Importance

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Abstract

A mechanical electrode is disclosed for use in an electrical circuit in a cooking device, such as, an oven. The mechanical electrode includes a plurality of electrically conductive needle elements supported on a flat base plate. Each needle has a sharply pointed tip for establishing current contact through an electrical field with a food supplied with a voltage normally sufficient to generate corona current from the tip to an aligned surface of the food for enhancing heat and mass transfer. A current-limiting resistive material electrically connects each one of the needle elements to the base plate which, in turn, is electrically coupled to a voltage supply for regulating the voltage supplied to the food to complete the electrical circuit. The current-limiting resistive material forming a discrete path of electrical resistance along each needle so that any excessively high voltage concentration about any needle is restricted through the resistive material and confined to individual needles for suppressing arc formation. In this manner high voltage in the electrical field is avoided, the voltage supply is protected from receiving any sudden high voltage surge and adjacent needle elements are allowed to continue in corona current generating operation.

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First Claim