Abstract: A detection system configured to detect water in a fan case includes a heater, a monitoring camera, and a computing device. The heater is configured to apply heat to the fan case. Any water within the fan case generates a local transient thermal gradient in response to the applied heat. The monitoring camera is positioned proximate the fan case and configured to acquire a plurality of images of the heated fan case. The computing device is configured to: receive the plurality of images from the monitoring camera and analyze the plurality of images to detect the water in the fan case.

Abstract: A detection system configured to detect water in a fan case includes a heater, a monitoring camera, and a computing device. The heater is configured to apply heat to the fan case. Any water within the fan case generates a local transient thermal gradient in response to the applied heat. The monitoring camera is positioned proximate the fan case and configured to acquire a plurality of images of the heated fan case. The computing device is configured to: receive the plurality of images from the monitoring camera and analyze the plurality of images to detect the water in the fan case.

Abstract: A home cooking appliance includes a housing, a cooking compartment in the housing, a flue in the housing and in fluid communication with the cooking compartment for exhausting flue gases from the cooking compartment, an exhaust outlet for exhausting the flue gases from the housing, and a flue boundary connecting the flue and the exhaust outlet, the flue boundary separating flue gases from cooling air flowing through the housing and preventing dilution of flue gases with cooling air. The housing includes a cooling rough-in box having a cooling air flow channel for cooling the rear wall of the flue boundary. The cooling rough-in box includes an opening permitting the cooling air to be drawn into the cooling air flow channel from an exterior of the housing by convection owing to heat on the rear wall of the flue boundary.

Abstract: A home cooking appliance with a side swing door is provided. The home cooking appliance includes a housing having a cooking cavity and a side swing door movable about at least one hinge between a closed position and an open position to provide access to the cooking cavity, wherein the at least one hinge includes a friction hinge configured to impede rotational motion of the side swing door, wherein the friction hinge is a variable torque friction hinge configured to provide a variable torque throughout at least a part of a range of motion in at least one of an opening direction and a closing direction of the of the side swing door.

Abstract: An electric oven with a heating element designed to conduct broiling operations includes a reflector that is mounted between the heating element and a ceiling of a cooking cavity. The reflector can include reflecting portions that extend downward from side, rear or front edges of the reflector to help focus radiant energy produced by a heating element downward onto an underlying cooking surface. The reflector can also include a plurality of curved segments that are designed to reflect radiant energy emitted upward by the heating element back downward onto an underlying cooking surface. The curved segments can have varying focal lengths to help more evenly distribute the reflected radiant energy across the underlying cooking surface.

Abstract: A home cooking appliance with a side swing door is provided. The home cooking appliance includes a housing having a cooking cavity and a side swing door movable about at least one hinge between a closed position and an open position to provide access to the cooking cavity, wherein the at least one hinge includes a friction hinge configured to impede rotational motion of the side swing door, wherein the friction hinge is a variable torque friction hinge configured to provide a variable torque throughout at least a part of a range of motion in at least one of an opening direction and a closing direction of the of the side swing door.

Abstract: A home cooking appliance with a side swing door is provided. The home cooking appliance includes a housing having a cooking cavity, and a side swing door movable about at least one hinge between a closed position and an open position to provide access to the cooking cavity. The at least one hinge includes a friction hinge configured to impede rotational motion of the side swing door.

Abstract: A hinge system for mounting a door to an appliance has an upper hinge bracket having an upper hinge swing element configured to engage a door upper swing element fixed to the door, the engagement of the upper hinge swing element and the door upper swing element allowing the door to swing about a vertical axis between an open position and a closed position, and an upper hinge pivot limiting element configured to engage a frame pivot limiting element fixed to the appliance; a lower hinge bracket having a lower hinge swing element configured to engage a door lower swing element, and a system pivot element configured to engage a frame pivot element such that the upper hinge bracket, the lower hinge bracket, and the door are pivotable about a horizontal axis as a unit relative to the appliance while still being attached to the appliance.

Abstract: A home cooking appliance with a side swing door is provided. The home cooking appliance includes a self capturing latch mechanism that secures and seals the side swing door in the closed position, the self capturing latch mechanism including a stationary hook and a receiver that receives and draws part of the stationary hook into a secured position within the receiver when the side swing door is moved into the closed position to secure the side swing door in the closed position. The receiver provides a variable closing force that varies from a first closing force at an initial engagement of the receiver with the part of the stationary hook to a predetermined second closing force, which is greater than the first closing force, at a completed engagement of the receiver with the part of the stationary hook to seal the side swing door in the closed position.

Abstract: A home cooking appliance includes a housing, a cooking compartment in the housing, a flue in the housing and in fluid communication with the cooking compartment for exhausting flue gases from the cooking compartment, an exhaust outlet for exhausting the flue gases from the housing, and a flue boundary connecting the flue and the exhaust outlet, the flue boundary separating flue gases from cooling air flowing through the housing and preventing dilution of flue gases with cooling air. The housing includes a cooling rough-in box having a cooling air flow channel for cooling the rear wall of the flue boundary. The cooling rough-in box includes an opening permitting the cooling air to be drawn into the cooling air flow channel from an exterior of the housing by convection owing to heat on the rear wall of the flue boundary.

