Oven Type Patents (Class 219/391)
  • Patent number: 6892723
    Abstract: A baking oven includes baking oven lighting reduced by a dimmer device of a control device not suddenly each time, but such that the lighting becomes continuously weaker over a time period visually evident to a user. The light intensity is, preferably, also continuously increased when the baking space lighting is switched on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Anschütz, Sylvia Peter, Frank Rödelsperger, Bernd Strolz, Dieter Weiss
  • Patent number: 6864464
    Abstract: An electric heater (2) is arranged for location in an oven (4) intermediate a cavity (6) of the oven and a flue arrangement (8) for venting the cavity (6). The heater (2) comprises a dish-like support (14) containing at least one electric heating element (22) and having a first face (24) open to the cavity (6) and a second face (16; 18) having an aperture (26) adapted to interface with the flue arrangement (8). Catalyst means (28) is provided incorporated in the heater (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Ceramaspeed Limited
    Inventor: Kevin Ronald McWilliams
  • Patent number: 6858819
    Abstract: An electric heating element (10) for an oven (2) is provided at least in part with a coating (14) of a catalyst means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Ceramaspeed Limited
    Inventor: Kevin Ronald McWilliams
  • Patent number: 6834531
    Abstract: An auxiliary modular oven assembly for use with a gas chromatograph. The auxiliary oven assembly is comprised of a housing, an oven compartment, a heater, at least one sampling valve, at least one fixed volume sample loop, and at least one chromatograph column or column trains, wherein the column or column trains contains a material capable of causing the separation of chemical components of a chemical sample at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Inventor: Christopher J. Rust
  • Publication number: 20040238521
    Abstract: This invention discloses an electric oven with detachable liners includes a front door, a control panel and a rear shell; inside the rear shell is an inner chamber where an electric heater and a baking rack are installed; wherein, said electric oven further includes at least one piece of detachable liners, each detachable liner is in the shape of plane plate and is detachably installed at the inner side of said inner chamber. By adding the detachable liners, the inner chamber of the electric oven can be always kept clean and new. Besides, it is convenient to put the detachable liners into conventional dish washing troughs or dish washing machines for soaking and cleaning. The present invention is widely applicable to conventional electric ovens by modification of the existing ovens and addition of the detachable liners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Kun-lian Wei
  • Patent number: 6809295
    Abstract: A television and oven combination device includes an oven having a back wall, front wall, a pair of side walls and a top wall. A flat-panel monitor has a viewing side, a rear side, a bottom edge, a top edge and a pair of side edges. At least one monitor support is attached to the back wall of the oven. The at least one monitor support includes an elongated member having an upper end and a lower end. The elongated member is vertically orientated. A coupler is attached to the upper end for coupling the elongate member to the flat-panel monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Debra C. Vargas
  • Patent number: 6794616
    Abstract: A solder flow oven comprises a reflow zone for heating a workpiece using heated air to a temperature effective to reflow solder. The reflow zone comprises a nozzle having divergent vanes that direct shear layers into neighboring zones to extend the distance over which the workpiece is heated to effective solder reflow temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lakhi Nandlal Goenka
  • Patent number: 6787738
    Abstract: A self-cleaning oven includes an oven cavity, a gas sensor in flow communication with the oven cavity, and a controller configured to select one of a plurality of self-clean cycle times based upon a peak value of sampled signals of the gas sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kresimir Odorcic, Omar Haidar, Robert Cissell, Michael McGonagle, Scott Horning
  • Publication number: 20040169031
    Abstract: A safety device of an electric oven is disclosed, which is provided to prevent a door from being open when a temperature inside an oven cavity is high. The safety device includes a hole provided in a front part of an oven cavity forming a cooking room therein; a latch protruding from an inner side of a door opening/closing the oven cavity, for being inserted into the hole when the door is closed; a rotation motor provided in an upper part of the oven cavity; a lever rotatably coupled with an axis of the rotation motor; and a temperature sensor measuring a temperature inside the oven cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Myeong Yeol Kang
  • Patent number: 6784404
