Patent Grant
11265976
This application is the U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/065184, filed Jun. 8, 2018, which designated the United States and has been published as International Publication No. WO 2019/001932 A1 and which claims the priority of German Patent Application, Serial No. 10 2017 210 730.8, filed Jun. 26, 2017, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d).
The invention relates to a microwave cooking appliance, having a door, which in the closed state covers a loading opening of a cooking chamber and which has a profiled trap structure, which together with an electrically conductive door flange forms a lambda quarter-wave trap that frames the loading opening in the closed state, the trap structure having a metal choke profile with an open face opposite the door flange, an inner metal tongue protruding into the open face laterally on the inside and an outer metal tongue protruding into the open face laterally on the outside, said metal tongues being connected electrically to the choke profile and being separated from one another by a microwave entry slot, and the microwave entry slot being covered by a microwave-transparent cover. The invention can be applied particularly advantageously to household microwave appliances, for example standalone microwave cooking appliances or ovens and/or steam cooking appliances with microwave function.
In microwave cooking appliances microwaves can be supplied to a cooking chamber, to heat food present in the cooking chamber. The cooking chamber is delimited by a cooking chamber wall or muffle, which is essentially impermeable to microwave radiation. The cooking chamber typically has a front loading opening, which can be closed by means of a door. A closed door covers the loading opening and an associated edge region thereof, which is referred to as a door flange. The door and a gap between the door and the door flange should not allow the passage of microwaves to the outside and are therefore sealed in respect of exiting microwave radiation, even if there is no electrical contact in the overlap region between door flange and door. To prevent microwaves exiting between door and door flange when the door is closed, what are known as λ/4 or lambda quarter-wave traps are known, a wavelength of the microwaves being designated by lambda.
GB 2196520 A, US 2004/0079751 A1 and DE 10 2014 224 053 A1 for example describe lambda quarter-wave traps. The lambda quarter-wave traps here are behind a cover, which protects them from dirt or mechanical damage. The cover can be made of microwave-transparent plastic. It is known from DE 102 56 624 B4, US 2011/0290230 A1, EP 2 775 794 A1 and DE 3536589 C2 that the lambda quarter-wave traps can be positioned behind a viewing window facing the cooking chamber.
It is the object of the present invention at least partially to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to provide a lambda quarter-wave trap or door choke for microwave appliances, the choking or shielding effect of which is particularly insensitive to changes, in particular increases, in the door gap. It should also allow a particularly high level of insensitivity to obliquely incident microwave radiation. It should also allow particularly compact dimensioning of the lambda quarter-wave trap.
Said object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments will emerge from the dependent claims in particular.
The object is achieved by a microwave cooking appliance, having a door which in the closed state covers a loading opening of a cooking chamber that can be supplied with microwaves. The microwave cooking appliance is described with the door in the closed position in the following, unless an opened state is specifically indicated. The door has a profiled trap structure. When the door is in the closed state, the trap structure, together with an electrically conductive door flange, forms a lambda quarter-wave trap for microwaves that frames the loading opening. The trap structure has a metal profile (referred to in the following without restricting its general nature as the “choke profile”) with an open face opposite the door flange. A metal tongue (referred to in the following without restricting its general nature as the “inner metal tongue”) protrudes into the open face laterally on the inside. A laterally inside arrangement can also be referred to or considered as a radially inside arrangement when viewed from the front or as a cooking chamber side arrangement. A metal tongue (referred to in the following without restricting its general nature as the “outer metal tongue”) also protrudes into the open face laterally on the outside. A laterally outside arrangement can also be referred to or considered as a radially outside arrangement when viewed from the front or as an arrangement facing away from the cooking chamber. The metal tongues are connected electrically to the choke profile and are arranged at a distance from one another in the open face. In other words they are separated from one another by a slot (referred to in the following without restricting its general nature as the “microwave entry slot”). The microwave entry slot is covered in particular by a microwave-transparent cover. The choke profile is framed laterally on the outside by a door region protruding from the choke profile in the direction of the door flange (referred to in the following without restricting its general nature as the “parallel overlap region”). The parallel overlap region has a surface (referred to in the following without restricting its general nature as the “cover surface”) facing the door flange and made of electrically conductive material, which is shaped in the same manner as the region of the door flange it covers and arranged at a distance from the door flange.
