Abstract: A conveyor oven having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation is provided. The conveyor oven generally includes an oven chamber in which food is cooked, a conveyor moveable to convey the food through the oven chamber, a burner to generate heat for the oven chamber, the burner having a combustion airflow rate, at least one blower to circulate air within the oven chamber, and a controller. The blower operates at a first speed during the first mode of operation and at a second speed that is faster than the first speed during the second mode of operation. The controller is responsive to at least one of a burner output and an internal temperature of the oven chamber, and adjusts the combustion airflow rate based in part on at least one of the burner output and the internal temperature of the oven chamber.

Abstract: An oven according to some embodiments includes an oven chamber in which food is cooked, a heating element, a fan, a sensor for sensing the temperature of the oven chamber, a remote input device, and a controller configured to receive a signal from the remote input device and to change the fan or heating element based at least in part upon the signal received from the remote input device. In a method of operating the oven according to some embodiments, the oven enters an operating mode from an energy-savings mode responsive to receiving an signal from a remote device.

Abstract: An oven according to some embodiments includes an oven chamber in which food is cooked, a heating element, a fan, a sensor for sensing the temperature of the oven chamber, a remote input device, and a controller configured to receive a signal from the remote input device and to change the fan or heating element based at least in part upon the signal received from the remote input device. In a method of operating the oven according to some embodiments, the oven enters an operating mode from an energy-savings mode responsive to receiving an signal from a remote device.

Abstract: An oven according to some embodiments includes an oven chamber in which food is cooked, a heating element, a fan, a sensor for sensing the temperature of the oven chamber, a remote input device, and a controller configured to receive a signal from the remote input device and to change the fan or heating element based at least in part upon the signal received from the remote input device. In a method of operating the oven according to some embodiments, the oven enters an operating mode from an energy-savings mode responsive to receiving an signal from a remote device.

Abstract: An oven with a sensor positioned to detect an event that will cause a decrease in the internal temperature of a tunnel. The oven includes a controller configured to increase the thermal output of a heating element in anticipation of the upcoming decrease in the internal temperature. In some embodiments, the oven is a conveyor over and the sensor is positioned to detect a food item approach the tunnel on a conveyor. In some embodiments, the amount of current provided to an electric heating element is increased by increasing the target temperature. In some embodiments, the amount of current provided to the electric heating element is increased by a predetermined offset.

Abstract: A conveyor oven including a main blower, a modulating gas valve, and a combustion blower, and a method for operating the same. A conveyor moves food through a main cooking chamber. The modulating gas valve provides fuel to a gas burner, while a combustion blower provides air to the gas burner to aid in combustion of the fuel from the modulating gas valve. The main blower moves heated air into the main cooking chamber to cook food on the conveyor. In some embodiments, a controller adjusts the setting of the modulating gas valve and the speed of the main blower and the combustion blower, and determines an appropriate speed setting for the combustion blower based at least in part on the speed of the main blower and the measured temperature inside the conveyor oven.

Abstract: A conveyor oven includes a controller configured to change the operation of a first set of burners and a second set of burners from a cooking mode to an energy saving mode based at least in part upon detection of the absence of food in the oven chamber. The first set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and are off during the energy saving mode. The second set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and being adjustable to a different intensity during the energy saving mode, where the second set of burners produce heat during the different intensity.

Abstract: A self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven is provided. One embodiment of the oven provides a self-cleaning, gas-fired tunnel oven for cooking food products. The oven includes a control system that regulates oven temperature during a pyrolitic, self-cleaning procedure for incinerating contaminants that accumulate inside; a burner for cooking food products and incinerating contaminants; a modulating air and fuel control system arranged for proportionally delivering air and fuel to the burner; a plurality of convection air fingers for directing heated air toward the food products; a collapsible conveyor, capable of fitting into the oven when collapsed, for passing the food products through the oven; a plurality of blowers, each having a dedicated speed controller; a floating cooking chamber; and a vent system that maintains a negative pressure in the oven during the self-cleaning procedure.

Abstract: An oven according to some embodiments includes an oven chamber in which food is cooked, a heating element, a fan, a sensor for sensing the temperature of the oven chamber, a remote input device, and a controller configured to receive a signal from the remote input device and to change the fan or heating element based at least in part upon the signal received from the remote input device. In a method of operating the oven according to some embodiments, the oven enters an operating mode from an energy-savings mode responsive to receiving an signal from a remote device.

Abstract: Charbroilers, such as conveyorized and batch charbroilers, are disclosed wherein a single pilot flame receives gas from a gas line and is operable to ignite a plurality of burners. The charbroiler may include a housing, a conveyor removable from the housing and a shielding member removably connectable to the housing or burner and positioned between the burner and food product. The shielding member may be coated with a ceramic material and may have a color relating to a property of at least one of the shielding member and the ceramic material. In addition, the charbroiler may include a first burner and a second burner having different heating capacities. The charbroiler may also include an upper burner and lower burner positioned respectively above and below the food product and each of the upper and lower burners includes a ceramic diaphragm.

Abstract: A combination water heating and space heating apparatus includes a water heating unit and a space heating unit releasably coupled with the water heating unit. The water heating unit has a water storage tank and a helically wound tubular heat exchanger inside the tank for exhausting products of combustion from a combustion chamber located in a top part of the tank and for transferring heat from the products of combustion to the surrounding water. The space heating unit is an air handler with an hydronic heat exchanger coil and a blower for blowing air over the coil. Hot water is supplied from the tank to the coil and is returned to the tank by means of a water circulation pump located in the space heating unit. Air blown over the coil is heated by the hot water flowing over the coil.

Abstract: A device for inhibiting NOx production is disposed in a gas furnace combustion chamber. The device includes a baffle member for dividing the combustion chamber into first and second regions. A fuel-rich mixture of gas and primary combustion air is ignited by an inshot burner and the flame is drawn into the combustion chamber by an induced draft blower along with secondary combustion air. The combustion chamber is configured such that in the first region (i.e., upstream of the baffle member) turbulent mixing of the secondary combustion air with the flame is inhibited to maintain a relatively gas-rich flame. The baffle member channels the flame and secondary combustion air into a convergent flow path and the passage of the flame and secondary combustion air over the baffle member creates turbulence, which enhances mixing between the flame and secondary combustion air in the second region of the combustion chamber (i.e., downstream of the baffle member).