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for operating a self-cleaning oven in which a gas sensor, such as for measuring concentrations of CO gas, is located remote from, yet in gas communication with, an exhaust flue of the oven. The gas sensor is located at the end of an outlet tube which extends from the exhaust flue. A sample gas flow is provided to the gas sensor through the outlet tube to isolate the sensor from the heat of the oven and a filter device is located in the outlet tube for filtering the sample gas flow. A valve may be provided at the inlet to the outlet tube. The rate of change (slope) of successive readings of gas concentrations may be used to determine when the combustion of food material is complete, in order to terminate a self-cleaning cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert William Meyer, Paul Karl Krueger, Erin M. May, Richard L. Baker, Steven T. Baas, Anthony T. Jenkins, M. Reza Ghassemzadeh, Matthew T. Wizeman
  • Publication number: 20040155023
    Abstract: A stove (10) comprising a baking muffle (12) is disclosed. Within the baking muffle (12) guide means (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) for receiving at least one heatable cooking bowl (22) are provided, wherein the cooking bowl (22) comprises a substrate layer, in particular a bottom, at the outside of which a directly heatable heating layer is provided which is coated by an insulating layer (FIG. 1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Karsten Wermbter, Patrik Schober
  • Publication number: 20040144768
    Abstract: A self-cleaning oven includes an oven cavity, a gas sensor in flow communication with the oven cavity, and a controller configured to select one of a plurality of self-clean cycle times based upon a peak value of sampled signals of the gas sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kresimir Odorcic, Omar Haidar, Robert Cissell, Michael McGonagle, Scott Horning
  • Patent number: 6768090
    Abstract: A wall-mounted microwave oven having an enhanced blowing capability. The wall-mounted microwave oven includes a cabinet which defines an external appearance of the microwave oven and an exhaust fan unit. An internal duct is provided in the cabinet. An external duct is installed at a predetermined position outside the cabinet so as to communicate with the internal duct. The exhaust fan unit is installed in the external duct and generates a blowing force which discharges contaminated indoor air to the outside of the microwave oven through the internal and external ducts. The wall-mounted microwave oven having such a construction allows a large-capacity exhaust fan and a large-capacity fan motor to be used without increasing the size of the cabinet. Additionally, a capacity of a cooking chamber can be increased without increasing the size of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeon-Hong Kang
  • Publication number: 20040129692
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric oven with an improved structure for uniform transmission of heat from a heater to food in a cooking cavity. The electric oven includes an outer case, an inner case, a heater cover, at least one heater, a fan housing, and a fan. The outer case has a door mounted in a front part thereof, the inner case in the outer case, and the inner case has a plurality of holes in an upper part thereof. The heater cover in the upper part of the inner case over the holes, and the heater is under the heater cover. The fan housing is attached to an inside wall of the inner case, and has a plurality of apertures. The fan is between the fan housing and an inside wall of the inner case, for drawing air from the cooking cavity and blowing a portion, or all of the air toward the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Hag Sin Kim, Myeong Yeol Kang
  • Publication number: 20040089648
    Abstract: A convection oven includes an open coil heater element around a radial fan which expels air radially outward and through the coils of the heating element. A controller permits air temperature regulation and self-protection of the coil against over-temperature conditions, for example as a result of failure of the coil or failure of the motor that drives the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Dean J. Griffey, Michael A. McKinney, Mark Straub
  • Patent number: 6734403
    Abstract: An oven and a method for controlling the ambient temperature in an oven comprising a baking cavity that is preheated with respect to a user-selected temperature set point. The baking cavity can include a rack for supporting a pan that conceptually divides the cavity into an upper heating region and a lower heating region. A broil heating element and corresponding broil temperature sensor are disposed in the upper heating region of the baking cavity. A bake heating element and corresponding bake heating sensor are disposed in the lower heating region of the baking cavity. A controlled is provided to control the activation of the broil and bake heating elements in response to the sensed temperature of the upper and lower heating regions to maintain the entire oven at a temperature substantially equal to a target temperature set point, which is determined based on the user-selected temperature set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Baker, James A. Pyles, John W. Lockwood, Daniel E. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6730882
