Abstract: A coating composition suitable for application to the internal surfaces of ovens to render these self cleaning comprising a milled self-matting devitrifying enamel frit and antimony trioxide or a precursor thereof, preferably together with an oxidation catalyst comprising an oxide of copper, manganese or cobalt. The coating adheres directly to metal surfaces and avoids the necessity for first applying a ground coat.

Abstract: The oven includes a baking compartment and a lower compartment located beneath the baking compartment for receiving baked articles therefrom; a horizontal shelf separates the baking compartment from the lower compartment and is formed of a series of pivotable plates; means are provided for pivoting the plates at predetermined time to cause the baked articles in the baking compartment to fall under the action of gravity in the lower compartment.

Abstract: A multiple tier oven which comprises a plurality of superimposed oven chambers, each being of tunnel character having an ingress at one end and an egress at the opposite end; each oven being heated at its top and bottom, and individually controllable heating means for each oven to allow of preselected temperature differentials. Associated with each oven chamber and surfacewise aligned with the floor thereof is a service deck for introduction of articles or products to be heated, such as, for example, food, into the related oven chamber and for receipt of heated articles from the egress end thereof. Endless conveyor means are associated with each deck and having a preselected number of sweep arms engageable thereon for directing articles into, through, and from each oven chamber.

Abstract: A catalyst composition for coating surfaces of cooking devices exposed to cooking residues is disclosed.

Abstract: A self-cleaning catalytic coating for cooking oven walls comprises a mutually sintered matrix of hard catalyst particles and binder particles.The coating is preferably made by forming large hard catalyst particles, such as compressed pellets, milling them to the required size range, typically averaging above 2 microns, then incorporating them with a binder and applying the mixture to a substrate.

Abstract: A burner orifice member for a detachably mounted gas oven burner is mounted directly on the end of the burner gas supply conduit by screw-threaded engagement, and the end portion of the gas supply conduit is rigidly connected to the oven wall by bracket means, with the orifice member in fixed alignment with the burner inlet.

Abstract: A cooking and smoking apparatus for food products comprising two distinct chambers with common outer walls, and interior walls, spaced from the outer walls, containing a plurality of openings. The spaces between the walls form ducts or air passages which allow smoke and heat to rise from a lower combustion chamber and enter an upper cooking chamber through said openings in the interior walls. Adjustable dampers in the ducts control the amount of smoke and heat entering the cooking chamber, while additional dampers control the air entering the combustion chamber and combustion products being vented from the apparatus through a chimney. One or more access doors is provided in each of the combustion and cooking chambers. The cooking chamber is provided with a flush pan or the like at the bottom thereof connected to a drain pipe to permit flushing of the cooking chamber.

Abstract: A pyrolytic self-cleaning oven includes means for heating a thermally insulated oven muffle to a temperature of about 400.degree. to 500.degree. C. to clean the walls thereof by pyrolysis. In order to facilitate the pyrolytic self cleaning action and to reduce the overall time of high heat application to the oven muffle to effect that cleaning, the coldest regions of the muffle, including the inner surface of the access door and narrow zones of the muffle walls immediately surrounding the muffle access opening and the air inlets to the muffle, are provided with a coating of catalytic enamel capable of withstanding the pyrolytic cleaning temperature.

Abstract: Food preparation apparatus involves a heat transmitting zone and a heat source located remotely from the transmitting zone. Heat energy is transferred from the heat source to the transmitting zone by a fluid vapor which travels from the heat source to the transmitting zone, condenses upon the transmitting zone and then returns in a liquid state to the heat source.In one described embodiment of this invention, an oven is provided wherein a fluid enclosure within the oven walls confines the vapor which transfers heat energy from a central heat source to heat transmitting surfaces.

Abstract: A process for coating a surface with a glass ceramic coating incorporating a catalyst, the process consisting of formulating glass ceramic frit to produce vitrification at low temperatures thereby providing a porous glass ceramic coating to act as a carrier for the catalyst. The catalyst may be one able to bring about oxidation of contamination produced by cooking food.