Patents by Inventor Earl R. Winkelmann

Earl R. Winkelmann has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150181655
    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: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Philip R. MCKEE, Scott S. SMITH, Lee T. VANLANEN, Earl R. WINKELMANN
  • 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: 8759731
    Abstract: A cooking oven system with a master-slave power assembly therebetween to allow for a single power connection to a 30 ampere single phase electrical outlet includes: a first oven which runs on about 15 amperes; and a second oven which runs on about 15 amperes with an electrical power system which includes a power cord that extends from the second oven to the electrical inlet of the first oven, thereby allowing the first oven to act as a power master to the second oven which acts as a slave by obtaining power from the first oven; wherein the heated gas at or near the food product disposed in the cooking chamber of either the first or second oven exhibits a flow rate of at least about 100 CFM at 100 percent velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Appliance Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Scott S. Smith, Lee T. Vanlanen, Earl R. Winkelmann
  • 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: 20120175090
    Abstract: An improved heating apparatus is aimed at optimizing heat transfer and delivering an optimal heating efficiency in comparison to conventional heating apparatus. The improved heating apparatus includes tubes that generate plume arrays of a fluid (e.g., a gas, such as air) that is heated in a conduit. The tubes introduce the heated fluid into a chamber of the heating apparatus. The fluid is returned to the conduit through a return opening in the chamber. The path that the fluid travels in the chamber, from the tubes to the return air opening, is provided such that optimized heat transfer and optimal heating efficiency are facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Appliance Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: PHILIP R. MCKEE, Earl R. Winkelmann
  • Publication number: 20120111857
    Abstract: A cooking oven system with a master-slave power assembly therebetween to allow for a single power connection to a 30 ampere single phase electrical outlet, the system comprising: a first oven which runs on about 15 amperes; and a second oven which runs on about 15 amperes with an electrical power system which includes a power cord that extends from the second oven to the electrical inlet of the first oven, thereby allowing the first oven to act as a power master to the second oven which acts as a slave by obtaining power from the first oven; wherein the heated gas at or near the food product disposed in the cooking chamber of either the first or second oven exhibits a flow rate of at least about 100 CFM at 100 percent velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Philip R. MCKEE, Scott S. SMITH, Lee T. VANLANEN, Earl R. WINKELMANN
  • Patent number: 8129665
    Abstract: An improved heating apparatus is aimed at optimizing heat transfer and delivering an optimal heating efficiency in comparison to conventional heating apparatus. The improved heating apparatus includes tubes that generate plume arrays of a fluid (e.g., a gas, such as air) that is heated in a conduit. The tubes introduce the heated fluid into a chamber of the heating apparatus. The fluid is returned to the conduit through a return opening in the chamber. The path that the fluid travels in the chamber, from the tubes to the return air opening, is provided such that optimized heat transfer and optimal heating efficiency are facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Appliance Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann
  • 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: 8026463
    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 present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by dimensioning the nozzles for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plumes, subject to the space constraint of the oven's cooking chamber, and dimensioning the cooking chamber of the oven in integer multiples of the wavelength of the microwave energy to match the microwave load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Appliance Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann, Kara Louise McKee
  • Patent number: 8022341
    Abstract: An improved oven is aimed at optimizing heat transfer and delivering an optimal cooking efficiency in comparison to conventional high-speed cooking ovens. The oven includes tubes that generate plume arrays of a heated gas and introduce them into a cooking chamber of the oven. The tubes may be removably located at the bottom of the cooking chamber of the oven. The tubes are dimensioned for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plume arrays, subject to the space constraints of the oven's cooking chamber. With the optimized cooking efficiency provided by the present invention, high-speed cooking technology may now be extended to ovens operating on a power supply based on a voltage less than 220 volts, preferably between 110 and 125 volts, with more productive results, so that the high-speed cooking technology may find wider applicability and a broader customer base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Appliance Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann, Scott Stuart Smith, Lee Thomas VanLanen
  • Patent number: 7921841
    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 present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by dimensioning the nozzles for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plumes, subject to the space constraint of the oven's cooking chamber, and dimensioning the cooking chamber of the oven in integer multiples of the wavelength of the microwave energy to match the microwave load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Appliance Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann
