Patent ID: 6572911
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: A21B

Abstract:
An apparatus for heating and cooking food products that utilizes convective heat transfer as a manner of providing heat to the food product, the apparatus comprising:an oven chamber; a support provided within the oven chamber for positioning a food product in the oven chamber for heating thereof; an impingement nozzle for connection to a heated gas supply, the impingement nozzle including a receiving chamber within which heated gas can enter from the heated gas supply and that extends within the oven chamber for a length toward the support for the food product and including at least one fluid directional opening from which heated gas can be ejected toward a food product that is supported in position within the oven chamber; and a steam injector connectable to a steam supply, the steam injector including at least one opening that is in direct fluid communication with the receiving chamber of the impingement nozzle so that steam can be injected directly into the receiving chamber of the impingement nozzle, whereby, heated gas and steam can be separately provided at the same time to the receiving chamber of the impingement nozzle so that the heated gas and steam can mix together prior to being ejected from the fluid directional opening of the impingement nozzle toward the food product and the heated gas and steam mixture can be utilized for convective heat transfer for heating the food product.