Convection chamber of cooking device

A convection chamber of a cooking device includes a convection fan rotatably installed in a cooking chamber, a convection motor that rotates the convection fan, a convection cover provided in front of the convection fan and having a channel that collects air in the cooking chamber, sucks the air to the convection fan, and discharges the air from the convection fan to the cooking chamber, and a radiating fan provided between the convection fan and the convection motor and rotated by the convection motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cooking device, such as an oven, and more particularly to a convection chamber of a cooking device, which uniformly disperses heat of a cooking chamber.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1is a partially exploded perspective view of a general cooking device,FIG. 2is a perspective view of a conventional convection chamber of a cooking device, andFIG. 3is a longitudinal sectional view of the conventional convection chamber.

The cooking device, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, comprises a cabinet2defining the external appearance of the cooking device, a cooking chamber4provided in the cabinet2for heating food so that the food can be cooked, a door5installed on the cabinet2for opening and closing the cooking chamber4, and an electric component chamber6located in the upper portion of the cooking chamber4in the cabinet2and provided with electric components installed therein.

The cooking chamber4is heated by an electric heater4aor a burner.

The electric heater4ais installed on the internal upper, lower and rear surfaces of the cooking chamber4.

The electric component chamber6is configured such that electric components installed in electric component chamber6can be cooled by a blower7.

A convection chamber10for uniformly dispersing heat into the electric component chamber6is installed in the electric component chamber6.

The convection chamber10comprises a convection fan12rotatably installed on the internal rear surface of the cooking chamber4, a convection motor14installed on the external rear surface of the cooking chamber4and connected to the convection fan12, and a convection cover16provided in front of the convection fan12for allowing air in the cooking chamber4to be sucked into the center of the convection fan12and to be discharged in the centrifugal direction.

The convection fan12is located in the electric heater4ainstalled on the internal rear surface of the cooking chamber4.

The convection cover16has suction vents16aformed through the central portion thereof corresponding to the center of the convection fan12for allowing the air in the cooking chamber4to be sucked into the convection fan12, and discharge vents16bformed through the edge portion thereof for allowing the air to be discharged from the convection fan12to the cooking chamber14.

Hereinafter, the operation of the above conventional convection chamber10of the cooking device will be described.

When the cooking device is operated, the electric heater4ais driven and increases the temperature of the cooking chamber4. Further, the convection motor14is driven and rotates the convection fan12, and the air in the cooking chamber4is dispersed by the blowing force of the convection fan12.

In the conventional convection chamber10of the cooking device, the air in the cooking chamber4is concentrated on the suction vents16aof the convection cover16by the blowing force of the convection fan12. Since the suction vents16aare located at the central portion of the convection cover16, the temperature in the cooking chamber4is not uniform.

Particularly, when several layers of trays4′ are installed in the cooking chamber4, the difference of temperatures in the cooking chamber4is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a convection chamber of a cooking device, which ensures a uniform temperature of a cooking chamber.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a convection chamber of a cooking device, comprising: a convection fan rotatably installed in a cooking chamber; a convection motor for rotating the convection fan; and a convection cover provided in front of the convection fan and having a channel for collecting air in the cooking chamber, sucking the air to the convection fan, and discharging the air from the convection fan to the cooking chamber.

The convection cover may comprise a first cover provided with suction holes for sucking the air in the cooking chamber; and a second cover forming a space with the first cover, and provided with a suction hole for sucking the air to the center of the convection fan and discharge holes for discharging the air from the convection fan to the cooking chamber.

An electric heater for increasing the temperature of the air in the cooking chamber may be located around the convection fan.

The convection fan may be a centrifugal fan which sucks air in the centripetal direction and discharges the air in the centrifugal direction.

A plurality of the suction holes may be formed through the first cover; and the suction hole may be located at the central portion of the second cover, and the discharge holes may be located at the edge portion of the second cover.

Some of the suction holes may be located at the central portion of the first cover.

The first and second covers may be integrally formed.

The first cover may be detachably attached to the second cover.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a convection chamber of a cooking device, comprising: a convection fan rotatably installed in a cooking chamber for sucking air in the centripetal direction and discharging the air in the centrifugal direction; a convection motor for rotating the convection fan; and a convection cover provided in front of the convection fan and having a channel for collecting air in the cooking chamber, sucking the air to the convection fan, and discharging the air from the convection fan to the cooking chamber, wherein the convection cover comprises a first cover provided with a plurality of suction holes for sucking the air in the cooking chamber, and a second cover forming a space with the first cover and provided with a suction hole located at the central portion thereof for sucking the air to the center of the convection fan and discharge holes located at the edge portion thereof for discharging the air from the convection fan to the cooking chamber.

Some of the suction holes may be located at the central portion of the first cover.

The convection chamber of the present invention, which comprises the convection fan rotatably installed in the cooking chamber, the convection motor for rotating the convection fan, and the convection cover provided in front of the convection fan and having the channel for collecting air in the cooking chamber, sucking the air to the convection fan, and discharging air from the convection fan to the cooking chamber, allows the air in the cooking chamber to be uniformly sucked to the convection fan so that the air in the cooking chamber can be uniformly heated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 4is a partially exploded perspective view of a cooking device in accordance with the present invention,FIG. 5is a longitudinal sectional view of a convection chamber of the cooking device in accordance with the present invention, andFIG. 6is a disassembled perspective view of the convection chamber of the cooking device in accordance with the present invention.

