U.S. patent application number 14/191763 was filed with the patent office on 2015-08-27 for wall oven cooling system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Electrolux Home Products, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Electrolux Home Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ronald Gene Brant, Aaron Todd Holmes.
Application Number | 20150241069 14/191763 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53881842 |
Filed Date | 2015-08-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150241069 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brant; Ronald Gene ; et
al. |
August 27, 2015 |
WALL OVEN COOLING SYSTEM
Abstract
A cooking oven includes a first heatable oven chamber, a second
heatable oven chamber below the first oven chamber. A cooling
plenum is located above the first oven chamber including a suction
portion to supply cool air and an exhaust portion to discharge
heated air. A cooling fan produces a primary cooling airflow
through the cooling plenum. An electronic device is located at
least partially within the cooling plenum and in flow communication
with the heated air. A bypass element is located within the cooling
plenum that at least partially surrounds the electronic device to
divert the heated air away from the electronic device. In one
example, the cooling fan produces a secondary cooling airflow
through a vertical channel at the rear of the cooking oven. In
another example, a second cooling plenum is located above the
second oven chamber.
Inventors: |
Brant; Ronald Gene;
(Greenbrier, TN) ; Holmes; Aaron Todd; (White
House, TN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Electrolux Home Products, Inc. |
Charlotte |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Electrolux Home Products,
Inc.
Charlotte
NC
|
Family ID: |
53881842 |
Appl. No.: |
14/191763 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/21A |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/006
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/00 20060101
F24C015/00 |
Claims
1. A cooking oven, comprising: a first heatable oven chamber
defined in part by a first rear wall; a housing enclosing the first
oven chamber, the housing comprising a top panel and a rear panel;
a cooling plenum located above the first oven chamber and below the
top panel of the housing, comprising a suction portion with a
suction inlet configured to supply cool air from an outside area
and an exhaust portion with an exhaust outlet configured to
discharge heated air to said outside area; a cooling fan that
produces a primary cooling airflow through the cooling plenum; an
electronic device located at least partially within the cooling
plenum and in flow communication with the heated air; and a bypass
element located within the cooling plenum that at least partially
surrounds the electronic device to divert the heated air away from
the electronic device.
2. The cooking oven of claim 1, further comprising a vertical
channel located between the rear panel of the housing and the first
rear wall of the first oven chamber.
3. The cooking oven of claim 2, wherein the cooling fan produces a
secondary cooling airflow through the vertical channel that is
directed into a space located above the cooling plenum and below
the top panel of the housing.
4. The cooking oven of claim 3, wherein the bypass element is
located within the exhaust portion and encircles the electronic
device such that substantially all of the heated air is diverted
away from the electronic device.
5. The cooking oven of claim 4, wherein the bypass element
comprises an open top in flow communication with said space located
above the cooling plenum, and an open bottom in flow communication
with the suction portion, such that the secondary cooling airflow
is in flow contact with the electronic device.
6. The cooking oven of claim 5, wherein at least one hole extends
through a wall of the cooling plenum and is in flow communication
with the open bottom of the bypass element, such that the secondary
cooling airflow flows through the bypass element and into the
suction portion.
7. The cooking oven of claim 3, further comprising an auxiliary
inlet extending through the top panel of the housing, wherein the
cooling fan causes an auxiliary cooling airflow through the
auxiliary inlet and into said space located above the cooling
plenum and below the top panel of the housing.
8. The cooking oven of claim 1, wherein the cooling fan is a
cross-flow fan.
9. The cooking oven of claim 1, further comprising a first door
pivotally mounted to the first oven chamber to selectively close
the first oven chamber from said outside area, wherein the first
door comprises an inner pane facing the first oven chamber, an
outer pane facing the outside area, and a door cavity provided
between the inner and outer panes, wherein the door cavity further
comprises a cavity inlet about a bottom of the first door and a
cavity outlet about a top of the first door.
10. The cooking oven of claim 9, wherein the cavity outlet is
adjacent the suction inlet of the cooling plenum, such that the
cooling fan causes the primary cooling airflow from the outside
area that is at a location below the first door to enter the cavity
inlet, flow through the door cavity, exit the cavity outlet, and
then flow into the cooling plenum.
11. The cooking oven of claim 9, further comprising a second
heatable oven chamber defined in part by a second rear wall and
disposed at an elevation vertically below the first oven chamber,
and a second door pivotally mounted to the second oven chamber to
selectively close the second oven chamber from the outside area, a
second cooling plenum located above the second oven chamber and
below the first oven chamber; and a second cooling fan that
produces a second oven cooling airflow through the second cooling
plenum.
12. The cooking oven of claim 11, wherein the second door comprises
an inner pane facing the second oven chamber, an outer pane facing
the outside area, and a second door cavity provided between the
inner and outer panes, wherein the second cooling fan causes the
second oven cooling airflow from the outside area that is at a
location below the second door to flow through the second door
cavity and then flow into the second cooling plenum.
13. A cooking oven, comprising: a first heatable oven chamber
defined in part by a first rear wall; a first door pivotally
mounted to the first oven chamber to selectively close the first
oven chamber from an outside area; a second heatable oven chamber
defined in part by a second rear wall and disposed at an elevation
vertically below the first oven chamber; a second door pivotally
mounted to the second oven chamber to selectively close the second
oven chamber from the outside area; a housing enclosing the first
oven chamber, the housing comprising a top panel and a rear panel;
a first cooling plenum located above the first oven chamber
comprising a suction portion with a suction inlet configured to
supply cool air from said outside area and an exhaust portion with
an exhaust outlet configured to discharge heated air to said
outside area; a first cooling fan that produces a primary cooling
airflow through the first cooling plenum; a second cooling plenum
located above the second oven chamber and below the first oven
chamber, the first and second cooling plenums being independent; a
second cooling fan that produces a second oven cooling airflow
through the second cooling plenum; an electronic device located at
least partially within the cooling plenum and in flow communication
with the heated air; and a bypass element located within the
cooling plenum that at least partially surrounds the electronic
device to divert the heated air away from the electronic
device.
