Rotary Pump Patents (Class 99/476)
  • Patent number: 11974689
    Abstract: A cooking appliance, in particular a commercial cooking appliance, comprising a cooking chamber; a motor-driven fan wheel which is arranged in an area which is separated from the cooking chamber by a suction plate having a central suction opening; a heating device which has one, at least two heating coils and is arranged around the fan wheel; an appliance control, the appliance control activating the heating coils independently of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: WELBILT DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Stan Smits
  • Patent number: 11844463
    Abstract: A grilling device includes an auger feeder system, a heating element, a blower and a temperature control system. The temperature control system includes at least a first temperature sensor inside the firepot and a second temperature sensor inside a cooking chamber above the firepot. The heating element can also serve as the first temperature sensor. A method for controlling the temperature of the grill can include receiving temperature feedback information from one or more of the temperature sensors and adjusting power provided to the auger feeder system, heating element, and blower. The temperature control system produces cold smoke resulting from the combustion of lignin in solid wood fuel while minimizing temperatures inside the cooking chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills LLC
    Inventors: Michael V. Colston, Daniel A. C. Altenritter, Daniel W. Sluder
  • Patent number: 11399555
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating large quantities of potatoes, other tubers, vegetables, produce, and/or other crops are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a crop storage facility configured in accordance with the present technology includes a treatment system configured to distribute a treatment agent configured to inhibit spoilage of the crops. The treatment system can include a combination of two or more chemical compositions configured to release different concentrations of the treatment agent to produce a desired level of the treatment agent in the storage facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: JMC Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel Micka
  • Patent number: 11259667
    Abstract: A grilling device includes an auger feeder system, a heating element, a blower and a temperature control system. The temperature control system includes at least a first temperature sensor inside the firepot and a second temperature sensor inside a cooking chamber above the firepot. The heating element can also serve as the first temperature sensor. A method for controlling the temperature of the grill can include receiving temperature feedback information from one or more of the temperature sensors and adjusting power provided to the auger feeder system, heating element, and blower. The temperature control system produces cold smoke resulting from the combustion of lignin in solid wood fuel while minimizing temperatures inside the cooking chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Michael V. Colston, Daniel A. C. Altenritter, Daniel W. Sluder
  • Patent number: 11226107
    Abstract: An oven debris collection system configured to be mounted to an oven wherein the debris collection system provides a shelf that food items may be placed on as they are placed in the oven or removed therefrom. The oven debris collection system having a perforated shelf surface, and at least one removable debris tray there below to catch and retain the debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Wood Stone Corporation
    Inventor: Daric Nellis
  • Patent number: 11197571
    Abstract: A steam generator includes: a base module which has a water supply port for receiving steam water; and a steam module which is connected to an upper side of the base module, in which the steam module includes: a main body which has an upper surface and a lower surface; a flow pipe which is positioned at a central portion of the main body and into which the steam water flows; and a heater which supplies heat to the flow pipe, and in which another steam module is selectively coupled to an upper side of the steam module. According to this, the internal volume of the steam generator and the output of the heater provided in the steam generator can be selectively varied so as to provide an optimum output according to the volume of a cooking device in which the steam generator is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hakjoo Lim, Jaekyung Yang, Suyong Lee, Soochan Lee, Yongsoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11178878
    Abstract: A heat controlled oven system includes a plurality of oven levels, including an oven belt and gas burners; a gas flow network, including a gas supply line, a variable flow control valve, and on/off flow control valves; and a heat control unit, including a processor, a non-transitory memory, and input/output component, a heat modeler, a heat manager, a feedback controller, and a valve controller, such that the heat control unit is configured to calculate an estimated heat demand to adjust to a temperature set point, based on a heat model of the at least one oven level, and further calculates an optimized heat demand using a control loop feedback algorithm. Also disclosed is a method of heat calculation for an oven, including defining a heat model, calculating and optimizing the estimated heat demand, calculating and setting a variable valve position for the gas burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Premier Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Brian E. Bartlett, Douglas W. Cotton
  • Patent number: 11007547
    Abstract: A portable paint booth has a floor, roof and walls made of non-porous materials, at least one door, an air inlet adapted to receive air from a mechanical blower, and an exhaust tube that extends from the booth and comprises at least one orifice disposed at a terminal end of the tube, wherein the terminal end of the tube is disposed above a junction of a wall and the roof when the booth is pressurized. The exhaust tube may be supported by a pole to hold the tube upright and maintain a predetermined height. The terminal end of the tube may be propped open by a support element that extends around a perimeter of the exhaust tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Instant Auto Body
    Inventors: Jacob Begis, Logan James Begis
  • Patent number: 10477875
    Abstract: A flavoring device includes at least one flavoring casing having an air inlet opening arranged for allowing air to enter the flavoring casing, a flavoring air outlet opening arranged for allowing air to pass to a cooking chamber, and a flavoring air path fluidly connecting the air inlet opening to the flavoring air outlet opening. The flavoring casing houses, at least while in operation: a heating element arranged in the flavoring air path, and a flavoring substance rack arranged at least partially in the flavoring air path downstream the heating element. The heating element is housed spaced apart from the flavoring substance rack in such a way that, in operation, heat is transferred from the heating element to the flavoring substance rack mainly by air flowing inside the flavoring casing from the air inlet opening to the flavoring air outlet opening through the flavoring air path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Electrolux Professional S.p.A.
