Abstract:
An oven that is capable of minimizing heat transfer between adjacent cooking spaces along the wall of a cooking chamber. The oven includes an oven body having a cooking chamber, a partition to partition the cooking chamber into a plurality of cooking spaces, and insulating grooves formed at a wall of the cooking chamber to minimize heat transfer between the cooking spaces.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-49744, filed on Jun. 10, 2005 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an oven to cook food. More particularly, to an oven having a plurality of cooking spaces partitioned in a cooking chamber. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Examples of an oven having a plurality of cooking spaces are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-8846 and Korean Registered Utility Model Publication No. 20-209671. 
     The conventional oven disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-8846 includes a cooking chamber partitioned into first and second cooking chambers by a partition. Microwaves generated from a magnetron are separately supplied into the first and second cooking spaces such that food is cooked individually in the respective cooking spaces. The oven disclosed in Korean Registered Utility Model Publication No. 20-209671 includes a cooking chamber partitioned into a plurality of cooking spaces by a partition and a shelf. The cooking spaces are heated by electric heaters, which are independently controlled, and heat transfer between the adjacent cooking spaces is prevented by the partition. 
     In each of the ovens, food is cooked individually in the respective partitioned cooking spaces, and different kinds of food are cooked in the respective cooking spaces under different heating conditions. 
     When different kinds of food are cooked in the respective cooking spaces under different heating conditions, however, heat is transferred from one of the cooking spaces to another cooking space along the wall of the cooking chamber. As a result, it is difficult to maintain the respective cooking spaces at desired temperatures, and heat loss is generated. Specifically, the interior temperature of the cooking space having relatively low temperature is increased by heat transferred from the cooking space having relatively high temperature along the wall of the cooking chamber. Also, the heat is transferred from the cooking space having relatively high temperature to the cooking space having relatively low temperature, and therefore, heat loss is generated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an aspect of the invention to provide an oven that is capable of minimizing heat transfer between adjacent cooking spaces along the wall of a cooking chamber. 
     Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achieved by providing an oven including an oven body having a cooking chamber, a partition to partition the cooking chamber into a plurality of cooking spaces, and insulating grooves formed at a wall of the cooking chamber to minimize heat transfer between the cooking spaces. 
     The oven further includes mounting parts provided at the wall of the cooking chamber such that the partition is mounted on the mounting parts, wherein the insulating grooves are disposed adjacent to the mounting parts. 
     The oven further includes opening/closing devices to open or close the insulating grooves, wherein the opening/closing devices are separated from the respective insulating grooves when the partition is mounted, and close the respective insulating grooves when the partition is removed. 
     Each of the opening/closing devices includes an opening/closing member hingedly mounted at an outside of the wall of the cooking chamber to open and close the corresponding insulating groove, a spring to support the opening/closing member such that the opening/closing member is rotated in a direction of closing the corresponding insulating groove, and a push protrusion extending from the opening/closing member toward the corresponding mounting part such that the opening/closing member is separated from the corresponding insulating groove when the partition is mounted. 
     The insulating grooves are arranged around the partition in groups. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an oven according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view illustrating the oven according to the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the insulating grooves and opening/closing devices of the oven shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view illustrating the insulating groove and the opening/closing device of the oven according to an embodiment of the present invention when a partition is mounted; and 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating the insulating groove and the opening/closing device of the oven according to an embodiment of the present invention when the partition is removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiment is described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown an oven according to an embodiment of the present invention. The oven comprises an oven body  10  having an outer case  12 , which is made of steel, and an inner case  13  mounted inside the outer case  12  while being spaced apart from the outer case  12 . The inner case  13  comprises a cooking chamber  11  defined therein. 
     The cooking chamber  10  comprises an open front surface, through which food is introduced into or removed from the cooking chamber  10 . To the front surface of the oven body  10  is vertically hingedly connected a door  14 , by which the cooking chamber  11  is opened or closed. At the front surface of the oven body  10  above the door  14  is disposed a manipulation panel  15  comprising a display unit  15   a  to display operation of the oven, various manipulation buttons  15   b , and various manipulation switches  15   c.    
     The cooking chamber  11  is partitioned into a first cooking chamber  11   a  and a second cooking chamber  11   b  by a partition  16 . Specifically, the cooking chamber  11  is partitioned into the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  when the partition  16  is mounted in the cooking chamber  11 , and the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  communicate with each other when the partition  16  is removed from the cooking chamber  11 . To this end, mounting parts  17  are provided at opposite side walls of the cooking chamber  11  (the inner walls of the inner case). The mounting parts  17  extend from the front to the rear of the cooking chamber  11 . 
