A ring seal for positioning between a hatch and hatch frame in steam ovens

Abstract: The seal ring comprises at least one seal (3), which is associated to elastically deformable elements able to distance the seal from both the hatch (2) and the hatch frame (1) of the steam oven door when the hatch is open.

Description: Ring seals are frequently used in steam ovens, that is, ovens wherein a certain amount of slightly pressurized steam is generated. The prior art teaches seals stably mounted on oven hatches. This can cause the drawback of condensation dripping when the hatch is opened, which in a busy workplace can lead to safety problems (slippery floors). Other realizations have the seal mounted entirely on hatch or the hatch frame, which resolves the problem of dripping on to the floor - a drip collection tray being placed below the frame - but is somewhat unhygienic as dirt tends to collect on the edge of the seal in contact with the hatch frame - a drawback which can in any case occur even where the seal is mounted on the hatch. Wherever the seal is mounted, the dirt collects both when the oven is functioning, that is, with hatch closed, and when the hatch is open for removal of trays and ovenware. The prior art also teaches a double seal, in other words a seal both on the hatch and the frame. This causes dirt both on the one and the other, doubling the problem outlined above, and also leads to infiltration of water into the base of the seals, leading to further hygiene difficulties, with dirt collecting under the seals. In the US 4 077 389 there is described a gasket to be used in an oven door, said gasket being removably secured between the oven and the door. To sum up, all the prior art realizations cause problems connected with cleaning operations, both with regard to the hatch and to the hatch frame. A further drawback derives from the deformations to which the hatch frame is subject, which renders a good seal result hard to obtain where the seal is situated on the hatch frame. The present invention, as it is characterized in claim 1 that follow, aims to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a seal ring placed between the hatch and the frame of the oven door, in particular in steam ovens, in which the seal organ is associated to means for dissociating same both from the hatch and the hatch frame when the oven door is open. The invention shows a constructional simplicity and a facility of application, which requires no special operations on the door. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows, of some embodiments of the invention, illustrated in the form of non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a schematic vertical-elevation front view; figure 2 is a schematic section according to line I-I of figure 1; figure 3 is the section of figure 2 with the invention in a different operative configuration; figure 4 shows two different operative configurations of a section of a second embodiment of the invention, the section being similar to that of figure 2; figure 6 is an enlarged detail of a section made according to a line perpendicular to line I-I of figure 1, relating to a further embodiment; figure 7 is a schematic section made according to line VI-VI of figure 6. With reference to the figures, 1 denotes a frame of a hatch of a steam oven. The hatch 2 is hinged to the frame by means of a hinge 4. A seal ring is interpositioned between the frame 1 and the hatch 2, which seal ring comprises a seal 3 provided with a support frame 30 therefor. The seal 3 is shaped such as to surround the oven hatchway situated within the frame 1 and is provided with elastically deformable elements 31 fixed by one end thereof to the seal 3, or more precisely, to the support frame 30 of the seal 3. At another end the elements 31 are connected removably to the frame 1. This connection can be realized, as in the embodiment shown in figure 1, through a slot 33 made in each element 31 with a flathead pivot 5 fixed on the frame 1. At the zone whereat the hinges 4 are situated, the connection of the seal 3 to the frame 1 is realized by means of elements 34 hinged to the frame 1. The elements 31 function as flexion springs which, when the hatch is open, assume their natural configuration, causing the seal 3 to distance from the surface of the frame 1. When the hatch is closed, as in figure 3, the seal 3 is compressed betwen the hatch 2 and the frame 1 and the elements 31 flex to allow the seal 3 to be brought into contact with the frame 1. A second embodiment of the invention uses elastically deformable elements 32 constrained to the seal 3 such as to function as flexible anchors of said seal 3 to the internal walls of the frame 1. In particular, in figure 4 the functional characteristics of this anchor arrangement of the frame 1 to the seal 3 are shown, achieved by means of the elastically deformable elements 32. Figure 4 shows two operative positions: the distancing of the seal 3 from the frame 1 can be simply executed by pulling the elastically deformable elements 32 externalwise; the insertion of the seal 3 is achieved by pushing the element into the opening surrounded by the frame 1. Detachment and insertion operations of the seal 3 are made possible by the conformation and the elastic deformability of the elastically deformable elements 32, which interact with the internal walls of the frame 1. In the embodiment of figures 6 and 7 a seal 13 is shown connected to the hatch 2; the seal 13 is inferiorly provided with an inclined gutter 14 having the purpose of collecting the condensation drips that form on the internal side of the hatch 2. The drips of condensation are conducted into the gutter 14 by means of a drip rake 15. The seal 13 is connected to the hatch 2 by means of elastically deformable elements 41 having first ends fixed to the seal 13 and second ends removably connected to the hatch 2, removably and having a type of connection which is substantially similar to the one illustrated in the embodiment of figure 1 between the elements 31 and the flathead pivots 5 fixed to the frame 1. The gutter 14 is inclined so that the lower end thereof is positioned in proximity of the pivot 16 about which the hatch 2 is hinged to the frame 1. The seal 3 can be conformed in various ways; in particular, it can exhibit a trapezoid shape with the lower side being inclined to a predetermined inclination which causes the drips of condensation to be conveyed to the hinging zone of the hatch 2. The shape of the straight transversal section of the seal 3 is very simple, so that it can be more easily cleaned. The fact that the seal 3 can be detached from both the frame 1 and the hatch 2 means that the seal 3 can easily adapt (when the hatch 2 is closed) to the facing walls of the frame 1 and the hatch 2. This leads to a good seal. The fact that it can be distanced (when the hatch 2 is open) both from the frame 1 and the natch 2 means that easy access is afforded to the surfaces of the frame 1 and the hatch 2, so that the cleaning operation is easy, effective and rapid.