    Inventors: Arianna Bozzato, Massimiliano Vignocchi, Franco Tassan Mangina, Marino Fadelli
  • Patent number: 10412980
    Abstract: A process for dehydrating products with a dehydrator that includes a dehydration chamber, a heater for heating air in the dehydration chamber, and a fan for circulating air in the dehydrator includes receiving a set temperature at which to perform the dehydration and a set time for which to perform the dehydration. The process also includes setting the heater to operate in an on condition and setting the fan to run at a low speed until the temperature in the dehydration chamber reaches the set temperature. The process further includes setting the heater to an off condition and setting the fan to run at a high speed when the temperature in the dehydration chamber reaches the set temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: BLUE SKY INNOVATION GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Palese, Glenn Baker
  • Patent number: 9961915
    Abstract: Methods and systems for treatment of grain for toxins and/or odor utilize a storage container having a grain storage space and an aeration floor that allows air to flow through the aeration floor into the grain storage space. Ozone (mixed with air) is supplied to the grain through the aeration floor under positive pressure, whereby ozone is forced through the aeration floor into a lower portion of the grain storage space. After an initial treatment time, the initial treatment time allowing for the ozone to reduce toxins and/or odor in a lowermost portion of the initial quantity of grain an effective or desired amount, a lowermost portion or a lower treated portion of the grain in the grain storage space is removed, and new grain is added on top of the grain in the grain storage space, all while continuing to supply ozone through the aeration floor under positive pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Co.
    Inventors: Lynn Johnson, DelRon E. Albert, Vane Case, Kevin C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9609981
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
    Inventors: William S. Schjerven, Sr., John H. Wiker, Richard H. Van Camp, Theodore James Chmiola, Mark A. Sieron
  • Patent number: 9119402
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus has a cooking chamber (10). The vapors created in the cooking chamber (10) are removed with a vapor outlet channel (31). A vapor condensation device (40) brings the vapors into contact with cooling liquid. The vapor condensation device (40) has a container (41), in which a liquid bath (42) is located. The vapor outlet channel (31) carries the vapors out of the cooking chamber (10) into the container (41) of the vapor condensation device (40). There, the vapors are brought into contact with the liquid from the liquid bath (42) and thereby partially condensed. Furthermore, a device drain (36) is provided. The container (41) of the vapor condensation device (40) has a vapor guide element (43). Said element guides the vapors through one or more channels in the container (41). The vapor guide element (43) is configured such that one wall of the wall surfaces of the channel or channels is formed by the surface of the liquid bath (42) in the container (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: MKN Maschinenfabrik Kurt Neubauer GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Helm
  • Patent number: 9089146
    Abstract: The invention relates to a carriage, more particularly for drying and curing of raw sausage, said carriage being comprised of a frame (2), racks (3) arranged at said frame (2) to receive product to be dried and treated (4) as well as wheels (5) arranged at the base, at least one fan unit (6) with a first diffuser (8) as well as at least a second diffuser (9), if required, arranged at the carriage. The invention furthermore relates to a drying system comprised of a drying cabinet (10) as well as comprised at least of such a carriage (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Metz
  • Patent number: 9021942
    Abstract: A cooker is provided. The cooker includes a casing, a cavity part in the casing and including a cooking chamber to cook food, and an exhaust duct through which exhaust gas is discharged. The exhaust duct includes a first duct part having a lower end communicating with the cooking chamber, a second duct part extending from the other end of the first duct part, the second duct part making a predetermined angle with respect to the first duct part or having a predetermined curvature, and a flow passage extension protruded from a portion of the first duct part or the second duct part in an outward direction. At least a portion of the flow passage extension extends at an angle different from the predetermined angle between the first and second duct parts or the flow passage extension has a curvature different from the predetermined curvature of the second duct part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jongho Lee, Jeahyuk Wie
  • Patent number: 9021944
    Abstract: A treatment device for treating food products with conditioned air comprises a housing which delimits a treatment space and is provided with an entry and an exit, at least one conveying device for conveying the products from the entry throughout the treatment space to the exit, the conveying device between the entry and the exit following a conveying path with several windings which are situated one above the other, air-circulation device for circulating conditioned air throughout the treatment space via a hollow drum. According to a first aspect, air-conditioning device are provided upstream of the air-circulation device for conditioning the air. According to a second aspect, at least one winding of the conveying path near the entry has a pitch which is different to the pitch of the downstream windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Stork Titan B.V.
