United States Patent
`
`[191
`
`[1 1]
`
`4,024,377
`
`Henke
`[45] May 17, 1977
`
`[54] HOT WELL AND METHOD OF HEATING
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor:
`
`Mitchell C. Henke, Fort Wayne, Ind.
`
`[73] Assignee: Lincoln Manufacturing Company,
`Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind.
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Sept. 10, 1975'
`
`[21] Appl. No.2 612,258‘
`
`[52] US. Cl. ................................. 219/439; 29/611;
`219/430; 219/530
`Int. Cl.2 ......................................... F27D 11/02
`Field of Search ............ 21/225, 341, 343, 415,
`21/430, 432, 433, 438, 439, 441, 530, 540;
`165/104, 183; 126/246, 400; 99/331; 29/611
`
`[51]
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`
`1,034,268
`1,776,304
`2,480,337
`2,889,443
`2,992,314
`3,031,735
`3,095,498
`3,508,485
`
`7/1912 McCord ............................ 126/400
`
`...... '219/429
`9/1930 Vannier
`Pearce .................... 219/415
`8/1949
`
`6/1959 Dobmeier .............
`.. 219/433 X
`...... 219/535
`7/1961
`Drugmand et a1.
`
`Jepson .......................... 29/611
`5/1962
`
`Foster ................. 219/441
`6/1963
`4/1970 Munsey ............................... 99/331
`
`Primary Examiner—Volodymyr Y. Mayewsky
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Albert L. Jeffers; Roger M.
`Rickert
`
`[5 7 ]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A hot well, especially for food, and a method of heating
`the well in which an electric heating element is sup-
`ported beneath the bottom of the well while a heat sink
`in the form of a U-shaped member formed of a highly
`heat conductive metal, such as aluminum, is fitted over
`the well from below. The U-shaped member has a bot—
`tom part beneath the heating element and side parts
`which are parallel to and in intimate heat exchange
`relation with the sides of the well. Energization of the
`heating element directly heats the bottom of the well,
`principally by radiation directly from the heater and by
`radiation reflected from the bottom part of the U-
`shaped member. The bottom part of the» U—shaped
`member also absorbs heat from the heating element
`and, by conduction upwardly along the side parts of the
`U-shaped member, heat is also supplied to the sides of
`the well.
`
`10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures
`
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`Page 1 of 8
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`US. Patent May 17, 1977
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`US. Patent May 17, 1977
`
`Sheet2 of2
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`4,024,377
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`Page 3 of 8
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`

