OVEN

Abstract

An oven including an inner cabinet forming a cooking chamber; an outer cabinet, to surround the inner cabinet so as to form a cooling passage through which external air passes; an air exhaust apparatus between the outer cabinet and the inner cabinet; a filter arrangeable on the upper side of the inner cabinet such that air from the cooking chamber passes through to the filter; a pressure regulating duct arrangeable on the upper side of the inner cabinet such that air having passed through the filter passes toward the cooling passage; a sensing pipe, arrangeable in the air exhaust apparatus, on the upper side of the filter such that air from the filter passes through a space above the filter and the cooling passage; and a steam sensor, arrangeable in the sensing pipe and measuring the amount of steam contained in the air passing through the sensing pipe.

Description

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The disclosure relates to an oven, and more particularly, to an oven including a vapor sensor.

Description of the Related Art

Generally, ovens are a device that cooks food by heating the food contained in a cooking chamber.

These ovens may include gas ovens that heat food by burning gas and electric ovens that heat food using an electric heater.

The oven may include an automatic cooking function that automatically cooks food.

When cooking using the oven, water vapor, oil mist, combustion oxides, etc. are generated on the surface of the food as it is heated.

The oven may use a vapor sensor to measure the amount of vapor generated when cooking food, and may perform the automatic cooking using the amount of vapor.

However, in the oven according to the prior art, the vapor sensor is disposed to be exposed to the cooking chamber, and the vapor sensor is contaminated by vapor.

When the vapor sensor is contaminated, the vapor sensor cannot accurately measure the amount of vapor in the cooking chamber, so there is a problem in that the oven cannot cook food in an optimal condition.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the disclosure, an oven includes an internal cabinet forming a cooking chamber; an external cabinet, to surround the internal cabinet, such that while the external cabinet surrounds the internal cabinet, a cooling passage through which external air passes is formed between the internal cabinet and the external cabinet; an air exhaust device between the external cabinet and the internal cabinet; a filter arrangeable on an upper side of the internal cabinet such that while the filter is arranged on the upper side of the internal cabinet, air from the cooking chamber passes through to the filter; a pressure control duct arrangeable at an upper side of the internal cabinet such that while the pressure control duct is arranged at the upper side of the internal cabinet, air having passed through the filter passes through the pressure control duct toward the cooling passage; a sensing pipe arrangeable in the air exhaust device above the filter such that while the sensing pipe is arranged in the air exhaust device, the sensing pipe allows air from the filter to pass through a space above the filter and the cooling passage; and a vapor sensor arrangeable in the sensing pipe and configured to measure an amount of vapor contained in air passing through the sensing pipe.

The oven may further include: a contamination preventing part arrangeable below the vapor sensor such that while the contamination preventing part is arranged below the vapor sensor, the contamination preventing part prevents vapor from attaching to the vapor sensor.

The contamination preventing part may be formed to protrude from an inner surface of the sensing pipe.

The sensing pipe has a sensor hole formed above the contamination preventing part. A tip of the vapor sensor is inserted into the sensor hole and seated on the contamination preventing part.

The oven may further include: an eddy preventing part provided on the inner surface of the sensing pipe and extending upward from both ends of the contamination preventing part.

The sensing pipe may be formed to have a cross-sectional area corresponding to an area of a sensing surface of the vapor sensor.

The sensing pipe includes an inflow port and an outflow port. The inflow port and the outflow port are formed at opposite ends of the sensing pipe to face each other.

An area of the inflow port may be greater than an area of the outflow port.

The vapor sensor may be disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the sensing pipe.

The air exhaust device includes an exhaust duct that discharges air to an outside of the oven. The sensing pipe includes a fixing part fixed to the exhaust duct.

The fixing part is formed in an annular shape. The fixing part includes a seal provided on a lower side of the fixing part.

The sensing pipe may include a sealing part that is spaced a predetermined distance downward from the fixing part and formed to seal between the upper surface of the internal cabinet and the sensing pipe.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, an oven includes: an internal cabinet forming a cooking chamber; an external cabinet, to surround the internal cabinet such that while the external cabinet surrounds the internal cabinet, a cooling passage through which external air passes is formed between the internal cabinet and the external cabinet; an air exhaust device on an upper side of the internal cabinet and the air exhaust device including an exhaust duct formed to discharge air to an outside; a filter, arrangeable on an upper side of the internal cabinet, such that while the filter is arranged on the upper side of the internal cabinet, air from the cooking chamber passes through to the filter; a pressure control duct, arrangeable on an upper side of the internal cabinet, such that while the pressure control duct is arranged at the upper side of the internal cabinet, air having passed through the filter passes through the pressure control duct toward the cooling passage; a sensing pipe, arrangeable above the filter to pass through the exhaust duct, such that while the sensing pipe is arranged above the filter, the sensing pipe allows air from the filter to pass through a space above the filter; a vapor sensor arrangeable in the sensing pipe and configured to measure an amount of vapor contained in the air passing through the sensing pipe; and a contamination preventing part, arrangeable on an inner surface of the sensing pipe below the vapor sensor, such that while the contamination preventing part is arranged on the inner surface of the sensing pipe, the contamination preventing part prevents vapor from attaching to the vapor sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the oven of FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the oven of FIG. 3 taken along line I-I according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of A portion of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the oven of FIG. 3 taken along line II-II according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating a filter and a portion of an internal cabinet of an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a sensor assembly provided in an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a sensor assembly provided in an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a sensor assembly provided in an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the sensor assembly of FIG. 10 taken along line III-III according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the sensor assembly of FIG. 10 taken along line IV-IV according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating a sensor assembly provided in an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating air flow in a sensor assembly provided in an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Descriptions below, which takes into reference the accompanying drawings, is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and its equivalent. Although various specific details are included to assist in the understanding herein, the above are to be understood as merely example embodiments. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications may be made to various embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions on well-known functions and configurations will be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

