Convection Heating Patents (Class 219/681)
  • Patent number: 11547242
    Abstract: A cooking system for cooking food includes a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive a food container. The housing has an upper portion defining an opening to said hollow chamber. A lid is movable relative to said housing. The lid contacts the housing in a closed position about the upper portion of the housing to close the opening to the hollow chamber. At least one heating element is associated with at least one of said housing and said lid. The cooking system is operable in a plurality of cooking modes including a pressure cooking mode and a convective cooking mode. In said pressure cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a pressure cooker and in said convective cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a convection cooker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Michael Gill, Ross Richardson, Naomi Kalia Williams Zabel, Da Deng, Mete Gursel, Andrew John Roy Tattersfield, Niall Christopher Denham, Roger Neil Jackson, Ronan Patrick Leahy, Evan James White, Thomas Guerin, Chris Martin, Nathaniel R. Lavins, Mackenzie Lee Swanhart, Samuel Andrew Ferguson, Scott James Stewart
  • Patent number: 11212884
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a cooking apparatus includes a casing, a cooking chamber formed inside the casing, a duct member formed outside the cooking chamber to extend from a first plate of the cooking chamber to a second plate forming an upper surface of the cooking chamber, a heater installed inside the duct member, and a fan installed inside the duct member and configured to blow air in the duct member, wherein the cooking chamber is formed to cook food using high-temperature air discharged into the cooking chamber through a first outlet part formed at the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Jung, Hyeong Jin Jang, Kun Woo Choi, Tae Hun Kim, In Ki Jeon, Sang Jin Jeong, Yu Jeub Ha, Dong Gi Han
  • Patent number: 10939511
    Abstract: A solid-state radio frequency (RF) microwave oven for an aircraft galley is dimensioned to fit the galley and includes within the oven cavity an array of RF modules disposed on the upper interior surface of the cavity. Each RF module includes one or more RF emitters programmable to heat meals placed within the oven cavity by emitting tunable RF signals. The RF modules may monitor the internal temperature and doneness of the food by detecting returned unabsorbed energy. An oven control module (OCM) may communicate with the aircraft galley network, selectively manage the activation and deactivation of RF modules depending on the food being cooked and its changing internal temperature, and tune emitted RF signals to avoid interference with aircraft communication systems. Compact heat sinks may be located within the rear of the oven cavity for the removal of excess energy from the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnau Castillo
  • Patent number: 10760821
    Abstract: A heating device having a holding apparatus to accommodate a control unit, the holding apparatus having a receiving part. The receiving part has at least two struts, and a receptacle for the control unit is developed between the at least two struts. A holding apparatus for a heating device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Oehrlein, Marcus Wuenning, Sebastian Goerick, Yildirim Cantuerk
  • Patent number: 10582713
    Abstract: A rapid method to detect and/or remove mobile insects inside granular material is presented. The core of this method is to heat grain samples to the desired temperatures (about 55 C) using microwave or radio frequency energy to force insects to move out of the granular material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Inventors: Fuji Jian, Digvir Jayas, Paul Fields
  • Patent number: 10242828
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the state of the earthing contacts of a contactor controlled by an exciter coil, said contactor being operated as part of an isolation unit for galvanically isolating a voltage source from an electric consumer device connected to the voltage source, wherein a first power loss (22), which is transferred via the earthing contacts, and a second power loss (23), which is transferred via the exciter coil, are detected, and the first power loss (22) and the second power loss (23) are fed as input variables to a thermal model (21) of the contactor, the thermal model (21) determines an earthing contact temperature (24) according to at least one of the input variables and provides said contactor temperature as an output variable, and the provided earthing contact temperature (24) is evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Olivier Cois
  • Patent number: 9436782