14. The cooking oven of claim 13, further comprising a vertical
channel located between the rear panel of the housing and the first
rear wall of the first oven chamber, and wherein the cooling fan
produces a secondary cooling airflow through the vertical channel
that is directed into a space located above the cooling plenum and
below the top panel of the housing.
15. The cooking oven of claim 13, further comprising an auxiliary
inlet extending through the top panel of the housing, wherein the
cooling fan causes an auxiliary cooling airflow through the
auxiliary inlet and into a space located above the cooling plenum
and below the top panel of the housing.
16. The cooking oven of claim 13, wherein the suction portion and
the exhaust portion of the first cooling plenum are arranged in a
vertically stacked arrangement separated by a common wall, and
wherein the suction inlet and the exhaust outlet are both arranged
at a front of the cooking oven for communication with said outside
area, and wherein the first cooling fan is arranged at a rear of
the cooking oven.
17. The cooking oven of claim 16, wherein an inlet of the first
cooling fan is coupled to the suction portion and an outlet of the
first cooling fan is coupled to the exhaust portion to provide flow
communication through the first cooling plenum.
18. The cooking oven of claim 17, further comprising an air
diverter in an at least partially covering relationship over the
inlet of the first cooling fan such that the inlet of the first
cooling fan is substantially limited to the suction portion of the
first cooling plenum.
19. A cooking oven, comprising: a first heatable oven chamber
defined in part by a first rear wall; a second heatable oven
chamber defined in part by a second rear wall and disposed at an
elevation vertically below the first oven chamber; a housing
enclosing the first oven chamber, the housing comprising a top
panel and a rear panel; a first cooling plenum located above the
first oven chamber comprising a suction portion with a suction
inlet configured to supply cool air from an outside area and an
exhaust portion with an exhaust outlet configured to discharge
heated air to said outside area, wherein the suction portion and
the exhaust portion are arranged in a vertically stacked
arrangement separated by a common wall; a vertical channel located
between the rear panel of the housing and the first rear wall of
the first oven chamber; a first cooling fan that produces a primary
cooling airflow through the first cooling plenum along a first
airflow path, and a secondary cooling airflow through the vertical
channel; an electronic device located at least partially within the
exhaust portion of the cooling plenum and in flow communication
with the heated air; and a bypass element located within the
exhaust portion of the cooling plenum that at least partially
surrounds the electronic device to divert substantially all of the
heated air away from the electronic device, wherein the bypass
element comprises an open top in flow communication with the
vertical channel and an open bottom in flow communication with a
hole extending through the common wall, such that the secondary
cooling airflow flows through the bypass element and into the
suction portion along a second airflow path that is arranged at an
angle relative to the first airflow path.
20. The cooking oven of claim 19, further comprising an auxiliary
inlet extending through the top panel of the housing, wherein the
first cooling fan causes an auxiliary cooling airflow through the
auxiliary inlet that merges with the secondary cooling airflow to
flow through the bypass element.
21. The cooking oven of claim 19, wherein a first door comprises an
inner pane facing the first oven chamber, an outer pane facing the
outside area, and a door cavity provided between the inner and
outer panes, wherein the first cooling fan causes the primary
cooling airflow from the outside area that is at a location below
the first door to flow through the door cavity and then flow into
the first cooling plenum.
22. The cooking oven of claim 19, further comprising a second door
pivotally mounted to the second oven chamber to selectively close
the second oven chamber from the outside area, a second cooling
plenum located above the second oven chamber and below the first
oven chamber; and a second cooling fan that produces a second oven
cooling airflow through the second cooling plenum.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a cooking oven
with a heatable oven chamber, and more particularly, to a cooling
system for the cooking oven.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Known oven designs include single ovens, double ovens, and
combination ovens that have a conventional oven and a microwave
oven. The ovens can be used for baking, roasting, and broiling food
items in an oven chamber. The oven chamber can further be cleaned
using a high temperature pyrolysis operation. However, in a
standalone configuration or especially in a wall-mount
configuration, a cooling system is used to maintain the exterior of
the cooking oven at a relatively lower temperature while the oven
chamber is heated to the desired higher temperature.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention
in order to provide a basic understanding of some example aspects
of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the
invention. Moreover, this summary is not intended to identify
critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the
invention. The sole purpose of the summary is to present some
concepts of the invention in simplified form as a prelude to the
more detailed description that is presented later.
[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
cooking oven comprises a first heatable oven chamber defined in
part by a first rear wall and a second heatable oven chamber
defined in part by a second rear wall and disposed at an elevation
vertically below the first oven chamber. A housing encloses both of
the first and second oven chambers, and the housing comprises a top
panel and a rear panel. A cooling plenum is located above the first
oven chamber and below the top panel of the housing, comprising a
suction portion with a suction inlet configured to supply cool air
from an outside area and an exhaust portion with an exhaust outlet
configured to discharge heated air to said outside area. A cooling
fan produces a primary cooling airflow through the cooling plenum.