Terms and words used in the description below and in the claims are not limited to its bibliographical meaning, and are used merely to assist in a clear and coherent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, the description below on the various embodiments of the disclosure are provided simply as examples and it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that the example embodiments as defined by the appended claims and its equivalent are not for limiting the disclosure.

Terms such as first and second may be used in describing various elements, but the elements are not limited by the above-described terms. The above-described terms may be used only for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another element. For example, a first element may be designated as a second element, and likewise, a second element may be designated as a first element without exceeding the scope of protection.

The terms used in the embodiments of the disclosure may be interpreted to have meanings generally understood to one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise defined.

In addition, terms such as ‘tip end,’ ‘back end,’ ‘upper part,’ ‘lower part,’ ‘upper end,’ ‘lower end,’ and the like used in the disclosure may be defined based on the drawings, and forms and locations of each element are not limited by these terms.

Hereinafter, an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The disclosure has been developed in order to overcome the above drawbacks and other problems associated with the conventional arrangement. An aspect of the disclosure is to provide an oven that can accurately measure an amount of vapor in a cooking chamber by preventing contamination of a vapor sensor.

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the oven of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the oven of FIG. 3 taken along line I-I. FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view of A portion of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the oven of FIG. 3 taken along line II-II. FIG. 7 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating a filter and a portion of an internal cabinet of an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure. For reference, FIG. 2 illustrates an oven without an upper surface of an external cabinet to show an air exhaust device.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, an oven 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes an external cabinet 10, an internal cabinet 20, and an air exhaust device 30.

The external cabinet 10 forms the outer shape of the oven 1, and is formed to surround the internal cabinet 20. The external cabinet 10 has a substantially rectangular box shape. An opening is provided in the front surface of the external cabinet 10.

The internal cabinet 20 forms a cooking chamber 21. The internal cabinet 20 has a substantially rectangular box shape, and the inner space thereof forms the cooking chamber 21. An opening is provided in the front surface of the internal cabinet 20. The opening of the internal cabinet 20 is formed to correspond to the opening of the external cabinet 10.

The opening of the internal cabinet 20 and the opening of the external cabinet 10 may be opened and closed by a door 11 provided on the front surface of the external cabinet 10.

The door 11 is formed in a shape corresponding to the opening of the external cabinet 10 and the opening of the internal cabinet 20 on the front surface of the cooking chamber 21. The door 11 is rotatably hinged to the lower portion of the external cabinet 10. Accordingly, the door 11 may open and close the cooking chamber 21. A handle 12 is provided on the front surface of the door 11 to facilitate opening and closing the door 11.

Accordingly, the user may open the door 11 and put food into or remove food from the cooking chamber 21 through the opening of the external cabinet 10 and the opening of the internal cabinet 20.

The cooking chamber 21 provided in the internal cabinet 20 is formed to accommodate food.

Rack supports 22 are provided on both side surfaces of the cooking chamber 21. The rack supports 22 may be provided symmetrically on both side surfaces of the cooking chamber 21. The rack supports 22 are formed to support both side ends of a rack. The rack is formed so that food or a container containing food may be placed on the rack.

The rack is easily pulled in or out of the cooking chamber 21 along the rack supports 22. Accordingly, the user may easily take food into or out of the cooking chamber 21 using the rack.

A heat source 27 configured to generate heat to heat the food placed on the rack is disposed at the upper portion of the cooking chamber 21. The heat source 27 may be configured to generate heat using electricity or gas. For example, the heat source 27 may be formed as an electric heater or a gas burner.

In the oven 1 shown in FIG. 1, the heat source 27 is provided at the upper portion of the cooking chamber 21, but the location of the heat source 27 is not limited thereto.

A temperature sensor 26 may be provided in the cooking chamber 21 to measure the temperature of the cooking chamber 21. For example, the temperature sensor 26 may be provided on the side surface of the cooking chamber 21.

A circulation fan 40 may be provided at the rear side of the cooking chamber 21. The circulation fan 40 is configured to circulate the air inside the cooking chamber 21. The circulation fan 40 is rotated by a circulation motor 41. A plurality of holes 43 through which air flows into the circulation fan 40 may be provided at the rear surface of the cooking chamber 21.

Therefore, when the circulation fan 40 rotates, the air inside the cooking chamber 21 circulates inside the cooking chamber 21. Due to the circulation of air, the heat generated by the heat source 27 is evenly transmitted throughout the cooking chamber 21, so that food may be cooked evenly.

The external cabinet 10 is disposed to be spaced apart from the internal cabinet 20 by a predetermined distance. Accordingly, when the external cabinet 10 is disposed outside the internal cabinet 20, a cooling passage 13 through which outside air may pass is formed between the external cabinet 10 and the internal cabinet 20.