    Abstract: There is provided a transmission device including an associative memory in which, when data is specified, contents of the memory are searched for the data and an address of a location in which the data has been found is read out; a detector configured to detect an access rate to the associative memory; an estimation unit configured to estimate a temperature of the associative memory, based on the access rate to the associative memory; a prediction unit configured to predict a time period until the temperature of the associative memory reaches a specified temperature, based on the temperature estimated by the estimation unit; and an access controller configured to control an access to the associative memory, based on the time period predicted by the prediction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Michio Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 9402284
    Abstract: An induction cooktop may be reconfigured to be used as a built-in side-by-side warmer model, a built-in front-back warmer model, a countertop side-by-side warmer model, and a countertop front-back warmer model. The cooktop may include a housing with two warmers and a control panel for supplying power to the warmers. The control panel may be detached from one side of the cooktop and reattached to another side, thereby reconfiguring the cooktop from a side-by-side warmer model to a front-back warmer model. The inclusion of a ledge around the periphery of the housing may allow the cooktop to be used as both a built-in model and a countertop model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Spring (U.S.A.) Corporation
    Inventor: Francis Thomas Brija
  • Patent number: 9107972
    Abstract: A method for deodorizing air in a cooking device including exhausting air containing odor-producing materials from a cooking chamber of the cooking device through a first opening, and selectively deodorizing air passing through the first opening by removing the odor-producing materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Won Hui Lee, Hyun Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 9035224
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooking apparatus including a cooking chamber to receive materials to be cooked therein, a microwave-heating unit to radiate microwaves to the cooking chamber, a convection-heating unit to supply hot air to the cooking chamber, a grill-heating unit to supply radiant heat to the cooking chamber, a crusty plate configured to be heated by the microwaves, an input unit to receive a user fry-cooking command, and a control unit. When the user fry-cooking command is input, the control unit performs a microwave-heating stage of activating at least one of the convection-heating unit and the grill-heating unit and activating the microwave-heating unit, and performs a slim fry stage of activating the grill-heating unit and the convection-heating unit without activating the microwave-heating unit. Accordingly, the cooking apparatus achieves the fry-cooking process using the microwaves, radiant heat and convection heat without dipping the materials to be cooked in oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gyu Sik Lim, Sun Hee Koo, Chang Min Baek, In Young Cho
  • Patent number: 9000335
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a consumer appliance that uses RF energy to heat foods stored in a container that is suitable for RF heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ameritherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Rosenbloom, Leslie L. Thompson, Brian Louis Teachout, Ian Alan Paull
  • Patent number: 8993945
    Abstract: An oven which runs on a 20 ampere single phase electrical service includes a cooking chamber comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, at least one microwave generator, at least one set of nozzles, tubes or apertures disposed above a food product disposed within the oven, at least one blower having an RPM in the range between about 3000 to about 4000 at 100 percent velocity, wherein the blower circulates at least a portion of gas from the nozzles, tubes or apertures into the cooking chamber substantially toward the food product and back to the nozzles, tubes or apertures, and a thermal energy source that heats the gas, wherein the heated gas at or near the food product disposed in the cooking chamber exhibits a flow rate of at least about 150 CFM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Appliance Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Scott S. Smith, Lee T. Vanlanen, Earl R. Winkelmann
  • Patent number: 8946604
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking oven with at least one convection heating device (20). The convection heating device (20) is arranged in a rear wall (16) of the oven cavity (10). The convection heating device (20) includes at least two fans (26) and at least one ring element (28). The fans (22) are arranged side-by-side at the rear wall (16). A steam generator is provided for generating steam. At least two steam injectors (30) are provided, wherein each steam injector (30) corresponds with at least one fan (26). The steam injector (30) is directed along the radial axis of the corresponding fan (26), so that the steam is injected along the radial axis of said fan (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation
    Inventors: Kersten Kaiser, Karl Leidig, Reiner Horstmann
  • Patent number: 8941041
