Convection system for an oven

An oven includes a plurality of walls, a fan, and a heating element. The plurality of walls defines an internal cavity in which food may be placed for cooking. A first of the plurality of walls defines a plurality of orifices that establishes fluid communication between the internal cavity and a fluid path. The fan is configured to direct air from the fluid path, through the plurality of orifices, and into the internal cavity. The heating element is disposed on the first of the plurality of walls and adjacent to the plurality of orifices. The heating element is configured to heat the air being directed from the fluid path, through the plurality of orifices, and into the internal cavity.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an appliance that is configured to cook food, such as an oven or a microwave oven.

BACKGROUND

Ovens may have a convection cooking feature that is configured to heat air being introduced into a cooking cavity within the oven.

SUMMARY

An oven includes a plurality of walls, a fan, and a heating element. The plurality of walls defines an internal cavity in which food may be placed for cooking. A first of the plurality of walls defines a plurality of orifices that establishes fluid communication between the internal cavity and a fluid path. The fan is configured to direct air from the fluid path, through the plurality of orifices, and into the internal cavity. The heating element is disposed on the first of the plurality of walls and adjacent to the plurality of orifices. The heating element is configured to heat the air being directed from the fluid path, through the plurality of orifices, and into the internal cavity.

An oven includes a wall, a fan, and a heating element. The wall defines a cavity configured to receive food for cooking, a channel on an opposing side of the wall relative to the cavity, and at least one aperture configured to establish fluid communication between the cavity and the channel. The fan is configured direct air from the channel and into the cavity via the at least one aperture. The heating element overlays the wall adjacent to the at least one aperture. The heating element is configured to heat air that is being directed through the at least one aperture.

An oven includes a plurality of walls, a fan, a microwave generating device, and a heating element. The plurality of walls defines an internal cavity in which food may be placed for cooking, a first pathway that is at least partially defined on an opposing side of the plurality of walls relative to the internal cavity, and a second pathway that is at least partially defined on an opposing side of the plurality of walls relative to the internal cavity. A first of the plurality of walls defines a at least one orifice that establishes fluid communication between the internal cavity and the first pathway. A second of the plurality of walls defines a plurality of orifices that establishes fluid communication between the internal cavity and the second pathway. The microwave generating device is configured to direct microwaves from the first pathway, through the at least one orifice, and into the internal cavity. The fan is configured to direct air from the second pathway, through the plurality of orifices, and into the internal cavity. The heating element is disposed on the second of the plurality of walls and adjacent to the plurality of orifices. The heating element is configured to heat the air being directed from the second pathway, through the plurality of orifices, and into the internal cavity via the fan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As referenced in the figures, the same reference numerals may be used herein to refer to the same parameters and components or their similar modifications and alternatives. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the present disclosure as oriented inFIG.1. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. The drawings referenced herein are schematic and associated views thereof are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Referring toFIG.1, a front isometric view of a microwave oven10is illustrated. The microwave oven10includes a housing12. The housing includes a plurality of walls14that define an internal cavity16in which food may be placed for cooking. The plurality of walls14may include a top wall, a bottom wall, and three side walls. The microwave oven10also includes a door18that is rotatably attached to the housing12.

Referring toFIGS.2-5, the microwave oven10and a convection system20of the microwave oven10are illustrated in further detail. The convection system20may include a housing22that connects the convection system20to one of the plurality of walls14. It should be noted that although the figures illustrate that the convection system20is connected to a side wall of the plurality of walls14, the convection system20may be connected to any of the plurality of walls14, including the top wall, the bottom wall, or any of the side walls. The convection system20includes a fan24that is powered by a motor26, such as an electric motor. The fan24may be secured to the motor26by a fastener28and a connector30. In addition, the convection system20may include a plate32and a heat shield34for containing the heat generated by one or more heating elements36. The plate32and the heat shield34separate the motor26from the fan14and the one or more heating elements36. More specifically, the plate32and the heat shield34may be configured to prevent or reduce any heat from being transferred from the one or more heating elements36to the motor26. The plate32and the heat shield34may define openings through which a post38of the motor26extends so that the fan24may be connected to the post. A secondary fan40(not shown inFIG.4) may be secured to the electric motor26on an opposing side of the plate32and a heat shield34. The secondary fan40may be configured to cool the motor26.

A first wall of the plurality of walls14, (i.e., the wall that the convection system20is secured to) defines a first pathway, channel, or fluid path42on an opposing side of the first wall of the plurality of walls14relative to the internal cavity16. The first fluid path42may more specifically be defined between the first wall of the plurality of walls14and the plate32or heat shield34. The first wall14may define a first plurality of orifices44that establishes fluid communication between the internal cavity16and the first fluid path42. The first of the plurality of orifices44may collectively form one or more air inlets from the internal cavity16to the fluid path42. The first wall of the plurality of walls14may also define a second plurality of orifices46that establishes fluid communication between the internal cavity16and the first fluid path42. The second of the plurality of orifices46may collectively form one or more air outlets from the first fluid path42to the internal cavity16.

More specifically, the fan24may configured to draw air into the first fluid path42from the internal cavity16via the first plurality of orifices44, and may be configured to direct air out of the first fluid path42and into the internal cavity16via the second plurality of orifices46. The first plurality of orifices44and the second plurality of orifices46may alternatively be referred to as a plurality of apertures or at least one orifice or aperture. The one or more heating elements36are configured to heat the air as the air is being directed out of the first fluid path42and into the internal cavity16via the second plurality of orifices46. The internal cavity16, the first plurality of orifices44, the first fluid path42, and the second plurality of orifices46may collectively form and define at least one convection pathway48where the air circulates between the internal cavity16and the first fluid path42via the fan24, and where the air is heated as the air is directed across the one or more heating elements36.

