An infrared heating surface

Claim 2

A heating unit comprising: a. means forming a range-type surface from a material which is relatively transparent to infrared radiation; b. a plurality of elongated tubes positioned closely adjacent said surface substantially along a plane parallel to the plane of said surface and adapted to emit infrared radiation, each of said tubes including a high temperature graphite electrical resistance element and a hermetically sealed borosilicate glass envelope relatively transparent to infrared radiation enclosing said resistance element; c. reflector means closely adjacent said resistance element and said surface on the side of said resistance element opposite said surface for directing radiation from said resistance element toward said surface; and d. means for directing a relatively cool gas to flow along said surface forming means and about at least a portion of said envelope in heat conductive relation thereto to maintain said surface and at least said portion of said envelope at a relatively cool temperature during emission of said radiation.

Claim 3

A heating unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for directing said relatively cool gas comprises: means defining a flow channel about said envelope, said flow channel being defined in part by said surface forming means; and blower means in communication with said flow channel for generating said flow of relatively cool gas.

Claim 4

A heating unit according to claim 1 wherein said surface comprises a cooking surface for supporting food and food utensils, said cooking surface being on the side of said surface forming means opposite said elongated tubes.

Claim 5

A heating unit according to claim 3 wherein said cooking surface defines a plurality of cooking zones having a plurality of said elongated tubes positioned closely adjacent each zone.

Claim 6

A heating unit comprising: a. means forming a range-type cooking surface having a plurality of cooking zones for supporting food and food utensils, said zones being formed from material which is relatively transparent to infrared radiation; b. a plurality of elongated tubes adapted to emit infrared radiation positioned closely adjacent each of said cooking zones along the side of said surface forming means opposite said cooking surface and substantially along a plane parallel to the plane of said cooking surface, each of said tubes including a high tempErature electrical resistance element and a hermetically sealed borosilicate glass envelope relatively transparent to infrared radiation enclosing said resistance element, said resistance element being capable of producing radiation for heating material adjacent said cooking surface, to a temperature level sufficiently high to excessively heat at least a portion of said envelope; c. reflector means closely adjacent said resistance element and said cooking surface on the side of said resistance element opposite said cooking surface for directing radiation from said resistance element toward said cooking surface; and d. means for directing relatively cool gas about said portion of said envelope in heat conductive relation thereto during emission by said resistance element of sufficient radiation to excessively heat said envelope.

Claim 7

A heating unit comprising: a. means forming a range-type cooking surface having a plurality of cooking zones for supporting food and food utensils, said zones being formed from material which is relatively transparent to infrared radiation; b. a plurality of elongated tubes adapted to emit infrared radiation positioned closely adjacent each of said cooking zones along the side of said surface forming means opposite said cooking surface and substantially along a plane parallel to the plane of said cooking surface, each of said tubes including a high tempErature electrical resistance element and a hermetically sealed borosilicate glass envelope relatively transparent to infrared radiation enclosing said resistance element, said resistance element being capable of producing radiation for heating material adjacent said cooking surface, to a temperature level sufficiently high to excessively heat at least a portion of said envelope; c. reflector means closely adjacent said resistance element and said cooking surface on the side of said resistance element opposite said cooking surface for directing radiation from said resistance element toward said cooking surface; and d. means for directing relatively cool gas about said portion of said envelope in heat conductive relation thereto during emission by said resistance element of sufficient radiation to excessively heat said envelope.

Claim 8

A heating unit according to claim 5 wherein said elongated tubes each comprise a graphite resistance element.

Claim 9

A heating unit according to claim 6 wherein said graphite resistance element comprises graphite rope.

Claim 10

A heating unit according to claim 5 wherein said envelope encloses an inert environment for said resistance element.

Claim 11

A unit for cooking foods comprising: a. means forming a range-type surface for supporting food and food utensils, said surface defining a plurality of cooking zones relatively transparent to infrared radiation; b. a plurality of elongated tubes for emitting infrared radiation positioned closely adjacent each of said zones along the side of said surface forming means opposite the side upon which food and utensils are supportable, substantially along a plane parallel to the plane of said surface, each of said tubes including a high temperature electrical resistance element and a hermetically sealed borosilicate glass envelope transparent to infrared radiation enclosing said element, said resistance elements being capable of producing infrared radiation sufficient to establish a temperature level at said zones for cooking food material, said infrared radiation being sufficient to excessively heat said envelope; c. reflector means closely adjacent said resistance elements and said surface on the side of said resistance elements opposite said surface for directing radiation from said resistance elements toward said surface; d. means forming a flow channel about said envelopes, said flow channel being defined in part by a portion of said surface forming means; and e. means for directing a relatively cool gas through said channel in heat conductive relation to said envelopes and along at least said portion of said surface forming means for removing heat from said envelopes and said portion of said surface forming means during emission by said resistance element of sufficient radiation to cook food material supported at said cooking zone.

