ROTARY PIZZA OVEN

A pizza oven comprises an upper casing and an enclosure positioned beneath the casing. The casing comprises a shell structure mounted to a bottom plate defining a chamber therein and an opening for accessing the chamber. The enclosure is mounted to the bottom plate and comprises a control panel beneath the opening. A rotatable tray is rotatably mounted within the chamber. The underside of the tray comprises a central seat rotatably positioned within a bottom plate opening. An actuator is mounted within the enclosure and comprises an upwardly extending drive shaft positioned beneath the seat and operatively communicating therewith for imparting a rotational movement to the tray. A heating assembly is mounted within the enclosure and comprises a heating part extending into the chamber behind the tray for providing heat. Controls are provided on the control panel for controlling the actuator and the heating assembly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a pizza over. More particularly but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a rotary pizza oven. Still more particularly but still not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a portable pizza oven.

BACKGROUND

Rotary and portable pizza ovens are well known. Many such ovens have a cross bar within the baking chamber on which the baking tray sits for rotation. The cross bar spans the full size of the tray. These cross bars cool down faster than the tray and this differential may cause cracking of the tray. The weight distribution of such ovens is usually lobsided with controls and motors in the rear and the opening for viewing the pizza in the front

OBJECTS

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a rotary pizza oven.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a portable pizza oven.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a pizza oven comprising: a housing defining front, rear, top and bottom sides thereof and comprising: an upper casing comprising a shell structure mounted to a bottom plate and defining an inner chamber therein and an opening at the front side providing access to the inner chamber; and an enclosure positioned beneath the casing and mounted to the bottom plate at the bottom side and comprising a control panel at the front end beneath the front opening; a rotatable tray rotatably mounted within the chamber for baking a pizza thereon, the rotatable tray defining a top side for receiving the pizza and an underside comprising a central seat rotatably positioned within an opening in the bottom plate; an actuator mounted within the enclosure and comprising an upwardly extending drive shaft positioned beneath the seat and operatively communicating therewith for imparting a rotational movement to the rotatable tray; a heating assembly mounted within the enclosure and comprising a heating part thereof extending into the chamber behind the rotatable tray for providing heat; and controls provided on the control panel in operative communication with the actuator and the heating assembly for selective control thereof.

In an embodiment, the pizza over further comprises support rollers protruding from the bottom plate to be engaged by the underside of the rotatable plate for stability thereof.

In an embodiment, the housing further comprises an gas intake at the rear side in fluid communication with the heat assembly for providing gas thereto.

In an embodiment, the enclosure is a longitudinal structure positioned along a central part of the bottom plate.

In an embodiment, the rotatable tray and the seat are a single molded piece.

In an embodiment, the actuator comprises a motor, the drive shaft upwardly extending from the motor.

In an embodiment, the chamber defines a front chamber part and a rear chamber part partitioned by a fire plate therebetween, wherein the rotatable plate is positioned within the front chamber part and the heating part is positioned within the rear chamber part.

In an embodiment, the heating part comprises a horizontal burner, a tube extends from the horizontal burner into the enclosure.

In an embodiment, the shell structure comprises spaced apart outer and inner shells defining an insulation space therebetween.

In an embodiment, the controls provide for controlling heat and rotation.

In an embodiment, the pizza oven further comprises support legs mounted to the housing at the bottom side.