    Abstract: A cooking appliance, such as a range, includes a cabinet within which is arranged an oven cavity that is adapted to be selectively closed by a pivotable door. A latching mechanism is provided to interconnect the door and the cabinet. The latching mechanism is movable between a locked position wherein the door is maintained closed and an unlocked position wherein the door can be pivoted to enable access to the oven cavity. The latching mechanism is operable in two distinct modes, i.e., a first mode wherein the latching mechanism is activated in conjunction with the operation of a self-clean cycle, and a second mode wherein the latching mechanism is operated independently of any other function of the cooking appliance. The second mode is particularly employed to prevent children from improperly utilizing the door as a stepping platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Wade A. Atkinson
  • Publication number: 20040074890
    Abstract: A high-level built-in oven unit having a housing with a heated cooking chamber having a floor opening therein. The chamber has a lowerable trap-door movable between a position closing the floor opening and a lowered position opening the floor opening. The trap-door is movable by a lifting device, which has lifting elements mounted outside of the cooking chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicants: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Dengler, Felix Hangl, Wolfgang Schnell, Josef Gerl, Christian Zimmerman, Klemens Roch, Klaus Rabenstein, Michael Wagner, Reinhard Fleissner, Christian Unterreiner, Johann Herbst, Bernd Hopfenmuller, Peter Mallinger, Ingo Bally, Edmund Kuttalek
  • Patent number: 6725099
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for limiting the ramp rate of a variable under control in order to control stress in a process or plant under control. The present invention takes a limit curve provided by the user and combines that limit curve with a scale factor curve obtained from a model of the system to produce an allowable limit curve. A ramp rate limiter then uses the allowable limit curve to control the ramp rate of the variable under control such that the ramp rate of the variable under control is able to achieve the maximum allowable limit but no more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Mark Erickson, Thorkell Gudmundsson, Sunil C. Shah
  • Publication number: 20040065654
    Abstract: An oven (2), such as a microwave oven comprises an oven cavity (6) having therein a rotatable turntable (8) for supporting one or more items (30, 32), such as food, to be heated. A radiant electric heater (10) is located above the turntable and overlies at least a major part of a substantially semi-circular portion (12) of the turntable (8), including a peripheral region (14) thereof and a central, or near central, region (16) thereof. The heater (10) incorporates at least one heating element (22) adapted and arranged (26, 28) to provide a higher power density over the peripheral region (14) of the turntable (8) than over the central, or near central, region (16) of the turntable (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Gavin John Coleman, Karen Sarah Simpson
  • Publication number: 20040047990
    Abstract: A hardware assembly is provided for controlling a first portion of gas and a second portion of gas in a furnace. The first portion of the gas is introduced to a center opening region of a stack of porous structures. The second portion of the gas is introduced to an outer region of the stack of porous structures. Most of the gas flows out of the hardware assembly from either the center opening region or the outer region while some of the gas flows out through small holes from the other region. A densification method is also provided with two densification processes in which the gas flows in opposite directions in the two densification processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David E. Daws, James W. Rudolph, Dary Zeigler, Afshin Bazshushtari
  • Publication number: 20040040949
    Abstract: An electric heating element (10) for an oven (2) is provided at least in part with a coating (14) of a catalyst means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Kevin Ronald McWilliams
  • Publication number: 20040031782
    Abstract: A heating apparatus that includes a single heating chamber with an opening, and two or more independently moveable doors. Each door covers a portion of the chamber opening and selectively controls access through the chamber opening to a respective portion of the heating chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventor: Barbara Westfield
  • Publication number: 20040026386
    Abstract: A method for improving the edge-to-center photoresist ash rate uniformity in lower temperature (typically, but not limited to <100° C.) processing of integrated circuits and micro-electro-mechanical devices. A varying gap distance 32 from the edge-to-center of the upper and lower grid plates, 30 and 31, of a plasma ashing machine is provided to allow additional flow of plasma gases into the normally semi-stagnated area near the center of the wafer being processed. This improvement overcomes the problem of slower photoresist removal in the center of the wafer. Three configurations of the invention is described, including both stepwise and continuous variation of the grid plate gap spacing and optionally, the variation of the size of grid plate holes in a parallel grid plate assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hogan, Timothy A. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20040026401