An electronic device is located at least partially within the
cooling plenum and in flow communication with the heated air, and a
bypass element is located within the cooling plenum that at least
partially surrounds the electronic device to divert the heated air
away from the electronic device.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a cooking oven comprises a first heatable oven chamber defined in
part by a first rear wall, and a first door pivotally mounted to
the first oven chamber to selectively close the first oven chamber
from an outside area. A second heatable oven chamber is defined in
part by a second rear wall and disposed at an elevation vertically
below the first oven chamber, and a second door is pivotally
mounted to the second oven chamber to selectively close the second
oven chamber from the outside area. A housing encloses both of the
first and second oven chambers, the housing comprising a top panel
and a rear panel. A first cooling plenum is located above the first
oven chamber comprising a suction portion with a suction inlet
configured to supply cool air from said outside area and an exhaust
portion with an exhaust outlet configured to discharge heated air
to said outside area. A first cooling fan produces a primary
cooling airflow through the first cooling plenum. A second cooling
plenum is located above the second oven chamber and below the first
oven chamber, the first and second cooling plenums being
independent. A second cooling fan produces a second oven cooling
airflow through the second cooling plenum. An electronic device is
located at least partially within the cooling plenum and in flow
communication with the heated air, and a bypass element is located
within the cooling plenum that at least partially surrounds the
electronic device to divert the heated air away from the electronic
device.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a cooking oven comprises a first heatable oven chamber defined in
part by a first rear wall, and a second heatable oven chamber
defined in part by a second rear wall and disposed at an elevation
vertically below the first oven chamber. A housing encloses both of
the first and second oven chambers, the housing comprising a top
panel and a rear panel. A first cooling plenum is located above the
first oven chamber comprising a suction portion with a suction
inlet configured to supply cool air from said outside area and an
exhaust portion with an exhaust outlet configured to discharge
heated air to said outside area. The suction portion and the
exhaust portion are arranged in a vertically stacked arrangement
separated by a common wall. A vertical channel is located between
the rear panel of the housing and the first rear wall of the first
oven chamber. A first cooling fan produces a primary cooling
airflow through the first cooling plenum along a first airflow
path, and a secondary cooling airflow through the vertical channel.
An electronic device is located at least partially within the
exhaust portion of the cooling plenum and in flow communication
with the heated air. A bypass element is located within the exhaust
portion of the cooling plenum that at least partially surrounds the
electronic device to divert substantially all of the heated air
away from the electronic device. The bypass element comprises an
open top in flow communication with the vertical channel and an
open bottom in flow communication with a hole extending through the
common wall, such that the secondary cooling airflow flows through
the bypass element and into the inlet portion along a second
airflow path that is arranged at an angle relative to the first
airflow path.
[0008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description present example
and explanatory embodiments of the invention, and are intended to
provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and
character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying
drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the
invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this
specification. The drawings illustrate various example embodiments
of the invention, and together with the description, serve to
explain the principles and operations of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention
will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the
present invention relates upon reading the following description
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of an example
cooking oven;
[0011] FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the cooking oven with
the doors removed;
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear perspective view of the cooking
oven;
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a rear perspective detail view of an
example housing of the cooking oven, with a top panel and rear
panel partially removed;
[0014] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but shows the top panel and
rear panel completely removed;
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a front perspective exploded view of an
example cooling plenum;
[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates a top perspective detail view of an
example electronic device located at least partially within the
cooling plenum;
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates a rear perspective detail view of an
example cooling fan coupled to the cooling plenum;
[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates a front perspective exploded view of the
cooling fan;
[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates a sectional view of the cooking oven
showing one example cooling operation;
[0020] FIG. 11 illustrates a sectional view of the cooking oven
showing another example cooling operation; and
[0021] FIG. 12 illustrates a partial sectional view of the cooking
oven showing an auxiliary cooling airflow.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Example embodiments that incorporate one or more aspects of
the present invention are described and illustrated in the
drawings. These illustrated examples are not intended to be a
limitation on the present invention. For example, one or more
aspects of the present invention can be utilized in other
embodiments and even other types of devices. Moreover, certain
terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be
taken as a limitation on the present invention. Still further, in
the drawings, the same reference numerals are employed for
designating the same elements.
[0023] Turning to the shown example of FIGS. 1-2, a front
perspective view of a cooking appliance, such as a cooking oven 20,
is illustrated in accordance with the instant application. The
cooking oven 20 can include a wall-mounted oven, or could also
include a freestanding oven. The cooking oven 20 includes at least
a first heatable oven chamber 22 defined in part by a first rear
wall 24 (and possibly a double rear wall 24B) and having an open
front. A first door 26 is pivotally mounted to the first oven
chamber 22, opposite to the first rear wall 24, and is used to
selectively close the front of the first oven chamber 22 from an
outside area external to the cooking oven 20. The first door 26 can
be tilted around a horizontal pivot in its lower section between a
horizontal position in which the front opening is open to admit
product for cooking, and a vertical position in which the front
opening is closed. The first door 26 includes a handle used to
facilitate opening and closing of the first door 26. It is
understood that, as used herein, the terms first, second, primary,
secondary, auxiliary, etc. are used for convenience and are not
intended to create any limitations upon the instant
application.
[0024] Optionally, the cooking oven 20 can include a second cooking
device, such as a second heatable oven chamber 32 defined in part
by a second rear wall 34 (and possibly a double rear wall 34B) and
disposed at an elevation vertically below the first oven chamber
22. A second door 36 (similar to the first door 26, including a
handle) is pivotally mounted to the second oven chamber 32,
opposite to the rear wall 34, and is used to selectively close the
second oven chamber 32 from the outside area. The cooking oven 20
also includes an electronic control panel 30 that is used to
control operation of the first and second oven chambers 22, 32.
[0025] Each of the first and second oven chambers 22, 32 can
include one or more heating elements (not shown) used to heat the
oven chambers to various temperatures suitable for cooking, baking,
broiling, or pyrolysis (i.e., a self-clean operation). The heating
elements can include a main heat source typically located towards a
bottom of the oven chamber, a broil heat source typically located
towards a top of the oven chamber, and/or a convection heat source
with a fan typically located on the rear wall. The heating elements
can be either gas or electric.