The external cabinet 10 may be provided with an inlet 10a through which outside air flows in and an outlet 10b through which air is discharged. The inlet 10a may be provided on both side surfaces and a rear surface of the external cabinet 10. The outlet 10b may be formed as a plurality of through holes. The outlet 10b may be provided on the front surface of the external cabinet 10.

The air exhaust device 30 is configured to generate an airflow so that outside air may flow through the cooling passage 13. In other words, when the air exhaust device 30 operates, outside air flows into the cooling passage 13 through the inlet 10a of the external cabinet 10. The outside air flowing into the cooling passage 13 may pass through the air exhaust device 30 and then be discharged to the outside of the external cabinet 10 through the outlet 10b.

The air exhaust device 30 may be disposed between the external cabinet 10 and the internal cabinet 20. In other words, the air exhaust device 30 may be provided in the cooling passage 13. For example, the air exhaust device 30 may be disposed on the upper surface of the internal cabinet 20.

The air exhaust device 30 may include an exhaust duct 31 and an exhaust fan 32.

The exhaust duct 31 is formed to discharge the air discharged from the exhaust fan 32 to the outside of the external cabinet 10. The exhaust duct 31 may be formed to have a lower height toward the front of the oven 1.

The exhaust duct 31 may include a scroll portion 31a whose radius gradually increases in a clockwise direction and an exhaust portion 31b provided in front of the scroll portion 31a.

A suction port 31c through which air is sucked into the exhaust duct 31 is formed at the top of the scroll portion 31a. The exhaust portion 31b is provided with a discharge port 31d through which air is discharged. The discharge port 31d of the exhaust portion 31b is formed to correspond to the outlet 10b of the external cabinet 10. In addition, the exhaust portion 31b may be formed to gradually decrease in height toward the discharge port 31d.

Accordingly, the air sucked into the exhaust duct 31 through the suction port 31c is guided to the exhaust portion 31b by the scroll portion 31a and discharged through the discharge port 31d of the exhaust portion 31b. The air discharged from the discharge port 31d of the exhaust duct 31 may be discharged to the front of the oven 1, that is, to the outside of the oven 1, through the outlet 10b of the external cabinet 10.

The exhaust fan 32 may include a centrifugal fan or a turbo fan that sucks air from the upper side and discharges the air in a radial direction. The exhaust fan 32 may be disposed inside the exhaust duct 31 through the suction port 31c.

The exhaust fan 32 is rotated by an exhaust motor 33. The exhaust motor 33 may be fixed to the exhaust duct 31.

Therefore, when the exhaust motor 33 operates, the exhaust fan 32 rotates. When the exhaust fan 32 rotates, air outside the exhaust duct 31 may be sucked in through the suction port 31c and discharged through the discharge port 31d.

Meanwhile, a user interface 91 may be provided on the front surface of the oven 1. The user interface 91 may receive control commands for the oven 1 from the user and display information related to the operation and settings of the oven 1.

In addition, a processor 90 configured to control the oven 1 may be provided in the cooling passage 13. The processor 90 may be configured to control the user interface 91, the heat source 27, the circulation motor 41, and the exhaust motor 33.

The internal cabinet 20 may include an insulating material 23 provided to cover the entire outer surface except the front surface thereof. In detail, the internal cabinet 20 may be formed in a three-layer structure including the insulating material 23. In other words, the internal cabinet 20 may include an inner shell 20a forming the cooking chamber 21, the insulating material 23 provided to cover the outside of the inner shell 20a, and an outer shell 20b provided to cover the outside of the insulating material 23.

The air exhaust device 30 described above may be disposed on the upper surface of the outer shell 20b of the internal cabinet 20.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, a pressure control duct 55 may be provided on the upper side of the internal cabinet 20. The pressure control duct 55 is formed to control the pressure in the cooking chamber 21.

The pressure control duct 55 may be disposed between the outer shell 20b and the inner shell 20a of the internal cabinet 20. The entrance 56 of the pressure control duct 55 may communicate with the cooking chamber 21. The pressure control duct 55 may be disposed on the lower surface of the outer shell 20b of the internal cabinet 20. The pressure control duct 55 and the outer shell 20b of the internal cabinet 20 may form a pressure control chamber.

A filter 50 communicating with the cooking chamber 21 may be disposed on the upper surface of the internal cabinet 20. In detail, the filter 50 may be disposed between the inner shell 20a and the outer shell 20b of the internal cabinet 20. The filter 50 may be disposed on the upper surface of the inner shell 20a of the internal cabinet 20.

Referring to FIG. 7, at least one through hole 25 is formed on the upper surface of the inner shell 20a of the internal cabinet 20 where the filter 50 is disposed. In other words, the filter 50 is positioned above the at least one through hole 25 formed in the inner shell 20a. Accordingly, air discharged from the cooking chamber 21 through the at least one through hole 27 may pass through the filter 50.

The filter 50 may be disposed on the inner shell 20a of the internal cabinet 20 by a filter casing 51. The filter casing 51 may be provided with a plurality of fixing holes 51a, and the inner shell 20a of the internal cabinet 20 may be provided with a plurality of fixing grooves 25a. Therefore, the filter casing 51 may be fixed to the inner shell 20a of the internal cabinet 20 using bolts or screws.