As shown inFIGS. 4 to 6, the cooking device in accordance with the present invention comprises a cabinet50defining the external appearance of the cooking device, a cooking chamber52provided in the cabinet50for heating food so that the food can be cooked, an electric component chamber54provided in the cabinet50such that the electric component chamber54is located above the cooking chamber52, a door56installed on the front surface of the cabinet50for opening and closing the cooking chamber52, and a convection chamber60for uniformly dispersing air in the cooking chamber52.

An electric heater52afor increasing the temperature of the cooking chamber52is installed on the internal upper, lower and rear surfaces of the cooking chamber52.

A blower55for sucking external air into the electric component chamber54so that the electric component chamber54is cooled by the air and then discharging the air to the outside of the cabinet50is provided in the electric component chamber54.

The lower end of the door56is hinged to the cabinet50so that the door56is rotated centering on the hinged lower end thereof to open and close the cooking chamber52.

Now, the structure of the door56will be described in detail. The door56comprises a plurality of glass plate members56a˜56dspaced from each other by a designated interval so that the door56has a cooling channel communicated with the electric component chamber54and the air in the door56is cooled by the blowing force of the blower55. Here, the glass plate members56a˜56dincludes first to fourth glass plate members, which are disposed in order from the outer portion to the inner portion.

The cooling channel of the door56includes a suction channel56efor allowing external cool air to be sucked to the electric component chamber54through the door56, and a discharge channel56ffor allowing the air discharged from the electric component chamber54to be partially discharged to the outside through the door56.

The suction channel56eof the door56allows the air to be sucked from the suction channel56eto the electric component chamber54through a space located between the upper surface of the door56and the cabinet50. Preferably, A channel of the air sucked from the suction channel56eof the door56to the electric component chamber54is located at the side of a channel of the air discharged from the electric component chamber54so that the air sucked to the electric component chamber54does not interfere with the air discharged from the electric component chamber54.

The convection chamber60comprises a convection fan62rotatably installed in the cooking chamber52, a convection motor64for rotating the convection fan62, and a convection cover66provided in front of the convection fan62and having a channel for collecting air in the cooking chamber52, sucking the air to the convection fan62, and then discharging the air from the convection fan62to the cooking chamber52.

The convection fan62is a centrifugal fan, which sucks air in the centripetal direction and discharges the air in the centrifugal direction.

The convection fan62is rotatably installed on the internal rear surface of the cooking chamber52, and is rotatably connected integrally with a rotary shaft64aof the convection motor64. Preferably, in order to ensure a uniform temperature in the cooking chamber52, the convection fan62is located at the central portion of the internal rear surface of the cooking chamber52. Further, in order to allow the air discharged from the convection fan62to be heated directly by the electric heater52a, the electric heater52ainstalled on the internal rear surface of the cooking chamber52is located around the convection fan62.

The convection motor64is located in the rear of the cooking chamber52in the cabinet50so that the convection motor64is connected to the convection fan62by the rotary shaft64a.

A radiating fan63is rotatably connected integrally with the rotary shaft64aof the convection motor64. The radiating fan63sucks external air from the outside of the cabinet50to cool the convection motor64, and then discharges the air to the outside of the cabinet50.

The convection cover66comprises a first cover65provided with suction holes65afor sucking the air in the cooking chamber52, and a second cover67forming a space66′ with the first cover65and provided with a suction hole67afor sucking the air to the center of the convection fan62and discharge holes67bfor discharging the air from the convection fan62to the cooking chamber52.

The suction holes65aof the first cover65are located at the edge portion thereof and the central portion thereof corresponding to the center of the convection fan62so that the air in the cooking chamber52is uniformly sucked to the space66′ between the first cover65and the second cover67.

The suction hole67aof the second cover67is located at the central portion thereof so that the air in the space66′ between the first cover65and the second cover67is sucked to the center of the convection fan62. Preferably, the discharge holes67bof the second cover67are located at the edge portion thereof, because the convection fan62blows air in the centrifugal direction.

The first and second covers65and67may be integrally formed, or be separated from each other so that the first and second covers65and67can be divisionally cleaned as described later. That is, the first cover65may be detachably attached to the second cover67using bolts or hooks.

Hereinafter, the function of the above cooking device in accordance with the present invention will be described.

When the cooking device of the present invention is operated, the electric heater52ais driven, and the air in the cooking chamber52is heated by the electric heater52a. Further, the convection fan62is rotated by the convection motor64, and the air in the cooking chamber52is uniformly dispersed by the convection chamber60.

Now, a process for dispersing the air in the cooking chamber52by the convection chamber60will be described in detail.

The air in the cooking chamber52is collected in the space66′ between the first cover65and the second cover67through the suction holes65aof the first cover65. The air collected in the space66′ between the first cover65and the second cover67is sucked to the center of the convection fan62through the suction hole67aof the second cover67. The air sucked to the center of the convection fan62is discharged from the convection fan62in the centrifugal direction, and the air discharged from the convection fan62passes through the electric heater62ainstalled on the internal rear surface of the cooking chamber52and is sucked again to the cooking chamber52through the discharge holes67b.

Since the suction holes65aof the first cover65are formed throughout all regions of the first cover65, the air in the cooking chamber52is uniformly sucked through all regions of the first cover65, thereby being uniformly heated.

When the air in the cooking chamber52is heated to a high temperature as described above, food placed in the cooking chamber52is cooked or waste in the cooking chamber52is decomposed by the heat.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a convection chamber of a cooking device, which comprises a convection fan rotatably installed in a cooking chamber, a convection motor for rotating the convection fan, and a convection cover provided in front of the convection fan and having a channel for collecting air in the cooking chamber, sucking the air to the convection fan, and discharging the air from the convection fan to the cooking chamber, thereby allowing the air in the cooking chamber to be uniformly sucked to the convection fan so that the air in the cooking chamber can be uniformly heated.