    Inventors: Bernardus Wilhelmus Franciscus Leferink, Hendricus Franciscus Jacobus Maria Van Der Eerden, Jeroen Robert Willemsen, Jacobus Cornelus Maria Baltussen
  • Publication number: 20150101494
    Abstract: A portable food dehydrator having a warm vessel, a warm vessel lid having a guide opening and an assembly opening, a cover defining a cover cavity, the cover having openings and a chamber divider capable of sectioning the cover chamber into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a fan assembly, a cool vessel, a sealing member, and a heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Micah Saccamanno
  • Patent number: 8997638
    Abstract: A steam cooking apparatus includes a steam generating unit to generate steam from a supply of water, a steam container to cook food using the steam from the steam generating unit, a steam supply pipe coupled to the steam generating unit in order to supply the steam container with the steam generated by the steam generating unit, a steam pipe coupled to the steam container in order to supply the steam container with the steam passing through the steam supply pipe, and a steam pipe connection tube including a first connection portion coupled with the steam supply pipe and a second connection portion coupled with the steam pipe, the second connection portion coupled with the steam pipe being formed to have a diameter which is expanded toward the steam pipe so as to guide the steam pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guan Yong Park, Jae Hyoun Kim, Han Seong Kang, Yun Ic Hwang, Kyoung Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8950319
    Abstract: A cooking appliance is provided. An operation of a convection motor for operating a convection fan is controlled into various modes according to a cooking temperature and kind of food to be cooked within a cooking chamber. Thus, the food may be more effectively cooked according to the cooking temperature and the kind of food to be cooked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyeunsik Nam, Seongho Cho, Seungjo Baek
  • Patent number: 8925445
    Abstract: Provided is a cooking appliance. Steam generated in a steam generation part is selectively supplied into a cooktop part or a steam cooking part. The steam supplied into the cooktop part is used for cleaning a top plate. Also, the steam supplied into the steam cooking part is used for cooking a food. Thus, the steam may be used in a lot of uses, e.g., for cooking the food and cleaning the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae-Hyoun Park, Young-Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20140360387
    Abstract: A cool temperature smoker includes a housing, an external smoke box, a duct, and a fan. The smoke box produces wood smoke at a temperature above ambient temperature, with the smoke box being positioned outside the food chamber. The duct extends between and fluidly connects the smoke box and the food chamber to one another along a duct path, with the duct being operable to fluidly transmit wood smoke along the duct path. The fan is positioned in fluid communication with the duct and is operable to provide a controlled flow of wood smoke through the duct. The duct extends at least partly outside the food chamber and is configured to be exposed to ambient conditions along the duct path to dissipate heat from the controlled flow of wood smoke as the wood smoke travels toward and into the food chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Jon Eric Bogdon
  • Patent number: 8893705
    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: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David H. McFadden
  • Patent number: 8850968
    Abstract: A steam generation device is placed at a lower portion of a side wall of a heating chamber. A steam jet-out part is placed upper than the steam generation device of the side wall of the heating chamber with a distance from the steam generation device. Thus, even if bumping has occurred within a water storage part of the steam generation device, causing boiling water to rush out from a steam supply port into a steam supply pipe, the boiling water is prevented from intruding into a steam jet-out part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Youhei Seguchi, Shinya Ueda, Takashi Utsumi
  • 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: 8839714
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: The Middleby Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Schjerven, Sr., John H. Wiker, Richard H. Van Camp, Theodore James Chmiola, Mark A. Sieron
  • Patent number: 8735778
    Abstract: A convection oven having a vapor collection system; water injection system; easily accessible electrical components; and a variable-speed, reversible blower. The vapor collection system collects vapor from the cooking chamber during a cooking event, condenses the vapor, and drains the condensed vapor. The water injection system injects water for impact against a blower wheel for dispersion into the air circulating through the cooking chamber. The electrical components are housed within a housing that in a closed position conceals the components and in a closed position exposes the components for easy access. The rotational speed and direction of the variable-speed, reversible blower is controlled during a cooking event according to predetermined speed curves which may include one or more reversal events to achieve more uniform cooking of food. A main controller is programmable via an operator input (e.g., liquid crystal display touch screen) to control operating parameters of the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Jack Greenwood, Robert J. Reese