This microwave cooking appliance has the advantage that the trap structure forms a lambda quarter-wave trap, the choking or shielding effect of which is particularly insensitive to changes, in particular increases, in the door gap. This in turn results in greater stability in respect of thermal movements inter alia and in respect of manufacturing tolerances, which has significant advantages for the production process. The trap structure also allows a particularly high level of insensitivity to obliquely incident microwave radiation. The smaller the displacement of the ideal active frequency when the angle of incidence of the microwave radiation exiting the cooking chamber changes, the more effectively the choke profile can ensure a low level of leaked radiation. It also allows particularly compact dimensioning of the lambda quarter-wave trap, which takes up less space than before inside the door. It is thus possible to increase the height and width of the cooking chamber—and therefore the total volume that can be used for treating food—without any loss of microwave shielding capacity. The optional microwave-transparent cover prevents soiling of or damage to the profile, in particular also soiling of the hollow space in the choke profile.
The microwave cooking appliance can be a household appliance, in particular a kitchen appliance. The microwave cooking appliance can be a standalone microwave cooking appliance or a different cooking appliance—e.g. an oven and/or a steam cooking appliance—with microwave function.
The door is sealed in respect of the passage of microwave radiation and can also be referred to as a microwave door.
That the door has a profiled trap structure can mean in particular that the trap structure has an at least essentially identical cross-sectional shape along its longitudinal extension (“profile direction”). The profile direction runs around the loading opening when viewed from the front.
The metal tongues are positioned in particular parallel to the open face.
In one development the choke profile is a choke profile that is C-shaped in cross section. This is particularly easy to produce and allows an effective choking or shielding effect.
That the metal tongues are connected electrically to the choke profile can mean that the metal tongues are produced separately and then connected to the choke profile, for example by soldering. In an alternative development the metal tongues are integrated regions of the choke profile, in particular have been produced as a single piece with the choke profile. The metal tongues, the choke profile and/or the overlap region can be made of aluminum, copper and/or steel for example. Generally any other suitable material with good electrical conductivity can be used instead of metal.
In one development the microwave entry slot has an at least essentially identical width.
In one development the metal tongues are set back in relation to the cover surface in the direction of the door interior when viewed in cross section. In particular the parallel overlap region can be positioned directly against the outer metal tongue or the choke profile, in particular in a stepped manner.
The parallel overlap region and the choke profile can be produced as a single piece or alternatively can be produced separately and then be connected to one another at a later stage.
That the cover surface is shaped in the same manner as the region of the door flange it covers means that there is an at least essentially identical distance between the two surfaces and therefore a particularly uniform shielding effect. The cover surface and the region of the door flange covered by it can in particular be configured as flat or planar and be arranged parallel to one another, allowing a particularly stable choking effect.
In one embodiment at least one of the metal tongues runs into a hollow space formed by the choke profile. This has the advantage that the paths of the microwave radiation are extended, allowing the volume of the hollow space to be reduced. It is therefore possible to increase the height and/or width of the cooking chamber—and therefore the total volume that can be used for treating food—without any loss of microwave shielding capacity.
That at least one of the metal tongues runs into the hollow space can mean in particular that said metal tongue is bent into the hollow space or has one or more bends in cross section. At least one of the metal tongues therefore runs behind the open face of the choke profile.
Generally only the outer metal tongue, only the inner metal tongue or both metal tongues can run into the hollow space or be correspondingly bent.
In a further embodiment at least one of the metal tongues is equipped or toothed with a row of teeth in the profile direction, the teeth being separated from one another in the profile direction, in particular by interruptions such as slots (referred to in the following without restricting their general nature as “separating slots”).
