With Steam Generating Means Patents (Class 219/401)
  • Publication number: 20140312025
    Abstract: A commercial oven, such as a combination oven providing steam and convection heating, may provide an equipment cabinet holding electronic equipment and having an external wall abutting other heating apparatus. The external wall includes an interior plenum through which air is circulated to provide compact virtual insulation from external heat sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Alto-Shaam, Inc.
    Inventors: J.K. Raghavan, Robert Simmelink, Janus Bartelick
  • Patent number: 8863654
    Abstract: A cooking device has a casing 1, a heating chamber 8 provided in the casing 1, an exhaust tube 18 for guiding exhaust from inside of the heating chamber 8 through an electric component chamber 9 in the casing 1 to front face side, and a dew receiving container 4 that is provided on front face side of the casing 1 and that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust tube 18 to outside of the casing 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Asami, Takashi Utsumi, Shinya Ueda, Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 8853597
    Abstract: A heat spreading/temperature uniformity device for a bake oven is disclosed. The heat spreading/temperature uniformity device is applicable to the bake oven, including at least one rack body movably disposed in a receiving space defined by the bake oven, and multiple heat spreading members distributed over and arranged on the rack body and integrally connected therewith. Each heat spreading member and the rack body contain a first angle and a second angle. The heat spreading/temperature uniformity device is up and down adjustably disposed in the bake oven for transferring heat to the relatively low heating intensity areas of the receiving space in the form of heat radiation. Accordingly, the food placed in the bake oven can be uniformly heated at a uniform heating intensity and a uniform temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: Chuan-Fu Chin
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140291312
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method of condensation of a steam flow produced in a cooking device. The condensation system and method provides a vent pipe configured to be non-linear for providing a path for the steam flow. The condensation system and method also provides a spray nozzle which is positioned to spray water in substantially in alignment with the path of the steam flow. The system and method of increases condensation of the steam flow within the vent pipe, and the condensed steam is drained from the cooking device, producing a minimal amount of steam that is vented outside of the cooking device. The system and method of the present disclosure provide higher efficiency of condensation of steam and an overall smaller amount of atmospheric venting of steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Convotherm Elektrogeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Gunter Wurdinger
  • Publication number: 20140239484
    Abstract: In a method for forming a sintered silver coating film, for use as a heat spreader, on a semiconductor substrate or a semiconductor package, a coating film of an ink or paste containing silver nanoparticles is formed on one surface of the semiconductor substrate or the substrate package. Further, the coating film is sintered by heating the coating film under an atmosphere of a humidity of 30% to 50% RH (30° C.) by a ventilation oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kenji MATSUDA, Dai SHINOZAKI, Muneo HARADA, Yoshinobu MITANO, Michikazu NAKAMURA, Itaru IIDA, Shinjiro WATANABE
  • Patent number: 8785828
    Abstract: A cooking device comprises: a body casing (1); a heating chamber (2) disposed within the body casing (1) and provided with a gas discharge opening; a gas discharge path having one end connected to the gas discharge opening of the heating chamber; a cooling fan disposed within the body casing (1) and cooling an electric component; and a cooling path formed within the body casing (1) and leading from an outside-air suction opening (100) through the cooling fan and an electric component chamber to a cool-air introducing opening (31a) in a gas discharge duct (30). At least a part of cooling air from the cooling fan flows along the cooling path, passes through a space near heaters (14, 14) within the body casing (1), enters the gas discharge duct (30) from the cool-air introducing opening (31a), and is discharged from a gas-discharge external opening (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoneo Komuro
  • Patent number: 8776673
    Abstract: A steaming oven having a clad plate bottom. The stainless steel clad material constitutes the bottom of the boiling water reservoir in the oven chamber. The stainless steel clad material is composed of a thin layer of stainless material clad to a thicker plate of base, heat conducting metal like steel, copper or aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cleveland Range
    Inventors: Richard I. Cutler, Owen R. McGhee, Jr., David S. Schwerzler, Victor D. Saltenis
  • Publication number: 20140175085
