Electric hot plate with direct contact P.T.C. sensor

Electrical heating apparatus for use in an electric stove having a glass/ceramic cooking surface comprising:

• a pan mounted adjacent an underside of the cooking surface;
• a first electrical heating element installed in the pan for heating a defined area of the cooking surface when an electrical current is applied to the heating element;
• a second and separate electrical heating element installed in the pan for also heating the cooking surface when an electrical current is applied thereto, said second electrical heating element having a different wattage than said first heating element;
• an insulator installed in the pan and having a contoured upper surface on which both heating elements are supported, the insulator having a generally flat central section, and concentric channels formed radially outwardly of said central section, said first heating element being installed on said central section of the insulator and said second heating element being installed in the channels such that said heating elements are concentric with each other;
• a temperature sensor element comprising a sensor wire supported adjacent the underside of the cooking surface such that the sensor directly contacts the cooking surface, said sensor element being a circular wire sensor positioned between said first and second heating elements so as to be concentric therewith;
• and,
• means for supporting said sensor element adjacent the underside of the cooking surface.