The filter 50 may be disposed to coincide with the entrance 56 of the pressure control duct 55. In other words, the entrance 56 of the pressure control duct 55 is provided above the filter 50. Accordingly, air that has passed through the filter 50 may flow into the pressure control duct 55 through the entrance 56. The air flowing into the pressure control duct 55 may be discharged into the cooling passage 13 through the exit. In other words, the filter 50 communicates with the cooling passage 13 through the pressure control duct 55.

The filter 50 may be formed in a mesh shape. The filter 50 may be a carbon monoxide filter capable of removing carbon monoxide from the air discharged from the cooking chamber 21.

A sensor assembly 100 may be provided above the filter 50. Accordingly, through holes into which the sensor assembly 100 is inserted may be provided in the outer shell 20b of the internal cabinet 20 and the exhaust duct 31.

The sensor assembly 100 may be configured to measure the amount of vapor contained in the air that has passed through the filter 50. The sensor assembly 100 is provided outside the cooking chamber 21.

Hereinafter, the sensor assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a sensor assembly provided in an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a sensor assembly provided in an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a sensor assembly provided in an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the sensor assembly of FIG. 10 taken along line III-III. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the sensor assembly of FIG. 10 taken along line IV-IV. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating a sensor assembly provided in an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, the sensor assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a sensing pipe 110 and a vapor sensor 30.

The sensing pipe 110 forms a passage through which air coming out of the filter 50 passes. The sensing pipe 110 may be formed to communicate with the space above the filter 50 and the cooling passage 13.

The sensing pipe 110 may be disposed in the air exhaust device 30. The sensing pipe 110 may be disposed to penetrate the air exhaust device 30. In detail, the sensing pipe 110 may be disposed to penetrate the exhaust duct 31 of the air exhaust device 30. The sensing pipe 110 may be disposed to penetrate the exhaust portion 31b of the exhaust duct 31.

The sensing pipe 110 may be disposed approximately perpendicular to the exhaust portion 31b of the exhaust duct 31. To this end, an upper through hole 62 into which the sensing pipe 110 is inserted may be formed in the exhaust portion 31b of the exhaust duct 31.

Because the sensing pipe 110 is disposed to penetrate the exhaust duct 31, the air passing through the sensing pipe 110 is not affected by the airflow passing through the exhaust duct 31.

In addition, the sensing pipe 110 may be disposed to penetrate the outer shell 20b of the internal cabinet 20. To this end, a lower through hole 61 into which the sensing pipe 110 is inserted may be formed in the outer shell 20b of the internal cabinet 20.

Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, when the sensing pipe 110 is inserted into the upper through hole 62 and the lower through hole 61, the space above the filter 50 and the cooling passage 13 may be communicated with each other.

In this case, the lower end of the sensing pipe 110 may be disposed adjacent to the filter 50. In addition, the sensing pipe 110 may be located at the center of the filter 50. Because the entrance 56 of the pressure control duct 55 is provided above the filter 50, the sensing pipe 110 is located at the upper side of the filter 50 while being inserted into the entrance 56 of the pressure control duct 55.

Because the cross-sectional area of the sensing pipe 110 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the filter 50, some of the air passing through the filter 50 is discharged to the upper side of the exhaust duct 31 through the sensing pipe 110, and the remaining air is introduced into the pressure control chamber formed by the pressure control duct 55.

The sensing pipe 110 may be formed to have a cross-sectional area corresponding to the area of a sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130. For example, the cross-sectional of the sensing pipe 110 may be formed to be about 0.8 to 1.2 times the area of the sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130.

Both ends of the sensing pipe 110 are open. The lower end of the sensing pipe 110 forms an inflow port 111 through which air flows in, and the upper end of the sensing pipe 110 forms an outflow port 112 through which the air is discharged. In other words, the inflow port 111 and the outflow port 112 may be formed at both ends of the sensing pipe 110 to face each other.

The outflow port 112 of the sensing pipe 110 may be formed to have a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the inflow port 111. When the cross-sectional area of the outflow port 112 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the inflow port 111, the flow rate of air flowing through the sensing pipe 110 may be increased. Then, the flow of air flowing through the sensing pipe 110 may become stable.

In this embodiment, the sensing pipe 110 has a circular cross-section. However, the cross-section of the sensing pipe 110 is not limited thereto. As long as the flow of air passing through the sensing pipe 110 is stable, the sensing pipe 110 may have a cross-section of various shapes.

The vapor sensor 130 may be disposed in the sensing pipe 110. A sensor hole 113 may be provided in the sensing pipe 110. The vapor sensor 130 may be disposed in the sensor hole 113. The sensor hole 113 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the cross-section of the vapor sensor 130. For example, when the cross-section of the vapor sensor 130 is circular, the sensor hole 113 is formed in a circular shape.

A sensor seating portion 114 may be provided in the sensor hole 113. The sensor seating portion 114 is formed in a shape corresponding to the vapor sensor 130. In this embodiment, because the vapor sensor 130 has a circular cross-section, the sensor seating portion 114 is formed in the shape of a circular pipe.

The vapor sensor 130 may be fixed to the sensor seating portion 114 by a sensor cap 140. The sensor cap 140 is formed in a circular shape corresponding to the sensor seating portion 114, and a pair of fixing groove 140a may be provided at the edge of the sensor cap 140. An opening 141 through which a terminal of the vapor sensor 130 is exposed may be provided in the center of the sensor cap 140.