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a main body provided with a cooking chamber, and a steam supply device generating steam to supply the steam to the cooking chamber. The steam supply device includes a water storage unit to store water, a steam generator that is supplied with water from the water storage unit to generate steam, a water supply tube to transfer water in the water storage unit to the steam generator, and a water collection tube to transfer residual water in the steam generator to the water storage unit. Accordingly, a period to put water may be increased since the residual water in the steam generator is collected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Pyo YANG, Han Seong KANG, Byoung Hoon Moon, Pung Yeun CHO, Yun Ic Hwang
  • Patent number: 8704138
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooking with steam in a cooking appliance by forming the steam from atomized particles of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joel M. Sells, Matthew G. Voglewede, Marco Poma, Shawn F. Olsson
  • Publication number: 20140103023
    Abstract: A converter includes a heating bar, a water line, and a covering layer. Either the water line or the covering layer is mounted on the heating bar. The covering layer has a helical channel wound around the heating bar. Each of the water line and the helical channel is connected with a water tank and at least one nozzle. When the heating bar is conducted by the power supply, either the water line or the helical channel is heated, with air in either the water line or the helical channel being expanded to suck a liquid in the water tank into either the water line or the helical channel by a siphon principle, and with the liquid being heated successively to produce a high temperature steam which is sprayed outward through the nozzle to cook foods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: Yao-Tsung Kao
  • Patent number: 8695487
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooking appliance provided with: a water tank (30) disposed inside a main case (10); a steam-generation device (40) that generates steam by heating water supplied from the water tank (30); a heating chamber (20) to which steam from the steam-generation device (40) is supplied; an exhaust duct (72), provided inside the main case (10), for expelling exhaust from inside the heating chamber (20) to outside the main case (10); an exhaust temperature sensor (74) that measures the temperature of the exhaust air inside the exhaust duct (72); and a steam-generation decision unit that, upon cooking in which steam is supplied from the steam-generation unit (40) into the heating chamber (20), uses information on a physical quantity (the exhaust temperature measured by the exhaust temperature sensor (74)), which indirectly indicates whether there is water in the steam-generation device (40), to decide whether or not to halt steam generation, including the case in which the water tank (30) is out of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuaki Sakane, Toshiaki Ueki
  • Publication number: 20140097173
    Abstract: A cooking device includes an oven chamber operable to receive food that is to be cooked, a steam-generating element for generating steam, and a coupling element through which water used for generating steam is fed, at least in part, to the steam-generating element. The coupling element includes a connecting element configured to connect to a fixed water connection. A pipe element is disposed between the coupling element and the steam-generating element and is configured to establish a flow-connection suitable for conveying water. The pipe element includes a free-fall section and a water-conveying element is at least partially disposed in the free-fall section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Torben Becker, Julia ten Haaf
  • Patent number: 8674267
    Abstract: A steam cooker includes: a heating chamber for an item to be cooked; a removable water tank; a steam generating device with a housing to which water is supplied from the water tank and that heats the water within the housing and supplies steam to the heating chamber. A hardness detection portion includes a plurality of electrodes immersed in water within the water tank that detect the hardness of the water within the water tank by resistance between the electrodes. When the hardness of the water within the water tank is high, the interval of cleaning is shorter than an interval set when the hardness detected is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Rika Nozawa, Toshiaki Ueki
  • Patent number: 8648281
    Abstract: A steam generating device (1) is provided with a metal housing (2), a water supply opening (3) for supplying water into the housing (2), a steam generating heater (4) embedded in the lower part of the housing (2) and evaporating the water supplied from the water supply opening (3), a steam temperature raising heater (5) provided above the steam generating heater (4) with a predetermined distance from an inner wall of the housing (2) and raising the temperature of the steam generated by the steam generating heater (4), and a discharge opening (8) for discharging the superheated steam generated by the steam temperature raising heater (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Utsumi, Hideo Shimoda, Shinya Ueda, Yasuhiro Sakoda
  • Patent number: 8642929