  • Patent number: 8723084
    Abstract: The household appliance (1) for the production of bread comprises—a cooking chamber (11), —electrical supply means (19) for heating said cooking chamber (11), —a drive means ((12) pivotally activated in said cooking chamber (11) by a geared motor (13), —a container (10) which can be accommodated in said cooking chamber (11) and having at least a containment chamber (2) for the bread and at least a mixing shovel (3) positioned inside said containment chamber (2) and able to be directly or indirectly moved by said drive means (12), said containment chamber (2) being so configured to have a first proportion ratio (R1) between every dimension (A, B, ?) of its base and its height (H), and a second proportion ratio (R2) between the dimension of its height (H) and the length (L) of said shovel (3), said ratios being able to give to the cooked bread in said containment chamber (2) a mainly low and wide shape with a little crumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: De'Longhi Appliances S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giuseppe De'Longhi
  • Patent number: 8707861
    Abstract: An apparatus for pasteurizing a dry food product comprises an impingement chamber, a conveyor for conveying the dry food product through the impingement chamber; a heater and water supply assembly for generating heated, moist air, and a fan for circulating the heated, moist air through the impingement chamber and onto the dry food product. In operation, the moisture in the heated, moist air condenses on the surface of the dry food product and produces a heat of condensation which heats the surface of the dry food product. Moreover, this heat of condensation is sufficient to kill a percentage of any pathogenic microorganisms which may be present on the surface of the dry food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ramesh M. Gunawardena, Zhijun Weng
  • Publication number: 20140072682
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for accelerating the ripening of bananas to a color stage of 3.0 to 3.5. Also provided herein are bananas ripened according to the methods of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Chiquita Brands L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jiwon Jeong
  • Patent number: 8647692
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a combined process for generating steam in a steam-baking oven. The oven (2) comprises a baking chamber (3) containing at least one air heating element (10) and at least one fan (4) to keep the air moving inside the baking chamber (3); the oven (2) is associated with a steam generator (5) and is connected to a water supply (6). The combined process includes a saturation step, in which the steam generator (5) is activated until a substantial steam saturation is obtained in the baking chamber (3), and a spraying step in which the steam generator (5) is deactivated and the steam is produced by spraying water onto the heating elements (10); the steam generator (5) is temporarily and periodically activated during the spraying step to keep the steam quality substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Giorik S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Giazzon, Massimo Tesser, Paolo Candiago
  • Publication number: 20130233185
    Abstract: The food dehydrator device is made of a top member, a bottom member, and a plurality of trays disposed there between. Each one of the trays comprise a support, upper and lower skirts disposed about a periphery of the support, and first and second opposing sides. The upper and lower skirts of adjacent support trays cooperate to form an enclosed side wall. First and second sets of posts are disposed along each one of the first and second opposing sides and in first and second arrangements, respectively. Adjacent trays may be actuated between first and second configurations by rotation of adjacent trays 90 degrees relative to one other. In the first configuration the first and second pairs of opposing sides of adjacent trays are aligned and in the second configuration, the first and second pairs of opposing sides of adjacent trays are offset by 90 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: CD3 HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Eugene Hunt, Donnie Lee Miller, Verlon Eugene Whitehead
  • Patent number: 8516953
    Abstract: A convected-air cabinet (10) for storage of food has fans (62, 84) for directing air from a lower part of the apparatus to an upper part. In particular there is an upper fan (84) mounted above an apertured partition (86) so that air entering through an aperture (88) in this partition (86) is directed laterally and then downwardly to provide air curtains adjacent food access means (20) at a front (16) and rear (18) of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Mark Victor Fiori
  • Patent number: 8511224
    Abstract: An insertion hole (83a) is provided in a packing (83) and a rotating shaft (81a) is inserted into the insertion hole (83a). A sliding portion (83b) forming an air clearance (83c) is provided on the outside of the packing (83). The rotating shaft (81a) is inserted into the insertion hole (83a) with a grease G applied to the circumferential surface thereof. When the rotating shaft (81a) is inserted, the grease G is shaved off by the sliding portion (83b) and a sufficient amount of the grease G is stored in the air clearance (83c). Consequently, frictional sound and heat are and thus reduced between the rotating shaft (81a) and the packing (83), the sliding portion (83b) can come into tight contact with the rotating shaft (81a), thereby enhancing airtightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazushi Furukawa, Takao Murai, Kazuyuki Matsubayashi