This makes use of the fact that microwave radiation present in the cooking chamber of the microwave cooking appliance strikes the lambda quarter-wave trap with different angles of incidence. It is very complex to predict the resulting angle of incidence accurately, as once it has been generated in a magnetron for example the microwave radiation can be reflected multiple times off the walls of the cooking appliance, before it strikes the lambda quarter-wave trap. With an obliquely incident microwave the effectively active trap length of an untoothed trap extends by a factor 1/cos(θ), where θ describes an angle between a surface normal of a door plane and a spread or propagation direction of the incident microwaves. The active frequency therefore also varies with the effective trap length, so that the lambda quarter-wave trap without teeth no longer operates optimally at arbitrary angles of incidence. This effect is particularly marked in the case of microwave cooking appliances with large muffle or cooking chamber dimensions, as different angles of incidence can occur in a very broad spectrum here. If the lambda quarter-wave trap has no divisions or teeth, surface currents can flow unimpeded in the wave propagation direction. Interruptions between the teeth prevent this however and deflect the currents in the direction of the interruptions, so that the associated microwaves have a much smaller angle of incidence. This angle of incidence can be so small that the situation almost corresponds to a microwave entering in the normal direction. This embodiment therefore allows a particularly high level of insensitivity to obliquely incident microwave radiation.
Generally only the outer metal tongue, only the inner metal tongue or both metal tongues can be toothed.
In one development at least one of the metal tongues is slotted by means of a row of laterally oriented separating slots.
A metal comb arrangement, the teeth of which are approx. 4 mm wide and the slots of which are approx. 2 mm wide, has proven particularly effective.
In a further embodiment the teeth are bent in the direction of the hollow space on at least one face adjoining a separating slot. This embodiment allows an even more marked improvement in the effect of the choke profile or the lambda quarter-wave trap in respect of obliquely incident microwaves.
In yet another embodiment the teeth are bent in the direction of the hollow space on a face adjoining the microwave entry slot. This embodiment also allows a much more marked improvement in the effect of the choke profile or the lambda quarter-wave trap in respect of obliquely incident microwaves.
In one development, which is advantageous for particularly simple structural implementation of the bend in the toothing or teeth, the interruptions or separating slots to be introduced between the teeth are formed by not cutting and freeing the interruptions completely but by bending the material to be freed along the long and/or short edge in the direction of the hollow space, allowing it to act as a trap element.
Generally the lengths of and/or distances between the interruptions etc. can be changed in an alternating manner.
In a further embodiment at least some of the separating slots—in particular all the separating slots—are straight slots and at least some of the teeth—in particular all the teeth—of at least one of the metal tongues have a rectangular basic shape. This embodiment is particularly simple to produce.
In another embodiment at least some of the teeth have a ring shape. This further improves the effect of the choke profile or the lambda quarter-wave trap in respect of obliquely incident microwaves. The ring shape can be a continuously curved shape such as a circular ring shape, an oval shape, an elliptical shape, etc., or a polygonal shape such as a rectangular shape, etc. An embodiment of the teeth with an at least approximately elliptical basic shape (“elliptical toothing”) is particularly advantageous.
The ring-shaped teeth can be closed per se.
In another embodiment at least some of the ring-shaped teeth—in particular all the ring-shaped teeth—are interrupted. The associated gaps prevent wave propagation along the ring shape, further improving the choking effect. The gaps can be arranged symmetrically at the center. However the gaps can alternatively also be located in different segments or angle directions of the ring-shaped toothing. These positions can also alternate in some instances.
The ring-shaped teeth can be connected to the choke profile and/or to the overlap region by way of a separate web for each tooth. In other developments the ring-shaped teeth can be positioned on a common, continuous web. However they can also be connected without a web or by way of a direct connection to the choke profile and/or to the overlap region of the doors.
In a further embodiment the microwave-transparent cover is a self-supporting cover. Such a cover is particularly stable and also prevents the formation of ripples in the cover in a region of contact with the choke profile.
