Microwave Steam Oven

Abstract

This invention relates to a microwave steam-grill device, comprising a housing, a door, a cooking chamber and an electrical chamber located within the housing. The cooking chamber and electrical chamber are arranged front-to-back along the depth of the housing, with the electrical chamber located behind the cooking chamber. Above the cooking chamber is a main heater assembly including two main heating tubes for grilling, arranged longitudinally and spaced laterally from each other. In this invention, due to the front-to-back partitioning and depth development of the product, i.e., the front-to-back arrangement of the cooking chamber and electrical chamber, a smaller proportion of kitchen countertop space is occupied for the same volume, and there is no risk of condensation entering the electrical chamber after cooking. Furthermore, the rear-positioned electrical chamber provides ample space, which is more conducive to heat dissipation of the internal electrical components. Because the main heating tubes are arranged longitudinally, they radiate heat laterally, avoiding direct radiation to the door. This prevents the surface temperature of the door from rising and reduces heat waste, resulting in better cooking performance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a microwave steam oven. Background Technology

[0002] Existing microwave-steam-oven combination appliances all share a similar overall structure, with a vertical layout. Electrical components are integrated at the bottom of the unit, while the cooking cavity is located above them, creating a vertical partition. This partitioned structure has the following drawbacks: 1) The vertical partition results in a large lateral space occupation and a small depth space occupation, leading to a waste of kitchen countertop space and excessive lateral space occupation; 2) The vertical partition results in a small space for electrical components, forcing all components to be laid flat, resulting in poor heat dissipation and increased flammability due to the presence of many plastic parts; 3) The vertical partition restricts bottom ventilation, preventing heat-sensitive electrical components from receiving sufficient cooling; 4) For products with steaming functions, condensation can easily drip from the cooking cavity into the lower electrical component area, posing a safety hazard; 5) The vertical partition limits the lower space, allowing only a small-capacity water tank to be installed, limiting the steaming and cooking time and weakening the steaming function; 6) Assembly efficiency is low, and maintenance is inconvenient.

[0003] Furthermore, in existing microwave-steam-grill products with upper and lower partitions, the heating element for grilling usually needs to be installed horizontally. For example... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the heating element 100 is installed parallel to the plane of the door body 200. This installation method will cause the surface temperature of the door body to rise because the radiant heat from the heating element 100 will radiate towards the door body 200 as indicated by the arrow perpendicular to the door body 200. Figure 1 The direction of the fan 300's airflow will exacerbate the heating of the door 200 due to radiant heat. Additionally, if... Figure 2 As shown, when the fan 300 is mounted on the side as a side-heating fan, the direction of the fan 300's air intake is perpendicular to the direction of the radiant heat from the heating element 100. This creates a stable center within the cooking cavity 400, as indicated by the vertical center of the arrow, preventing food in the center of the cooking cavity 400 from being effectively heated. Therefore, horizontal mounting of the heating element not only leads to increased surface temperature of the door but is also unsuitable for use with side-heating fans, meaning that side-mounted fan mounting is not recommended. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it would be advantageous for the present invention to provide a microwave steam oven that can overcome the above problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a microwave steam oven, which includes a housing, a door, a cooking cavity and an electrical chamber located inside the housing, wherein the cooking cavity and the electrical chamber are arranged front to back along the depth direction of the housing, and the electrical chamber is located behind the cooking cavity. Above the cooking cavity is a main heater assembly including two main heating tubes for grilling, the two main heating tubes being arranged longitudinally and laterally spaced apart from each other.

[0006] In this invention, due to the front and rear partitioning and deep development of the product, namely the front and rear layout of the cooking chamber and the electrical chamber, the proportion of kitchen countertop space occupied by the same volume is smaller, and there is no risk of condensation entering the electrical chamber after cooking. Furthermore, the rear-positioned electrical chamber provides ample space, which is more conducive to heat dissipation of the internal electrical components. Since the main heating tube is arranged longitudinally, it radiates heat laterally, avoiding direct radiation to the door. This not only avoids the phenomenon of the door surface temperature rising, but also reduces heat waste, resulting in better cooking effect.