A pair of fixing protrusions 114a corresponding to the pair of fixing groove 140a of the sensor cap 140 may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the sensor seating portion 114.

After inserting the vapor sensor 130 into the sensor seating portion 114 and covering the rear end of the sensor seating portion 114 with the sensor cap 140, inserting the pair of fixing protrusions 114a into the pair of fixing groove 140a makes the vapor sensor 130 be fixed to the sensing pipe 110.

The vapor sensor 130 may be disposed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of air flowing through the sensing pipe 110. In other words, the vapor sensor 130 may be arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sensing pipe 110. When the vapor sensor 130 is disposed on the sensor seating portion 114, the vapor sensor 130 is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sensing pipe 110.

The sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130 for measuring the amount of vapor may be formed as a flat surface. The vapor sensor 130 may be disposed so that the edge of the sensing surface 131 does not protrude into the sensing pipe 110.

For example, referring to FIG. 11, the vapor sensor 130 may be disposed in the sensing pipe 110 so that the sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130 does not protrude beyond a virtual plane IP that passes through two points P1 and P2 where the inner surface 110a of the sensing pipe 110 and the extension line of the sensor hole 113 intersect each other and is parallel to the center line CL of the sensing pipe 110. In addition, the vapor sensor 130 may be disposed so that the sensing surface 131 is located as close as possible to the above-described virtual plane IP.

A terminal 132 is provided on the rear surface of the vapor sensor 130. The amount of vapor measured by the vapor sensor 130 may be output as an electrical signal from the terminal 132. The terminal 132 of the vapor sensor 130 may be electrically connected to the processor 90.

The vapor sensor 130 is configured to measure the amount of vapor contained in the air passing through the sensing pipe 110. There is no limit to type of the vapor sensor 130 as long as it can measure the amount of vapor contained in the air. For example, a variable resistance humidity sensor or a variable capacitance humidity sensor may be used as the vapor sensor 130.

A contamination preventing part 120 may be provided on the inner surface of the sensing pipe 110 and below the vapor sensor 130. The contamination preventing part 120 is formed to prevent or minimize vapor from attaching to the vapor sensor 130.

The contamination preventing part 120 may be provided below the sensor hole 113. In other words, the sensor hole 113 may be formed in the sensing pipe 110 at the upper side of the contamination preventing part 120. The contamination preventing part 120 may be formed to protrude from the inner surface of the sensing pipe 110.

The contamination preventing part 120 may be formed along the edge of the sensor hole 113. The contamination preventing part 120 may be formed along the lower half of the sensor hole 113. When the vapor sensor 130 is inserted into the sensor hole 113, the tip of the vapor sensor 130 may be seated on the contamination preventing part 120. The contamination preventing part 120 may be formed to protrude from the inner surface of the sensing pipe 110.

The contamination preventing part 120 may be formed in a half donut shape. The outer diameter of the contamination preventing part 120 may be equal to or larger than the diameter of the sensor hole 113, and the inner diameter thereof may be smaller than the diameter of the sensor hole 113. The inner diameter of the contamination preventing part 120 may be made as large as possible so that the sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130 is exposed as much as possible.

For example, the front surface of the contamination preventing part 120 may be formed on the virtual plane IP that passes through two points P1 and P2 where the inner surface 110a of the sensing pipe 110 and the extension line of the sensor hole 113 intersect each other and is parallel to the center line CL of the sensing pipe 110 as illustrated in FIG. 11. That is, the contamination preventing part 120 may be formed by forming a half donut shape on the above-described virtual plane and extending the outer circumferential surface of the half donut to the inner surface of the sensing pipe 110.

In other words, the contamination preventing part 120 may be formed with the tip portion of a half pipe that is inserted into the sensor hole 113 so that the tip is in contact with the virtual plane IP described above. The half pipe is formed by cutting a pipe in half in the longitudinal direction.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the contamination preventing part 120 protrudes from the inner surface of the sensing pipe 110. Accordingly, because the air passing through the sensing pipe 110 collides with the contamination preventing part 120, direct contact of the air with the sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130 may be prevented or minimized.

When the vapor sensor 130 is disposed in the sensor hole 113, the edge of the sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130 may contact the contamination preventing part 120. Therefore, the thickness of the contamination preventing part 120 may be formed as thin as possible so that the vapor sensor 130 may be positioned as close as possible to the air passing through the sensing pipe 110.

In addition, the contamination preventing part 120 may function as a stopper to limit the insertion position of the vapor sensor 130 when inserting the vapor sensor 130 into the sensor hole 113.

An eddy preventing part 125 may be provided on the inner surface of the sensing pipe 110. The eddy preventing part 125 is formed to prevent or minimize an eddy that may occur when air collides with the contamination preventing part 120 from flowing to the sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130.

The eddy preventing part 125 may be formed on the inner surface of the sensing pipe 110 by extending upward from both ends of the contamination preventing part 120. In other words, one end of the eddy preventing part 125 may be connected to the contamination preventing part 120, and the other end of the eddy preventing part 125 may be connected to the upper surface of the sensing pipe 110.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the eddy preventing part 125 may be formed in a bar shape extending upward from both ends of the contamination preventing part 120. In other words, the eddy preventing part 125 may be formed as a pair of bars extending in parallel from both ends of the contamination preventing part 120. The cross-section of each pair of bars may be fan-shaped. One end, or a lower end, of the bar may be connected to the contamination preventing part 120, and the other end, or an upper end, of the bar may be connected to the upper surface of the sensing pipe 110.