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking cavity, an upper space formed above the cooking cavity, lateral side spaces formed to at opposite lateral sides of the cooking cavity, a rear space formed behind the cooking cavity, and a lower space formed below the cooking cavity. A fan provided in the rear space generates a cooling flow that cools components housed in the rear space. A cooling flow path extends from the rear space and into the upper space and lateral side spaces. Flow from the upper space enters the door to cool the door and is exhausted through a lower portion of the door. Flow from the lateral side spaces, which includes an exhaust flow from the cooking cavity, is guided to the lower space and exhausted. In this manner, the cooking apparatus can be completely cooled and cooking odors and heat appropriately exhausted by the cooling fan positioned in the rear space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Tae-hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8941039
    Abstract: A cooking appliance such as a microwave oven is provided with a sacrificial region for repairing damage caused by arcing and related failure modes. The sacrificial region incorporates a component that, when damaged, is removable from the cooking appliance for replacement by another component of similar construction. In one implementation, a sacrificial component is utilized in a microwave oven with a heated cavity subject to microwave radiation from a magnetron. The sacrificial component in this example includes an aperture that communicates with an opening in the cavity, and through which the radiation impinges into the heated cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Galbreath, Mark Heimerdinger
  • Patent number: 8901468
    Abstract: A heating system for hot water and conditioned air uses electromagnetic energy created by one or more magnetrons operated by high voltage transformers. The heating system includes oil cooled transformers and magnetrons. Using radiators in the form of heat exchangers, heat recovered from the transformers and magnetrons is dissipated directly into the path of the return air and the air handler blower. The magnetron heating system includes a coiled conduit sized to allow complete heating of the fluid flowing therethrough. The conduit has a conical shape to allow upper magnetrons to heat the outside of the conduit and lower magnetrons to heat the inside of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Vincent A. Bravo
  • Patent number: 8895907
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus which uses microwaves is provided such that the inside of the cooking apparatus may be formed more compactly than a conventional cooking apparatus. That is, the number of parts and the assembling process may be reduced by providing a convector (e.g., provided at a side of the cooking chamber) which circulates the inner air of the cooking chamber, and a microwave supplier provided at the convector to supply the microwaves into the cooking chamber through the convector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Won Hui Lee
  • Publication number: 20140312030
    Abstract: A heat treating system comprises a hot-wall microwave applicator cavity having a gas-diffusing structure on one surface, a microwave power supply, a transmission line between the applicator and power supply, and a granular heat transfer medium partially filling the cavity. The medium may be a single material or a blend of several materials, preferably having equivalent aerodynamic densities. The related method includes the steps of: placing a material to be heated into a microwave cavity having a gas diffusing structure on one surface; partially filling the cavity with a quantity of granular heat transfer medium sufficient to cover the material to be treated and the gas diffusing structure; flowing gas through the diffusing structure at a rate sufficient to fluidize the granular medium; and, introducing microwave energy into the cavity to raise the material and granular medium to a selected temperature for a selected time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Paul D. Steneck, Michael J. Smith, Larry E. Stokely
  • Patent number: 8847129
    Abstract: A heating cooker including a cooker body having a cooking chamber and a convection heating unit. The convection heating unit includes a convection heater to generate heat, a convection fan to forcibly move the heat generated from the convection heater into the cooking chamber, a convection motor to drive the convection fan, and a convection housing to receive the convection heater and the convection fan. The convection heater and the convection fan are linearly arranged within the convection housing, to allow air introduced into the convection housing to move from the convection fan to the convection heater. This configuration is effective to restrict the transfer of heat from the convection heater to the convection motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Keun Kim, Keun Seuk Oh, Sang Jun Park, In Ki Jeon, Jong Hoon Lee, Seung Joon Jun
  • Patent number: 8847130