    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 a drain tube inserted into an overfill tube. Waste material from the steam and food droppings is conveyed from the oven chamber via the drain tube and the overfill tube. A barrier shields one or more water level probes or sensors from water turbulence, thereby providing reliable water level sensing by the water level probes or sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cleveland Range LLC
    Inventors: Victor D. Saltenis, Carl F. Scheu, III, Rupesh T. Savadekar, David S. Schwerzler, Joseph S. Bellassai, John E. Richnafsky, Jason D. Schreiner
  • Publication number: 20140027438
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a steam oven (1), especially a domestic steam oven, wherein the steam oven (1) has a control unit (2) and a water reservoir (3) and wherein the steam oven (1) is equipped with a pyrolytic cleaning function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Bianca Hauslein, Kurt Reul, Alexander Hauck, Marcel Morosini, Laurent Jeanneteau
  • Patent number: 8609167
    Abstract: The disclosure is a method of operating a commercial cooking equipment, in particular a hot-air steamer or fan oven, comprising the following method steps: a) selecting a product requiring cooking having an assigned cooking program or selecting at least one cooking parameter having assigned selectable products; b) loading the cooking equipment with a selected product; c) starting the associated cooking program; d) displaying the name of the program and at least the remaining cooking time; e) associating in automated manner further products or cooking programs that fit in with the cooking program of the first selected product in dependence on cooking parameters, in particular, the cooking temperature and/or the cooking humidity and/or the fan speed; f) displaying the selectable products or selectable cooking programs; g) selecting, on demand, a further product which matches the first product in accordance with the associating process; h) loading the cooking equipment with the further product; i) starting the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Convotherm Elektrogerate GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Ernst, Lutz Riefenstein
  • Publication number: 20130306054
    Abstract: A home appliance having a water-fed steaming apparatus, the home appliance including an appliance body housing the steaming apparatus; a water supply vessel for supplying water to the steaming apparatus; a vessel housing within the appliance body for holding the water supply vessel; and a mounting assembly for mounting the vessel housing to the appliance body, the mounting assembly including a bezel having a locking element; a bracket engaged with the vessel housing and the locking element; and a spacer element extending between the appliance body and the bracket to define an air gap between the vessel housing and the appliance body for air flow between the vessel housing and the appliance body for cooling the vessel housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ben Braden, Russell Dorsten, Jeremy Nash, Timothy Russell, Michael Rutherford
  • Patent number: 8581151
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide steam oven drain valve systems and methods for draining steam ovens and associated water lines on aircraft and other passenger transport vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: MAG Aerospace Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul E. Miller
  • Patent number: 8578843
    Abstract: A household appliance includes a treatment chamber having an opening. The opening of the treatment chamber is configured to be closed by a door. The opening of the treatment chamber is bounded by at least one frame member. An external container is configured to hold at least one of an operating fluid or an operating powder. A filling device is disposed on the at least one frame member and in fluid connection with the external container. The filling device is configured to introduce, in an operating mode of the household appliance, at least one of an operating fluid and an operating powder to the treatment chamber, either treated or untreated. The filling device includes a filling device opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Torben Becker, Rudolf Nordemann, Joachim Render
  • Patent number: 8569662
    Abstract: A continuous oil fryer used to fry food slices, such as potato chips, having an internal oil stripping capability. The fryer accumulates the steam produced by the frying process in a hood and utilizes such steam, after superheating the steam by passing it through a heat exchanger, to strip oil from product immediately upon removal from the hot oil bath by passing the superheated steam through a product bed while on an output conveyor. The superheated steam removes oil from the product on the output conveyor without increasing the moisture level of the product. The fryer therefore accomplishes the same function as a low-oil stripper without increasing the footprint of the frying unit and with less energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilfred Marcellien Bourg, Jr., Donald Vaughn Neel, Jennifer Bell Raymond
  • Publication number: 20130264327