The front surface of the eddy preventing part 125 may be formed on the same plane as the front surface of the contamination preventing part 120. The eddy preventing part 125 may be formed so as not to block the outflow port 112 formed on the upper surface of the sensing pipe 110.

As described above, in the case that the eddy preventing part 125 is formed on the upper side of the contamination preventing part 120, when the air flowing through the sensing pipe 110 collides with the contamination preventing part 120 and an eddy is formed, the eddy does not flow into the vapor sensor 130 but moves upward along the eddy preventing part 125, thereby being discharged through the outflow port 112 of the sensing pipe 110. Accordingly, the eddy preventing part 125 may minimize the fluctuation of the amount of vapor measured by the vapor sensor 130 due to the eddy that may be generated by contamination preventing part 120.

The sensing pipe 110 may include a fixing part 150. The fixing part 150 is formed to fix the sensing pipe 110 to the exhaust duct 31.

The fixing part 150 is formed in a disk shape, a through hole into which the sensing pipe 110 is inserted is provided in the center. In other words, the fixing part 150 may be formed to extend from the outer circumferential surface of the sensing pipe 110 in a disk shape. Accordingly, the fixing part 150 has an annular shape. A pair of fixing holes 150a may be provided on the outer periphery of the fixing part 150.

A pair of screw holes corresponding to the pair of fixing holes 150a of the fixing part 150 may be provided around the upper through hole 62 of the exhaust duct 31 into which the sensing pipe 110 is inserted. Then, the sensing pipe 110 may be fixed to the exhaust duct 31 using a pair of bolts or screws.

A first seal groove 152 may be provided on the lower surface of the fixing part 150. The first seal groove 152 is formed as a circular groove centered on the sensing pipe 110. An annular first seal 151 may be accommodated in the first seal groove 152. The first seal 151 is used to prevent air that has passed through the filter 50 from leaking between the sensing pipe 110 and the upper through hole 62 of the exhaust duct 31. As an example, the first seal 151 may be formed of a rubber seal.

Therefore, when the fixing part 150 is fixed to the exhaust duct 31 using a pair of bolts, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the first seal 151 is interposed between the lower surface of the fixing part 150 and the upper surface of the exhaust duct 31, so that leakage of air between the fixing part 150 and the exhaust duct 31 may be prevented.

In addition, the sensing pipe 110 may further include a sealing part 160. The sealing part 160 may be provided below the fixing part 150 to be spaced a predetermined distance apart. The sealing part 160 is formed to seal between the sensing pipe 110 and the upper surface of the internal cabinet 20.

The sealing part 160 is formed in a disk shape, and a through hole into which the sensing pipe 110 is inserted is provided in the center. In other words, the sealing part 160 may be formed to extend from the outer peripheral surface of the sensing pipe 110 in a disk shape. Accordingly, the sealing part 160 has a ring shape. The sealing part 160 may be formed to have a smaller diameter than the fixing part 150.

A second seal groove 162 may be provided on the lower surface of the sealing part 160. The second seal groove 162 is formed as a circular groove centered on the sensing pipe 110. An annular second seal 161 may be accommodated in the second seal groove 162. The second seal 161 has a smaller diameter than the first seal 151.

The second seal 161 is used to prevent air that has passed through the filter 50 from leaking through the gap between the sensing pipe 110 and the lower through hole 61 of the internal cabinet 20. In detail, the second seal 161 is used to prevent air from leaking through the gap between the sensing pipe 110 and the lower through hole 61 formed in the outer shell 20b of the internal cabinet 20 into which the sensing pipe 110 is inserted. As an example, the second seal 161 may be formed of a rubber seal.

Therefore, when the fixing part 150 is fixed to the exhaust duct 31 using a pair of bolts, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the second seal 161 is interposed between the lower surface of the sealing part 160 and the upper surface of the internal cabinet 20, so that leakage of air between the sealing part 160 and the internal cabinet 20 may be prevented.

The fixing part 150 and the sealing part 160 may be formed integrally with the sensing pipe 110. For example, the fixing part 150, the sealing part 160, and the sensing pipe 110 may be formed in one body with aluminum die casting.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 14, the oven 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a user interface 91, a temperature sensor 26, a vapor sensor 130, a communication part 95, and a memory 94.

The user interface 91 is provided on the front surface of the oven 1. The user interface 91 may be configured to receive control commands from the user and display information related to the operation of the oven 1.

The user interface 91 may include an input part 92 configured to receive control commands and a display part 93 configured to display information related to the operation of the oven 1.

The input part 92 may include at least one of buttons, dials, slider switches, etc.

The display part 93 may be formed as a display panel. The display panel may be implemented as a liquid crystal display panel, a light emitting diode panel, an organic light emitting diode panel, etc.

In addition, the display part 93 may be implemented as a touch screen panel configured to detect the user's touch. When the display part 93 is implemented as a touch screen panel, the user may input a control command by touching the display part 93.