    Abstract: A convection oven with laminar airflow and/or moisture injection. A radial airflow fan is used to provide a circulating airflow that is substantially even and substantially turbulence free. The circulating airflow is provided to an oven chamber via a plurality of egress ports that rim a divider wall disposed between the oven chamber and a fan chamber. The airflow interleaves with a plurality of pans in the oven chamber to provide a laminar airflow. Moisture is injected into the circulating airflow either upstream of the fan or by flashing water onto the hot blades of the fan from either the low pressure side or the high pressure side of the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: The Garland Group
    Inventors: Douglas S. Jones, William J. Day, Malcolm Reay, Ryan J. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20040020916
    Abstract: Food cooking oven, comprising a thermometric probe adapted to be introduced in the food to be cooked and to generate a signal that is representative of the detected temperature, in which said signal is sent to appropriate processing and display means capable of working out a final information (F) depending in a combined manner on both the detected temperatures and the cooking time. The oven is further provided with selection means adapted to send selective commands to said processing means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Frank Tassan Mangina
  • Patent number: 6686576
    Abstract: A wall-mounted type microwave oven includes a guide device which guides steam and fumes generated therebelow toward an exhaust duct of the microwave oven. The guide device includes a plurality of guide pieces with gaps therebetween so as to bend the guide device in response to the guide device being pulled out of an oven body of the microwave oven. The guide pieces are connected to each other by corresponding link units. Each of the link units includes a pair of hinge pins fixed to the adjacent guide pieces, and a link connected to the adjacent hinge pins. Where the guide device is extended forwarded from the oven body, a front end of the guide device is bent forward and downward. Accordingly, an exhausting efficiently of the microwave oven is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ha-Yeong Yang
  • Publication number: 20040016744
    Abstract: RF energy provided by electrodes positioned between a product is used to heat a product that exhibits a variable impedance during the heating process. As the product's impedance changes during the heating process, RF heating system impedance can be maintained constant by adjusting the distance between the electrodes, adjusting the impedance of a variable impedance device connected between the RF power source and an electrode, or a combination of electrode distance adjustment and impedance adjustment of the variable impedance device. The system is particularly applicable to the heating or pasteurization of bulk food products with multiple heating zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventor: Steven Thomas Ottaway
  • Publication number: 20040007564
    Abstract: A roasting oven having a large capacity heating well including a wrap-around heating element for heating the side walls thereof and a top heating element for browning. A function control panel featuring a touch-film interface and digital display of cooking modes is provided for the user's convenience. The heating elements are fabricated in alternative embodiments to provide single-sided or double-sided configurations for particular heating applications. A lid member including the top heating element is attached to the roasting oven by electrically conductive supporting structures, which incorporate the electrical circuit for the top heating element and also provide for convenient disconnection thereof for cleaning and storage. In an alternative embodiment the top heating element is omitted to reduce manufacturing costs and standard electromechanical switches and temperature controls provide the functions of the oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventor: George T. C. Li
  • Publication number: 20040004068
    Abstract: A cooking appliance, such as a range, includes a cabinet within which is arranged an oven cavity that is adapted to be selectively closed by a pivotable door. A latching mechanism is provided to interconnect the door and the cabinet. The latching mechanism is movable between a locked position wherein the door is maintained closed and an unlocked position wherein the door can be pivoted to enable access to the oven cavity. The latching mechanism is operable in two distinct modes, i.e., a first mode wherein the latching mechanism is activated in conjunction with the operation of a self-clean cycle, and a second mode wherein the latching mechanism is operated independently of any other function of the cooking appliance. The second mode is particularly employed to prevent children from improperly utilizing the door as a stepping platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Maytage Corporation
    Inventor: Wade A. Atkinson
  • Publication number: 20030213790
