U.S. patent application number 12/968803 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-21 for heat sink for a cooking appliance.
This patent application is currently assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. Invention is credited to Justin Tyler Brown, Howard James Oagley.
Application Number | 20120152226 12/968803 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46232707 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120152226 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oagley; Howard James ; et
al. |
June 21, 2012 |
HEAT SINK FOR A COOKING APPLIANCE
Abstract
A heat sink for LEDs or other electronic elements in a kitchen
appliance is provided. The chassis or other heat conducting
components of the appliance are used as a heat sink to conduct away
heat. The LEDs or other electronic features may be connected
directly to the heat sink or may be connected by e.g., a
bracket.
Inventors: |
Oagley; Howard James;
(Louisville, KY) ; Brown; Justin Tyler;
(Louisville, KY) |
Assignee: |
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Schenectady
NY
|
Family ID: |
46232707 |
Appl. No.: |
12/968803 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/299D ;
165/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/299.D ;
165/185 |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/20 20060101
F24C015/20; F28F 7/00 20060101 F28F007/00 |
Claims
1. A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen
appliance, comprising the steps of: selecting a position on the
kitchen appliance that will facilitate the conduction of heat away
from the electronic component; placing the electronic component in
thermal contact with the kitchen appliance at such position; and
conducting heat from the electronic component to the appliance.
2. A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen
appliance as in claim 1, wherein said selecting step further
comprises determining a position that will facilitate the transfer
of heat away from the electronic component by natural
convection.
3. A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen
appliance as in claim 1, wherein said selecting step comprises
locating the position on a part of the appliance that is
constructed from a conductive metal.
4. A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen
appliance as in claim 2, wherein said selecting step further
comprises locating the position on a part of the appliance that
forms part of the chassis of the appliance.
5. A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen
appliance as in claim 1, wherein the appliance is a range hood and
the electronic component is an LED lamp positioned in the range
hood, the range hood having a mounting panel that is not directly
exposed to the heat source, and wherein said LED lamp is placed
into thermal contact with the mounting panel.
6. A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen
appliance as in claim 1, wherein the appliance is a range hood
having a vent duct, and wherein the electronic component is an LED
lamp positioned into thermal contact with the vent duct such that
heat is conducted from said LED lamp to said vent duct, the method
further comprising the step of transmitting the light from the LED
lamp towards a surface positioned below the range hood.
7. A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen
appliance as in claim 1, the kitchen appliance having a user
interface, and wherein the electronic component is a PCB mounted
into thermal contact with the appliance such that heat is conducted
from said PCB to said appliance, wherein said PCB is mounted a
predetermined distance away from the user interface, and further
comprising the step of transmitting data input, data output, or
both by a wired connection between the user interface and the
PCB.
8. A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen
appliance as in claim 1, the kitchen appliance having a user
interface, and wherein the electronic component is a PCB mounted
into thermal contact with the appliance such that heat is conducted
from said PCB to said appliance, wherein said PCB is mounted a
predetermined distance away from the user interface, and further
comprising the step of transmitting data input, data output, or
both by a wireless connection between the user interface and the
PCB.
9. A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen
appliance as in claim 1, wherein said placing step comprises
attaching the electronic component directly to the appliance.
10. A method for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen
appliance as in claim 1, wherein said placing step comprises
attaching the electronic component to a bracket that is attached
directly to the appliance.
11. A kitchen appliance, comprising: an electronic component
providing one or more features for the appliance; and a heat
conducting element that forms part of the kitchen appliance;
wherein said electronic component is thermally connected with said
heat conducting element such that heat generated by said electronic
component is conducted to the heat conducting element.
12. A kitchen appliance as in claim 11, wherein the appliance is a
range hood, the appliance further comprising; an appearance panel,
wherein said electronic component comprises an LED lamp providing
light through said appearance panel; and wherein said heat
conducting element comprises a mounting panel located behind said
appearance panel, said LED lamp thermally connected to said
mounting panel such that heat created by said LED lamp is conducted
away from said LED lamp by said mounting panel.