The temperature sensor 26 is configured to measure the temperature inside the cooking chamber 21. The type of the temperature sensor 26 is not limited as long as it can measure the temperature inside the cooking chamber 21.

The vapor sensor 130 is configured to measure the amount of vapor contained in the air discharged from the cooking chamber 21. Because the vapor sensor 130 has been described above, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The processor 90 is configured to control the oven 1. The processor 90 may automatically cook food by controlling the heat source 27, the circulation motor 41, and the exhaust motor 33. In addition, the processor 90 may be configured to automatically cook food using the temperature in the cooking chamber 21 measured by the temperature sensor 26 and the amount of vapor measured by the vapor sensor 130.

The processor 90 may include at least one of a central processing unit (CPU), a micro controller unit (MCU), a micro processing unit (MPU), a controller, an application processor (AP), a graphic processing unit (GPU), a communication processor (CP), or an ARM processor, or may be defined by the corresponding term.

In addition, the processor 90 may be implemented as a system on chip (SoC) with a built-in processing algorithm, a large scale integration (LSI), or may be implemented in the form of a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

In addition, the processor 90 may perform various functions by executing computer executable instructions stored in the memory 94.

The memory 94 may store programs for processing or controlling of the processor 90 and various data for the operation of the oven 1. For example, the memory 94 may store a number of application programs for driving the oven 1, and data and commands for operating the oven 1.

For example, the memory 94 may store cooking information for various food. The cooking information may include methods for properly cooking food. For example, the cooking information may include at least one of preheating temperature of the cooking chamber 21, a cooking temperature, and a cooking time.

The memory 94 may include a high-speed random access memory, a magnetic disk, a static random access memory (SRAM), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a read only memory (ROM), and the like, but is not limited thereto.

In addition, the memory 94 may be provided to be removable from the oven 1. For example, the memory 94 may include a compact flash card (CF card), a secure digital card (SD card), a smart media card (SM card), a multimedia card (MMC), or a memory stick, but is not limited thereto.

The communication part 95 is connected to an external device and configured to transmit and receive data with the external device. In detail, the communication part 95 may be configured to transmit information about cooking food to the external device and receive a control command from the external device.

The communication part 95 may communicate with the external device using various communication methods. For example, the communication part 95 may be implemented as one of Bluetooth, infrared data association (IrDA), Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi direct, ultra-wideband (UWB), near field communication (NFC), and the like. Hereinafter, the measurement of the amount of vapor by the sensor assembly 100 when the oven 1 according to an embodiment of the disclosure having the above-described structure is operating will be described with reference to FIG. 15.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating air flow in a sensor assembly provided in an oven according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

When food is put into the cooking chamber 21 of the oven 1 and the oven 1 is operated, the processor 90 performs an automatic cooking.

The processor 90 turns on the heat source 27 and the circulation motor 41 to heat the cooking chamber 21. Then, the air inside the cooking chamber 21 is heated by the heat source 27 and circulated by the circulation motor 41, thereby increasing the temperature inside the cooking chamber 21.

When the temperature inside the cooking chamber 21 rises, the food is cooked. During cooking the food, vapor such as water vapor or oil vapor is generated from the food. This vapor is contained in the air circulating in the cooking chamber 21.

Some of the air circulating in the cooking chamber 21 may be discharged to the outside of the cooking chamber 21 through at least one through hole 25 provided on the upper surface of the cooking chamber 21.

Referring to FIG. 15, the air containing vapor passing through at least one through hole 25 of the inner shell 20a of the internal cabinet 20 passes through the filter 50. Carbon monoxide contained in the air may be removed while passing through the filter 50.

Some of the air that has passed through the filter 50 flows into the inflow port 111 of the sensing pipe 110. The air flowing into the inflow port 111 moves upward along the sensing pipe 110 and is discharged through the outflow port 112.

The outflow port 112 of the sensing pipe 110 is in communication with the cooling passage 13. Because outside air is forced to flow through the cooling passage 13 by the air exhaust device 30, the pressure on the upper side of the sensing pipe 110 becomes lower than that of the cooking chamber 21.

Accordingly, the hot air inside the cooking chamber 21 passes through the filter 50, flows into the sensing pipe 110, and is discharged through the outflow port 112. The air discharged from the outflow port 112 of the sensing pipe 110 may be mixed with outside air flowing through the air exhaust device 30 and discharged to the outside of the oven 1.

A stable air flow is generated in the sensing pipe 110 by the difference between the pressure inside the cooking chamber 21 and the pressure in the upper side of the sensing pipe 110. In other words, air flows stably through the sensing pipe 110 due to the pressure difference between the inflow port 111 and the outflow port 112 of the sensing pipe 110.

When the air flow is stable, the vapor sensor 130 may accurately measure the amount of vapor contained in the air. Conversely, when the air flow is unstable, the amount of vapor measured by the vapor sensor 130 may be inaccurate.

While air passes through the sensing pipe 110, the vapor sensor 130 measures the amount of vapor contained in the air. The vapor sensor 130 may transmit the measured amount of vapor to the processor 90 as an electrical signal. The processor 90 may recognize the amount of vapor in the cooking chamber 21 using a signal about the amount of vapor transmitted from the vapor sensor 130. Then, the processor 90 may cook food more accurately using the recognized amount of vapor in the cooking chamber 21.