[0026] A housing encloses both of the first and second oven
chambers 22, 32 that provides the cooking oven 20 as a unitary item
for ease of installation. The housing comprises at least a top
panel 40 and a rear panel 42. Optionally, the housing can include a
pair of opposed side panels and/or a bottom panel. Any of the
panels of the housing may be monolithic, or may be formed of
multiple panels. As shown in FIG. 4, at least the top panel 40 and
rear panel 42 can be removable to expose various components of the
cooking oven 20. The top panel 40 encloses an open area above the
first oven chamber 22, while the rear panel 42 encloses an open
area behind the rear wall of the oven chambers 22, 32. Turning
briefly to FIGS. 5 and 10, the rear panel 42 can be spaced apart
from the rear wall 24, or possibly a double rear wall 24B, by a
pair of spacer walls 41. Each spacer wall 41 can be secured to the
rear wall 24 (or double rear wall 24B) of the first oven chamber
22, and the rear panel 42 can be removably coupled to the spacer
walls 41.
[0027] During a heating operation, either or both of the first and
second oven chambers 22, 32 will raise the temperature of the
cooking oven 20 above ambient temperature, often in the range of
150-550 degrees Fahrenheit (65-285 Celsius) and oven higher for a
self-clean operation. Moreover, especially in a wall-mounted
configuration, the heat generated by the cooking oven 20 should be
dissipated beyond the housing to the outside area. Thus, the
cooking oven 20 further includes a cooling plenum 44 located above
the first oven chamber 22 and below the top panel 40 of the
housing. It is beneficial to locate the cooling plenum 44 above the
first oven chamber 22 because the heat that naturally rises upwards
can be cooled by the air flowing through the cooling plenum 44. The
cooling plenum 44 includes a suction portion 46 with a suction
inlet 48 that is configured to supply cool air from the outside
area, and an exhaust portion 50 with an exhaust outlet 52
configured to discharge heated air back to the outside area. A
cooling fan 54 is used to produce a primary cooling airflow through
the cooling plenum 44. More specifically, the primary cooling
airflow draws cool air from the outside area can flow into the
suction portion 46, where it is heated by operation of the first
and second oven chambers 22, 32. The heated air can then flow into
the exhaust portion 50, where it is discharged out of the housing
to the outside area.
[0028] In one example, the suction portion 46 and the exhaust
portion 50 of the first cooling plenum 44 are arranged in a
vertically stacked arrangement. The suction portion 46 and the
exhaust portion 50 can both provide about the same cross-sectional
flow area, although either can be different depending upon the
desired airflow performance. Because heat rises, the exhaust
portion 50 is preferably located above the suction portion 46,
although these can be reversed. The exhaust portion 50 and suction
portion 46 can be formed as separate structures, or can be
partially combined to reduce space usage. For example, the exhaust
portion 50 and the suction portion 46 can be separated by a common
wall 56. Turning briefly to FIGS. 5-6 and 10, the suction portion
46 can be defined between a bottom plenum wall 55 and the common
wall 56. The bottom plenum wall 55 can be a discrete wall, or could
even be provided by the top-most wall of the first oven chamber 22.
The exhaust portion 50 can be defined between the common wall 56
and a top plenum wall 57.
[0029] Additionally, the suction inlet 48 of the suction portion
46, and the exhaust outlet 52 of the exhaust portion 50, can both
be arranged at a front side of the cooking oven 20 for
communication with the outside area. This configuration can be
beneficial in a wall-mount oven configuration, since typically the
front of the oven is the only portion exposed to the outside area.
The cooling fan 54 can be arranged at a rear of the cooking oven
20, and is preferably located interposed between the suction
portion 46 and the exhaust portion 50. For example, an inlet 60 of
the cooling fan 54 can be coupled to the suction portion 46, while
the outlet 62 of the cooling fan 54 can be coupled to the exhaust
portion 50 to provide flow communication through the cooling plenum
44. Additionally, one or more baffles 63 can be used with either of
the fan inlet or outlet to interface with the cooling plenum 44 to
make the fan 54 a front inlet and/or outlet configuration.
[0030] Turning to FIGS. 8-10, the cooling fan 54 is preferably an
electrically-operated cooling fan of various types, driven by an
electric motor 54B, such as a cross-flow fan (as shown), axial fan,
or centrifugal fan. When using a cross-flow fan with a large inlet
60, an air diverter 58 can be used to at least partially close or
restrict the inlet 60 of the cooling fan 54. In the instant design,
the air diverter 58 is provided in an at least partially covering
relationship over the inlet 60 of the first cooling fan 54 such
that the inlet 60 of the first cooling fan 54 is substantially
limited to the suction portion 46 of the first cooling plenum 44.
That is, although a portion of the air drawn into the cooling fan
54 may come from an alternate source, the air diverter 58 is used
to close a majority of the inlet 60 of the cooling fan 54 such that
a majority of the airflow taken into the cooling fan 54 is provided
by the suction portion 46. Preferably, the air diverter 58 includes
a curved wall to gradually redirect the airflow through the cooling
plenum 44 so as to reduce negative pressure or other airflow
hindrances. Thus, operation of the cooling fan 54 with the air
diverter 58 produces the primary cooling airflow such that cooling
air is drawn into the suction inlet 48 of the suction portion 46,
flows along the length of the suction portion 46 (and along the top
of the first oven chamber 22), is diverted into the inlet 60 of the
cooling fan 54, is exhausted via the fan outlet 62 back towards and
into the exhaust portion 50, and ultimately flows out of the
exhaust outlet 52 into the outside area.
[0031] Because the suction inlet 48 and the exhaust outlet 52 can
both be arranged at a front side of the cooking oven 20 for
communication with the outside area, the front side of the cooking
oven 20 can provide suitable structure to enable air ingress and
egress. In one example, air ingress can be provided via the first
oven door 26, which can provide the dual benefit of concealing the
air ingress structure to provide a more pleasing appearance of the
oven, while also providing active cooling of the first oven door
26. For example, the first oven door 26 can include an inner pane
64 facing the first oven chamber 22, an outer pane 66 facing the
outside area, and a door cavity 68 provided between the inner and
outer panes 64, 66. Although only two panes are described and
shown, it is understood that the oven door 26 can include three or
more panes and multiple cavities therebetween. Preferably, at least
a portion of the inner and outer panes 64, 66 are formed of a light
transmissible material, such as glass or other material suitable to
withstand oven temperatures, so that a user can view the oven
chamber 22 through the oven door 26. Preferably, at least the outer
pane 66 is substantially formed of glass to provide an "all-glass"
frontal appearance to the cooking oven 20. Additionally, at least
one door handle 69 is provided at the front of the oven door to
selectively open and close the oven door 26, and may be secured to
the outer pane 66.