    Abstract: A small electric oven includes a base unit and a lid unit hinged to close over the base unit. A lower heat transmissive cooking platen is supported by the base unit and arranged such that any liquid on the platen drains in use towards one end of the platen. An upper heat transmissive cooking platen is supported inside the lid and fits over the lower cooking platen to define a heat transmissive cooking chamber that completely encloses a food item without direct contact with an upper portion of the food item. Electric heating elements are provided for each of the platens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: Chi Cheong Hui
  • Publication number: 20030213792
    Abstract: A steaming oven having a collector plate disposed in an oven chamber. A collector plate is disposed above a boiling water reservoir in the oven chamber. The collector plate has drain tube inserted into an overfill tube disposed in the reservoir. Waste material from the steam and food droppings is conveyed from the oven chamber via the drain tube and the overfill tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Cleveland Range
    Inventors: Joseph S. Bellassai, John E. Richnafsky, Jason D. Schreiner
  • Patent number: 6642486
    Abstract: A system and method for developing a heat treatment process using a model radiative-heating oven, which repeatably and accurately simulates an industrial heat treatment system. In order to simulate the industrial heat treatment system, the model radiative-heating oven uses a variety of scaling factors, such as heating density parameters. The model radiative-heating oven also may have a quickly openable and closable object carrier, which facilitates a timely start and end of a desired heat treatment process. An oven temperature stabilizer also may be provided for thermally stabilizing the model radiative-heating oven prior to the desired heat treatment process. The present technique also may utilize a variety of heat profile controls, such as time, temperature, and power levels, to provide the desired heat profile in the heat treatment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Anderson, James S. Nelson, Frank S. Villella, Matthew H. Yackel, Richard A. Ganyo, Thomas M. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 6608288
    Abstract: An oven includes an internal preparation chamber defining a cavity that receives and prepares food product therein. The oven further includes a first chef-side door that provides access to the cavity by the chef for the placement of food product to be prepared, and a second server-side door providing access to the chamber by the serving staff to remove the prepared food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Alto-Shaam, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry D. Maahs
  • Patent number: 6525299
    Abstract: An electrical cooking device (10) for a bulb or more of garlic including a lower bowl-like cooking plate (22) with circular peripheral walls (46) extending upward having a annular beveled rim (32) and an upper domed cooking plate (20) having a recessed annular beveled rim (34) when in a closed position align in nestable cooperation to form a cooking chamber (30) in which one or more bulbs of garlic can be cooked quickly and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventors: Georgia A. Hannon, Todd J. Hannon
  • Publication number: 20020170904
    Abstract: An auxiliary modular oven assembly for use with a gas chromatograph. The auxiliary oven assembly is comprised of a housing, an oven compartment, a heater, at least one sampling valve, at least one fixed volume sample loop, and at least one chromatograph column or column trains, wherein the column or column trains contains a material capable of causing the separation of chemical components of a chemical sample at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Christopher J. Rust
  • Patent number: 6469285
    Abstract: An automatic temperature control device comprises a reaction chamber for housing a vessel, a tray for supporting the vessel, a temperature control part for controlling at least the temperature in the reaction chamber, a transfer means for slidably moving the tray such that the tray may freely enter or withdraw from the reaction chamber, a first cover part for closing up the reaction chamber tightly when the tray is made to enter the reaction chamber by the transfer means, a second cover part for closing up the reaction chamber tightly when the tray is made to withdraw from the reaction chamber by the transfer means, and first and second magnets for holding the second cover part in a tightly closed-up state, wherein the tray for supporting the vessel is allowed to move slidably in linkage with the pivotal motion of the cover for pivoting the cover and also making the vessel to enter or withdraw from the reaction chamber in one operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Inami
  • Patent number: 6462311