In the case of the sensor assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, when air passes through the sensing pipe 110, some air moving adjacent to the sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130 collides with the contamination preventing part 120. Therefore, it may be prevented or minimized that vapor contained in the air directly contacts the sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130. As a result, the sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130 may be prevented from being contaminated by vapor. Accordingly, the vapor sensor 130 may accurately measure the amount of vapor generated during cooking.

In addition, in the sensor assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure, when air collides with the contamination preventing part 120 and an eddy is generated, the eddy preventing part 125 may prevent or minimize the eddy from flowing into the sensing surface 131 of the vapor sensor 130. Accordingly, the fluctuation of the amount of vapor measured by the vapor sensor 130 may be minimized.

In addition, the sensor assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure is not in direct communication with the cooking chamber 21 but is disposed above the filter 50 disposed on the upper surface of the cooking chamber 21, so that the air passing through the sensing pipe 110 is not affected by the air being circulated by the circulation fan 40. Accordingly, the air may stably flow through the sensing pipe 110, so the accuracy of the amount of vapor measured by the vapor sensor 130 may be improved.

In the above, the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to various embodiments. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An oven comprising: an internal cabinet forming a cooking chamber;an external cabinet, to surround the internal cabinet, such that while the external cabinet surrounds the internal cabinet, a cooling passage through which external air passes is formed between the internal cabinet and the external cabinet;an air exhaust device between the external cabinet and the internal cabinet;a filter arrangeable on an upper side of the internal cabinet such that while the filter is arranged on the upper side of the internal cabinet, air from the cooking chamber passes through to the filter;a pressure control duct arrangeable at the upper side of the internal cabinet such that while the pressure control duct is arranged at the upper side of the internal cabinet, air having passed through the filter passes through the pressure control duct toward the cooling passage;a sensing pipe arrangeable in the air exhaust device above the filter such that while the sensing pipe is arranged in the air exhaust device, the sensing pipe allows air from the filter to pass through a space above the filter and the cooling passage; anda vapor sensor, arrangeable in the sensing pipe, and configured to measure an amount of vapor contained in air passing through the sensing pipe.

2. The oven of claim 1 further comprising: a contamination preventing part arrangeable below the vapor sensor such that while the contamination preventing part is arranged below the vapor sensor, the contamination preventing part prevents vapor from attaching to the vapor sensor.

3. The oven of claim 2, wherein the contamination preventing part is formed to protrude from an inner surface of the sensing pipe.

4. The oven of claim 3, wherein the sensing pipe has a sensor hole formed above the contamination preventing part, andwherein a tip of the vapor sensor is inserted into the sensor hole and seated on the contamination preventing part.

5. The oven of claim 3, further comprising: an eddy preventing part on the inner surface of the sensing pipe and extending upward from both ends of the contamination preventing part.

6. The oven of claim 1, wherein the sensing pipe has a cross-sectional area corresponding to an area of a sensing surface of the vapor sensor.

7. The oven of claim 1, wherein the sensing pipe includes an inflow port and an outflow port, andthe inflow port and the outflow port are formed at opposite ends of the sensing pipe to face each other.

8. The oven of claim 7, wherein an area of the inflow port is greater than an area of the outflow port.

9. The oven of claim 1, wherein the vapor sensor is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the sensing pipe.

10. The oven of claim 1, wherein the air exhaust device includes an exhaust duct that discharges air to an outside of the oven, andwherein the sensing pipe further comprises a fixing part fixed to the exhaust duct.

11. The oven of claim 10, wherein the fixing part is formed in an annular shape, andthe fixing part includes a seal on a lower side of the fixing part.

12. The oven of claim 10, wherein the sensing pipe comprises a sealing part spaced by a predetermined distance downward from the fixing part and formed to seal between an upper surface of the internal cabinet and the sensing pipe.

13. An oven comprising: an internal cabinet forming a cooking chamber;an external cabinet, to surround the internal cabinet such that while the external cabinet surrounds the internal cabinet, a cooling passage through which external air passes is formed between the internal cabinet and the external cabinet;an air exhaust device arrangeable on an upper side of the internal cabinet, the air exhaust device including an exhaust duct formed to discharge air to an outside;a filter, arrangeable on an upper side of the internal cabinet, such that while the filter is arranged on the upper side of the internal cabinet, air from the cooking chamber passes through to the filter;a pressure control duct, arrangeable on an upper side of the internal cabinet, such that while the pressure control duct is arranged at the upper side of the internal cabinet, air having passed through the filter passes through the pressure control duct toward the cooling passage;a sensing pipe, arrangeable above the filter to pass through the exhaust duct, such that while the sensing pipe is arranged above the filter, the sensing pipe allows air from the filter to pass through a space above the filter;a vapor sensor arrangeable in the sensing pipe and configured to measure an amount of vapor contained in the air passing through the sensing pipe; anda contamination preventing part, arrangeable on an inner surface of the sensing pipe below the vapor sensor, such that while the contamination preventing part is arranged on the inner surface of the sensing pipe, the contamination preventing part prevents vapor from attaching to the vapor sensor.

14. The oven of claim 13, wherein the contamination preventing part is formed to surround a lower portion of the vapor sensor and protrude from the inner surface of the sensing pipe.

15. The oven of claim 14, further comprising: an eddy preventing part on the inner surface of the sensing pipe and extending upward from both ends of the contamination preventing part.