Abstract: A home cooking appliance with a side swing door is provided. The home cooking appliance includes a housing having a cooking cavity, and a side swing door movable about at least one hinge between a closed position and an open position to provide access to the cooking cavity. The at least one hinge includes a friction hinge configured to impede rotational motion of the side swing door.

Abstract: A home cooking appliance with a side swing door is provided. The home cooking appliance includes a self capturing latch mechanism that secures and seals the side swing door in the closed position, the self capturing latch mechanism including a stationary hook and a receiver that receives and draws part of the stationary hook into a secured position within the receiver when the side swing door is moved into the closed position to secure the side swing door in the closed position. The receiver provides a variable closing force that varies from a first closing force at an initial engagement of the receiver with the part of the stationary hook to a predetermined second closing force, which is greater than the first closing force, at a completed engagement of the receiver with the part of the stationary hook to seal the side swing door in the closed position.

Abstract: A support assembly is provided for supporting a household appliance such as a non-convection microwave oven in a free-standing vertical relation with another household appliance such that the non-convection microwave oven is supported above the other household appliance. The support assembly includes a base tray having a floor portion on which the non-convection microwave oven can be disposed, brackets for fixedly securing the base tray to the other household appliance, and a pair of bracket arms for securing a trim element to the base tray.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for pivotably attaching a door to a home appliance includes a hinge bracket having a body; a hooking member that releasably engages a receiving feature of the home appliance; and a securing member fixed to the body. A fastener secures the securing member to the appliance in an operating position of the door and such that removal of the fastener releases the securing member from the home appliance so that the hooking member can be disengaged from the receiving feature to allow removal of the door from the home appliance, and the engagement of the hooking member with the receiving feature supports the weight of the door when the fastener is removed such that the receiving feature of the appliance supports the weight of the door to maintain a temporary vertical position of the door.

Abstract: A pipe and connector assembly of an appliance is provided. The assembly has a pipe for connecting to a fluid system of the appliance; a transition section fluidly connected to the pipe; a connector portion for connecting to the external fluid supply by way of a twisting motion between the external fluid supply and the connector portion; an anti-torque plate fixed rigidly to the transition section, the anti-torque plate having an engagement area; and a shoulder element for attaching the anti-torque plate to a chassis of the appliance. A shoulder portion of the shoulder element is positioned to engage the engagement area of the anti-torque plate such that movement of the anti-torque plate in a plane that is parallel to the twisting motion is restrained by the shoulder portion engaging the engagement area, and movement of the anti-torque plate is permitted along a length of the shoulder portion.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for pivotably attaching a door to a home appliance includes a hinge bracket having a body; a hooking member that releasably engages a receiving feature of the home appliance; and a securing member fixed to the body. A fastener secures the securing member to the appliance in an operating position of the door and such that removal of the fastener releases the securing member from the home appliance so that the hooking member can be disengaged from the receiving feature to allow removal of the door from the home appliance, and the engagement of the hooking member with the receiving feature supports the weight of the door when the fastener is removed such that the receiving feature of the appliance supports the weight of the door to maintain a temporary vertical position of the door.

Abstract: A hinge system for mounting a door to an appliance has an upper hinge bracket having an upper hinge swing element configured to engage a door upper swing element fixed to the door, the engagement of the upper hinge swing element and the door upper swing element allowing the door to swing about a vertical axis between an open position and a closed position, and an upper hinge pivot limiting element configured to engage a frame pivot limiting element fixed to the appliance; a lower hinge bracket having a lower hinge swing element configured to engage a door lower swing element, and a system pivot element configured to engage a frame pivot element such that the upper hinge bracket, the lower hinge bracket, and the door are pivotable about a horizontal axis as a unit relative to the appliance while still being attached to the appliance.

Abstract: A domestic appliance includes a control panel and a control panel mounting bracket which includes a frame shaped for being installed on a surface panel of a domestic appliance. The surface panel has an opening therein for receiving the frame. The frame has an open portion for receiving a control mount adhered over the open portion. The surface panel has a top surface and a bottom surface, and the frame has a main securing member having at least one tab extending therefrom. The tab is bendable along a line off-set from vertical such that when the tab is bent, it bears against the bottom surface of the surface panel to urge the frame against the surface panel.

Abstract: An electric oven with a heating element designed to conduct broiling operations includes a reflector that is mounted between the heating element and a ceiling of a cooking cavity. The reflector can include reflecting portions that extend downward from side, rear or front edges of the reflector to help focus radiant energy produced by a heating element downward onto an underlying cooking surface. The reflector can also include a plurality of curved segments that are designed to reflect radiant energy emitted upward by the heating element back downward onto an underlying cooking surface. The curved segments can have varying focal lengths to help more evenly distribute the reflected radiant energy across the underlying cooking surface.

Abstract: A pipe and connector assembly of an appliance is provided. The assembly has a pipe for connecting to a fluid system of the appliance; a transition section fluidly connected to the pipe; a connector portion for connecting to the external fluid supply by way of a twisting motion between the external fluid supply and the connector portion; an anti-torque plate fixed rigidly to the transition section, the anti-torque plate having an engagement area; and a shoulder element for attaching the anti-torque plate to a chassis of the appliance. A shoulder portion of the shoulder element is positioned to engage the engagement area of the anti-torque plate such that movement of the anti-torque plate in a plane that is parallel to the twisting motion is restrained by the shoulder portion engaging the engagement area, and movement of the anti-torque plate is permitted along a length of the shoulder portion.