Claim 12

A unit for cooking foods comprising: a. means forming a range-type surface for supporting food and food utensils, said surface defining a plurality of cooking zones relatively transparent to infrared radiation; b. a plurality of elongated tubes for emitting infrared radiation positioned closely adjacent each of said zones along the side of said surface forming means opposite the side upon which food and utensils are supportable, substantially along a plane parallel to the plane of said surface, each of said tubes including a high temperature electrical resistance element and a hermetically sealed borosilicate glass envelope transparent to infrared radiation enclosing said element, said resistance elements being capable of producing infrared radiation sufficient to establish a temperature level at said zones for cooking food material, said infrared radiation being sufficient to excessively heat said envelope; c. reflector means closely adjacent said resistance elements and said surface on the side of said resistance elements opposite said surface for directing radiation from said resistance elements toward said surface; d. means forming a flow channel about said envelopes, said flow channel being defined in part by a portion of said surface forming means; and e. means for directing a relatively cool gas through said channel in heat conductive relation to said envelopes and along at least said portion of said surface forming means for removing heat from said envelopes and said portion of said surface forming means during emission by said resistance element of sufficient radiation to cook food material supported at said cooking zone.

Claim 13

A cooking unit according to claim 9 wherein a plurality of said elongated tubes is positioned adjacent each of said cooking zones.

Claim 14

A cooking unit according to claim 9 wherein each of said elongated tubes comprises a graphite electrical resistance element.

Claim 15

A cooking unit according to claim 11 wherein said graphite electrical resistance element comprises graphite rope.

Claim 16

A heating unit comprising: a. means forming a surface from material which is relatively transparent to infrared radiation; b. elongated source means positioned closely adjacent said surface substantially along a plane parallel to the plane of said surface and adapted to emit infrared radiation, said source means including a high temperature electrical resistance element of graphite rope and a hermetically sealed borosilicate glass envelope relatively transparent to infrared radiation enclosing said resistance element, said resistance element being capable of producing radiation for heating material adjacent the side of said surface forming means opposite said source means to a temperature level sufficiently high to excessively heat at least a portion Of said envelope; c. reflector means closely adjacent said resistance element and said surface on the side of said resistance element opposite said surface for directing radiation from said resistance element toward said surface; and d. means for directing relatively cool gas about said portion of said envelope in heat conductive relation thereto during emission by said resistance element of sufficient radiation to excessively heat said envelope.

Claim 17

A heating unit comprising: a. means forming a surface from material which is relatively transparent to infrared radiation; b. elongated source means positioned closely adjacent said surface substantially along a plane parallel to the plane of said surface and adapted to emit infrared radiation, said source means including a high temperature electrical resistance element of graphite rope and a hermetically sealed borosilicate glass envelope relatively transparent to infrared radiation enclosing said resistance element, said resistance element being capable of producing radiation for heating material adjacent the side of said surface forming means opposite said source means to a temperature level sufficiently high to excessively heat at least a portion Of said envelope; c. reflector means closely adjacent said resistance element and said surface on the side of said resistance element opposite said surface for directing radiation from said resistance element toward said surface; and d. means for directing relatively cool gas about said portion of said envelope in heat conductive relation thereto during emission by said resistance element of sufficient radiation to excessively heat said envelope.

Claim 18

A unit for cooking foods comprising: a. means forming a surface for supporting food and food utensils, said surface defining a plurality of cooking zones relatively transparent to infrared radiation; b. a plurality of elongated tubes for emitting infrared radiation positioned closely adjacent said zones along the side of said surface forming means opposite the side upon which food and utensils are supportable, substantially along a plane parallel to the plane of said surface, each of said tubes including a high temperature electrical resistance element of graphite rope and a hermetically sealed borosilicate glass envelope transparent to infrared radiation enclosing said element, said resistance elements being capable of producing infrared radiation sufficient to establish a temperature level at said zones for cooking food material, said infrared radiation being sufficient to excessively heat said envelopes; c. reflector means closely adjacent said resistance elements and said surface on the side of said resistance elements opposite said surface for directing radiation from said resistance elements toward said surface; d. means forming a flow channel about said envelopes, said flow channel being defined in part by a portion of said surface forming means; and e. means for directing a relatively cool gas through said channel in heat conductive relation to said envelopes and along at least said operation of said surface forming means for removing heat from said envelopes and said portion of said surface forming means during emission by said resistance element of sufficient radiation to cook food material supported at said cooking zone.

Claim 19

A unit for cooking foods comprising: a. means forming a surface for supporting food and food utensils, said surface defining a plurality of cooking zones relatively transparent to infrared radiation; b. a plurality of elongated tubes for emitting infrared radiation positioned closely adjacent said zones along the side of said surface forming means opposite the side upon which food and utensils are supportable, substantially along a plane parallel to the plane of said surface, each of said tubes including a high temperature electrical resistance element of graphite rope and a hermetically sealed borosilicate glass envelope transparent to infrared radiation enclosing said element, said resistance elements being capable of producing infrared radiation sufficient to establish a temperature level at said zones for cooking food material, said infrared radiation being sufficient to excessively heat said envelopes; c. reflector means closely adjacent said resistance elements and said surface on the side of said resistance elements opposite said surface for directing radiation from said resistance elements toward said surface; d. means forming a flow channel about said envelopes, said flow channel being defined in part by a portion of said surface forming means; and e. means for directing a relatively cool gas through said channel in heat conductive relation to said envelopes and along at least said operation of said surface forming means for removing heat from said envelopes and said portion of said surface forming means during emission by said resistance element of sufficient radiation to cook food material supported at said cooking zone.