In an embodiment, the pizza oven comprises an upper casing and an enclosure positioned beneath the casing. The casing comprises a shell structure mounted to a bottom plate defining a chamber therein and an opening for accessing the chamber. The enclosure is mounted to the bottom plate and comprises a control panel beneath the opening. A rotatable tray is rotatably mounted within the chamber. The underside of the tray comprises a central seat rotatably positioned within a bottom plate opening. An actuator is mounted within the enclosure and comprises an upwardly extending drive shaft positioned beneath the seat and operatively communicating therewith for imparting a rotational movement to the tray. A heating assembly is mounted within the enclosure and comprises a heating part extending into the chamber behind the tray for providing heat. Controls are provided on the control panel for controlling the actuator and the heating assembly.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a rotary pizza oven comprising a shell, a bottom plate, a motor, a driving shaft, a baking tray, at least three roller groups, a device box, a gas valve, an igniter, an ignition needle, an induction needle, a straight tube type burner and a battery box, the casing is provided with a front opening and a lower opening, the bottom plate is provided with a shaft sleeve, and the lower surface of the baking tray is provided with a circular shaft seat; the lower opening end of the shell and the bottom plate are fixed to form a cavity with a front opening, the front part of the cavity is a baking cavity, the rear part of the cavity is a combustion cavity, the roller groups are arranged on the bottom plate and are uniformly distributed around the rotating sleeve, the circular shaft seat is in rotating fit with the shaft sleeve and can be detached, and the rollers of the roller groups are matched with the baking tray; the straight tube type burner is arranged in the combustion chamber; the upper open end of the device box is connected with the bottom plate, the motor, the gas valve and the igniter are arranged in the device box, the driving shaft is fixed with the shaft of the motor, and the driving shaft is connected with the circular shaft seat and can be detachably matched with the circular shaft seat.

In an embodiment, the shell comprises an inner container and a shell, the lower opening end of the inner container is fixed with the bottom plate, the shell wraps the inner container and extends to the lower portion of the bottom plate, and the shell and the inner container form a heat insulation cavity.

In an embodiment, the inner container comprises a container body part and a container rear end plate, the outer shell comprises a shell part and a shell rear end plate, the straight tube type burner, the ignition needle and the induction needle are fixed on the liner rear end plate, and the air inlet pipe of the straight tube type burner is fixed with the device box.

In an embodiment, the pizza oven also comprises a seat board and a frame-shaped frame with an upper opening, the motor is fixed on a transverse frame plate of the frame, a shaft of the motor is in running fit with a shaft hole on the transverse frame plate, the driving shaft is in running fit with a rotating shaft hole on the seat plate, and the seat plate is fixed with the upper end of the device box.

In an embodiment, the epaxial external screw thread connecting portion that is equipped with of motor, the lower extreme of drive shaft is equipped with the internal thread hole, and motor anticlockwise rotation.

In an embodiment, the driving shaft is in a polygonal shape, the circular shaft seat is provided with a polygonal connecting hole, and the driving shaft is detachably matched with the polygonal connecting hole.

In an embodiment, a heat conduction hole is formed in the partition plate between the baking cavity and the combustion cavity of the cavity, and a heat conduction gap is formed between the upper end of the partition plate and the top plate of the cavity. In an embodiment, the heat conduction hole is formed in the partition plate between the baking cavity and the combustion cavity of the cavity, and a heat conduction gap is formed between the upper end of the partition plate and the top plate of the cavity.

