An electric resistance heating coil assembly includes a spiral wound sheathed heating element having a first coil section and a second coil section. A bimetallic thermostat is connected in series between the first and second coil sections of the spiral wound sheathed heating element. The bimetallic thermostat is spring loaded such that a distal end of the bimetallic thermostat is urged away from a top surface of the spiral wound sheathed heating element. A heat transfer disk is positioned on the bimetallic thermostat at the distal end of the bimetallic thermostat.

Disclosed is a stage including a first supporting plate, a second supporting plate under the first supporting plate, a shaft under the second supporting plate and overlapping with the first supporting plate and the second supporting plate, and at least one sheath heater passing through the second supporting plate. The at least one sheath heater is arranged so as to extend on a first surface and a second surface which are parallel to an upper surface of the second supporting plate and which are different in distance from the first supporting plate from each other.

A radiant heating device for a hob has a sheet-like carrier with a carrier surface on its top side on which an electrical heating element runs in a meandering manner within an outer edge. A single temperature sensor is arranged in a temperature sensor housing which is arranged above a region which is free of heating elements. The temperature sensor housing covers the temperature sensor at the top and to the side and encloses the said temperature sensor in all directions. The temperature sensor housing is designed so as to be electrically insulating and thermally insulating at least at the top and to the side, wherein the said temperature sensor housing consists of an inner electrically insulating insulation housing part with the temperature sensor therein and an outer surrounding thermally insulating insulation housing part.

A radiant heating device for a hob has a sheet-like carrier with a carrier surface on its top side on which an electrical heating element runs in a meandering manner within an outer edge. A single temperature sensor is arranged in a temperature sensor housing which is arranged above a region which is free of heating elements. The temperature sensor housing covers the temperature sensor at the top and to the side and encloses the said temperature sensor in all directions. The temperature sensor housing is designed so as to be electrically insulating and thermally insulating at least at the top and to the side, wherein the said temperature sensor housing consists of an inner electrically insulating insulation housing part with the temperature sensor therein and an outer surrounding thermally insulating insulation housing part.

An embodiment of an electric heating element is disclosed, including an electrically resistive inner heating element, an electrically resistive outer heating element, and a thermostat positioned underneath a centrally-positioned medallion and along a cold leg of the inner heating element. The thermostat is configured to selectively allow electrical current to be delivered to the inner heating element while maximum electrical current, for example, continues to be provided to the outer heating element. The thermostat cycles the electrical current on and off when detecting maximum and minimum desired temperatures radiated from the electric heating element. The inner heating element has a pair of cold legs that extend parallel to a pair of cold legs of the outer heating element, some or all of which may be supported by a terminal bracket.

Food preparation apparatus and associated appliance modules and methods. Appliances modules can be selectively docked at docks of an appliance interface of a base. An appliance module includes a food container support surface movable between cooking and holding positions. An appliance module includes a receptacle having a holding well that can be selectively configured in a generally horizontal position or an inclined position.

Food preparation apparatus and associated appliance modules and methods. Appliances modules can be selectively docked at docks of an appliance interface of a base. An appliance module includes a food container support surface movable between cooking and holding positions. An appliance module includes a receptacle having a holding well that can be selectively configured in a generally horizontal position or an inclined position.

A cooking device according to one example embodiment includes a base having a top surface positioned to contact a cooking vessel configured to hold food during cooking. The base includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and an electrically resistive trace on an exterior surface of the ceramic substrate. The heater is positioned to supply heat generated by applying an electric current to the electrically resistive trace to the top surface of the base for heating the cooking vessel to heat food in the cooking vessel. In some embodiments, the electrically resistive trace includes an electrical resistor material thick film printed on the exterior surface of the ceramic substrate. In some embodiments, the electrically resistive trace is positioned on a top surface of the ceramic substrate that faces upward toward the top surface of the base.

A cooking vessel according to one example embodiment includes a food receptacle for holding food during cooking. The cooking vessel includes an inner shell and an outer shell. An outside surface of the inner shell forms the food receptacle. A portion of an inside surface of the inner shell is spaced from a portion of an inside surface of the outer shell forming a sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. A heat pipe is positioned within the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell for distributing heat through the sealed volume between the inner shell and the outer shell. Embodiments include those wherein each of the inner shell and the outer shell includes a respective bottom wall and a respective side wall.

An apparatus includes a heater with a heating element having a region that does not contain a surface heating portion of the heating element and a thermostat positioned in the region. The thermostat includes a contact surface disposed to make physical contact with an object placed on the surface heating portion and a switch configured to prevent a current from conducting through the heating element when the contact surface experiences a temperature equal to or greater than a temperature limit.