    Abstract: An oven includes an oven body, a movable tray, an atomized device, and a conveying device. When the movable tray is inserted into the oven body, the second line of the atomized device is connected to the movable tray through the first line of the conveying device. When the second line of the atomized device is heated to reach a high temperature, air in the second line is expanded and evaporated so that the second line is disposed at a vacuum state to produce a vacuum suction force. The water in the movable tray is forced by the vacuum suction force to flow through the first line into the second line. The water in the second line is heated and atomized to form an atomized water which is sprayed on food placed in the oven body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: Yao-Tsung Kao
  • Patent number: 8546731
    Abstract: An electric appliance for pressure cooking food includes a casing (1) and a lid (4) forming the outer jacket of the appliance, an outer vessel (2) forming the inner chamber of the appliance, a heating element (25) placed in the bottom of the outer vessel (2), a removable inner vessel (3) forming the container (30) for cooking food, wherein the inner vessel (3) includes at least one handhold (31) extending past the periphery of the casing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Olivier Pellerin, Florent Pontabry, Frederic Seurat
  • Patent number: 8517006
    Abstract: A stacked steam oven construction with a nested stacking component is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Premark FEG. L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Frock, Larry W. Lyons, Atul Saksena
  • Patent number: 8519308
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an improved perforated lid (10) for containers for cooking foods, comprising holes (15) for the passage of vapor and gas going upwards and of condensed vapor going downwards and means for cooling and condensing vapor passing through said holes, and means for supporting said means for cooling vapor, wherein said means for cooling vapor are made of a sequence, starting from the container for cooking foods and going upwards, comprised of a perforated lower plate (11), at least one perforated intermediate plate (12) and an upper plate (13) that is not perforated, and said means for supporting said means for cooling vapor are made of a lower spacing element (16), positioned between said lower plate (11) and said intermediate plate (12) and of an upper spacing element (18), positioned between said intermediate plate (12) and said upper plate (13). The invention further concerns a fryer (20) for use with said perforated lid (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: BY ME S.R.L.
    Inventors: Luciano Ferrari, Marco Ferrari
  • Patent number: 8502116
    Abstract: Cooking, smoking and aromatization device which consists of a casing or container (1) comprising a plurality of sealed compartments (2, 3, 4, 5) communicating with the main cooking chamber (6) by means of a plurality of channels or ducts (7) which are controlled by a plurality of valves (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d), there being at least one for each of the sealed compartments (2, 3, 4, 5) so that the contents of each of said sealed compartments are supplied to the central cooking compartment (6) with a constantly controlled flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Morganti Flavio Innovaciones Grastronomicas, S.L.
    Inventor: Flavio Morganti
  • Publication number: 20130156906
    Abstract: A combination oven having a sealed cooking volume heated with forced air and steam may also provide at least one radiant heat panel positioned for direct exposure of the contained food allowing occasional browning and grilling operations or additional heat boosting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: J.K. Raghavan, Thomas Wayne Rand, Nikolas W. Wagner, Joshua Paul Wittig
  • Publication number: 20130126514
    Abstract: A food steamer is described hereinafter. The food steamer includes a base unit, a steam basket supported on the base unit, a heating device configured in the base unit for converting water into steam, a water tank configured for supplying water for the heating device, a drip tray configured for collecting water drops from the steam basket, and an electronic controller configured for control the heating device. The heating device includes at least a steam outlet for jetting steam to the steaming basket. The water tank is detachably sited on the base unit and beside the steam basket. This food steamer can reserve much more water, extend the cooking time and shorten the time of steam generation, convenient and safe operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Huiyang Allan Plastic & Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shu Sang CHEUNG, To Yin PANG
  • Publication number: 20130098892
    Abstract: An electric steamer includes a cover (1), at least one steamer (2), a juice accumulating plate (3) and a base (4) which are overlapped sequentially from top to bottom. A water storage pool (41) and a control circuit are arranged in the base (4). A pressure sensor (7) is also mounted in the base (4). A steam inlet pipe (72) of the pressure sensor (7) is connected with the juice accumulating plate (3) and a signal output terminal of the pressure sensor (7) is connected with the control circuit through a wire. A steam delivering device (8) is provided between the steam inlet pipe (72) and the juice accumulating plate (3). An upper end of a steam channel (81) is connected with the juice accumulating plate (3). A method for controlling the electric steamer is further provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: CRASTAL TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bei Zhang, Tianliang Wang
