Electrical heating assembly

An electrical heating assembly (2) comprising:

• a glass-ceramic cooking plate (4) having an upper surface (6) for receiving a cooking vessel (8) and a lower surface (10);
• a radiant electric heater (12) incorporating at least one electric heating element (20), the heater (12) being supported in contact with the lower surface of the cooking plate (4);
• circuit means;
• and temperature sensing means (29) spaced above the at least one heating element (20), wherein the temperature sensing means (29) comprises:
• a support member (33) having provided on an upper surface thereof so as to contact the lower surface of the cooking plate (4) a temperature-sensitive electrical resistance element (30) of film form and provided with electrical connecting leads (34) arranged for electrical connection to said circuit means, said circuit means being constructed to monitor the electrical resistance of the film form temperature-sensitive electrical resistance element (30) as a function of temperature of the shielded region of the lower surface (10) of the cooking plate (4) with which it is in contact and hence as a function substantially of temperature of a cooking vessel (8) located on the upper surface (6) of the cooking plate (4) and overlying the shielded region;
• and thermal insulation means (40) adapted and arranged to shield the support member (33) and a corresponding region of the lower surface (10) of the cooking plate (4) from direct thermal radiation from the at least one electric heating element (20).