[0032] The door cavity 68 provides an open space within the oven
door 26 between the inner and outer panes 64, 66 that may be
partially or completely open. The door cavity further includes a
cavity inlet 70 about a bottom of the first oven door 26, and a
cavity outlet 72 about a top of the first oven door 26. Both of the
cavity inlet 70 and cavity outlet 72 are directly or indirectly in
fluid communication with the door cavity 68. Turning briefly back
to FIG. 2, it is contemplated that any or all of the cavity inlet
70, cavity outlet 72, suction inlet 48, and/or exhaust outlet 52
can be a single continuous opening, or can include a plurality of
adjacent openings (as shown) which can provide additional
structural support via support columns arranged between the
adjacent openings. The number and arrangement of the adjacent
openings can vary.
[0033] Preferably, the cavity inlet 70 is arranged underneath the
oven door 26, such as along a bottom edge thereof, so as to be
hidden from view. In one example shown in FIG. 10, the cavity
outlet 72 is adjacent the suction inlet 48 of the cooling plenum
44. The cavity outlet 72 is arranged on the rear inner surface of
the oven door 26 so as to be generally in fluid alignment with the
suction inlet 48 of the suction portion 46 of the cooling plenum
44. Still, the cavity outlet 72 could also be arranged on the top
surface of the oven door 26, such as shown in FIG. 12. As such,
cooling airflow exhausted by the cavity outlet 72 can flow
relatively unimpeded into the suction inlet 48. In one example,
shown in FIG. 10, the cooling fan 54 causes the primary cooling
airflow PA from the outside area that is at a location below the
first oven door 26 to enter the cavity inlet 70, flow through the
door cavity 68, exit the cavity outlet 72, and then flow into the
cooling plenum 44. Additionally, the cavity outlet 72 can arranged
away from the exhaust outlet 52 of the cooling plenum 44, and/or
one or more baffles could be used, to limit cross-flow of the
incoming cooling air and exhausted heated air.
[0034] Often, various elements of the cooking oven 20 are located
according to necessity or convenience, although the placement may
not be ideal because of heat when the cooking oven is operating. In
one example, the cooking oven 20 includes an electronic device 80
(or electromechanical device) located at least partially within the
cooling plenum 44 and in flow communication with the heated air. As
shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 10 and 12, the electronic device 80 can be
located within the exhaust portion 50 of the cooling plenum 44,
such that the electronic device 80 is exposed to the heated portion
of the cooling air before the cooling air is exhausted back to the
outside area. The electronic device 80 can be located within a
depression 86 formed into the upper surface of the common wall 56
that separates the suction portion 46 from the exhaust portion 50
of the cooling plenum 44.
[0035] Various electronic and/or electromechanical devices are
contemplated, such as a motor door lock used to electronically lock
the first oven door 26 in the closed position via a latch arm 82 or
the like. The motor door lock can be used, for example, during high
temperature cooking or pyrolysis operation (i.e., self-cleaning
operation) to maintain the oven door in a closed and locked
position until the internal temperature of the oven cavity 22
decreases below a predetermined temperature (e.g., below 500
degrees Fahrenheit (F), below 400 degrees F., below 300 degrees F.,
etc.). Operation of the motor door lock can be automatically
controlled via the control system of the oven, semi-automatically
controlled, or could even be manually controlled. Various other
similar or different electronic devices 80 may be located at least
partially within the cooling plenum 44, such as switches 84,
controls, control systems, sensors, wiring, etc. However, many of
these electronic devices 80 are sensitive to temperature, and may
have difficulty operating or have a reduced lifespan when subjected
to the heated air passing through the cooling plenum 44.
[0036] To counteract this, a bypass element 90 can be located
within the cooling plenum 44 that at least partially surrounds,
such as completely surrounds, the electronic device 80 to divert
the heated air around and away from the electronic device 80. For
example, as shown in the exploded view of FIG. 6, the bypass
element 90 can be located between the top plenum wall 57 and the
common wall 56 and can at least partially surround the depression
86 containing the electronic device 80. The bypass element 90 can
be retained variously, such as by a sandwich or clamped
construction between the walls 56, 57 and/or by one or more
mechanical fastener, adhesive, welding, etc. In addition or
alternatively, the bypass element 90 can be secured via one or more
screws, bolts, or other mechanical fastener, etc. For example, the
bypass element 90 can include one or more bosses 94 configured to
receive the screws, bolts, etc. from either of the walls 56, 57.
The screws, bolts, or other mechanical fasteners can be threaded or
otherwise secured directly to the bosses 94, or they could also
pass-through the bosses 94 for securing to one of the walls 56, 57
or other oven structure.
