Food warming vessel for cafeterias and restaurants

摘要

The warming device of the present invention includes a food tray or pan formed from metal so as to promote the conduction of heat to the food contained in the pan. The pan is held within a sump vessel adapted to contain a heat transfer fluid such as water. The sump vessel is a unitary bowl-shaped container having side and bottom walls and an upper open wide mouth for receiving the food pan whereby the food pan, when inserted, is located within the sump vessel so that the bottom portion of the food pan is spaced from the wall of the sump vessel to define a chamber suited for containing water and steam between the sump vessel and the food pan. The sump vessel has heat-insulating qualities that reduce heat loss and promote the transmission of heat to the food pan. A heat dissipator plate formed from a metal or other conductor of heat is connected to a wall of the sump vessel with an air space between the heat dissipator plate and the sump vessel. An electrical heating element is located in this space and is connected in heat conductive relationship to the heat dissipation plate which efficiently transfers heat to the food pan. The air space and the wall of the sump vessel on the other side of the air space from the heat dissipator plate reduce the loss of heat from the heating element to the environment.