    Abstract: A heating unit can reduce the rate of power consumption for heating a vehicle, so that the running distance of the vehicle is increased and hence the battery charging cycle of the vehicle is prolonged. A heating unit of a vehicle heating system includes a casing made of a metal material capable of electromagnetically shielding microwaves, a support arranged in the hollow section of the casing, a plurality of microwave absorbing/heat emitting members arranged at the support and a microwave outputting unit arranged in the casing to output microwaves toward respective microwave absorbing/heat emitting members, blown air being heated by heat generated as a result of absorption of microwaves by the microwave absorbing/heat emitting members at the time for blown air to flow from the upstream side to the downstream side in the hollow sections of the microwave absorbing/heat emitting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki-Kaisha TAKUMI, Kabushiki-Kaisha Lead Industry
    Inventors: Norio Niwa, Ryousei Noda, Hiroki Anzai
  • Patent number: 8844433
    Abstract: The present invention provides for measuring the air flow in an appliance. An air flow measuring device, such as a vane (aka turbine) anemometer, is placed directly into an air flow passageway and provides a signal indicative of the amount of air flow. This signal can be used e.g., to undertake a remedial response in the event the amount of air flow is not sufficient to provide proper cooling or ventilation of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James Carter Bach
  • Patent number: 8729441
    Abstract: There is provided a high-frequency heating apparatus including a heating chamber that houses an object to be heated, a rotating turntable provided on a bottom surface of the heating chamber, on which the object to be heated is rotatably mounted; a high-frequency heating section (21) that heats the object to be heated which is housed in the heating chamber, a convection heater (27) for heating the heating chamber, a circulating fan (28) for supplying the heating chamber with heat of the convection heater (27) as hot air, and a grill heater (33) for heating the object to be heated, wherein the convection heater (27) and the grill heater (33) are separately disposed on an upper surface of the heating chamber, thereby allowing reduction in size of an external shape of the heating apparatus without sacrificing grill cooking performance and oven cooking performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Kanzaki, Hisahiro Nishitani
  • Patent number: 8729436
    Abstract: A method and system for drying a honeycomb structure having an original liquid vehicle content includes exposing the honeycomb structure to a first electromagnetic radiation source until the liquid vehicle content is between about 20% and about 60% of the original liquid vehicle content, exposing the honeycomb structure to a second electromagnetic radiation source different from the first electromagnetic radiation source until the liquid vehicle content is between about 0% and about 30% of the original liquid vehicle content, and exposing the honeycomb structure to convection heating until the liquid vehicle content is between about 0% and about 30% of the original liquid vehicle content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul Andreas Adrian, Rebecca Lynn Burt, James Anthony Feldman, Elizabeth Marie Vileno
  • Publication number: 20140131346
    Abstract: A cooking appliance (10) includes a housing (12), a food process area (14) inside the housing, a heat source (22, 504), a low voltage DC motor (18, 510, 610) driving an impeller (16) disposed upstream of the heat source to circulate air and convectively transfer heat for preparing food In one embodiment, the heat source (22), serving as a voltage divider, and a shunt (24), cooperate to regulate the voltage and current input for driving the low voltage DC motor (18). In another embodiment, the heat source (504, 604) is connected across an AC power source (502, 602) and a voltage divider (506, 606) regulates the voltage input to the low voltage DC motor (510, 610).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventors: Siu Chung YIP, Michael Yui Ko WONG
  • Publication number: 20140061189
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooking apparatus including a cooking chamber to receive materials to be cooked therein, a microwave-heating unit to radiate microwaves to the cooking chamber, a convection-heating unit to supply hot air to the cooking chamber, a grill-heating unit to supply radiant heat to the cooking chamber, a crusty plate configured to be heated by the microwaves, an input unit to receive a user fry-cooking command, and a control unit. When the user fry-cooking command is input, the control unit performs a microwave-heating stage of activating at least one of the convection-heating unit and the grill-heating unit and activating the microwave-heating unit, and performs a slim fry stage of activating the grill-heating unit and the convection-heating unit without activating the microwave-heating unit. Accordingly, the cooking apparatus achieves the fry-cooking process using the microwaves, radiant heat and convection heat without dipping the materials to be cooked in oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gyu Sik Lim, Sun Hee Koo, Chang Min Baek, In Young Cho
  • Patent number: 8614408