  • Patent number: 8420983
    Abstract: A steam cooker 1 has: a steam generation heater 52 generating steam; and a steam heating heater 41 heating the steam generated by the steam generation heater 52 to generate overheated steam and heating steam in a heating chamber 20 through circulation, an-article-to-be-heated F being cooked by use of steam fed into the heating chamber 20. The steam cooker 1 has: a first cooking step in which the article-to-be-heated F is cooked with supply of electric power to the steam generation heater 52 being larger than that to the steam heating heater 41; and a second cooking step in which the article-to-be-heated F is cooked with supply of electric power to the steam generation heater 52 being smaller than that to the steam heating heater 41. When the temperature of the article-to-be-heated F exceeds the fat melting temperature zone but is less than or equal to 100° C., the first cooking step is switched to the second cooking step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Noriko Ohashi, Yuko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8373098
    Abstract: A system for cleaning the interior surface of an oven appliance using heat and steam cycles is provided. More particularly, the present invention uses a heat cycle to break down water insoluble food residues into soluble materials that are then cleaned by a steam cycle. Following the steam cycle, the remaining food residues can be removed from the interior surface of the oven appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Eric Scott Johnson
  • Patent number: 8367980
    Abstract: A method for controlling the humidity level in a cavity of a cooking oven provided with a steam generator comprises the monitoring of the power delivered to the steam generator in order to maintain the power to a predetermined value that is correlated to a choice made by the user among a plurality of predetermined values corresponding to different values of at least one cooking parameter, particularly the degree of browning of the food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paolo Crosta, Tamara Distaso
  • Patent number: 8354071
    Abstract: A sterilizing device is described, for sterilizing items through steam sterilization. The device has a base and a cover that couple to form an enclosed space, with an item mount provided within the enclosed space. A portion of water is provided in the base portion, which can be converted to steam in a microwave to sterilize any items placed on the mount. The device further employs several downward-facing valves to provide for the release of steam and the draining of excess or heated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Handy Baby Products Limited
    Inventor: Martina Maria Delaney
  • Patent number: 8327756
    Abstract: An oven system is disclosed that includes an oven housing. A door is hingedly attached to the housing through a locking assembly designed to lock and seal an opening in the housing. The locking assembly includes floating latch and hinge systems which can be translated into and away from the opening of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kitchen Concepts LLC
    Inventors: Steve Hoffman, Jesus Cordero
  • Patent number: 8304697
    Abstract: A smoker device having a low profile fits beneath the lower most rack of an oven thereby allowing full use of all possible shelves of the oven. The smoker device comprises a uniquely shaped bi-level heater element that allows the smoker device pan to be cradled just above the bottom wall of the oven chamber. A method and system allow a processor control of the smoker device manually or automatically as a part of a programmed recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Cleveland Range, LLC
    Inventors: Owen R. McGhee, Jr., David R. Lastoria, David S. Schwerzler
  • Patent number: 8288690
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to steam ovens, and particularly to steam ovens configured to generate and deliver steam directly to the oven using a water reservoir in close proximity to an existing oven heat generating system. The steam ovens described may be designed so that they inject steam directly into the oven cavity, and in some instances, generate the steam directly in the oven cavity as well. Certain embodiments are designed with a water reservoir in close proximity to an oven heat generating system such that water in the reservoir is heated, turned to steam, and delivered to the oven cavity via a steam delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Mag Aerospace Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdelaziz Boubeddi, Paul E. Miller
  • Publication number: 20120230660
    Abstract: Provided are a method and device for generating a steam heating medium, the method involving generating, from a nozzle, Aqua-gas or low-temperature superheated steam that is a steam heating medium by operating an electrothermal-type generator or a steam-type generator. The method comprises the step of generating Aqua-gas by increasing a water supply amount in such a manner that an internal nozzle pressure takes on a constant value exceeding a saturated water vapor pressure of water at each internal nozzle pressure set temperature; or generating low-temperature superheated steam by reducing the water supply amount in such a manner that the internal nozzle pressure does not exceed the saturated water vapor pressure of water at each internal nozzle pressure set temperature, in a relational expression relating to a flow rate of water vapor sprayed from the nozzle, and given by Expression 1 or Expression 2, as prescribed in the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicants: Incorporated Administrative Agency National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Umeda Jimusho Ltd., Taiyo Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Itaru Sotome, Seiichiro Isobe, Yukio Ogasawara, Yositaka Nadachi