[0037] The bypass element 90 includes at least one wall 92, such as
a rear wall, that is positioned as a barrier between the heated
airflow and the electronic device 80. For example, as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 12, the wall 92 is positioned to intercept and divert
the heated airflow around and away from the electronic device 80
and towards other areas of the exhaust portion 50 of the cooling
plenum. The bypass element 90 can further include additional walls,
such as one or more side walls 93 and/or a front wall 95. For
example, the rear wall 92 and pair of side walls 93 can form a
U-shape that substantially surrounds the electronic device 80. It
is understood that the number, shape, and location of the other
walls can be based upon the actual airflow properties and/or the
desired amount of airflow diversion. Additionally, the front wall
95 may be provided substantially for structural support of the
bypass element 90 (e.g., support between the side walls 93), and
may or may not include air diversion structure. The design of each
wall 92, 93, 95 can have various shapes and sizes that can divert
the heated airflow, and preferably substantially all of the heated
airflow, away from the electronic device 80. Preferably, at least
the walls 92, 93 extend substantially completely between the common
wall 56 and the top plenum wall 57 such that substantially none of
the heated airflow enters the depression 86 containing the
electronic device 80. Preferably, some or all of the walls 92, 93
can provide smooth curved air diversion structure, directional
structure, and/or flares that reduce disruption to the air flowing
around the bypass element 90 to increase efficiency of the cooling
system. In addition or alternatively, one or more gaskets, seals,
etc. can be used between the bypass element 90 and the walls 56,
57. Further, the overall size of the bypass element 90 should
preferably be larger than the electronic device 80 so as to provide
an insulating air gap space between the electronic device 80 and
the walls 92, 93, 95 to inhibit heat transfer from the bypass
element 90 to the electronic device 80.
[0038] Additionally, the bypass element 90 can be configured to
permit an active cooling airflow to pass therethrough to cool the
electronic device 80. For example, although the bypass element 90
can direct substantially all of the heated airflow from contacting
the electronic device 80, continuous operation of the oven 20
during a lengthy cooking cycle will cause the bypass element 90 to
heat up over time. This may still cause some heat transfer from the
bypass element 90 to the electronic device 80. To counteract this,
at least a portion of a secondary cooling airflow can be directed
through the bypass element 90 to actively cool the electronic
device 80.
[0039] In order to provide a secondary cooling airflow SA, as shown
in FIG. 10, the cooking oven 20 can further include a vertical
channel 100 located between the rear panel 42 of the housing and
the first rear wall 24 of the first oven chamber 22. Preferably,
the vertical channel 100 extends substantially the full length of
the cooking oven 20, although it is contemplated that it could
extend along shorter distances. The vertical channel 100 opens
towards the bottom, and a forward-pointing horizontal intake
channel 102 provides incoming cooling air from the outside area via
a lower channel inlet 104. An opening 106 can extend through the
double rear wall 34B to provide communication between the
horizontal intake channel 102 and the vertical channel 100. A
deflector 108 may be provided above the opening 106 and between the
second rear wall 34 and the double rear wall 34B to inhibit
cooking-related byproducts from contaminating the secondary cooling
airflow SA. Additionally, it is contemplated that at least a
portion of the cooling air may be provided by one or more inlets
105 provided in the rear panel 42.
[0040] The first cooling fan 54 produces the secondary cooling
airflow SA through the vertical channel 100, and directs it into a
space 110 located above the first cooling plenum 44 and below the
top panel 40 of the housing. The first cooling fan 54 can directly
produce the secondary cooling airflow SA, such as by having a
portion of the fan inlet 60 in communication with the vertical
channel 100 to draw in cooling air from the lower channel inlet
104. In one example, part of the air diverter 58 may be open to the
vertical channel 100 to draw in the cooling air.
[0041] In addition or alternatively, air movement through the first
cooling plenum 44 (produced by the first cooling fan 54) may create
a suction that draws in the cooling air through the vertical
channel 100. For example, the space 110 located above the first
cooling plenum 44 may be in limited fluid communication with the
suction portion 46 of the first cooling plenum 44. The primary
cooling airflow PA flowing through the suction portion 46 can
create a negative-pressure suction (e.g., by the Venturi effect
created by high velocity airflow through the cooling plenum 44)
that draws the secondary cooling airflow SA to flow into the space
110 from the vertical channel 100.
[0042] In one example, the limited fluid communication between the
space 110 and the first cooling plenum 44 can be facilitated via
the bypass element 90. The bypass element 90 can include an open
top 112 in flow communication with the space 110 located above the
cooling plenum 44 via a hole 115 extends through the top plenum
wall 57. The bypass element 90 further includes an open bottom 114
in flow communication with the suction portion 46 of the first
cooling plenum 44, such that the secondary cooling airflow SA is in
flow contact with the electronic device 80. At least one hole 116
extends through a wall of the cooling plenum 44, such as through
the common wall 56 that separates the suction portion 46 and
exhaust portion 50. The hole 116 is in flow communication with the
open bottom 114 of the bypass element 90. Preferably, a plurality
of holes 116 are provided through the common wall 56 to provide a
cross-sectional area that permits a desired amount of the secondary
cooling airflow SA to flow through the bypass element 90 and
electronic device 80, and into the suction portion 46 of the first
cooling plenum 44. Additionally, plurality of holes 116 can permit
the secondary cooling airflow SA to flow more evenly about the
electronic device 80. The number, position, and sizes of the holes
116 can be adjusted to provide the desired amount of secondary
cooling airflow SA to flow through the bypass element 90.
Preferably, the holes 116 are located above the depression 86 in
which the electronic device 80 is mounted. This enables the
depression 86 to provide a relatively larger supporting surface for
mounting the electronic device 80, while also increasing the
cooling effectiveness by maintaining the electronic device 80 in a
recessed "bowl"-shaped depression such that the secondary cooling
airflow SA can circulate within the "bowl" and about the electronic
device 80 before flowing back through the holes 116 and into the
first cooling plenum 44.
[0043] The secondary cooling airflow SA flowing through the bypass
element 90 can serve the dual purpose of directly reducing the
temperature of the electronic device 80, while also providing an
insulating barrier against the heated exhaust air flowing through
the exhaust portion 50 and that is deflected by the bypass element
90. Using this design, the secondary cooling airflow SA flows
through the bypass element 90 and into the suction portion 46 of
the first cooling plenum 44 along a second airflow path that is
arranged at an angle relative to the first airflow path (e.g., the
primary cooling airflow PA). In other words, as shown in FIG. 12,
the bypass element 90 can deflect substantially all of the heated
airflow moving in one direction (e.g., moving through the exhaust
portion 50) from contacting the electronic device 80, while also
permitting the secondary cooling airflow SA moving along another
direction to contact the electronic device 80.
