Switch for a cooking appliance
A switch for operating a heating element of a cooking appliance includes a first contact electrically connected with the heating element, a second contact electrically connected with a power source. A bimetal strip is configured to electrically connect and disconnect the first and second contacts. The switch further includes a rotatable cam member having a cam surface for operative engagement with a cam follower. The cam surface has a profile dimension that is at least partially variable about the rotational axis of the cam member and is configured to cause displacement of the cam follower as a function of its rotational orientation to thereby adjust an operating temperature of the heating element. The cam surface is configured such that the operating temperature can be adjusted up to but not beyond a predetermined maximum temperature via rotation of the cam member. Circuits incorporating such a switch also are disclosed.
1. A cooking appliance comprising:
a heating element;
a first switch assembly electrically coupled to the heating element and configured to selectively operate the heating element at a first operating temperature; and
a second switch assembly electrically coupled to the heating element and configured to selectively operate the heating element at a second operating temperature that is greater than the first operating temperature,
wherein the cooking appliance further includes:
a timer configured to disengage the second switch assembly after the second switch assembly has been engaged for a predetermined amount of time, or
a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence or absence of a user within an area proximal to the appliance, wherein when the second switch assembly is engaged, the proximity sensor is configured to disengage the second switch assembly based on the detected presence or absence of the user.
2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the first switch assembly is adjustable such that the first operating temperature can be adjusted up to but not beyond a predetermined maximum temperature.
3. The cooking appliance according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined maximum temperature is less than or equal to about 400° C.
4. The cooking appliance according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined maximum temperature is less than a maximum-operable-temperature of the heating element.
5. The cooking appliance according to claim 4 , wherein the second operating temperature is a maximum-operable-temperature of the heating element.
6. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the first switch assembly comprises a first set of contacts and the second switch assembly comprises a second set of contacts, wherein the first set of contacts and the second set of contacts are electrically connected in parallel between a power source and the heating element.
7. The cooking appliance according to claim 1 , wherein:
when the first switch assembly is engaged and the second switch assembly is disengaged, cycled power is delivered to the heating element; and
when the second switch assembly is engaged, non-cycled power is delivered to the heating element.
8. The cooking appliance according to claim 7 , wherein the cooking appliance comprises the timer.
9. The cooking appliance according to claim 7 , wherein the cooking appliance comprises the proximity sensor.
10. A cooking appliance comprising:
a heating element;
a first switch assembly electrically coupled to the heating element and configured to selectively operate the heating element at a first operating temperature; and
a second switch assembly electrically coupled to the heating element and configured to selectively operate the heating element at a second operating temperature that is greater than the first operating temperature,
wherein at least one of the first switch assembly or second switch assembly includes:
a first contact and a second contact;
a bimetal strip configured to electrically connect and disconnect the first and second contacts; and
a cam member rotatable about a rotational axis and comprising a cam surface for operative engagement with a cam follower;
wherein the cam surface has a profile dimension that varies about the rotational axis such that rotation of the cam member can cause displacement of the cam follower to thereby adjust an operating temperature of the heating element up to but not beyond a predetermined maximum temperature.
11. The cooking appliance according to claim 10 , wherein the cam surface extends circumferentially about the rotational axis.
12. The cooking appliance according to claim 11 , wherein the profile dimension is a height of the cam surface from a base plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis.
13. The cooking appliance according to claim 12 , wherein the cam surface comprises a first flat surface portion and a second flat surface portion that is parallel with and axially spaced from the first flat surface portion.
14. The cooking appliance according to claim 13 , wherein the cam surface comprises a ramped surface portion that connects the first flat surface portion and the second flat surface portion.
15. The cooking appliance according to claim 13 , wherein the cam surface is configured such that when the cam follower engages the first flat surface portion, the first and second contacts are disconnected and when the cam follower engages the second flat surface portion, the operating temperature of the heating element is adjusted to the predetermined maximum temperature.
16. The cooking appliance according to claim 10 , wherein the predetermined maximum temperature is less than or equal to about 400° C.
17. The cooking appliance according to claim 10 , wherein the predetermined maximum temperature is less than a maximum-operable-temperature of the heating element.