13. A kitchen appliance as in claim 12, wherein said LED lamp is
attached directly to said mounting panel.
14. A kitchen appliance as in claim 12, further comprising a
bracket attached directly to said mounting panel, and wherein said
LED lamp is attached directly to said bracket.
15. A kitchen appliance as in claim 11, wherein the appliance is a
range hood, the appliance further comprising a vent duct for
allowing the range hood to exhaust cooking fumes and heat, wherein
said electronic component is placed into thermal communication with
said vent duct.
16. A kitchen appliance as in claim 15, wherein said electronic
component is attached to said vent duct.
17. A kitchen appliance as in claim 15, wherein said electronic
component is an LED lamp that is attached to said vent duct, and
further comprising means for transmitting light from said LED lamp
towards a surface located below the range hood.
18. A kitchen appliance as in claim 15, wherein said electronic
component is a PCB board attached to said vent duct.
19. A kitchen appliance as in claim 18, further comprising: a user
interface for operating the appliance; and a wired connection
between said user interface and said PCB board.
20. A kitchen appliance as in claim 18, further comprising: a user
interface for operating the appliance; and a wireless connection
between said user interface and said PCB board.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention provides a heat sink for LEDs or other
electronic elements in a kitchen appliance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Modern kitchen appliances are frequently provided with
various features that rely upon electronics for operation. For
example, a range hood or oven may include a processing device
mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) and connected with a touch
panel or other device whereby the user may select various options
for operation of the appliance. For an oven, such PCB might include
different, user selectable cooking algorithms based on the food
and/or mode of cooking desired. The PCB typically associated with
such features is electrically-powered and generates heat during
operation. If the PCB becomes too hot, the electronics may cease to
operate properly or even become permanently damaged.
[0003] Some appliances may also be equipped with lighting features
that rely upon light emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide
illumination. For example, a range hood or an over the range
microwave oven may include various LED bulbs to light up a cook
top. Such lighting may be important to the user as the cook top
will typically have several heating elements positioned on a
horizontal surface for cooking food contained in pots and pans.
[0004] For these applications, LED lighting has certain advantages
as compared to incandescent or other types of lights. These
advantages can include e.g., resistance to vibration, long life
expectancy, relatively low energy use, durability for repeated
on-off switching, and compactness. In addition, where more light is
needed, LED bulbs can be grouped together to increase the intensity
of the light output.
[0005] However, there are certain challenges to using LED lamps in
a kitchen appliance. As with a PCB, LED lamps can produce a
significant amount of heat and are susceptible to poor operation if
their temperature rises too high. More particularly, there is
generally a narrow range of temperatures at which LED lamps can
efficiently produce their maximum light output or most efficient
light output. In addition, if the temperature elevates above a
certain range, the LEDs can be damaged or even destroyed.
[0006] As such, an appliance must provide for properly cooling
electronics and LED lamps during operation. Such can be a difficult
task with a kitchen appliance because of the heat that is generated
from cooking. For example, LED lamps are sometimes provided in a
range hood to provide lighting above the cook top. Heat coming from
the cook top and/or an associated oven will rise up and through the
range hood. Depending upon the placement of the LED lamps, this
heat can provide further temperature problems for LED lamps by
advancing the temperature increase. Similar problems can be created
for a PCB or other electronics if positioned where they can be
affected by heat from cooking.
[0007] Accordingly, a system for the effective cooling of LED lamps
or other electronics in a kitchen appliance would be useful. A
system that can use structural and other features of the appliance
to facilitate such cooling would be beneficial. Such a system that
can be readily incorporated within the overall design of an
appliance would also be very useful.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
part in the following description, or may be obvious from the
description, or may be learned through practice of the
invention.
[0009] In one exemplary aspect of the present invention, a method
for cooling an electronic component in a kitchen appliance is
provided. The method includes the steps of selecting a position on
the kitchen appliance that will facilitate the conduction of heat
away from the electronic component; placing the electronic
component in thermal contact with the kitchen appliance at such
position; and conducting heat from the electronic component to the
appliance.