    Abstract: A portable oven easily assembled without tools or fasteners from interfitted modular components is adapted to function in a convection mode. The components include a pair of electrical strip heaters disposed within a base frame that supports a plurality of upstanding wall panels which circumscribe a close having corners. A receiver mounted on the frame proximate each corner is recessed to releasably receive a free end of an upstanding stanchion. Each stanchion is formed with a pair of open channel members positioned orthogonally on the stanchion to face corresponding ones of channel members of opposite stanchions for slidably receiving a wall panel between the members in releasably captive relation. A removable cover is positioned in registry with the upstanding stanchions and wall panels to define a closed heating chamber. Heated air is circulated within the oven via apertures in a floor panel of the frame and a blower assembly mounted upon the cover in communication with the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Michael R. Emiglio
  • Publication number: 20020141477
    Abstract: A radiant light from a reaction chamber is measured outside the chamber, and a relation between a change of a radiation ratio of the radiant light, and a change of a thickness of a thin film is acquired, when a CVD apparatus is used to form the film on a substrate in the chamber. After acquiring the relation between the change of the radiation ratio and the change of the film thickness, the change of the radiation ratio is measured, when the CVD apparatus is used to form the film. The thickness of the film is estimated from the change of the radiation ratio measured in measuring the change of the radiation ratio from the relation between the change of the radiation ratio and the change of the film thickness acquired in acquiring the relation between the change of the radiation ratio and the change of the film thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Akahori, Shuichi Samata
  • Patent number: 6444954
    Abstract: A toaster oven has a sheet metal chassis and plastic, cool-wall support walls which support the chassis. Both a pivotally-mounted bottom panel and a slidable crumb tray may be provided. Parts of the chassis are connected together without the use of fasteners or welds by twist tabs. A sheet metal top panel and, optionally, a plastic top panel extend over the top of the chassis. One of the support walls has a pair of locking pins and the plastic top wall has a forwardly-facing hook engaged with one of said locking pins and a rearwardly-facing hook engaged with the other of said locking pins. Support pads on the inner faces of the plastic support walls may cooperate with mounting members for supporting the toaster oven on the bottom of a kitchen cabinet. A control compartment beside the oven chamber houses electrical controls including a heat sensing thermistor mounted in a porcelain tube held against the wall that separates the control compartment from the oven chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul M. Blankenship
  • Publication number: 20020113055
    Abstract: An oven includes an internal preparation chamber defining a cavity that receives and prepares food product therein. The oven further includes a first chef-side door that provides access to the cavity by the chef for the placement of food product to be prepared, and a second server-side door providing access to the chamber by the serving staff to remove the prepared food product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Jerry D. Maahs
  • Publication number: 20020096509
    Abstract: The invention relates to a portable battery-powered cooking device using improved heating units, with recharging capabilities, optionally with refrigeration capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Mosshaim Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Horst Mosshammer Von Mosshaim
  • Publication number: 20020084262
    Abstract: An oven for continuous curing of a succession of pre-formed elastomer articles, in particular tubes, which comprises a curing chamber at atmospheric pressure, communicating with the exterior by means of an intake aperture and an output aperture, a chain, which can advance the pre-formed articles along a closed path, extending through the curing chamber, and a unit for admission of water vapor into the curing chamber in order to keep it saturated with steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventor: Luciano Bertero
  • Patent number: 6410890
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method for cleaning the inside of a cooking device having a cooking chamber and a blower chamber separated from the cooking chamber via air baffles, an impeller is arranged in the blower chamber for generating a conveying stream in the cooking chamber as well as in the blower chamber, whereby at least one spray nozzle for spraying at least one fluid, such as a cleaning agent, rinse agent, clear rinse agent, decalcification agent, water and/or the like, faces toward the impeller, whereby the spray jet of the at least one spray nozzle in the blower chamber is directed opposite the conveying stream of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Rational AG
    Inventor: Peter Kohlstrung
  • Patent number: 6392204