[0044] In addition or alternatively, cooling airflow for the
electronic device 80 can be provided from other sources. In one
example shown in FIG. 12, an auxiliary inlet 120 can extend through
the top panel 40 of the housing, and the first cooling fan 54 can
cause an auxiliary cooling airflow AA to pass through the auxiliary
inlet 120 and into the space 110 located above the cooling plenum
44. The auxiliary inlet 120 can include one or even a plurality of
holes through the top panel 40 to provide the auxiliary cooling
airflow AA. The auxiliary inlet 120 can be located variously on the
top panel 40, and multiple inlets can be arranged together or
spaced apart. In one example, the auxiliary inlet 120 can be
located at a raised portion 122 of the top panel 40 and behind the
electronic control panel 30 such that the auxiliary cooling airflow
AA can provide cooling to the electronic control panel 30 and/or
other electronic components of the cooking device 20. The auxiliary
cooling airflow AA can be provided directly by the first cooling
fan 54, or may be provided by the same negative-pressure suction
(e.g., by the Venturi effect) that draws the secondary cooling
airflow SA to flow into the space 110. Additionally, the auxiliary
cooling airflow AA flows through the open top 112 of the bypass
element 90 such that the auxiliary cooling airflow AA merges with
the secondary cooling airflow SA to flow together through the
bypass element 90 and back into the suction portion 46 of the first
cooling plenum 44.
[0045] Turning now to FIG. 11, the cooking oven 20 can include the
second cooking device with the second heatable oven chamber 32. The
second oven chamber 32 can be located adjacent to the first oven
chamber 22, such as disposed below the first oven chamber 22. The
first and second cooling plenums 44, 130 are independent. In order
to provide additional cooling capacity, a second cooling plenum 130
can be located above the second oven chamber 32 and below the first
oven chamber 22. The second cooling plenum 130 can be sandwiched
between the bottom wall 25 (or bottom double-wall) of the first
oven chamber 22 and the top wall 33 (or top double-wall) of the
second oven chamber 32. In fact, portions of the second cooling
plenum 130 can be defined by the walls 25, 33 of the first and
second oven chambers 22, 32, or can even be formed by additional
walls.
[0046] The second cooling plenum 130 can be similar to the first
cooling plenum 44, and can include a suction portion 132 with a
suction inlet 134 configured to supply cool air from the outside
area, in communication with an exhaust portion 136 with an exhaust
outlet 138 configured to discharge heated air back to the outside
area. The suction portion 132 and the exhaust portion 136 of the
second cooling plenum 130 are arranged in a vertically stacked
arrangement and can both provide about the same cross-sectional
flow area. Because heat rises, the exhaust portion 136 is
preferably located above the suction portion 132, although these
can be reversed. The exhaust portion 136 and suction portion 132
can be formed as separate structures, or can be partially combined
to reduce space usage, such as being separated by a common wall
135. Additionally, the suction inlet 134 of the suction portion
132, and the exhaust outlet 138 of the exhaust portion 136, can
both be arranged at a front side of the cooking oven 20 for
communication with the outside area.
[0047] A second cooling fan 140 produces a second oven cooling
airflow SCA through the second cooling plenum 130. Preferably, the
second cooling fan 140 is similar to the first cooling fan 54, and
is an electrically-operated cooling fan of various types, driven by
an electric motor, such as a cross-flow fan (as shown), axial fan,
or centrifugal fan. When using a cross-flow fan with a large inlet,
an air diverter 142 can be used to at least partially close or
restrict the inlet of the cooling fan 140 such that a majority of
the airflow taken into the cooling fan 140 is provided by the
suction portion 132 and is subsequently discharged into the exhaust
portion 136.
[0048] In one example, air ingress can be provided via the second
oven door 36, which can provide the dual benefit of concealing the
air ingress structure to provide a more pleasing appearance of the
oven, while also providing active cooling of the second oven door
36. For example, the second oven door 36 can include an inner pane
144 facing the second oven chamber 32, an outer pane 146 facing the
outside area, and a door cavity 148 provided between the inner and
outer panes 144, 146. Although only two panes are described and
shown, it is understood that the second oven door 36 can include
three or more panes and multiple cavities therebetween. Preferably,
at least a portion of the inner and outer panes 144, 146 are formed
of a light transmissible material, such as glass or other material
suitable to withstand oven temperatures, so that a user can view
the second oven chamber 32 through the second oven door 36. The
door cavity 148 provides an open space within the second oven door
36 between the inner and outer panes 144, 146 that may be partially
or completely open. The door cavity 148 further includes a cavity
inlet 150 about a bottom of the second oven door 36. Preferably, to
save space, the cavity inlet 150 draws in cooling air about the
same area as the channel inlet 104 that feeds cooling air to the
horizontal intake channel 102 and vertical channel 100.
[0049] Additionally, the size, shape, and/or position of the lower
channel inlet 104 can be adjusted to control the amount of cooling
air that is introduced into each of the horizontal intake channel
102 and the door cavity 148. Generally, the incoming cooling
airflow will move along the path of least resistance, and the lower
channel inlet 104 tends to be less restrictive as compared to the
second door cavity inlet 150. To control the airflow, the size,
shape, and/or position of openings 104B into the lower channel
inlet 104 can control how much air is directed through each of the
horizontal intake channel 102 and cavity inlet 150. This control is
affected by increasing or decreasing the opening size, number,
shape, and/or location of openings into the lower channel inlet 104
to balance how much air flows through the door versus how much air
flows through the horizontal intake channel 102. In one example, as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, the openings 104B into the lower channel
inlet 104 can be arranged as four inlet holes of different sizes
and positions. Thus, locations along the lateral front of the oven
that have an opening 104B into the lower channel inlet 104 will
tend introduce the cooling air into the horizontal intake channel
102 and not the cavity inlet 150. As shown in FIG. 2, relatively
more air will be introduced into the intake channel 102 towards the
lateral center of the oven with relatively larger openings 104B as
compared to the smaller openings 104B shown towards the outer
edges. Conversely, blockage locations 107 along the lateral front
of the oven where the lower channel inlet 104 is blocked will tend
to redirect the cooling air into the cavity inlet 150 instead of
the horizontal intake channel 102. Thus, relatively more cooling
airflow will enter the cavity inlet 150 and flow into the door
cavity 148 about those regions adjacent the blockage locations 107.