    Abstract: A heating cooking appliance includes a heating chamber for items to be cooked, a circulation duct connecting an inlet port and an outlet port both of which open into the heating chamber, an air blower located in the circulation duct, and a heating device in the upper part of the heating chamber. Gas in the heating chamber is taken into the circulation duct from the inlet port by the blower. The gas temperature is raised by the heating device, and subsequently, the gas is blown into the heating chamber from the inlet port. The circulation duct is provided with first and second paths which branch off upstream of the heating device. The first and second paths guide gas to the area upstream and downstream of the heating device, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Kamii
  • Publication number: 20130316051
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus (for heat treating a packaged food product), comprising (a) a channel surrounding a channel interior, (b) a pressurizer, (c) a transport unit, (d) a first electrode, surrounding at least part of the channel interior over a first electrode length, (e) an electrode configuration comprising (i) a second electrode surrounding at least part of the channel interior over a remote part surrounding length (for shielding at least part of the channel), and (f) a radio frequency wave generator configured to generate RF-waves between the first and second electrode. With such apparatus efficiently energy may be coupled into the packaged food product, for instance for heating a meal and/or for pasteurizing a food product. A further advantage of the present apparatus and such process is that it may be configured to be used in a continuous process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Aart-Jan van der Voort, Henricus Franciscus Maria van den Bosch, Henricus Johannes Schuten
  • Publication number: 20130280911
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a concave portion on a surface of a substrate to be processed. The method further includes forming a coating film on the substrate to embed the coating film in the concave portion. The method further includes performing a first heat treatment in an atmosphere including an oxidant which contains polar molecules. The method further includes performing a second heat treatment after the first heat treatment by irradiating the coating film with a microwave after or while exposing the coating film to a liquid or a gas containing polar molecules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Wakana KAI, Tomonori AOYAMA
  • Patent number: 8539941
    Abstract: The invention provides a drawer type built-in cooking device, wherein an air outlet portion 10 for discharging the inside air containing heat and vapor generated during cooking of an object to be cooked has an air outlet duct 11 communicated from an air outlet port area 3b formed on a side wall of the heating chamber 3 to a lower side portion of a front wall 1a of the cooking device body 1. The outlet air flow flowing through the air outlet duct 11 is sent downward from an air outlet opening 13 formed to a lower side portion of the front wall 1a of the cooking device body 1 and discharged to the exterior of the device. The present invention enables to eliminate the prior art air inlet and outlet duct structure disposed below the heating chamber 3, and therefore, the height of the heating chamber can be increased correspondingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: Masayuki Iwamoto, Tatsuhiko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20130213955
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for heating moldings, in particular dental ceramic moldings, with the aid of microwaves or a magnetic field, the apparatus having a susceptor surrounding the molding, in particular according to the type of a container that is closed, said susceptor absorbing microwave radiation or being heated by a magnetic field and emitting heat to the molding. Further, a shielding for electrical and/or magnetic fields is arranged in the path between the microwave oven or the induction coil and the molding, in particular at the inner wall of the susceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
  • Patent number: 8455797
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to improving the conventional high-speed cooking oven based on a combination of hot air impingement and microwave heating by providing a time-dependent spatial variation in the net air impingement and/or net microwave energy applied to the food product in the oven. This is aimed at optimizing heat transfer and microwave efficiencies in a high-speed cooking oven, thereby enabling the oven to deliver an optimal cooking efficiency in comparison to the conventional high-speed cooking oven. In addition, under the embodiments of the present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by providing a plenum between each wall of the cooking chamber and the housing of the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Appliance Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann, Lee T. VanLanen
  • Publication number: 20130119053