[0007] Furthermore, the portion of the cabinet located outside the cooking cavity constitutes the front cabinet, which includes an outer shell, an inner shell, and an inner liner from the outside in. A pair of longitudinal openings are provided on the top plate of the inner liner, and two main heating tubes are installed on the lower side of the top plate of the inner shell and are directly opposite the pair of longitudinal openings.

[0008] This structural design allows the main heating element to radiate heat into the cooking cavity.

[0009] Furthermore, it also includes a side-heating structure, which includes a side-heating motor installed on one side of the inner shell, a side-heating fan driven and connected by the side-heating motor, and an exhaust port and an air supply port located on one side of the inner liner. The exhaust port and the side-heating fan are positioned opposite each other, and the air supply port is arranged around the exhaust port.

[0010] This side-heating structure allows the side-heating fan to draw hot air out of the cooking cavity through the exhaust port and return it to the cooking cavity through the exhaust port, thus agitating the hot air in the cooking cavity and making the heating more uniform. Furthermore, since the fan's suction direction is parallel to and does not intersect with the radiation direction of the main heating tube, there will be no air pressure points in the cooking cavity, resulting in a better baking effect.

[0011] Furthermore, the side-heating structure also includes a side-heating pipe, which is positioned corresponding to the air outlet and arranged around the side-heating fan.

[0012] By using side heating elements, the hot air drawn from the cooking cavity can be heated before being sent back into the cooking cavity, thus better ensuring the heating effect.

[0013] Furthermore, a water tank and a wastewater collection box are installed at the bottom of the cooking cavity.

[0014] By placing the electrical compartment at the rear, there is ample space at the bottom of the cooking chamber to install a larger water tank, enhancing the steam function and meeting longer cooking needs; the wastewater collection box can collect the condensate from the cooking chamber.

[0015] Furthermore, the portion of the enclosure located outside the electrical room constitutes the rear enclosure, which includes a bottom plate, a rear plate, an outer rear plate, and an outer shell. The cavity formed between the bottom plate, the rear plate, the outer rear plate, and the top and side plates of the outer shell constitutes the electrical room. The electrical room includes a control and heat dissipation area distributed on the left and right and an electrical component area. Circuit boards and two cooling fans arranged vertically are arranged in the control and heat dissipation area.

[0016] The above structural design keeps the circuit board away from other heat-generating electrical components and achieves efficient heat dissipation because it shares a heat dissipation zone with the cooling fan.

[0017] Furthermore, a rear air inlet and a rear air outlet are provided on the outer rear panel, and a side air inlet and a side air outlet are provided on the two side panels of the housing. The side air inlet and the rear air inlet are located at the outer end of the control and heat dissipation area, and the side air outlet and the rear air outlet are located at the outer end of the electrical component area.

[0018] With the above structural design, under the action of two cooling fans, the air from the outside environment can enter the electrical room through the side air inlet and the rear air inlet to cool down all electrical components, and then be discharged into the outside environment through the side air outlet and the rear air outlet.

[0019] Furthermore, two cooling fans are positioned in the control and cooling area adjacent to the electrical component area.

[0020] Furthermore, the electrical components area contains a steam generating module, a magnetron, and a frequency converter. The steam generating module and the frequency converter are located on the upper side of the electrical components area and are mounted on the rear panel; the magnetron is located on the lower side of the electrical components area and is mounted on the base plate.

[0021] The above structural design allows the electrical components to be arranged in a staggered manner in space, which in turn allows the airflow to be unobstructed under the action of the cooling fan, enabling each electrical component to be cooled most effectively and avoiding heat blockage and failure to dissipate.

[0022] Furthermore, the magnetron is positioned at the center of the width of the cabinet, and a bottom waveguide is installed at the bottom of the cooking cavity in the cabinet, which is connected to the magnetron.

[0023] This structural design allows for the fulfillment of diverse market demands.

[0024] These and other aspects of the present invention will be more clearly illustrated by referring to the embodiments described below. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The structure of the invention, as well as further objects and advantages, will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements:

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of one arrangement of the heating element and fan for grilling in an existing microwave-steam-grill combination appliance, in which the fan is located at the rear.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another arrangement of the heating element and fan for grilling in an existing microwave-steam-grill combination appliance, in which the fan is placed on the side;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a microwave steam oven according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 An exploded perspective view of the microwave steam oven shown.