     In addition, food shelves  18   a  and  18   b  are mounted in the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b , respectively, such that food is placed on the food shelves  18   a  and  18   b . At the opposite side walls of the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  are provided shelf supporting members  19   a  and  19   b  to support the food shelves  18   a  and  18   b.    
     At the outside of the inner case  13  at the rear of the cooking chamber  11  is mounted a heater case  21 , by which a first upper heater compartment  20   a  and a second lower heater compartment  20   b  are defined while the first upper heater compartment  20   a  and the second lower heater compartment  20   b  are divided from each other, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the first heater compartment  20   a  are mounted a first circulating fan  22   a  to circulate air inside the first cooking chamber  11   a  and a first heater  23   a , which is disposed at the outer circumference of the first circulating fan  22   a . In the second heater compartment  20   b  are mounted a second circulating fan  22   b  to circulate air inside the second cooking chamber  1   b  and a second heater  23   b , which is disposed at the outer circumference of the second circulating fan  22   b . At the outside of the heater case  21   b  are mounted a first motor  24   a  to drive the first circulating fan  22   a  and a second motor  24   b  to drive the second circulating fan  22   b . However, the present invention is not limited to any particular number of heaters, and may vary as necessary. 
     At the rear walls of the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  (the rear wall of the inner case) are formed suction holes  26   a  and  26   b  and discharge holes  27   a  and  27   b , through which the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  communicate with the first and second heater compartments  20   a  and  20   b , respectively, to circulate air. Consequently, air flows from the first and second cooking chambers  20   a  and  20   b  to the first and the second heater compartments  20   a  and  20   b  by the first and second circulating fans  22   a  and  22   b , respectively, and is heated by the first and second heaters  23   a  and  23   b . Then, the heated air flows from first and the second heater compartments  20   a  and  20   b  to the first and second cooking chambers  20   a  and  20   b  by the first and second circulating fans  22   a  and  22   b , respectively. 
     The first circulating fan  22   a  and the first heater  23   a  or the second circulating fan  22   b  and the second heater  23   b  are operated, or the first and second circulating fans  22   a  and  22   b  and the first and second heaters  23   a  and  23   b  are simultaneously operated by user manipulation of the manipulation panel  15 , such that food is cooked in either the first cooking chamber  11   a  and the second cooking chamber  11   b  or simultaneously in both the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b . When it is necessary to cook food simultaneously in both the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  under different temperature conditions, power sources applied to the first and second heaters  23   a  and  23   b  are separately controlled such that the interior temperature of the first cooking chamber  11   a  is different from that of the second cooking chamber  11   b . Therefore, the oven further comprises sensors  28   a  and  28   b  to sense an interior temperature of the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b , and a control unit  29  to control the power sources applied to the first and second heaters  23   a  and  23   b  based on sensed information of the sensors  28   a  and  28   b , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     To minimize heat transfer between one of the cooking chambers to the other cooking chamber, the partition  16  is made of an insulating member, and an insulating unit is mounted at the side walls of the inner case  13  between the first cooking chamber  11   a  and the second cooking chamber  11   b  (the side walls of the inner case). As a result, heat transfer along the partition  16  and the side walls  13   a  of the inner case  13  between the first and second cooking chambers  1   a  and  11   b  is minimized. Consequently, difference in temperature between the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  is maintained, and therefore, heat loss due to heat transfer between the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  is greatly reduced. 
     In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the insulating unit comprises insulating grooves  30  formed at the opposite side walls of the inner case  13  between the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b , and opening/closing devices  40  to open the insulating grooves  30  when the partition  16  is mounted and to close the insulating grooves  30  when the partition  16  is removed. 
     The insulating grooves  30  separate the opposite side walls  13   a  of the inner case  13  between the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  from each other to minimize heat transfer between the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  along the opposite side walls  13   a . Specifically, the insulating grooves  30  are formed at the opposite side walls  13   a  of the inner case  12  at the position adjacent to the mounting parts  17 , on which the partition  16  is mounted, while extending in the longitudinal direction of the mounting parts  17  to separate the first cooking chamber side and the second cooking chamber side from each other. 
     As described above, connection parts  31  having a predetermined width are disposed between the respective adjacent insulating grooves  30 , when the insulating grooves  30  are formed, such that the side walls  13   a  of the first cooking chamber  11   a  are connected to the side walls  13   a  of the second cooking chamber  11   b . As a result, rigidity of the inner case  13  is maintained. At this time, heat may be transferred between the first and second coking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  along the connection parts  31 . However, the predetermined width of the connection parts  31  is very small as compared to the length of the insulating grooves  30 , and therefore, the heat transfer between the first and second cooking chambers  11   a  and  11   b  along the connection parts  31  is neglected. 