`

`1
`
`HOT WELL AND METHOD OF HEATING
`
`4,024,377
`
`The present invention relates to hot wells, especially
`for food, and is particularly concerned with a hot well
`of improved construction and embodying a new
`method of supplying heat to the well.
`Hot wells are well-known in the art of handling hot
`foods and, in general, comprise a member forming a
`well and some arrangement for supplying heat thereto.
`For reasons of appearance, sanitation and durability,
`the members forming the well are usually formed of
`stainless steel as by deep drawing of a sheet of stainless
`steel to form the well. As is also known, stainless steel
`has a relatively low coefficient of heat conductivity as
`compared with certain other metals such as aluminum.
`It is also known that supplying heat only to the bot-
`tom of a hot well member of the nature referred to,
`especially when the member is stainless steel, can leave
`the upper region of the well member insufficiently
`heated. When the well is uncovered, as during sewing,
`the food in the upper portion of the well may become
`too cool for serving purposes due to loss of heat to the
`atmosphere in combination with the slow rate at which
`heat is supplied to the upper region of the well.
`With the foregoing in mind, a primary objective of
`the present invention is the provision of a hot well,
`especially for food, and a method of heating the well, in
`which the problems referred to above are relieved, or
`eliminated.
`
`A particular object of the present invention is the
`provision of a hot well in which heat is supplied to the
`bottom of the well and also to the sides thereof to main-
`tain a more uniform temperature within the well.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`According to the present invention, a hot well struc-
`ture is provided in which a well member —which may
`be a deep drawn stainless steel member —is mounted in
`a frame having side and end walls depending about the
`sides and ends, especially, of the well member.
`A heat sink, preferably formed of aluminum or an-
`other corrosion-resistant metal having a relatively high
`coefficient of heat conductivity, is provided and is tele-
`scoped over the well member from below. The heat
`sink member is generally U-shaped and has a bottom
`part parallel to and spaced from the bottom of the well
`member and side parts parallel to and engaging the
`sides of the well member in intimate heat exchange
`relation.
`
`An electric heating element, preferably metal clad, is
`disposed in the space between the bottom of the well
`member and the bottom part of the U-shaped heat sink
`member. Bracket means and positioning elements se-
`cured to the well member and the U—shaped member
`clamp the electric heating element in place in the
`aforementioned space.
`A blanket of heat insulating material, preferably free
`of metal content, extends over the outside of the bot-
`tom part of the U-shaped member and upwardly be-
`tween the side parts of the U—shaped member and the
`side walls of the frame. A bottom cover member is
`secured to the bottom of the frame and encloses the
`heat-insulating material.
`When the electric heater is energized, heat is sup-
`plied to the bottom of the well member by direct radia-
`tion and by radiation reflected from the bottom part of
`the U-shaped member and by convection due to the air
`
`IO
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`4s
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`in the space occupied by the heating element. Simulta—
`neously, however, heat also flows from the bottom part
`of the U-shaped member up the side parts of the U-
`shaped member and into the sides of the well member.
`The heat thus supplied by conduction to the sides of the
`well member provides for more uniform heating of the
`well member while also providing for more efficient
`utilization of the energy supplied to the heating ele-
`ment.
`
`The nature of the present invention and the ob-
`jects and advantages thereof will become more appar-
`ent from the following detailed description taken with
`the accompanying drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away,
`showing a hot well structure according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 2 is a transverse section indicated by line 2—2
`on FIG. 1.
`
`FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing how the heating
`element is located and clamped.
`FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but normal
`thereto.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
`
`Referring to the drawings more in detail, the hot well
`structure according to the present invention has a well
`member or heating vessel 10 which is, advantageously,
`a deep drawn stailess steel or aluminum member having
`a bottom wall 12, side wall 14, and end walls 16. Heat-
`ing vessel 10 may have a peripheral flange 18 about the
`open upper end. FIG. 2 shows a lid 20 that can be
`provided for closing the upper end of the well member.
`The structure includes a frame having a top flange 22
`that engages beneath and may be secured to flange 18
`of the heating vessel 10. The frame includes side walls
`24 and end walls 26. The side and end walls of the
`frame are spaced from the sides and ends of heating
`vessel 10.
`
`A heat sink, generally indicated by reference nu-
`meral 28, is provided and telescopically engages heat-
`ing vessel 10 from the bottom of the well member. Heat
`sink 28, which is advantageously heavy gauge alumi-
`num, has a bottom part 30 parallel to and spaced from
`bottom 12 of heating vessel 10. The heat sink is in the
`form of a U-shaped member and has side parts 32 up-
`standing from the side edges of bottom part 30. Side
`parts 32 are parallel to and in engagement with sub-
`stantially the full height of side walls 14 of heating
`vessel 10 and are, thus, in intimate heat exchange rela-
`tion with side 14 of the heating vessel.
`Lateral bracket members 34, only one being shown
`in FIGS. 2 and 3, are fixed to the underside of bottom
`12 of heating vessel 10 near the ends of the heating
`vessel and one or more lateral bracket members 36 are
`
`fixed to the upper side of the bottom part 30 of heat
`sink 28. As will be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bracket
`members 34 and 36 may be in the form of angles
`welded, or otherwise affixed, to the respective support-
`ing members.
`The bracket members clamp therebetween a metal
`clad heating element 38 which is made of spaced paral-
`lel longitudinal reaches interconnected at the ends by
`curved portions. One end of each of the two outer
`reaches forms a respective terminal for the heating
`element for the supply of electrical energy thereto in a
`conventional manner.
`Positioning elements are provided which are received
`inside the curved portions of the heating element near
`the ends thereof to locate the heating element and to
`Page 4 of 8
`Page 4 of 8
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`