    Abstract: A multiple-tier baking oven rack may include a top tier and a bottom tier lying substantially parallel to the top tier and a support base on which the bottom tier is supported. The bottom tier may be elevated with respect to the support base and the top tier may be elevated with respect to the bottom tier. The bottom tier and the top tier may form a space therebetween to facilitate a flow of air across the bottom tier and the top tier between the opposing sidewalls of an oven in which the multiple-tier baking oven rack is usable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Joshua Linton, Sheena M. Madden
  • Publication number: 20130004630
    Abstract: A speed cooking oven is disclosed comprising a cooking cavity, thermal heating source, air movement and directing means, air delivery means, and a vent assembly. Hot gas is circulated to and from the oven cavity via air delivery means such that turbulently mixed glancing, conflicting and colliding gas flow patterns mix at and about the surfaces of the food product. The turbulently mixed gas flows are spatially averaged over the surface area of the food product producing high heat transfer, thereby optimizing speed cooking of the food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: TURBOCHEF TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: DAVID H. MCFADDEN
  • Patent number: 8304702
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking cavity, an upper space formed above the cooking cavity, lateral side spaces formed to at opposite lateral sides of the cooking cavity, a rear space formed behind the cooking cavity, and a lower space formed below the cooking cavity. A fan provided in the rear space generates a cooling flow that cools components housed in the rear space. A cooling flow path extends from the rear space and into the upper space and lateral side spaces. Flow from the upper space enters the door to cool the door and is exhausted through a lower portion of the door. Flow from the lateral side spaces, which includes an exhaust flow from the cooking cavity, is guided to the lower space and exhausted. In this manner, the cooking apparatus can be completely cooled and cooking odors and heat appropriately exhausted by the cooling fan positioned in the rear space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Su-hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8297270
    Abstract: A speed cooking oven is disclosed comprising a cooking cavity, thermal heating source, air movement and directing means, air delivery means, and a vent assembly. Hot gas is circulated to and from the oven cavity via air delivery means such that turbulently mixed glancing, conflicting and colliding gas flow patterns mix at and about the surfaces of the food product. The turbulently mixed gas flows are spatially averaged over the surface area of the food product producing high heat transfer, thereby optimizing speed cooking of the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David H McFadden
  • Patent number: 8294070
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a recirculating airflow which is directed through particularly configured air plenum and nozzle structure that synergistically combine to enhance an overall cooking efficiency and effectiveness. In particular, the configuration of the air plenum, as well as the sizing and distribution of oven cavity entry nozzles, provides for an enhanced flow of heated air to the food product, thereby resulting in short cooking times due to high heat transfer while also providing an even browning and crisping of the food item being cooked. In addition, the cooking appliance incorporates an exhaust system wherein cooling air and a percentage of the recirculating airflow are mixed prior to being exhausted from an angled exhaust mixing tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: ACP, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert McNamee, Robert A. Schulte
  • Patent number: 8288695
    Abstract: A cooking device for performing cooking using a microwave and steam, in which a door of a heating chamber includes, as constituting components, an inner frame, a choke cover, and a gasket. The inner frame is made of metal and has at its periphery a choke structure constructed from a large number of comb teeth. The gasket is installed in the door with a base section of the gasket held between the inner frame and the choke cover. A lip section of the gasket has a bag-like cross-section whose side that faces the inside of the heating chamber is an entrance. The forward end of the lip section is bent to the door side. The comb teeth, except those positioned at the corners of the door, are bent at a larger angle than in a case in which the gasket is not installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Nishijima, Hiroki Kitayama
  • Publication number: 20120067226