  • Patent number: 8256409
    Abstract: A protruding portion 100 having a sloped surface 100b sloped against a ceiling surface is provided on the ceiling side of a cooking chamber 20. Superheated steam from a steam temperature-raising device 50 is blown off from first ceiling steam blowoff openings 101 provided in a flat surface 100a of the protruding portion 100 toward a bottom face within the cooking chamber 20, while the superheated steam is blown off from second ceiling steam blowoff openings 102 provided in a sloped surface 100b of the protruding portion 100 toward the side face within the cooking chamber 20. The superheated steam blown off from these steam blowoff openings 101 and 102 is effectively supplied to upper-and-back surface of a heating object 90 rested in the cooking chamber 20 so as to be spaced from the bottom face of the cooking chamber 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Matsubayashi, Hiroshi Hirano, Hideo Shimoda
  • Publication number: 20120199571
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pressurized oven apparatus having a compressor and a pressurized chamber for rapidly preparing food products and retaining internal moisture therein. The apparatus comprises an oven with a pin-locking door and sealing means, an internal chamber having heating elements and a structure designed to withstand elevated internal pressures. Ambient air is drawn into the device through an air filter by an air compressor means. The compressor elevates the air pressure as it enters, whereby it flows to a preheating chamber, raising its temperature prior to being forced into the oven internal chamber. An automated relief valve system allows a consistent pressure to be maintained within the chamber, allowing the pressurized air to be evacuated therefrom through an insulated and muffled outlet. The air outlet of the device is preferably connected to an insulated air line to vent air to the exterior of a building or residence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher Brown
  • Patent number: 8222572
    Abstract: A steam generator for food processor comprising a shell separated into a sink and a steam generating chamber, wherein the sink has an inlet for importing water from a water source, and the bottom of the sink has an outlet in communication with the steam generating chamber, wherein the generating chamber comprises a heater inside for heating the flowed-in water, as well as a steam outlet. The steam generator is separated from the cavity of the food processor and will not be polluted by the food, so that the generated steam remains pure, which ensures food safety and the taste, and the heating unit of the steam generating device does not connect with the cavity of the microwave oven, so the cavity will not be distorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen (China) Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huaili Zhang, Yunhua Chen, Chihming Wen
  • Patent number: 8217315
    Abstract: A packing is arranged in a manner blocking a gap between with a handle in an edge of an opening of a cooking device body. In a close state of the door, steam generated from an object to be heated in a heating chamber at the time of cooking the object to be heated is prevented by the packing from flowing between an edge and the handle. Hence, it is possible to prevent dews from arising on the handle due to dewing. The packing is equipped with a fixing part installed in a deep end edge of the opening, and a sealing part extending downward from the fixing part and being contactable with a back part of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yumiko Suetsugu
  • Patent number: 8217316
    Abstract: A heating system is disclosed including a cabinet having walls defining an interior heating chamber. Sensors are attached to an exterior surface of the walls. Heating pad subassemblies are attached to the exterior surface of the walls with each heating pad subassemblies located adjacent a corresponding sensor. The heating pad subassemblies include a pad having an attachment face coupled to the exterior surface of the walls and a heating element coupled to the pad. A controller is in electrical communication with the heating elements and the sensors. This controller is configured to independently monitor temperate measurements from each of the sensors and to independently control each of the heating elements. The heating pad subassemblies are positionable on the exterior side of the plurality of walls and the heating system compensates for load variations across the interior heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Enthermics Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Hansen, Adam Van Essen, Terence T. Smith, Praveen Rai
  • Publication number: 20120145696