[0010] In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention
provides a kitchen appliance. The appliance includes an electronic
component providing one or more features for the appliance and a
heat conducting element that forms part of the kitchen appliance.
The electronic component is thermally connected with the heat
conducting element such that heat generated by the electronic
component is conducted to the heat conducting element.
[0011] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description and appended claims. The accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill
in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes
reference to the appended figures, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 provides an exemplary embodiment of an appliance, in
this example a range hood, as may be used with the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 provides a cross-section view of an exemplary
embodiment of a range hood as may be used with the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 provides a cross-section view of another exemplary
embodiment of a range hood as may be used with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention provides a heat sink for LEDs or other
electronic elements in a kitchen appliance. The chassis or other
heat conducting components of the appliance are used as a heat sink
to conduct away heat. The LEDs or other electronic features may be
connected directly to the heat sink or may be connected by e.g., a
bracket.
[0017] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with
another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention covers such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
[0018] FIG. 1 provides an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention as a range hood 10 installed within kitchen cabinetry 22.
Range hood 10 includes a user interface 20 that has multiple
controls 42 as may be used to activate a fan, lights, or other
features. Range hood 10 is positioned over an oven 18 that includes
a horizontal, cook-top surface 14 having multiple heating elements
16 positioned thereon. Heating elements 16 may be e.g.,
electrically-powered or gas fueled and provide heat for cooking
food placed into pots or pans and positioned onto such elements 16.
Oven 18 includes a cavity, positioned behind door 19, into which
food items may be placed for baking and/or broiling.
[0019] During operation of oven 18, heat and cooking fumes are
generated from heating elements 16 and/or the baking or broiling in
the cavity. This heat will rise upwardly, towards range hood 10. As
such, at least some of the heat from cooking operations will heat
range hood 10 and its associated lighting and other electronic
features.
[0020] FIG. 2 provides a cross-sectional view of range hood 10. For
this exemplary embodiment, range hood 10 includes an LED lamp 30
that is operated by one or more of the controls 42 positioned on
user interface 20. Wiring 38 connects LED lamp 30 with control 42.
Although only a single LED lamp 30 is shown, a plurality of LED
lamps could be positioned about range hood 10 depending upon the
amount of light desired.
[0021] In the configuration shown, LED lamp 30 provides light for
the illumination of cook-top surface 14 on range 12. More
specifically, LED lamp 30 provides light through an opening 44 in
an upper appearance panel 32. Additional openings can be provided
for other LED lamps positioned in range hood 10 as desired.
[0022] A typical LED lamp can provide more light, and is more
efficient at producing light, as temperature decreases. During
operation of LED lamp 30, it will generate a significant amount of
heat that can be deleterious to its proper functioning. In
addition, the heat generated from cooking with oven 18 further
exacerbates the problem by providing additional heat that can
adversely affect LED lamp 30.
[0023] Accordingly, LED lamp 30 is in thermal contact with a
mounting panel 34, which forms part of the frame or chassis 46 of
range hood 10. As shown in FIG. 2, LED lamp 30 is attached directly
to panel 34 and, as such, heat generated by lamp 30 will be
conducted to panel 34. In turn, because panel 34 is constructed
from a conductive material such as a metal, heat will be conducted
through panel 34 to other parts of the chassis 46 of range hood 10
thereby improving its efficiency as a heat sink for lamp 30. Panel
34 is shown as a flat sheet in FIG. 2. However, other
configurations and shapes for panel 34 may be used as well. In
addition, lamp 30 can also be placed on heating conducting elements
used to construct range hood 10.
[0024] Mounting panel 34 is positioned behind upper appearance
panel 32. More particularly, with respect to the flow of heat
rising upwardly from oven 18, panel 34 is shielded from such heat
by upper appearance panel 32. As such, mount panel 34 is protected
from the heat generated by cooking so as to improve its ability to
conduct heat away from LED lamp 30.