`

`3
`
`4,024,377
`
`4
`2. A hot well according to claim 1 which includes
`bracket means dependent from the underside of the
`bottom of said vessel and upstanding from the upper
`side of the bottom part of said U—shaped member and
`between which bracket means the said heating element
`is clamped.
`3. A hot well according to claim 1 which includes
`bracket means dependent from the underside of the
`bottom of said vessel and upstanding from the upper
`side of the bottom part of said U-shaped member, said
`heating element comprising a metal clad electric heat-
`ing element electrically insulated from the vessel and
`from the U-shaped member, said heating element ex—
`tending in a sinous path and having reaches substan-
`tially at right angles to said bracket means and clamped
`therebetween.
`
`4. A hot well according to claim 1 which includes
`bracket means dependent from the underside of the
`bottom of said vessel and upstanding from the upper
`side of the bottom part of said U-shaped member, said
`heating element comprising a metal clad electrically
`insulated electric heating element extending in a sinu-
`ous path and having reaches substantially at right an-
`gles to said bracket means and clamped therebetween,
`at least one end of each reach being connected to an
`adjacent reach by a semicircular portion of the heating
`element, and positioning elements stationarily mounted
`in the space occupied by the heating element and near
`said semicircular portions for preventing shifting of the
`heating element between said well and said U-shaped
`member.
`
`5. A hot well according to claim 1 which includes
`lateral first bracket means dependent from the under-
`side of the bottom of said vessel near the ends thereof
`and lateral second bracket means upstanding from the
`upper side of the bottom part of said U-shaped mem—
`ber, said heating element means comprising a metal
`clad electrically insulated electric heating element hav-
`ing laterally spaced longitudinal reaches clamped be-
`tween said bracket means and connected at the ends by
`curved end portions, at least one of said bracket means
`including positioning portions near and inside the
`curved end portions of said heating element to prevent
`the heating element from shifting.
`6. A hot well according to claim 5 in which said
`positioning elements are on the said first bracket means
`and extend to near said bottom part of said U-shaped
`member, and means connecting said U-shaped member
`to said positioning elements.
`7. A hot well according to claim 1 in which said well
`is stainless steel and said U-shaped member is alumi-
`num.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`prevent shifting of the heating element. These position—
`ing elements are indicated at 40 in FIG. 2 and one
`thereof is shown in FIG. 3. These elements may be
`fixed to, or form a part of, the bracket members 34
`carried on the bottom of heating vessel 10 near the
`ends thereof.
`
`The elements may have tabs on the lower ends of
`which one is indicated at 42 in FIG. 3. The tabs may be
`availed of for receiving flat head screws 44 extending
`through oversize holes in the bottom part 30 of heat
`sink 28 whereby the heat sink is fixed in place in the
`assembly while the oversize holes permit expansion and
`contraction of the heat sink relative to the heating
`vessel without buckling.
`A blanket of heat insulating material 46 is provided
`which extends over the underside of bottom part 30 of
`heat sink 28 and upwardly along the side parts 32
`thereof between the side parts 32 and side walls 24 of
`the frame.
`
`Finally, a bottom cover member 48 is secured to the
`bottom of the frame, as by screws, and closes the bot-
`tom of the frame and encloses the exposed surface of
`the heat insulating material 46.
`In practice, the frame of the structure might be about
`6 inches deep by about 12 inches wide from side to side
`and about 20 inches long. The heating vessel 10 is, of
`course, formed to smaller dimensions so as to fit into
`the frame with clearance from the side and end walls of
`the frame.
`
`The heat sink 28, which is formed of aluminum
`thicker than the aluminum or stainless steel of the heat—
`ing vessel may be about 10 inches from side to side and
`have side parts or walls up to about 5 inches high.
`In operation, the heating element is energized to
`supply heat to the heating vessel. The bottom of the
`heating vessel receives heat by radiation from the heat-
`ing element and by radiation reflected from the bottom
`part of the heat sink and by connection due to circula-
`tion of air between the bottom of the heating vessel and
`the bottom part of the heat sink.
`The side walls of the heating vessel, on the other
`hand, receive heat by conduction from the side parts of
`the heat sink which, in turn, receive heat principally
`from the bottom part of the heat sink which is, of
`course, heated by the electric heater.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. In a hot well, especially for food; an upwardly
`opening heating vessel of heat conducting material
`having a bottom, side and end walls, a heating element
`supported beneath said bottom wall for supplying heat
`thereto at least partly by radiation, a heat sink of good
`heat conducting material in the form of a U-shaped
`metal member having a bottom part beneath said heat-
`ing element and side parts extending upwardly along
`and engaging the side walls in heat exchange relation,
`said U-shaped member receiving heat from said heating
`element and supplying heat to said walls by conduction,
`a frame connected to the peripheral region of the top of
`said vessel and having side walls and end walls extend-
`ing downwardly along the sides and ends respectively
`of said vessel in spaced relation thereto, a blanket of
`heat insulation extending over at least the underside of
`the bottom part of said U-shaped metal member and
`upwardly between the side parts thereof and the side
`walls of said frame, and a bottom cover connected to
`the bottom of said frame and enclosing said heat insula—
`tion from below.
`
`8. A hot well according to claim 1 in which said
`U—shaped member is thicker than the material from
`which said well is formed.
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`9. The method of supplying heat to a heating vessel
`which comprises; supporting an electric heating ele-
`ment beneath and parallel to the bottom wall of the
`vessel, placing a U—shaped member with the bottom
`part parallel to and beneath the heating element and
`with the side parts engaging the side walls of the vessel
`in heat exchange relation therewith, electrically insu-
`lating the heating element from the vessel and the U-
`shaped member, energizing the heating element
`to
`supply heat from the heating element to the bottom
`wall of the vessel principally by direct radiation and by
`radiation reflected by the bottom partof the U-shaped
`member and simultaneously supplying heat to the side
`Page 5 of 8
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`