In an embodiment, the battery box comprises a box body with a lower opening, a box cover and a battery arranged in the box body, the bottom plate of the device box is provided with a mounting hole, the box body is inserted into the mounting hole and fixed with the bottom plate of the device box, and the box cover is detachably matched with the box body.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Generally stated and in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a pizza oven comprising a housing comprising an upper casing and an enclosure positioned beneath the casing. The casing comprises a shell structure mounted to a bottom plate and defines an inner chamber and an opening for accessing the inner chamber. The enclosure is mounted to the bottom plate and comprises a control panel beneath the front opening. A rotatable tray is rotatably mounted within the chamber for baking a pizza thereon. The rotatable tray defines a top side for receiving the pizza and an underside comprising a central seat rotatably positioned within an opening in the bottom plate. An actuator is mounted within the enclosure and comprises an upwardly extending drive shaft positioned beneath the seat and operatively communicating therewith for imparting a rotational movement to the rotatable tray. A heating assembly is mounted within the enclosure and comprises a heating part extending into the chamber behind the rotatable tray for providing heat. Controls are provided on the control panel for selective control thereof of the actuator and the heating assembly.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a rotary portable pizza oven with a casing defining a chamber and a front opening for accessing the chamber. A rotatable plate or tray is positioned at a front part of the chamber for placing the pizza thereon. A heating assembly is positioned in the rear part of the chamber. The front and rear parts are separated by a partition plate allowing for heat conduction. An enclosure is positioned beneath the casing and encloses all the mechanical components therein as will be described further below. The enclosure is longitudinal and positioned along a center line of the casing providing a substantially constant center of gravity along the longitudinal center line of the casing and thus along the longitudinal center line of the pizza oven as will be further discussed. The controls for gas and rotation are positioned at the front of casing where the opening is and where the user can view baking of the pizza. As such, the oven with frontal controls allows to control the temperature as well as stopping and starting rotation while directly watching the baking pizza and as well as height of the flames. Placing the components of the oven in an enclosure beneath the casing allows for positioning the gas and rotation controls at the front of the oven next to the opening. The components are safely positioned and enclosed beneath the casing providing a unit with centered weight making it more compact and portable as it is safer and easier to handle. Using a motor directly beneath and connected to the tray for rotation thereof via a drive shaft together with rollers protruding from the base plate of the chamber for supporting the rotating tray thereon provides for a lighter and more efficient over. Indeed, the actuator is positioned directly beneath the rotating tray, the drive shaft upwardly extends and engages (directly or via other components therebetween) the center of the rotating tray. Thus there is a straight vertical alignment between the center of the tray, the drive shaft and the actuator. The rotation speed is purely influenced by the motor sequence (setting of the motor). There are no additional tray supports (longitudinal rods etc.) other than small rollers protruding slightly from the base plate and this in this way there is no temperature differential between cross bar supports and the tray in addition to reducing the weight of the oven.

With reference toFIGS.1to8, the rotary pizza over10in accordance with a non-restrictive illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described by way of non-limiting examples.

The rotary pizza oven10comprises a casing12including support legs13, a bottom plate14, an actuator15including a motor16and a driving shaft18, a baking tray20, rollers22, an enclosure or device box24, a gas valve26, an igniter28, a straight tube type burner30and a battery box32.

The casing12is provided with a front opening34and a lower opening36. The bottom plate14is provided with a shaft sleeve38. The undersurface40of the baking tray20is provided with a circular shaft seat42. The circular shaft seat42defines an aperture44. Each roller22comprises a roller shaft carrying a wheel. The roller shaft is fixed to the bottom plate14and the wheel46protrudes via hole48on the upper surface50of the bottom plate14.

The lower opening end36of the casing12and the bottom plate14are connected to form a chamber or cavity52accessible via the front opening34. The front part of cavity52is a baking chamber or cavity part52A and the rear part of cavity52is a combustion chamber or cavity part52B.

The baking tray20is positioned in the front baking chamber part52A and is uniformly distributed around the rotating sleeve38. The circular shaft seat42is rotatably and removably fitted through the shaft sleeve38. The drive shaft18operationally engages the shaft42via the aperture44. The motor16causes the drive shaft18to rotate about its vertical axis thereby rotating the shaft seat42along with the baking tray20. During rotation, the undersurface40of the baking tray20engages the rollers22and is thus maintained in a constant plane as the rollers22prevent the tray20from inclining. In this way, the maximum output power of the motor16is ensured.

The straight tube type burner30is arranged in the rear combustion chamber part52B. The top open end54of the device box24is connected to the underside56of the bottom plate14. The motor16, the gas valve26and igniter28are positioned within the device box24.

The shell casing12comprises an inner liner12A and an outer shell12B. The bottom open end58of the inner liner12A is fixed to the top surface50of the bottom plate14. The shell12B envelops the inner liner12A and extends and connects to the underside56the bottom plate14. The outer shell12B and the inner liner12A are spaced apart forming a cavity60therebetween. Cavity60is a heat insulation cavity which prevents the outer shell12B from heating to a degree where a user may burn their hands when touching the outer shell12B.

As shown inFIGS.2,7and8, the open rear end of the inner liner12A is closed by an inner liner backing plate12A′ mounted to the rear end edge62of the inner liner12A. The open rear end of outer shell12B is closed by an outer shell backing plate12B′ mounted to the rear end edge64of outer shell12B.