     Each of the opening/closing devices  40  to open or close the insulating grooves  30  comprises an opening/closing member  41  hingedly mounted at the outside of the corresponding side wall  13   a  of the inner case  13 , a spring  42  to pressurize the opening/closing member  41  such that the opening/closing member  41  opens or closes the corresponding insulating groove  30 , and a push protrusion  45  configured to be separated from the corresponding insulating groove  30  as the opening/closing member  41  is pushed by the partition  16  when the partition  16  is mounted. 
     The opening/closing member  41  is connected with a fixing member  43 , the upper end of which is fixed with the inner case  13 , via a connection pin  44 . The opening/closing member  41  comprises an opening/closing part  41   a , which is formed such that the opening/closing part  41   a  can be inserted into the corresponding insulating groove  30 . Consequently, the opening/closing member  41  can be rotated about the connection pin  44 . Through the rotation of the opening/closing member  41 , the opening/closing part  41   a  is inserted into the corresponding insulating groove  30  to close the corresponding insulating groove  30  or is separated from the corresponding insulating groove  30  to open the corresponding insulating groove  30 . 
     The spring  42  is a torsion spring, which is mounted at the connection pin  44 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, any suitable spring may be applied. The spring  42  pressurizes the opening/closing member  41  such that the opening/closing member  41  is rotated in the direction of closing the corresponding insulating groove  30 . Consequently, the opening/closing member  41  closes the corresponding insulating grooves  30  while the partition  16  is not mounted. 
     In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the push protrusion  45  extends from the opening/closing member  41  toward the mounting part  17 , at which the partition  16  is mounted, through the corresponding side wall  13   a  of the inner case  13 . Also, the push protrusion  45  comprises an inclined upper surface  45   a  such that the push protrusion  45  can be easily pushed outward from the cooking chamber  11  by the partition  16  when the partition  16  is mounted. 
     When the partition  16  is mounted, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the push protrusion  45  is pushed by the end of the partition  16 , and therefore, the opening/closing part  41   a  of the opening/closing member  41  is separated from the corresponding insulating groove  30 . Consequently, heat transfer along the corresponding side wall  13   a  of the inner case  13  is minimized. 
     While the partition  16  is mounted, air may leak from the first cooking chamber  11   a  through a gap between the opening/closing part  41   a  and the corresponding insulating groove  30 . In  FIG. 4 , however, a degree of separation of the opening/closing part  41   a  of the opening/closing member  41  from the corresponding insulating groove  30  is small, and therefore, air flow through the gap between the opening/closing part  41   a  and the corresponding insulating groove  30  is restricted. As a result, a leakage amount of air is small, and heat loss of the first cooking chamber  11   a  due to the leakage of air is neglected. The upper and lower side walls  13   a  of the inner case  13  are separated from each other by the insulating grooves  30 , and therefore, heat transfer at the area where the insulating grooves  30  are formed is prevented. 
     When the partition  16  is removed, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the opening/closing member  41  is rotated toward the corresponding insulating groove  30  by elasticity of the spring  42  to close the corresponding insulating groove  30 . Consequently, the leakage of air through the insulating groove  30  is prevented. At this time, the opening/closing member  41  is brought into contact with the corresponding insulating groove  30 , and therefore, heat is transferred between the upper and lower side walls  13   a  of the inner case  13 . In this case, however, the cooking chamber  11  is used as a single cooking space, and therefore, such heat transfer is good to uniformly distribute temperature throughout the cooking chamber  11 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the insulating grooves and the opening/closing devices are provided at the opposite side walls of the cooking chamber. As an alternative, additional insulating grooves and opening/closing devices may be provided at the rear wall of the cooking chamber in the same fashion such that heat transfer between the first and second cooking chambers is further prevented. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the insulating grooves and the opening/closing devices are applied to the oven having the vertically partitioned cooking chambers. As an alternative, the insulating grooves and the opening/closing devices may be applied to an oven having horizontally partitioned cooking chambers. 
     As apparent from the above description, heat transfer between the first and second cooking chambers is prevented by the insulating grooves formed at the walls between the first and second cooking chambers. Consequently, heat transfer from one of the cooking chambers to the adjacent cooking chamber along the walls of the cooking chambers is minimized. 
     Furthermore, the opening/closing members are separated from the corresponding insulating grooves when the partition is mounted, and therefore, heat transfer along the walls is minimized. Also, the insulating grooves are closed by the corresponding opening/closing members when the partition is removed, and therefore, the leakage of air through the insulating grooves is prevented. 
     Although an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.