Claims: A seal ring for placing between a hatch and a hatch frame, in particular for steam ovens, characterized in that it comprises at least one seal (3) (13) which is independent of said hatch (2) and said hatch frame (1), and which is associated to elastically deformable elements (31, 32) which, when the door is open, assume their natural configuration, causing the seal (3, 13) to distance from the surface of the frame (1); said seal (3) (13) being tightly compressed between said hatch (1) and said hatch frame (2) when said hatch (1) is closed. A seal ring as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first type of said elastically deformable elements (31) which are connected at first ends thereof to said seal (3); at least some of said first type of elastically deformable elements (31) being connected at second ends thereof to said hatch frame (1). A seal ring as in claim 2, characterized in that said first type of elastically deformable elements (31) are removably connected by ends thereof to said frame (1). A seal ring, as in claim 3, characterized in that said first type of elastically deformable elements (31) act as flexion springs. A seal ring as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a second type of elastically deformable elements (32) which are fixed by and one thereof to said seal (3); at least some of said second type of elastically deformable elements (32) being shaped such as to contact with facing internal walls of said hatch frame (1); said second type of elastically deformable elements (32) constituting a removable anchoring system for said seal (3) on said hatch frame (1). A seal ring as in claim 5, characterized in that said second type of elastically deformable elements (32) act as flexion springs. A seal ring, as in claim 1, characterized in that said seal (3) is hinged at a superior side thereof to an upper side of said hatch frame (1). A seal ring as in claim 1, characterized in that said seal (13) exhibits a trapezoid shape with an inferior side thereof having a predetermined inclination; drips of condensation from steam exiting said oven being entrained in said inferior side and removed towards a zone of said hatch (2) whereat hinges thereof are situated. A seal ring as in claim 1, characterized in that said means for keeping said seal (13) independent comprise a third type of elastically deformable elements (41) connected by a first end thereof to said seal (13); at least some of said third type of elastically deformable elements (41) being connected by second ends thereof to said hatch (2). A seal ring, as in claim 9, characterized in that said third type of elastically deformable elements (41) are removably connected by said second ends thereof to said hatch (2). A seal ring, as in claim 10, characterized in that said seal (13) is inferiorly provided with an inclined gutter (14) conformed in such a way as to collect condensation drips which form on an internal side of said hatch (2); a drip rake (15) being provided, fixed to said internal side of said hatch (2), for guiding said drips into said inclined gutter (14). A seal ring, as in claim 11, characterized in that said inclined gutter (14) is inclined at such an angle that a lower end thereof is situated in proximity of a pivot (16) about which said hatch (2) is hinged to said hatch frame (1).

Inventors: CULZONI MARCO, CULZONI, MARCO
Applicants: ANGELO, ANGELO PO
Application year: 1995
Main classification: F24C15
IPC codes: A21B3, F24C15