The straight tube type burner30, the ignition needle66and the induction needle are fixed to the inner liner backing plate12A′. The air inlet pipe33of the straight tube type burner30is fixed within the device box24

The actuator15comprises a longitudinal seat plate68mounted to a frame70defining an upper opening. The motor16is positioned on a transverse frame plate70A of the frame70. The drive shaft18extends from the of the motor16rotatably through the transverse frame plate70A via a shaft hole defined thereby. The drive shaft18is rotatably positioned through the seat plate68via a shaft hole defined thereby. The seat plate68is fixed to the open upper end54of the device box24.

With particular reference toFIG.2, an external thread connecting part72is arranged on the shaft74of the motor16. An internal thread hole76is formed in the lower end of the driving shaft18. The motor16rotates anticlockwise to prevent the shaft74of the motor16from being separated from the driving shaft18. The shaft74of the motor16can also be fixedly connected with the driving shaft18by screws. The driving shaft18is polygonal, the circular shaft seat42is provided with polygonal connecting holes, and the driving shaft18is detachably matched with the polygonal connecting holes.

A partition plate78is positioned between the front baking chamber part52A and the rear combustion chamber part52B and includes heat conduction holes80formed therethrough. A heat conduction gap82is formed between the upper end84of the partition plate78and a top plate of the chamber defined by the inner liner12A. The heat conduction holes80are opposed to the straight tube type burner30.

The battery box32comprises a box body84with an underside opening86, a bottom box cover88for closing opening86and a battery90arranged in the box body84. The bottom plate14of the device box24is provided with a mounting hole92. The box body84is inserted into the mounting hole92and fixed to the bottom plate14of the device box24, and the box cover88is detachably fitted to the box body84. The cover88is removable to allow for easy battery replacement.

Turning now toFIGS.9to17, there is shown a portable rotary pizza oven100in accordance with a non-limiting illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure which will be described by way of non-limiting examples.

With particular reference toFIGS.9-13, the pizza oven100comprises a housing102defining a front side F and a rear side R, a top side T and a bottom side B. The housing102includes an upper casing104defining a front opening106leading to an internal chamber108including a rotating tray110for receiving and baking the pizza within the chamber108. The housing includes a lower enclosure112connected beneath the casing104. A control panel114is positioned at the front side F of the housing beneath and aligned with the opening106. The control panel114includes a knob116for gas control and a click button118for actuating rotation of the tray110. The chamber108defines a front baking chamber part108A including the rotating tray110and a rear chamber part108B including a heating assembly120. A protection shield or fire plate122interposed between the chamber part108A and108B, thereby partitioning the chamber108and protecting the pizza from the flames of the heating assembly. The housing102is supported by legs124A,124B and126. The top side128of the casing104includes a thermometer130for monitoring the cooking temperature. Gas is provided to the oven via a gas intake connector131which can be connected to a propane tank for example.

As will be further described herein, heat assembly components and tray rotation actuator components are positioned within the enclosure112allowing for the control panel114to be positioned at the front F of the oven100in line with the opening106. The user can therefore modulate gas in tandem with looking at the flame produced by the heating assembly all the while monitoring the temperature. Having the components described herein beneath the casing104centers the weight of the oven100making it more portable and less lobsided regarding weight distribution. It is also safer to keep all controls at the oven opening as provided herein.

While still referring toFIGS.9-13, and with particular reference to the various exploded views inFIGS.14-17, the pizza oven100will be described in further detail.

The casing104comprises shell structure mounted to a bottom plate. The shell structure comprises an outer shell132and inner shell or liner134. The shells132and134are spaced apart and a foam insulation space S (seeFIGS.12and13) is provided therebetween thereby avoiding a user burning their hands when touching shell132. A front door plank136closes the space between the shells132and134. A baffle plate138is positioned on the inner side of the inner shell134behind the door plank136to redirect any flames inwardly of the chamber108. The inner shell134is closed at the rear side R of the oven100by inner backing plate140and the outer shell132is closed at rear side R by the outer backing plate142.

The shells132and134have respective and aligned apertures133and135for receiving the thermometer therethrough so that it can communicate with chamber part108A for temperature monitoring.