  • Patent number: 7919737
    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 present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by dimensioning the nozzles for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plumes, subject to the space constraint of the oven's cooking chamber, and dimensioning the cooking chamber of the oven in integer multiples of the wavelength of the microwave energy to match the microwave load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Appliance Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann
  • Publication number: 20090236331
    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. With the optimized cooking efficiency provided by the present invention, the high speed cooking technology may now be extended to ovens operating on a power supply based on a voltage less than 220 volts and a current less than 30 amperes, preferably approximately 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann, Lee T. VanLanen
  • Publication number: 20090166002
    Abstract: An improved heating apparatus is aimed at optimizing heat transfer and delivering an optimal heating efficiency in comparison to conventional heating apparatus. The improved heating apparatus includes tubes that generate plume arrays of a fluid (e.g., a gas, such as air) that is heated in a conduit. The tubes introduce the heated fluid into a chamber of the heating apparatus. The fluid is returned to the conduit through a return opening in the chamber. The path that the fluid travels in the chamber, from the tubes to the return air opening, is provided such that optimized heat transfer and optimal heating efficiency are facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Appliance Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann
  • Publication number: 20090095739
    Abstract: An improved oven is aimed at optimizing heat transfer and delivering an optimal cooking efficiency in comparison to conventional high-speed cooking ovens. The oven includes tubes that generate plume arrays of a heated gas and introduce them into a cooking chamber of the oven. The tubes may be removably located at the bottom of the cooking chamber of the oven. The tubes are dimensioned for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plume arrays, subject to the space constraints of the oven's cooking chamber. With the optimized cooking efficiency provided by the present invention, high-speed cooking technology may now be extended to ovens operating on a power supply based on a voltage less than 220 volts, preferably between 110 and 125 volts, with more productive results, so that the high-speed cooking technology may find wider applicability and a broader customer base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann, Scott Stuart Smith, Lee Thomas VanLanen
  • Publication number: 20080283519
    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 present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by dimensioning the nozzles for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plumes, subject to the space constraint of the oven's cooking chamber, and dimensioning the cooking chamber of the oven in integer multiples of the wavelength of the microwave energy to match the microwave load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann, Kara Louise McKee
  • Publication number: 20080283035
    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 present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by dimensioning the nozzles for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plumes, subject to the space constraint of the oven's cooking chamber, and dimensioning the cooking chamber of the oven in integer multiples of the wavelength of the microwave energy to match the microwave load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann
  • Publication number: 20080283521
    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 present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by dimensioning the nozzles for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plumes, subject to the space constraint of the oven's cooking chamber, and dimensioning the cooking chamber of the oven in integer multiples of the wavelength of the microwave energy to match the microwave load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann
  • Patent number: 7435931
    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 present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by dimensioning the nozzles for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plumes, subject to the space constraint of the oven's cooking chamber, and dimensioning the cooking chamber of the oven in integer multiples of the wavelength of the microwave energy to match the microwave load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Appliance Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. McKee, Earl R. Winkelmann
  • Patent number: 6359271
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting foodstuffs in a hybrid oven for cooking by hot air impingement and by microwave energy having a predetermined free-space wavelength, comprising a metal ring having a pre-determined diameter and six primary spoke members formed of a metal and rigidly secured to the ring in substantially equally spaced circumferential intervals. The apparatus also includes a metal annular ring mounted to the primary spoke members. An opening is formed at the center of the apparatus by the inner diameter of the metal annular ring. In addition, the apparatus also includes six secondary spoke members formed of a metal and rigidly secured to the ring in substantially equally spaced circumferential intervals midway between the points at which the primary spoke members are secured thereto to cooperate with the primary spoke members to support the foodstuffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: TurboChef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Gidner, Earl R. Winkelmann, Richard N. Caron