In a further embodiment the microwave-transparent cover is fastened to the trap structure by means of a permanently elastic, temperature-resistant and grease-resistant sealing compound. The sealing compound particularly reliably prevents any ingress of steam or dirt into the hollow space of the choke profile through a gap between the cover and the choke profile. In one development the sealing compound is or contains temperature-resistant silicone.
In a further development the sealing compound is arranged in a region formed by the protruding parallel overlap region, the outer metal tongue and an edge of the microwave-transparent cover.
In one development the microwave-transparent cover has a plate made of glass, in particular hardened glass. Glass is particularly resistant to thermal and chemical influences and also—in particular in the form of hardened glass—to mechanical stress.
In one embodiment the cover surface of the parallel overlap region protrudes over the microwave-transparent cover. This protects the microwave-transparent cover particularly reliably from direct mechanical contact with the door flange. It also results in a particularly reliable and tolerant shielding effect. Alternatively the cover surface of the parallel overlap region and the microwave-transparent cover are arranged flush with one another on the flange side.
The properties, features and advantages of the present invention described above and the manner in which they are achieved will become clearer and more readily understandable in conjunction with the schematic description of an exemplary embodiment that follows, described in more detail in conjunction with the drawings.
The door has a profiled trap structure 6, shown here on an upper edge of the door 2. When the door 2 is in the closed state, the trap structure 6 together with an electrically conductive door flange 7 forms a lambda quarter-wave trap that frames the loading opening 3.
The trap structure 6 has a metal choke profile 8 that is C-shaped in cross section and has an open face 9 opposite the door flange 7. An inner metal tongue 10 protrudes into the open face 9 laterally on the inside and an outer metal tongue 11 protrudes into the open face 9 laterally on the outside. The metal tongues 10 and 11 here are embodied here as a single piece with the choke profile 8 and separated from one another by a microwave entry slot 12. In a first variant the metal tongues 10 and/or 11 can be configured continuously or without interruption or in a strip in a profile direction perpendicular to the plane of the page. In a second variant the metal tongues 10 and/or 11 can be configured in the manner of a comb or teeth in the profile direction.
The microwave entry slot 12 is covered by a microwave-transparent cover in the form of a glass plate 13 made of hardened glass shown by way of example. This prevents any ingress of steam and dirt into a hollow space 14 formed by the choke profile 8.
The choke profile 8 is framed laterally on the outside by a parallel overlap region 15 protruding in the direction of the door flange 7, produced here in one variant as a single piece with the choke profile 8. The parallel overlap region 15 has a cover surface 16 facing the door flange 7 and made of electrically conductive material, which is shaped in the same manner as the region of the door flange it covers (specifically vertically flat here) and arranged at a distance from the door flange 7. The door flange 7 and cover surface 16 therefore form a door gap 17.
The glass plate 13 here is configured flush with the cover surface 16. The glass plate 13 has a viewing grid 18 that does not allow the passage of microwaves in its region opposite the loading opening 3 and can be formed for example in the manner of a printed metal grid. The glass plate 13 is fastened to the trap structure 6 by means of a permanently elastic, temperature-resistant and grease-resistant bonding agent (adhesive) or sealing compound 19. To this end the sealing compound 19 is introduced here into a lateral space between an edge of the glass plate 13 and the parallel overlap region 15.
In a first variant the metal tongues 10 and/or 23 can be configured continuously or without interruption in the profile direction perpendicular to the plane of the page. In a second variant the metal tongues 10 and/or 23 can be configured in the manner of a comb or teeth in the profile direction.
In a further variant (not shown) both metal tongues can be bent into the hollow space.
However in other variants the interruptions can be present at a different point on the teeth, in some instances a different point in the profile direction. The ring-shaped teeth can also be without interruption in one variant.
Apart from the connection between the elliptical teeth 74 and the remainder of the trap structure 77 by way of respective webs as shown in
The trap structure 77 with elliptical teeth 74, generally ring-shaped toothing, compensates for the effect of an obliquely incident electromagnetic wave much more effectively than the trap structures 6, 26, 36, 46, 56 and 67 that do not have a ring shape.