    Abstract: A combination oven that is operable with convection air, impingement air and microwave energy in various combinations thereof. The oven has an oven chamber and a fan box that are located front to back. A fan in the fan box circulates heated air by discharging via openings in a top and a bottom and taking in via an intermediate opening of a baffle plate. Impingement plates are easily installed and removed in the oven chamber to provide impingement air upwardly or downwardly. At least one of the impingement plates is installed and removed by a sliding motion. Microwave energy is provided through the side walls of the oven chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: JAN CLAESSON, Keith A. Stanger, Nigel Thorneywork, Andrew Brown, Davic Crayfourd, David Harter, William Day
  • Patent number: 8093538
    Abstract: A combination oven that is operable with convection air, impingement air and microwave energy in various combinations thereof. The oven has an oven chamber and a fan box that are located front to back. A fan in the fan box circulates heated air by discharging via openings in a top and a bottom and taking in via an intermediate opening of a baffle plate. Impingement plates are easily installed and removed in the oven chamber to provide impingement air upwardly or downwardly. At least one of the impingement plates is installed and removed by a sliding motion. Microwave energy is provided through the side walls of the oven chamber. Intake ports for cooling air are located in a bevel between the side walls and bottom wall of the oven's outer enclosure so as to allow the oven to be located right next to other structures, such as a wall. An interlock assembly is also provided for the oven door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Enodis Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Claesson, Keith A. Stanger, Nigel Thorneywork, Andrew Brown, Davic Crayfourd, David Harter, William Day
  • Patent number: 8076616
    Abstract: A cook and hold system having an oven, a food warmer and a metallic food tray. The metallic food tray is used in the oven to hold the food products during cooking and then is rapidly transferred to the food warmer for holding. The food warmer has doors that cover the food warmer inlets so as to retain moisture and heat so that the food products are moist and warm when removed from the food warmer. The food tray has a bottom with parallel ribs that provide grill markings on the food products and a trapping of cook byproducts, such as moisture, grease and particles in the bottom spaces along side the ribs. These byproducts help to preserve heat and moisture when the food tray is transferred from the quick cook oven to the food warmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Merco/Savory, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A. Stanger
  • Patent number: 8071922
    Abstract: A combination oven that is operable with convection air, impingement air and microwave energy in various combinations thereof. The oven has an oven chamber and a fan box that are located front to back. A fan in the fan box circulates heated air by discharging via openings in a top and a bottom and taking in via an intermediate opening of a baffle plate. Impingement plates are easily installed and removed in the oven chamber to provide impingement air upwardly or downwardly. At least one of the impingement plates is installed and removed by a sliding motion. Microwave energy is provided through the side walls of the oven chamber. Intake ports for cooling air are located in a bevel between the side walls and bottom wall of the oven's outer enclosure so as to allow the oven to be located right next to other structures, such as a wall. An interlock assembly is also provided for the oven door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Enodis Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Claesson, Keith A. Stanger, Nigel Thorneywork, Andrew Brown, Davic Crayfourd, David Harter, William Day
  • Patent number: 8058594
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking cavity, an upper space formed above the cooking cavity, lateral side spaces formed to at opposite lateral sides of the cooking cavity, a rear space formed behind the cooking cavity, and a lower space formed below the cooking cavity. A fan provided in the rear space generates a cooling flow that cools components housed in the rear space. A cooling flow path extends from the rear space and into the upper space and lateral side spaces. Flow from the upper space enters the door to cool the door and is exhausted through a lower portion of the door. Flow from the lateral side spaces, which includes an exhaust flow from the cooking cavity, is guided to the lower space and exhausted. In this manner, the cooking apparatus can be completely cooled and cooking odors and heat appropriately exhausted by the cooling fan positioned in the rear space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Keun-jae Hwang
  • Publication number: 20110276184
    Abstract: An oven which runs on a 20 ampere single phase electrical service includes a cooking chamber comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, at least one microwave generator, at least one set of nozzles, tubes or apertures disposed above a food product disposed within the oven, at least one blower having an RPM in the range between about 3000 to about 4000 at 100 percent velocity, wherein the blower circulates at least a portion of gas from the nozzles, tubes or apertures into the cooking chamber substantially toward the food product and back to the nozzles, tubes or apertures, and a thermal energy source that heats the gas, wherein the heated gas at or near the food product disposed in the cooking chamber exhibits a flow rate of at least about 150 CFM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Scott S. Smith, LEE T. VANLANEN, Earl R. Winkelmann