  • Patent number: 8495954
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a piece of equipment for roasting edible seeds like coffee beans and the like includes a body sized to contain the product to be roasted, an air intake fan for conveying an air flow into the containing body, and a heater for heating the air flow. The containing body is fixed and houses a rotary shaft provided with one or more substantially radial arms or blades suited to stir the product during roasting, and may include a rotary drum that is integral or that may not be integral with the arms during rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Inventor: Alessandro Sommacal
  • Patent number: 8418684
    Abstract: A catalytic conversion unit treats emissions emanating from a cooking event. The unit comprises a housing to contain the other components that connects either directly or through the use of ancillary components to the oven cavity of a residential range, or oven. Contained within the housing are an electric heating element and a catalyst unit. The housing may connect to additional components to complete the venting of the exhaust to the atmosphere. The electric heating element is arranged so that infrared radiation from the hot surface of the element is visible by the inlet face of the catalyst. The power output of the heater is sized so that the catalyst reaches a minimum operating temperature to initiate the catalytic reaction in advance of the temperature increase in the air coming from the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Catalytic Combustion Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Robinson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8353242
    Abstract: A fryer has an oil container, a rotatable cooking basket therein, and a body of oil in the container. The body of oil and a stream of air are heated, and the basket is positioned with the food therein at least partially above the body of oil so the heated air stream can circulate through the basket and air-cook the food. Cyclically the basket is at least partially immersed in the heated oil to also cook the food with the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: De'Longhi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe De'Longhi
  • Patent number: 8299404
    Abstract: Apparatus for preparing food, comprising a food preparation chamber with an air-permeable bottom wall and an upper air discharge opening, a fan for moving hot air successively through the bottom wall, the food preparation chamber and the discharge opening, an air guide for returning the air from the discharge opening towards the bottom wall separate from the food preparation chamber, a heat radiating element positioned in the upper part of the food preparation chamber and an air guide member below the food preparation chamber. The air guide member is provided for directing the air flow essentially upwards into food present in the food preparation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Kavaring Cooking Systems B.V.
    Inventor: Fedde Van Der Weij
  • 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: 8283605
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling the heating/cooking of a food item in a cooking oven having a door, heaters and an oven temperature acquisition system, comprising the steps of measuring the total electrical power (Pin) absorbed by the oven, measuring the oven temperature, and assessing the actual power (Pload) transferred to the food item by automatically compensating disturbance factors. A cooking oven is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ettore Arione, Alessandro Boer, Paolo Crosta, Francesco Del Bello, Davide Parachini, Gianpiero Santacatterina
  • Patent number: 8267008
    Abstract: The centrifugal fan for circulating a steam in the cook chamber of a steam oven is rotated in the reverse direction only for a certain time of a set cooking time, whereby a steam circulating flow generated in the cook chamber is changed, and consequently, the foods on the casseroles placed in the cook chamber are uniformly heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Jamco Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Yasuhara
  • Patent number: 8240112
    Abstract: The evacuation device is configured to remove air from a container via a one-way valve element attached to the container. The evacuation device includes a motor with a rotating shaft that extends along an axis line. The shaft is operably interconnected to a reciprocating element reciprocally movable within a chamber along a direction parallel to the axis line. Reciprocal motion of the reciprocal element draws air into and exhausts air from the chamber. To facilitate the operable interconnection, the evacuation device includes a cam having a cylindrical sidewall mounted to the rotating shaft. Disposed circumferentially into the cylindrical sidewall is a channel. The evacuation device further includes a yoke connected to the reciprocal element and having a follower element received in the channel. Rotation of the cam causes the follower element to move with respect to the channel, thereby converting rotational motion to linear translation. The evacuation device may also include a pressure adjustment feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: The Glad Products Company
