The present device generally relates to a cooking apparatus, and more specifically, to a microwave oven having a supplemental heating system for grilling and broiling.
In at least one aspect, a cooking apparatus is provided comprising a cooking cavity for receiving food to be cooked and a heating system positioned to heat the food disposed in the cooking cavity. The heating system comprising at least one IR radiation source for generating IR radiation that is projected into the cooking cavity and a metallic mesh screen placed between the at least one IR radiation source and the cooking cavity for spatially distributing the IR radiation to uniformly project into the cooking cavity. The metallic mesh screen includes a plurality of hexagonal apertures arranged in a honeycomb pattern, wherein the distance between parallel sides of each one of the hexagonal apertures is Ax and the distance between each hexagonal aperture and each adjacent hexagonal aperture is Bx, and wherein Ax is less than or equal to about 3 times Bx.
In at least another aspect, a microwave oven is provided comprising: a cooking cavity for receiving food to be cooked; at least one microwave source for generating microwave energy inside the cooking cavity to cook the food; and a supplemental heating system positioned to heat the food disposed in the cooking cavity. The supplemental heating system comprising at least one IR radiation source for generating IR radiation that is projected into the cooking cavity; and a metallic mesh screen placed between the at least one IR radiation source and the cooking cavity for spatially distributing the IR radiation to uniformly project into the cooking cavity and minimizing microwave energy field losses. The metallic mesh screen includes a plurality of hexagonal apertures arranged in a honeycomb pattern, wherein the distance between parallel sides of each one of the hexagonal apertures is Ax and the distance between each hexagonal aperture and each adjacent hexagonal aperture is Bx, and wherein Ax is less than or equal to about 3 times Bx.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present device will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
For purposes of description herein the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the device as oriented in
As noted above, the embodiments described herein pertain to a cooking apparatus, and more particularly to a microwave oven having an additional heating system for grilling and broiling. In microwave ovens, grilling-browning devices of various kinds are often incorporated in order to allow cooking or heating of food in such a way that a crusty surface is obtained on the food, i.e., such that a browning effect is achieved. Examples of such microwave ovens are disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,153,866 and 6,946,631. Radiant heat is produced by a tube radiating infrared (IR) radiation. Such a tube may, for example, be a quartz tube. The IR radiation falling on the food is, in some ovens, increased by means of a reflector that is arranged above/behind the radiating tube. The IR radiation emitted by the lamps passes through a protective screen to irradiate the cooking cavity to grill food placed therein. One problem encountered in connection with this kind of browning device is that the lamps tend to produce a non-uniform spatial distribution of intensity of IR radiation and this can cause disadvantages. For instance, if the lamps are used for grilling or browning, the non-uniform spatial distribution of intensity can cause non-uniform grilling or browning of the food.
Referring to the embodiment illustrated in
The hexagonal shape of the apertures 26 of the screen 24, which are arranged in the honeycomb pattern 28 improves the system performance because it increases the amount of IR radiation passing through the screen 24 compared to a circular shape, while containing the microwave leaks.
The supplemental heating system 20 may be positioned in the ceiling of the cooking cavity 14. As shown in
As shown in
Metallic mesh screen 24 may be made of high temperature austenitic stainless steel. In addition to uniformly spatially distributing the IR radiation from IR sources 22 and blocking microwave energy from passing through, metallic mesh screen 24 also protects users from contacting IR sources 22 and possibly burning themselves. The hexagonal apertures 26 may be formed by perforating a metal sheet.
An example of a metallic mesh screen 24 is shown in
Another example of a metallic mesh screen 24 is shown in
To illustrate the extent of the spatial distribution properties of the screens 24 in
The microwave sources 18a and 18b may be solid state microwave generators capable of being actuated at various frequencies, phases and amplitudes so as to create various node patterns as known in the art. Although only two microwave sources are shown, it is possible to use four or more solid state microwave generators.
It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described device and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the device disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.
It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the device as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.
It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present device. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.
It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present device, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
The above description is considered that of the illustrated embodiments only. Modifications of the device will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the device. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above is merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the device, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the Doctrine of Equivalents.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2016/051924 | 9/15/2016 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2018/052426 | 3/22/2018 | WO | A |
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