The attenuation curves F1 and F3 show the instance of an “ideal” door gap of 1 mm, in other words a door gap, with which an active frequency of the microwave trap or trap structure has been made to correspond to a working frequency of the microwave cooking appliance. However in practical applications the door gap will have different dimensions, its widening representing the critical instance. The causes are numerous and can be due to manufacturing tolerances or thermal movement of the appliance during heating operations for example. In actual use such a change in the door gap and different angles of incidence θ of the microwave radiation above all contribute to an unwanted change in shielding properties. A lambda quarter-wave trap shields leaked microwave radiation particularly reliably if it is particularly insensitive to changes, in particular increases, in the door gap due to its structure. Increased stability in respect of change is demonstrated primarily by a small change in the attenuation characteristic—in particular by a small displacement of the frequency position of maximum attenuation. The attenuation curves F2 and F4 show the instance of a door gap that is 1 mm wider (in other words a total of 2 mm wide).
The attenuation properties are practically identical for the ideal gap of 1 mm, as shown in the attenuation curves F1 and F3. In particular the positions of maximum attenuation are located at the same microwave frequency of approx. 2.455 GHz.
When the door gap is opened an additional 1 mm, the attenuation curves F2 and F4 in contrast show significant differences. The attenuation curve F4 for the lambda quarter-wave trap according to the present invention advantageously shows a much smaller displacement of the frequency position for maximum attenuation than the attenuation curve F2 according to the prior art.
In the prior art the ideal active frequency is displaced much further when the door gap increases than with the lambda quarter-wave trap according to the present invention. The fact that the lambda quarter-wave trap according to the present invention responds much less to changes in the door gap means that the door can be opened more before the leaked radiation reaches an unreliably high level. This means there is greater stability in respect inter alia of thermal movement and manufacturing tolerances, which has clear advantages for the production process among other things.
The trap structure 77 from
The present invention is of course not restricted to the exemplary embodiment shown.
Features of the various exemplary embodiments can therefore be combined in any manner. For example elliptical teeth can also be bent into a hollow space and/or different types of teeth can be present on a metal tongue.
Generally “one”, etc. can refer to a single one or a multiple, in particular in the sense of “at least one” or “one or more”, etc., unless this is specifically excluded, for example by the expression “just one”.
A number can also refer to just the cited number as well as to a standard tolerance range, unless this is specifically excluded.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2017 210 730.8 | Jun 2017 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2018/065184 | 6/8/2018 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2019/001932 | 1/3/2019 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4475023 | Iwabuchi | Oct 1984 | A |
| 4713511 | Katoh | Dec 1987 | A |
| 4742201 | Nakano | May 1988 | A |
| 4868359 | Iwabuchi et al. | Sep 1989 | A |
| 5075525 | Jung | Dec 1991 | A |
| 5206478 | Lee | Apr 1993 | A |
| 5705797 | Seo | Jan 1998 | A |
| 5897808 | Kim | Apr 1999 | A |
| 7301132 | Kim | Nov 2007 | B2 |
| 20040079751 | Kim et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
| 20070039953 | Kim | Feb 2007 | A1 |
| 20110290230 | Sim et al. | Dec 2011 | A1 |
| 20120312808 | Tsujimoto | Dec 2012 | A1 |
| 20160029442 | Houbloss | Jan 2016 | A1 |
| 20170318630 | Frey et al. | Nov 2017 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1192520 | Sep 1998 | CN |
| 2522934 | Dec 1975 | DE |
| 3106786 | Sep 1982 | DE |
| 8606301 | May 1990 | DE |
| 10256624 | Jul 2004 | DE |
| 102006042992 | Apr 2008 | DE |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report PCT/EP2018/065184 dated Sep. 6, 2018. |
| National Search Report CN 201880042402.4 dated May 26, 2021. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210092807 A1 | Mar 2021 | US |