The shells132and134are connected to a bottom plate144defining lateral wings146. The later edges145of outer shell132are connected to the bottom plate144on the underside of lateral wings146and the lateral edges150of of inner shell132are connected to lateral sides147of the bottom plate144.

The bottom plate144comprises a central hole or sleeve148for providing operative communication between the tray110and an actuator150which imparts a rotational movement to the tray110. The tray110is a circular plate. In an embodiment, the circular plate110is a stone plate. The stone plate110rests on three bearings or rollers152A,152B and152C radially disposed relative to the central sleeve for rollingly supporting the stone plate110thereon during rotation and preventing it from wobbling. The bearings152A,152B,152C are slightly embedded within the bottom plate144and slightly protrude outwardly therefrom.

With particular reference toFIGS.15to17, the actuator150comprises a motor154positioned within a support frame156. A drive shaft158extends from the motor154and is connected to a seat support160which is positioned within the opening of the central sleeve148for receiving a seat162extending from the underside of the stone plate110. The seat162is molded portion of the stone plate110and therefore is integral therewith. The seat162and the seat support160have corresponding hexagonal shapes. A protective panel163covers the portion of the seat support160downwardly extending from the bottom plate144. The motor154causes the drive shaft158to rotate about its axis rotating therewith the seat support162with the seat160nested therein and thereby causing the stone plate110to rotate along the bearings152A,152B,152C.

The enclosure112comprises a main frame body164having lateral edges166connected to the underside of the bottom plate144. The motor154is positioned within the support frame156which is positioned within the enclosure112. The drive shaft158protrudes from frame156to connect with the seat support160positioned within the opening of the sleeve148. In this way, the motor154, the drive shaft158and the center168of the stone plate110are vertically aligned for greater efficiency with the actuator150positioned directly beneath stone plate110. The enclosure frame body164is closed at the front side F by the front panel114and at the rear side R by the rear backing panel170.

The heating assembly120comprises a burner174in the form of a T-tube having an first horizontal tube part174A connected via a vertical tube part174B to a horizontal flame tube174C that is positioned within the rear chamber part108B and sits behind the partition or deflector shield122for heating the baking chamber part108A. The T-tube burner174is maintained in place via a fixation frame176mounted on the bottom plate144.

The heat assembly120comprises an air valve pipe178having the gas intake connector131.

The air valve pipe178is connected at a front end179thereof to a rear end181of valve body180which is connected to a valve control182at its front end183. The valve control183is controlled via the knob116to selectively allow gas to flow via a connector184into the injector186which is fluid communication with the front end187of the T-tube burner174. The injector186is maintained in position via a holder plate188. An ignition needle190is positioned in front of the horizontal burner tube174C and provides for igniting the gas released thereby and a such producing the flame. A fail safe thermocouple192is also positioned in front the horizontal burner tube174C. A heat shield194is mounted to the top open side165of the main frame body164of the enclosure112protecting the contents therein from the burner tube174C when emitting heat. The heat shield has a notch197providing a clearance for tube part174B.

The heating assembly172is positioned in chamber part108B which is partitioned from chamber part108A by the fire plate122which forms a top gap123with the inner shield134ceiling for heat to flow into the chamber part108A.

The housing102may also include heat baffles196.

Supporting legs124A and124B comprise respective feet198and leg extension200connected to the underside of the bottom plate144.

A power source202is provided in the form of a battery pack mounted to the bottom part204of the enclosure112and housed therein to be in electrical communication with the actuator150so as to supply power thereto.

The oven100may also include an ignition rod206.

The various features described herein can be combined in a variety of ways within the context of the present disclosure so as to provide still other embodiments. As such, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, the various features of pizza ovens10and100can be combined in a variety of suitable ways within the context of the disclosure. Moreover, the embodiments discussed herein need not include all of the features and elements illustrated and/or described and thus partial combinations of features can also be contemplated. Furthermore, embodiments with less features than those described can also be contemplated.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the present disclosure has been provided hereinabove by way of non-restrictive illustrative embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the scope, spirit and nature thereof and of the appended claims.