12'.

[0035] In the first embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the outer housing 2 has a housing bottom 25 assembled with the side walls 26 to form the water tank 30. The housing bottom 25 extends at a distance from the tank bottom 11.

[0036] More particularly in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the outer casing 2 has side faces 27 connected by angles 28. As clearly visible in Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, the filling opening 31 is arranged in one of the angles 28. As clearly visible in the, the heating part 21; 21' is closer to the tank bottom 11; 11' than the filling opening 31; 31'. The feet 8 are arranged under the water tank 30, more particularly under the casing bottom 25.

[0037] In the second embodiment illustrated in the, the outer housing 2' has a bowl 35' forming the water tank 30'. The bowl 35' is arranged around the tank bottom 11'. The bowl 35' extends at a distance from the tank bottom 11'. The side walls 26' of the outer housing 2' provide the filling opening 31' with the bowl 35'. However, the side walls 26' do not necessarily form a part of the water tank 30'.

[0038] More particularly in the embodiment illustrated in the, the bowl 35' has a free edge 36' partially delimiting the filling opening 31'. The side walls 26' extend inside the bowl 35'. Thus the upper part of the bowl 35' surrounds the lower part of the side walls 26'. The feet 8' are arranged under the water tank 30', more particularly under the bowl 35'.

[0039] As clearly visible in Figures 1 and 5, the outer housing 2 has a viewing window 40 comprising a lower level indicator 41 and an upper level indicator 42. The viewing window 40 is arranged on one of the side walls 26.

[0040] The electric fryer 1; 1' illustrated in figures 1 to 5 or on the is used in the following manner.

[0041] The user places the tank 4; 4' in the outer casing 2; 2' and sets up the electric immersion heater 20; 20' so that the heating portion 21; 21' extends above the tank bottom 11; 11'. The user then adds fat to the tank 4; 4' so as to form a frying bath. The user then pours water into the water reservoir 30; 30' by pouring it through the filling opening 31; 31' until it reaches the tank bottom 11; 11'. Preferably the user checks the water level using the viewing window 40. The user can then operate the electric fryer 1; 1'.The tank bottom 11; 11' bathed by the water present in the water tank 30; 30' makes it possible to limit the temperature of the cooking bath below 100°C in the lower part of the tank 4; 4' under the heating part 21; 21' of the electric immersion heating device 20; 20', which makes it possible to limit the risks of explosions when the temperature of the cooking bath rises and the latter contains aqueous residues at the bottom of the tank 4; 4', for example when the cooking bath has not been filtered or renewed after a cooking operation and has remained in the tank 4; 4'. The filling opening 31; 31' of the water tank 30; 30' provided in the outer casing 2; 2' makes it possible to differentiate the operation of filling the water tank 30; 30' with water from the tank filling operation 4; 4' with fat, which helps to increase the safety of the electric fryer 1; 1'.The tank 4; 4' can be removed from the outer casing 2; 2' to carry out the cleaning operations to which the user is accustomed.

[0042] Alternatively, the filling opening 31 could be provided in at least one of the side walls 26.

[0043] Alternatively, the filling opening 31 could be closer to the bottom of the tank 11 than the heating part 21.

[0044] Alternatively, the filling opening 31' could be arranged higher than the heating part 21'.

[0045] Alternatively, the outer casing 2' could have a viewing window 40 arranged on the bowl 35'.

[0046] Various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

An electric fryer (1; 1') comprising a tank (4; 4') intended to contain a frying bath, an electric immersion heater (20; 20') configured to be immersed in the frying bath contained in the tank (4; 4'), and a water reservoir (30; 30'), the tank (4; 4') having a tank bottom (11; 11') and an upper rim (12; 12'), the electric immersion heater (20; 20') having a heating portion (21; 21') extending above the tank bottom (11; 11'), the water reservoir (30; 30') being arranged around and below the tank bottom (11; 11'), the water reservoir (30; 30') having a filling opening (31; 31') arranged laterally relative to the tank (4; 4'), the filling opening (31; 31') being arranged higher than the tank bottom (11; 11'), characterized in that the tank (4; 4') is removably mounted in an outer housing (2; 2'), in that the outer housing (2;2') has the filling opening (31; 31'), and in that the water tank (30; 30') is arranged in the outer housing (2; 2').; Electric fryer (1; 1') according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling opening (31; 31') is closer to the heating part (21; 21') than to the upper rim (12; 12'). Electric fryer (1; 1') according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the heating part (21; 21') is closer to the bottom of the tank (11; 11') than the filling opening (31; 31'). Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer housing (2) has a housing bottom (25) assembled with side walls (26) to form the water tank (30), the housing bottom (25) extending at a distance from the tank bottom (11). Electric fryer (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the filling opening (31) is provided in at least one of the side walls (26). Electric fryer (1) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the outer casing (2) has side faces (27) connected by angles (28) and in that the filling opening (31) is formed in one of the angles (28). Electric fryer (1') according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer housing (2') has a bowl (35') forming the water tank (30') and side walls (26') forming the filling opening (31') with the bowl (35'), the bowl (35') being arranged around the bottom of the bowl (11'), the bowl (35') extending at a distance from the bottom of the bowl (11'). Electric fryer (1') according to claim 7, characterized in that the bowl (35') has a free edge (36') partially delimiting the filling opening (31'). Electric fryer (1') according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the side walls (26') extend inside the bowl (35'). Electric fryer (1; 1') according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the outer housing (2; 2') has a viewing window (40) comprising a lower level indicator (41) and an upper level indicator (42). Electric fryer (1; 1') according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the outer casing (2; 2') comprises feet (8; 8'). Electric fryer (1; 1') according to claim 11, characterized in that the feet (8; 8') are arranged under the water tank (30; 30').

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