    Abstract: A system for cleaning the interior surface of an oven appliance using heat and steam cycles is provided. More particularly, the present invention uses a heat cycle to break down water insoluble food residues into soluble materials that are then cleaned by a steam cycle. Following the steam cycle, the remaining food residues can be removed from the interior surface of the oven appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Eric Scott Johnson
  • Patent number: 8193470
    Abstract: A self-cleaning convection oven includes a cabinet defining an interior cavity for cooking a food product; a door moveable between an open position and a closed position for allowing access to the interior cavity; one or more heating elements positioned in the interior cavity for delivering heat to the interior cavity; a fan positioned within the interior cavity; and a plumbing system operably connected to a water supply for delivering water into the interior cavity of the oven through a first nozzle positioned near the fan. The plumbing system of the self-cleaning convection oven further also delivers a cleaning solution into the interior cavity of the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: KFC Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Harlamert, Eric S. Elwell, Brett J. Gregory, Lawrence R. Kaiser, Mark Halpin, Jiri Rabas
  • Publication number: 20120118279
    Abstract: A cooking device has a casing 1, a heating chamber 8 provided in the casing 1, an exhaust tube 18 for guiding exhaust from inside of the heating chamber 8 through an electric component chamber 9 in the casing 1 to front face side, and a dew receiving container 4 that is provided on front face side of the casing 1 and that receives and diffuses the exhaust from the exhaust tube 18 to outside of the casing 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Shinji Asami, Takashi Utsumi, Shinya Ueda, Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 8176844
    Abstract: A food container or cabinet may have a power cord extending and exiting from the cabinet at recess formed at a corner of side, top and back walls. The cabinet may be heated and humidified and operated with a control that operates air and water heating elements alternately and not simultaneously. The control may include a microprocessor and a digital storage device storing instructions for the microprocessor. An interface may be provided at the cabinet via which electronic signals can be directed to or received from the microprocessor or digital storage device. The container may be provided with a removable water receptacle and a water heating element positioned within the receptacle. The water heating element may be mounted in a pivotable fashion such that as the receptacle is removed from the container, the heating element is automatically pivoted out from within the receptacle and as the receptacle is returned to the container, the heating element is automatically pivoted into the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Food Warming Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Deron Lichte, Bruce Grau, Souksomchay Luangnikone
  • Publication number: 20120111849
    Abstract: A steam cooking appliance apparatus includes a muffle unit which at least partially bounds a cooking chamber. The muffle unit has a muffle element which forms a boundary surface of the cooking chamber in at least one operating state. The boundary surface of the cooking chamber has a cooking fat adhesion which is lower than a cooking fat adhesion of stainless steel. At least one cleaning unit is provided for cleaning at least part of the muffle unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Karlheinz Henry, Yves Lebrun
  • Patent number: 8166871
    Abstract: A steamer for sandwich buns, bagels, croissants, cakes, vegetables, pastas, and other foods delivers fixed amounts of water onto a hot, dry platen through a vertically-oriented water conduit which is also thermally insulated from the hot platen and made from thermally insulating materials. The vertically-oriented water conduit retains water after a water supply is shut off at the beginning or end of a steam generating cycle. Orienting the conduit vertically reduces the surface area of liquid water exposed to air. Insulating the water conduit from the hot platen reduces the rate at which water standing in the conduit evaporates. Tubes used in the water conduit are insulating and easily removed from the water conduit assembly and flexible. Minerals that precipitate out of solution and become deposited onto the flexible tube are easily removed by flexing the flexible tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Prince Castle LLC
    Inventors: Loren Veltrop, Don Van Erden, Michael M. Maciejewski
  • Publication number: 20120091118
    Abstract: A steam cooker includes: a heating chamber for an item to be cooked; a removable water tank; a steam generating device with a housing to which water is supplied from the water tank and that heats the water within the housing and supplies steam to the heating chamber. A hardness detection portion includes a plurality of electrodes immersed in water within the water tank that detect the hardness of the water within the water tank by resistance between the electrodes. When the hardness of the water within the water tank is high, the interval of cleaning is shorter than an interval set when the hardness detected is low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Rika Nozawa, Toshiaki Ueki