[0025] In addition, range hood 10 is constructed in a manner that
uses natural convection to help further cool LED lamp 30. Chassis
46 and vent duct 24 form a chamber 48. As LED lamp 30 heats up
during operation and, in turn, conducts heat to mounting panel 34,
air within chamber 48 near the surface of mounting panel 34 will be
heated. The heated air will then rise within chamber 48 to be
displaced by cooler air falling down to replace the heated air.
This process of natural convection further contributes to the
cooling of LED lamp 30.
[0026] Additionally, the placement of LED lamp 30 can be controlled
to further improve the cooling effects of mounting it to panel 34.
More specifically, the placement of LED lamp 30 along upper
appearance panel 32 can be selected such that lamp 30 is not
directly over a heat source from oven 18 such as one of the heating
elements 16. The size of range hood 10, i.e., the extent to which
hood 10 projects out and over appliance 18 can also be increased in
order to move LED lamp 30 further away from a position directly
above heat sources in oven 18.
[0027] FIG. 3 provides another exemplary embodiment of a range hood
10 in which like reference numerals to that of FIG. 2 represent
identical or similar features. Unlike FIG. 2, however, LED lamp 30
is placed into direct thermal contact or communication with vent
duct 24. In the example of FIG. 3, LED lamp 30 is attached directly
to the walls forming vent duct 24. Light pipes 36 are used to
transmit light produced by LED lamp 30 to the opening 44 in upper
appearance panel 32. Light is emitted from the terminal end 40 of
light pipes 36 so as to project light onto cook-top surface 14
(FIG. 1). Light pipes 36 are provided by way of example only. Light
sheets, fiber optics, and other devices may also be used for
transmitting light from LED lamp 30 towards cook-top surface
14.
[0028] By positioning LED lamp 30 directly into contact with vent
duct 24, heat generated during operation of lamp 30 can be
conducted directly to vent duct 24. By constructing vent duct 24
from a conductive material such as a metal, heat conducted from LED
lamp 30 is turn conducted along vent duct 24, which in turn helps
cool lamp 30. In addition, during operation of range 12, the user
may activate fan 26 to draw heat and cooking fumes away from range
12 and to an exhaust as shown by arrows A. The movement of air
through vent duct 24 will also help cool vent duct 24 and improve
its efficiency as a heat sink for LED lamp 30. As previously
described, chamber 48 will also contribute to the cooling of LED
lamp 30 through natural convection.
[0029] The above exemplary embodiments of the present invention
were described using LED lamp 30. As will be understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art using the teachings disclosed herein, the
same principles can be used to provide for the cooling of a PCB or
other electronics that need protection from heat. For example, the
PCB could be attached to mounting panel 34 or other parts of the
chassis 46 of range hood 10 for the conduction of heat away from
the PCB. Similarly, the PCB could be attached to vent duct 24 to
conduct heat away from the PCB in a manner as described above with
regard to LED lamp 30. With both a PCB or LED lamp 30, it should be
understood that such may be directly connected to a heat sink such
as chassis 46 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or a mounting bracket may
also be used to connect the PCB or LED lamp 30. In such case,
preferably the mounting bracket is also constructed from a
conductive material such as a metal so that thermal communication
with the heat sink is provided.
[0030] As will be understood by one of skill in the art using the
teachings herein, the present invention may be used with other
appliances as well and is not limited to a range hood. For example,
similar constructions may be used to provide cooling for the
electronics found in an oven, a microwave mounted over cook-top
surface, and still other appliances as well. In addition, the LED
or PCB can be connected to other parts of the appliance that can
operate as a heat sink, and the present invention is not limited to
the configurations shown in the figures. As such, it should be
understood that this written description uses examples to disclose
the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any
person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including
making and using any devices or systems and performing any
incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is
defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to
those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be
within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements
that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if
they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial
differences from the literal languages of the claims.
* * * * *