    Inventors: Scott Binger, Andrew E. Neltner
  • Patent number: 8215232
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus for assuring easier cleaning of contaminants, such as food residue, attached to the wall surface of a cavity in the cooking apparatus is disclosed. The cooking apparatus includes a body defining the outer appearance of the cooking apparatus, and a cavity defining a space for heating and cooking an object and having an inner surface to form an oil-repellent surface by being heated. In a cleaning method for the cooking apparatus, the inner surface of the cavity is heated prior to cooking food, to have an oil-repellency. The inner surface makes it difficult for the contaminants to be attached thereto. Even if the contaminants are attached, the contaminants have a very low adhesive power and thus are easy to clean.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seong Bin Lee, Jeong Ho Lee, Kyu In Shim
  • Patent number: 8106334
    Abstract: An electric oven having a convection heater and a convection cover. The convection cover including a main outlet located at or near the periphery of the convection cover, and a sub-outlet, more centrally located near the convection heater relative to the main outlet. Together, the main outlet and the sub-outlet allow the heated air to be uniformly circulated throughout the cooking chamber and to be evenly transferred to food irrespective of the position of the food in the cooking chamber. Uniform air circulation in the cooking chamber will result in more favorable cooking results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hyeun Sik Nam
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8042532
    Abstract: A heat-cooking apparatus includes blowing means (100) that blows cooling air to an opening (20a) of a heating chamber (20) when a door (11) is opened after steam is supplied to the heating chamber (20) for preparatory operation before heat-cooking or for heat-cooking itself. More specifically, after steam is supplied to the heating chamber (20), when the door (11) is opened, the blowing means (100) drives a conventionally existing cooling fan (101) to suck in cooling air from outside the apparatus, and deflects the cooling air toward the opening (20a) of the heating chamber (20) with a decoration box (102) so that the cooling air is blown to the opening (20a) so as to pass sideways substantially across it. Thus, the cooling air mixes with high-temperature steam that tends to overflow frontward as soon as the door (11) is opened, and thereby lowers the temperature of the steam. This surely prevents the user from being hurt, as by being burnt, with the overflowing steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fuminori Kaneko, Yoshikazu Yamamoto, Yoshikazu Kitaguchi, Masato Nakatani
  • Patent number: 8042458
    Abstract: A heating cooker has a side wall of a heating chamber (20) formed with an outlet (22) for discharging a heating fluid and an engagement portion (3a). A tray (4) has an edge portion (4a), a side wall portion (4b) having a thorough hole (4f), a flat surface portion (4c), an inner wall portion (4d), and a bottom portion (4e). When the tray is engaged with the engagement portion with its front surface side facing up, the through hole faces the outlet. A part of the discharged heating fluid is fed to the rear surface side of the tray through the through hole, and the remaining fluid is fed to the front surface side. When the tray is engaged with the engagement portion with its rear surface side facing up, an opening in a groove portion (4i) defined between the side wall portion and the inner wall portion faces upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Ueda, Kiyoshi Yamaguchi, Kazuyuki Matsubayashi
  • 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: 7975604
    Abstract: A dough proofing cabinet includes a chamber having one or more air ducts with a plurality of air duct openings distributed both vertically and horizontally thereon, and an outlet opening in an upper part of the chamber. Operation of a blower causes air flow from the chamber, through the outlet opening, past the heating element to the air duct or ducts and out through the air duct openings. In one example, the chamber includes air ducts extending downward on opposite side of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Walter J. Boryca, Jackson M. Miles, Jr., Thomas Rands
  • Patent number: RE42510
    Abstract: An apparatus for gas treatment of products rises a housing having top, bottom and side walls; a conveyor belt for transporting the products along a first path in the housing; a tunnel having perforated walls and enclosing the conveyor belt along the first path; a gas circulation device communicating with the tunnel via the perforated walls for circulating gas into the tunnel in the form of gas jets impinging upon the products carried by the conveyor belt, and out of the tunnel in a return channel back to the gas circulation device; and a gas conditioning device positioned in the return channel. At least one substantially vertical part of the connecting walls of the high-pressure chamber is removable so as to provide access to the inside of the pressure chamber, and at least one of the side walls of the housing along the high-pressure chamber may be movable so as to widen the space between at least one wall and the high-pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies AB
    Inventors: Jonny Malmberg, Per Blixt, Jon A. Hocker, Rick Wilson