    Abstract: An oven capable of being operated in a self-cleaning cycle wherein the time period of the self clean cycle is responsive to the amount of soil accumulation in the oven. The oven includes a cooking chamber, a heating device for supplying heat into the cooking chamber and an exhaust flue extending from the cooking chamber leading to atmosphere. A heat control device is provided for controlling the operation of the heating device and an input device is used for signaling the heat control device to initiate the self-cleaning cycle. A gas sensor communicates with the exhaust flue for measuring a concentration of a gas component produced from combustion of food soils within the cooking chamber. The gas sensor has a signal output indicative of the measured concentration of the gas component during the self-cleaning cycle. The heat control device receives successive gas concentration signals from the gas sensor and calculates a gas concentration versus time curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Andrea Corda, Steven T. Baas, Anthony T. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 6392203
    Abstract: A baking oven includes a metallic baking oven muffle that can be closed off on a front side by a door. The muffle walls have heating elements for heating the cooking chamber to over approximately 180° C. and/or for heating the food disposed therein to be cooked. The muffle has a protective layer covering the muffle walls at least on the inner side. To improve the use properties of the baking oven muffle, the thickness of the protective layer is less than approximately 30 &mgr;m. The protective layer is formed as a hard sol-gel layer having a thickness of approximately 10 &mgr;m, preferably, between approximately 5 and 10 &mgr;m. The protective layer is transparent. The inner sides of the muffle serve as a reflector. A functional sol-gel layer is disposed on the hard sol-gel layer. The functional sol-gel layer has a thickness of approximately 10 &mgr;m, preferably, 2 to 3 &mgr;m. When the muffle is aluminum, the protective layer is an anodized aluminum oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Schmidmayer
  • Patent number: 6382084
    Abstract: In an otherwise well-known electric pop-up toaster, an auxiliary power switch is provided and is arranged to be opened by a timer after each toasting cycle. This ensures, in contrast to the well-known toaster arrangements, that power is interrupted to heating elements even if a carriage supporting slices of toast fails to move up at the end of a toasting cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Simatelex Manufactory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Wai-Kin Chan, Wing Chung Li
  • Patent number: 6380519
    Abstract: An electrical oven includes a housing defining an inner space and having a bottom wall, two opposite side walls, a lid that is mounted pivotally on the side walls and that confine the inner space at rear and top sides of the housing, and a front opening for access to the inner space. A door is mounted on the side walls for closing the front opening. The lid is turnable relative to the bottom wall between a closed position, in which the lid confines the inner space at the rear and top sides of the housing, and an open position, in which the lid turns away from the door so as to permit the inner space to be exposed at the rear and top sides of the housing. A locking device is mounted on the lid so as to lock the lid unto the side walls when the lid is at the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen USA Inc.
    Inventor: Tsan Kuen Wu
  • Patent number: 6371355
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for solder joint integrity assessment. The invention comprises collecting data from one or more solder joint strain tests and characterizing the solder joint data integrity using a force-deflection graph. A force-deflection graph characterizes the response force of a solder joint to applied strain as a function of time. One embodiment of the invention uses the slope of the graph to characterize the integrity of the solder joint. Another embodiment uses the area below the graph to characterize the integrity of the solder joint. To generate the force-deflection graph, the invention applies one or more tests to the solder joint. In one embodiment, a shear test is applied to the solder joint. In another embodiment, a cold pull test is applied to the solder joint. In another embodiment, a hot pull test is applied to the solder joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith G. Newman
  • Patent number: 6347732
    Abstract: A method and implementing system is provided in which a gas, such as oxygen, is injected on to area of a circuit board to which an electronic component is being mounted. The injected gas causes a formation of a coating or surface alloy layer such as tin-oxide, on the solder joint. The coating causes the solder bead or joint to have a higher surface tension and a higher reflow temperature. In an exemplary double-sided double-pass assembly operation, circuit boards pass through a soldering oven on a first pass to attach components to a first side, and then the board is inverted and passed through the oven on a second pass while components are mounted on the opposite side of the board. During the second pass, a gas injection device is aimed at the component-to-board connection points on the inverted side of the board which were soldered on the first pass. The gas is injected at the point in the soldering reflow oven at which the temperature begins to exceed the solder reflow temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Sherill Akin, Thomas Alan Schiesser, John Andrew Shriver, III