  • Patent number: 8038936
    Abstract: A cooking device includes a cooking chamber; a first deodorization region along which air from the cooking chamber flows and in which a plasma discharge is generated for removing odor-producing materials generated in the cooking chamber from the air; and a bypass region along which air from the cooking chamber flows to bypass the first deodorization region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Hun Sim, Hyun Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 8011293
    Abstract: A speed cooking oven with sloped oven floor and reversing gas flow is disclosed comprising a cooking cavity, a controller, thermal heating source, blower assembly, air directing means, and a sloped oven floor that directs air flow from the oven side walls to oven center thereby producing a highly turbulent reversed air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. McFadden, David A. Bolton
  • Patent number: 8006685
    Abstract: A bleed gas clean-up system for a re-circulating oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Bolton, David H. McFadden
  • Patent number: 7946054
    Abstract: An assembly which is a composite including an end shield and a front wall. The size and shape of the end shield are adapted to the inner face of the front wall. Both parts are dimensioned and formed in such a way that they can be interconnected in a fixed manner to form a stable composite resembling a sandwich assembly. The joint surfaces between the front wall and the end shield lie on perpendicular planes and extend for some distance. The construction and connection of the individual parts and of the composite give the front region of the tumble dryer a high degree of rigidity, which obviates the need for additional reinforcement measures. The assembly thus saves material and mounting costs and resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Dittmer, Holger Löffler
  • Patent number: 7946224
    Abstract: A high-speed griddle for cooking food products has a griddle platen having a cook surface for receiving food products thereon, and heating means are provided for heating the platen. A clamshell cover is configured for sealing contact with the cook surface of the platen, the cook surface and cover cooperating to enclose a cook volume. An electromagnetic energy source is configured for emitting energy into the cook volume, the energy source emitting energy of a frequency selected to cause internal heating of food products within the cook volume. In addition, a convection air system is configured to provide a flow of heated air into the cook volume. The heated platen, electromagnetic energy source, and convection air system cooperate to rapidly cook food products within the cook volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David H. McFadden
  • Patent number: 7886658
    Abstract: A speed cooking with improved gas flow by-pass mechanism for radiant cooking mode. A speed cooking oven with radiant mode is disclosed comprising a cooking cavity, a controller, thermal heating source, blower assembly, air directing means, a vent assembly and a single door gas by-pass system. Hot gas is circulated by the blower motor assembly into the oven cavity where the hot air is directed in a manner wherein a conflicting, colliding turbulent gas flow is directed at a food product providing for the rapid cooking of food products. Alternatively, a single movable door may be utilized that operates between an open position wherein gas flow exhausts from the top of the oven or in the closed position wherein gas is diverted through a conduit and back to the blower mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. McFadden, David A. Bolton
  • Patent number: 7838807
    Abstract: A combination oven that is operable with convection air, impingement air and microwave energy in various combinations thereof. The oven has an oven chamber and a fan box that are located front to back. A fan in the fan box circulates heated air by discharging via openings in a top and a bottom and taking in via an intermediate opening of a baffle plate. Impingement plates are easily installed and removed in the oven chamber to provide impingement air upwardly or downwardly. At least one of the impingement plates is installed and removed by a sliding motion. Microwave energy is provided through the side walls of the oven chamber. Intake ports for cooling air are located in a bevel between the side walls and bottom wall of the oven's outer enclosure so as to allow the oven to be located right next to other structures, such as a wall. An interlock assembly is also provided for the oven door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Enodis Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Claesson, Keith A. Stanger, Nigel Thorneywork, Andrew Brown, Davic Crayfourd, David Harter, William Day