Abstract: A microwave delivery system for a cooking appliance includes a toroidal waveguide, a launching zone and a waveguide cover. The launching zone includes opposing top, bottom and side walls that form a pathway for a microwave energy field to travel from a magnetron through the waveguide and into a cooking chamber. In accordance with one aspect of the overall invention, the bottom wall of the launching zone is aligned with a bottom surface of the waveguide to establish a direct conducting surface for the microwave energy field. The waveguide cover shields a hollow interior portion of the waveguide from cooking byproducts generated in the cooking chamber during a cooking process. The waveguide cover is preferably constituted by a metallic conductor having a finish that enhances the microwave energy field distribution in the cooking chamber.

Abstract: An airflow system of a cooking appliance having an oven cavity includes an intake portion, an exhaust portion and a diverter portion. The intake portion introduces an airflow into the cooking appliance that diverges into first and second airstreams. The first airstream enters the oven cavity and picks up moisture from food items being cooked, while the second airstream circulates outside the oven cavity. The diverter member guides the second airstream to mix with the first airstream at a predetermined region outside the oven cavity to transport the moisture through the exhaust portion and away from the cooking appliance. Preferably, the diverter member extends fore-to-aft below the oven cavity and includes a plurality of openings.

Abstract: A microwave delivery system for a cooking appliance includes a toroidal waveguide, a launching zone and a waveguide cover. The launching zone includes opposing top, bottom and side walls that form a pathway for a microwave energy field to travel from a magnetron through the waveguide and into a cooking chamber. In accordance with one aspect of the overall invention, the bottom wall of the launching zone is aligned with a bottom surface of the waveguide to establish a direct conducting surface for the microwave energy field. The waveguide cover shields a hollow interior portion of the waveguide from cooking byproducts generated in the cooking chamber during a cooking process. The waveguide cover is preferably constituted by a metallic conductor having a finish that enhances the microwave energy field distribution in the cooking chamber.

Abstract: A microwave delivery system for a cooking appliance includes a toroidal waveguide having a ring diameter twice that of the wavelength of the microwaves produced by a magnetron, and a cross-sectional diameter equal to one-half of the produced microwaves. The waveguide includes a plurality of cavity excitation ports through which the microwaves enter a cooking cavity. The delivery system further includes a rotating stirrer positioned within the waveguide. The stirrer includes a plurality of openings which become aligned with the cavity excitation ports when the stirrer is rotated to create a uniform, high energy pattern of microwave energy to enter the cooking cavity. Finally, the waveguide includes a plurality of openings along spaced portions thereof to allow a flow of air through the waveguide.