Electrical apparatus

Abstract: A power supply cut-off apparatus of an electrical apparatus, for example a microwave oven, includes a flap (213), which can be hinged open and closed, mounted to an outer panel (50), a power supply connection unit (220, 222) provided under the flap (213) and plugged into a socket on a power supply cable (100), and a fuse (230) detachably mounted to the power supply connection unit(220, 222).

Description: The present invention relates to apparatus which, when operating, contains a hazardous voltage, field or electromagnetic wave, comprising a first housing member, a second, displaceable housing member and means for generating a hazardous voltage, field or electromagnetic wave within the housing. Such an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 is described for example in EP-A-0 477 633. A conventional microwave oven, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, includes a cooking chamber 60 formed by a housing. The housing comprises various panels, including a front panel 20, a back panel 30, a base panel 40 and a removable outer panel 50. A turntable 70 is disposed on a floor of the cooking chamber 60. A door 80 is provided for opening and closing the cooking chamber 60, and a control unit 90 is provided for establishing cooking function modes or for operating a magnetron (not shown), or the like. In order to drive the microwave oven thus constructed, when a door open button at the control unit 90 is pressed while an electric cord 100 is still plugged in an electrical outlet, the door 80 is opened and lamp in the cooking chamber 60 lights up. Food is placed on the turntable 70, the door 80 is closed, a desired cooking time and cooking menu and the like are input by way of the control unit 90, and a start button is pressed. Then the turntable 70 is rotated in one direction as microwaves at 2450MHz are generated by a magnetron (not shown) and dispersed in the cooking chamber 60. The microwaves dispersed in the cooking chamber 60 are reflected from metal walls thereof and directed at the food on the turntable 70 to thereby heat the food. However, there is a problem with the conventional microwave oven thus constructed in that, during repair or maintenance of the product, a worker can receive an electric shock when the outer panel 50 is separated with the electric cord 100 is still plugged into an outlet. An apparatus according to the present invention is characterised by closable access means provided in the second housing member and power supply cut-off means, comprising a socket terminating a power supply cable which is attached to the first housing member, and a structure having a plug portion for being plugged into the socket and mounted to the second housing member, for cutting off a supply of power to the means for generating a hazardous voltage, field or electromagnetic wave, the power supply cut-off means being accessible by means of the access means for separation of the plug portion and the socket, and the second housing member not being fully displaceable, with respect to the first housing member, unless the plug portion has been separated from said socket. Preferably, the access means comprises a flap hingedly mounted to the housing member. Conveniently, the power supply cut-off means is mounted to the flap so as to be exposed when the access means is opened. Advantageously, an electrical fuse for protecting the apparatus is accessible by means of the access means. The fuse may be mounted to the power supply cut-off means. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to Figures 3 to 7 of.the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a prior art microwave oven; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the microwave oven of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the rear surface of a microwave oven having a power supply cut-off apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an outer panel provided with a power supply cut-off apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a plan view showing a power supply cable and an adapter disconnected from each other; Figure 6 is a perspective view showing an outer panel provided with a power supply cut-off apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 7 is a plan view showing a power supply cable and an adapter disconnected from each other; Throughout the drawings, like symbols and reference numerals are used for designation of like or equivalent parts or portions, and redundant description will be omitted for simplicity of illustration and explanation. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, a power supply cut-off apparatus of a microwave oven according to the present invention includes a hinged flap 210 at one side of an outer panel 50, and a power supply connection unit 220 installed under the flap 210 so that connections to the electric cord 100 can be made and broken. As shown in Figure 4, the flap 210 covers a cutaway portion 211 of the outer panel 50, and comprises a plate 213 and a hinge 212 at one side of the cutaway portion 211. The plate 213 rotates about the hinge for opening and closing the area of the cutaway portion 211. The power supply connection unit 220 includes an adapter 221 fixed to the inner surface of the plate 213 of the flap 210 one end of which, i.e. the male end, is removably plugged into a three-core electric cable 100, and a terminal 222 connected by three wires to the electronic parts within the microwave oven which is removably plugged into the other end, i.e. the female end, of the adapter 221. The male end of the adapter 221 comprises three contact pins 221a and the female end comprises three contact holes 221b (see Figure 5). The operation and effect of the power supply cut-off apparatus will now be described in detail. In order to repair the microwave oven, initially in the state shown in Figure 3, a plurality of fastening screws (no reference numerals designated) positioned at a rear external marginal area of the outer panel 50 are unfastened, and the outer panel 50 is separated from the back panel 30. When the plate 213 of the flap 210 is lifted upward, the plate 213 is rotated about the hinge 212, so that the bottom of the plate 213 is exposed as shown in Figure 4 and the cutaway portion 211 is open. The outer panel 50 cannot be displaced until the terminal 222 has been unplugged from the adapter 221, as shown in Figure 5. Consequently, electric shocks to the worker are prevented because the electronic components of the oven cannot be exposed until they have been positively disconnected from the cable 100. Furthermore, since the male part 221a of the adapter 221 plugs into a socket on the cable 100 and the terminal 222 plugs into the female part 221b of the adapter 222, no live contact pins are exposed, even if the cable remains connected to the mains. Also, since the male terminal 222 is separated from the female part 221b of the adapter 221, a replacement and repair of the electronic parts (not shown) in the microwave oven is easy and the efficiency of the operation is increased. A second power supply cut-off apparatus of a microwave oven will now be described in detail with reference to Figures 6 and 7. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a second power supply cut-off apparatus includes a hinged flap 210 at one side of an outer panel 50, and a power supply connection unit 220 installed under the flap 210 so that connections to the electric cord 100 can be made and broken. A fuse 230 is mounted to the connection until 220 by a fuse holder 230a, in series with the live power supply line. As shown in Figure 6, the flap 210 covers a cutaway portion 211 of the outer panel 50, and comprises a plate 213 and a hinge 212 at one side of the cutaway portion 211. The plate 213 rotates about the hinge for opening and closing the area of the cutaway portion 211. The power supply connection unit 220 includes an adapter 221 fixed to the inner surface of the plate 213 of the flap 210 one end of which, i.e. the male end, is removably plugged into a three-core electric cable 100, and a terminal 222 connected by three wires to the electronic parts within the microwave oven which is removably plugged into the other end, i.e. the female end, of the adapter 221. The male end of the adapter 221 comprises three contact pins 221a and the female end comprises three contact holes 221b (see Figure 7). The fuse 230 is removably held by the fuse holder 230a. The operation and effect of the power supply cut-off apparatus will now be described in detail. In order to repair the microwave oven, initially in the state shown in Figure 3, a plurality of fastening screws (no reference numerals designated) positioned at a rear external marginal area of the outer panel 50 are unfastened, and the outer panel 50 is separated from the back panel 30. When the plate 213 of the flap 210 is lifted upward, the plate 213 is rotated about the hinge 212, so that the bottom of the plate 212 is exposed as shown in Figure 4 and the cutaway portion 211 is open. The outer panel 50 cannot be displaced until the terminal 222 has been unplugged from the adapter 221, as shown in Figure 5. Consequently, electric shocks to the worker are prevented because the electronic components of the oven cannot be exposed until they have been positively disconnected from the cable 100. Furthermore, since the male part 221a of the adapter 221 plugs into a socket on the cable 100 and the terminal 222 plugs into the female part 221b of the adapter 222, no live contact pins are exposed, even if the cable remains connected to the mains. Also, since the male terminal 222 is separated from the female part 221b of the adapter 221, a replacement and repair of the electronic parts (not shown) in the microwave oven is easy and the efficiency of the operation is increased. In addition, since the fuse 230 can be easily replaced when the flap 210 is opened, removal of the outer panel 50 is not necessary for the fuse 230 to be changed.