The one or more heating elements36may be disposed on the first wall (or a portion of the first wall) of the plurality of walls14(i.e., the wall that the convection system20is secured to) and may be adjacent to the second plurality of orifices46. More specifically, the one or more heating elements36may overlay the first of the plurality of walls14adjacent to the second plurality of orifices46. The one or more heating elements36may be disposed on (or overlay) a first surface50of the first of the plurality of walls14, which faces the internal cavity16(as shown). Alternatively, the one or more heating elements36may be disposed on (or overlay) a second surface52of the first of the plurality of walls14, which faces the first fluid path42. The one or more heating elements36may define a third plurality of orifices54that are aligned with the second plurality of orifices46or at least a portion of the second plurality of orifices46.

Each of the one or more heating elements36may be a coating that is disposed over (or overlays) the first wall (or a portion of the first wall) of the plurality of walls14. More specifically, the one or more heating elements36may be made from any type of resistive material, including, but not limited to, a metallic resistive material, graphene, nano graphene, tin oxide, etc. The resistive material may be deposited on the first wall of the plurality of walls14via any known additive manufacturing process (e.g., any three-dimensional printing process such as metal sintering).

Once the one or more heating elements36have been secured to the first wall of the plurality of walls14, the one or more heating elements36may be hardened via a heat-treating process. The coating that forms the one or more heating elements36may be deposited over one or more portions of the wall that defines the second plurality of orifices46. The coating that forms the one or more heating elements36may specifically define the third plurality of orifices54that are aligned with the second plurality of orifices46or at least a portion of the second plurality of orifices46.

In additional to the one or more heating elements36of the convection system20, additional heating elements may be disposed on one or more of the remainder of plurality of the walls14. These additional heating elements may be disposed on surfaces of the plurality of walls14that face inward toward the internal cavity16and may operate to perform a baking operation or may operation in conjunction with the one or more heating elements36to perform a convectional baking operation. These additional heating elements may be disposed on any of the walls of the plurality of walls14in any configuration. For example, the additional heating elements may be disposed on any of the side walls, the top wall, or the bottom wall in any combination.

Referring now toFIG.6, a microwave cooking system56of the microwave oven10is illustrated. It should be noted that although the figures illustrate that portions the microwave cooking system56are connected to a side wall of the plurality of walls14, the microwave cooking system56may be connected to any of the plurality of walls14, including the top wall, the bottom wall, or any of the side walls.

The microwave cooking system56includes a microwave generating device58, such as a magnetron or a solid-state device. The microwave cooking system56includes a waveguide60that defines a second pathway, channel, or fluid path62on an opposing side of a second wall of the plurality of walls14relative to the internal cavity16. The second wall of the plurality of walls14may define an orifice64that establishes fluid communication between the internal cavity16and the second fluid path62. A waveguide cover66may be disposed over the orifice64within the internal cavity16. The second fluid path62of the waveguide60is configured to direct microwaves from the microwave generating device58, through the waveguide cover66, and to the internal cavity16in order to cook any food that is disposed within the internal cavity16.

The microwave cooking system56may also include a power supply68, such as a transformer, that provides electrical power to the microwave generating device58, a capacitor (not shown), and a cooling fan70. The cooling fan70may be configured to cool the various components of the microwave cooking system56, such as the microwave generating device58, power supply68, capacitor, etc. Please note that for illustrative purposes, the electrical connections between the various components of the microwave cooking system56and the electrical connection between the microwave10and an external power source (e.g., an electrical plug and outlet connection) are not shown.

The electronic components (e.g., microwave generating device58, heating elements, fan motors, power supply68, capacitors, etc.) of the microwave cooking system56, convection system20, and any other electrical component may be connected to a control panel, such as a human machine interface (HMI), and a controller, so that an operator may control various parameters. For example, the operator may be configured to input a cooking time, cooking temperature, what mode of cooking is desired (i.e., microwave cooking, convection cooking, baking, or any combination thereof), etc.

The controller may be part of a larger control system and may be controlled by various other controllers throughout the microwave oven10. It should therefore be understood that the controller and one or more other controllers can collectively be referred to as a “controller” that controls various functions or components of the microwave oven10in response to signals from various sensors to control the various functions or components of the microwave oven10. The controller may include a microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU) in communication with various types of computer readable storage devices or media. Computer readable storage devices or media may include volatile and nonvolatile storage in read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and keep-alive memory (KAM), for example. KAM is a persistent or non-volatile memory that may be used to store various operating variables while the CPU is powered down. Computer-readable storage devices or media may be implemented using any of a number of known memory devices such as PROMs (programmable read-only memory), EPROMs (electrically PROM), EEPROMs (electrically erasable PROM), flash memory, or any other electric, magnetic, optical, or combination memory devices capable of storing data, some of which represent executable instructions, used by the controller in controlling the microwave oven10.

Although a microwave oven is illustrated herein, it should be understood that the convection system20described herein, including the one or more heating elements36, may be utilized in any type of oven system. For example, the convection system20described herein may be utilized in a conventional baking oven that includes a convection system, a toaster oven that includes a convection system, etc.

It should further be understood that the designations of first, second, third, fourth, etc. for any component, state, or condition described herein may be rearranged in the claims so that they are in chronological order with respect to the claims. For example, the first plurality of orifices44, the second plurality of orifices46, or the third plurality of orifices54may each be referred to as the first plurality of orifices44, the second plurality of orifices46, or the third plurality of orifices54depending on the chronological order within the claims.