Selective adjustment of the size, shape, and/or position of
openings into the lower channel inlet 104, as well as the blockages
107, can permit corresponding adjustment of the amount and location
of airflow into the cavity inlet 150. As a result, different
portions of each oven door can be selectively cooled more or less
depending upon the cooling needs of a particular door design. It is
contemplated that the openings 104B into the lower channel inlet
104 can be integrally formed into the front of the oven, or
alternatively can be provided as openings in a plate(s) or the like
that can be attached over the lower channel inlet 104. It is
further contemplated that the cavity inlet 150 can similarly
include various openings and blockages to achieve a similar effect
to control airflow into the door cavity 148.
[0050] The door cavity 148 also includes a cavity outlet 152 about
a top of the second oven door 36. Both of the cavity inlet 150 and
cavity outlet 152 are directly or indirectly in fluid communication
with the door cavity 148. Moreover, it is appreciated that any or
all of the cavity inlet 150, cavity outlet 152, suction inlet 134,
and/or exhaust outlet 138 can be a single continuous opening, or
can include a plurality of adjacent openings (as shown in FIG. 2)
which can provide additional structural support via support columns
arranged between the adjacent openings. The number and arrangement
of the adjacent openings can vary.
[0051] Preferably, the cavity inlet 152 is arranged underneath the
second oven door 36, such as along a bottom edge thereof, so as to
be hidden from view. The cavity outlet 152 is adjacent the suction
inlet 134 of the second cooling plenum 130. The cavity outlet 152
can be arranged on the rear inner surface of the second oven door
36 so as to be generally in fluid alignment with the suction inlet
134 of the suction portion 132 of the second cooling plenum 130. As
such, cooling airflow exhausted by the cavity outlet 152 can flow
relatively unimpeded into the suction inlet 134. In one example,
shown in FIG. 11, the cooling fan 140 causes the second oven
cooling airflow SCA from the outside area that is at a location
below the second oven door 36 to enter the cavity inlet 150, flow
through the second door cavity 148, exit the cavity outlet 152, and
then flow into the second cooling plenum 130. Additionally, the
cavity outlet 152 is preferably arranged away from the exhaust
outlet 138 of the second cooling plenum 130 so as to limit
cross-flow of the incoming cooling air and exhausted heated
air.
[0052] Taking both of FIGS. 10-11 together, it can be seen that
selective operation of either or both cooling fans 54, 140 can
produce variable cooling capacities for the cooking oven 20.
Although shown separately, it is understood that any of the cooling
airflows shown in FIGS. 10-11 can be used together. Manual control
can be provided to enable the user to choose which fans are
operating. Preferably, the on-board control system can
automatically or semi-automatically operate the cooling fans 54,
140 based upon various factors, such as which oven chamber(s) are
being heated, the temperature of either or both oven chamber(s),
and/or the cooking or cleaning cycle being performed. Moreover, the
cooling fans 54, 140 can be operated at various speeds, such as a
high speed and a low speed, or even various other numbers of
speeds. Additionally, although described as "low speed" and "high
speed," it is further contemplated that either cooling fan 54, 140
could be duty-cycled on and off to achieve increased or reduced
effective cooling amounts.
[0053] In various examples, the first cooling fan 54 can be
energized at a low speed when the first oven chamber 22 is used for
a food-cooking operation using the main heat source, or at a high
speed when the first oven chamber 22 is used for a food-broiling
operation using the broil heat source. Similarly, the second
cooling fan 140 can be energized at a low speed when the second
oven chamber 32 is used for a food-cooking operation using its main
heat source, or at a high speed when the second oven chamber 32 is
used for a food-broiling operation using it's broil heat source.
Because heat rises, the first cooling fan 54 may also be used at a
low speed when the second oven chamber 32 is used for a
food-broiling operation. If both of the first and second oven
chambers 22, 32 are being simultaneously operated in food-cooking
operations using their respective main heat sources, both cooling
fans 54, 140 can be operated in a low speed.
[0054] If the first oven chamber 22 is being cleaned using a high
temperature pyrolysis operation, the first cooling fan 54 can be
operated at a high speed while the second cooling fan 140 can be
operated at a low speed. Because heat rises, if the second oven
chamber 32 is being cleaned using a high temperature pyrolysis
operation, then both of the cooling fans 54, 140 can be operated at
a high speed. It is understood that although some fan operation
examples are described above, other combinations are contemplated.
Also, the fans 54, 140 can each be operated at various different
speeds by the oven control system to achieve a desired effective
cooling target. For example, any of the above could be programmed
as a default fan operation schedule that could be supplemented with
increased cooling if high temperatures are sensed by one or more
temperature sensors placed about the cooking oven 20 that exceed a
particular threshold value. For example, if the first oven chamber
22 is used for a relatively high-temperature and/or long duration
food-cooking operation, the first cooling fan 54 may start at a low
speed, but may be temporarily increased to a higher speed if a
temperature sensor indicates a need for increased cooling. The
cooling fan 54 can be later reduced in speed after a predetermined
time and/or after the sensed temperature drops below a particular
threshold value.
[0055] The invention has been described with reference to the
example embodiments described above. Modifications and alterations
will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this
specification. Examples embodiments incorporating one or more
aspects of the invention are intended to include all such
modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope
of the appended claims.
* * * * *