Claims: An apparatus which, when operating, contains a hazardous voltage, field or electromagnetic wave, comprising a first housing member (30), a second, displaceable housing member (50) and means for generating a hazardous voltage, field or electromagnetic wave within the housing, characterised by closable access means (213) provided in the second housing member (50) and power supply cut-off means (210, 220), comprising a socket terminating a power supply cable (100) which is attached to the first housing member (30), and a structure (220) having a plug portion for being plugged into the socket and mounted to the second housing member (50), for cutting off a supply of power to the means for generating a hazardous voltage, field or electromagnetic wave, the power supply cut-off means being accessible by means of the access means for separation of the plug portion and the socket, and the second housing member not being fully displaceable, with respect to the first housing member, unless the plug portion has been separated from said socket. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the access means (213) comprises a flap (213) hingedly mounted to the housing member (50). An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said structure (220) is mounted to the flap (213) so as to be exposed when the access means is opened. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein an electrical fuse (230) for protecting the apparatus is accessible by means of the access means (213). An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fuse (230) is mounted to the power supply cut-off means (210,220). An apparatus according to any preceding claim, which is a microwave oven.

Inventors: LEE JUNG-HO, LEE, JUNG-HO
Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: H01H9
IPC codes: H05B6, H01H85, H01H9, H01R33, F24C7