`

`5
`
`4,024,377
`
`6
`the bottom wall and the side walls of the heating vessel
`with a heat insulating blanket.
`parts 0f the U-shaped member from the bottom
`10. The method according to claim 9 which includes
`thereof, and thermally insulating the heating vessel and
`supporting said heating element in spaced relation to
`the U-shaped metal member by enclosing the bottom 5 giaigmmgfigiwell and to the bottom part Of said
`part and side parts of the U-shaped metal member and
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`walls of the vessel by conduction of heat along the side
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4o
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Page 6 of 8
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`

`

`
`
`
`
`PATENT NO.
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION '
`4,024,377
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`May .17, 1977
`:
`DATED
`Mitchell C.Henke
`:
`INVENTOR(S)
`Hbcmmmdmmamrmmmsmmewwe4mmmwpflmtmdmfismdmeummtI
`are hereby corre'ctedas shown below:
`
`Col.
`
`2,
`
`line 28, ”stailess" should be -- stainless -5
`
`Col,
`
`2,
`
`line 29, "side wall 14" should be -- side walls 14 4-
`
`Col.
`
`Col.
`
`Col.
`
`2,
`
`3,
`
`4,
`
`line 41, "well member" should be -- heating vessel --
`
`line 58.(Claim 1) "side" omitted between "said" afid "walls
`
`line 59 (Claim 9) "metal” omitted between "U-shaped" and
`"member"
`
`Col.
`
`.5,
`
`lines 2 and 3 (Claim 9) "part" omitted between_"bottom"
`and "thereof"
`
`[SEAL]
`
`A nest:
`
`RUTH C. MASON
`
`Attesting Officer
`
`Signed and Scaled this
`
`ninth Day of August 1977
`
`C. MARSHALL DANN
`
`Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks.
`
`
`
`Page 7 of 8
`Page 7 of 8
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`
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`

`

`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION V
`I
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`.
`
`PATENT NO.
`DATED
`
`INVENTOR(S)
`
`:
`:
`
`:
`
`(4,024,377
`May 17, 1977
`
`Mitchell C.Henke
`
`HmcmmmdmmmmrwmmsmmeawedwmmwpmmtmdeSmdLfimummt
`are hereby correctedas shown below:
`
`Col. 2,
`
`line 28, "stailess" should be -- stainless -5
`
`Col. 2,
`
`line 29, "side wall 14" should be -~ side walls 14 4-
`
`Col. 2,
`
`line 41, "well member" should be -- heating vessel --
`
`Col. 3,
`
`line 58 (Claim 1) "side" omitted between "said“ and walls
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ninth Day Of August 1977
`
`
`
`Col. 4,
`
`line 59 (Claim 9) "metal” omitted between "U—shaped" and
`"member"
`'
`.
`
`Col. 5,
`
`lines 2 and 3 (Claim 9) "part" omitted between_"bottom"
`and "thereof"
`
`Signed and Beal'ed this
`
` RUTH C. MASON
`
`C. MARSHALL DANN
`
`Attesting Officer
`
`Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 8 of 8
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