[0030] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the microwave steam oven shown;

[0031] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 The diagram shown is a three-dimensional representation of the microwave steam oven as seen from the left rear after the outer shell and the outer rear panel of the rear chamber have been removed.

[0032] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 The diagram shown is a three-dimensional representation of the microwave steam oven as seen from the front right after the door has been removed.

[0033] Figure 8 yes Figure 3 The image shows a top view of the microwave oven after the outer casing has been removed and the unit assembled, but the frequency converter in the electrical room has been replaced with a transformer and a high-voltage capacitor.

[0034] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of the main heating tube and the side hot air fan of the microwave steam oven according to the above-described specific embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] like Figures 3 to 6As shown, a microwave steam oven according to a specific embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 1, a cooking cavity 2, a door 3, and an electrical chamber 4. The cooking cavity 2 and the electrical chamber 4 are arranged front to back along the depth direction of the housing 1, and the electrical chamber 4 is located behind the cooking cavity 2. A main heater assembly including two main heating tubes 5 for grilling is arranged above the cooking cavity 2. The two main heating tubes 5 are arranged longitudinally and are laterally spaced apart from each other.

[0037] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, and refer to Figures 5 to 7 The housing 1 includes a front housing 11 and a rear housing 13, which use the same outer shell 10. This outer shell 10 has a U-shaped structure with the opening facing downwards. The portion of the housing 1 located outside the cooking cavity 2 constitutes the front housing 11, which, together with the door 3, forms the cooking cavity 2. The portion of the housing 1 located outside the electrical compartment 4 constitutes the rear housing 13. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the front housing 11 includes an outer shell 10, an inner shell 12, and an inner liner 14 from the outside to the inside. The top plate of the inner liner 14 is provided with a pair of longitudinal openings or a group of longitudinal openings (not shown in the figure). Two main heating tubes 5 are installed on the lower side of the top plate 120 of the inner shell 12 and are directly opposite the pair of longitudinal openings or the group of longitudinal openings.

[0038] like Figures 5 to 7 As shown, the microwave steam oven of this embodiment also includes a side hot air structure 7, which includes a side hot air motor 71 mounted on one side of the inner shell 12, a side hot air fan 73 driven and connected by the side hot air motor 71, a side heating pipe 75, an exhaust port 141 and an exhaust port 143 provided on one side of the inner liner 14. In this embodiment, the side hot air fan 73 is located at the center of one side of the inner shell 12, and the side heating pipe 75 is arranged in a generally square structure around the side hot air fan 73, and preferably is positioned directly opposite the exhaust port 143, so that the reheated hot air can be sent back into the cooking cavity 2 through the exhaust port 143. It should be noted that in this embodiment, "one side" refers to the left side when viewed from the door 3.

[0039] like Figure 7 As shown, the exhaust vent 141 is positioned directly opposite the side hot air fan 73, and the air supply vents 143 are arranged around the exhaust vent 141. It should be understood that, in this embodiment, the exhaust vent 141 is an exhaust vent group composed of multiple small exhaust vents; there are multiple air supply vents 143, which are arranged around the exhaust vent 141, and each air supply vent 143 is also an air supply vent group composed of multiple small air supply vents.

[0040] For example Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, a water tank 21 and a wastewater collection box 23 are installed at the bottom of the cooking cavity 2. For products with steaming functions, condensation can easily drip down from the cooking cavity 2. The wastewater collection box 23 can collect the condensation, and since the electrical chamber 4 is located at the rear, the condensation will not drip into the electrical chamber 4, thus avoiding any safety hazards. Furthermore, the front and rear partitioning provides sufficient space in the lower part of the cooking cavity 2, allowing the installed water tank 21 to have a large enough capacity, thereby ensuring long-term steaming and cooking, and guaranteeing and enhancing the steaming function.

[0041] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, the rear housing 13 includes a bottom plate 48, a rear plate 132, an outer rear plate 130, and a shell 10. The inner cavity formed between the bottom plate 48, the rear plate 132, the outer rear plate 130, and the top plate 101 and the two side plates 102 and 103 of the shell 10 constitutes an electrical chamber 4. The electrical chamber 4 includes a left-right distributed control heat dissipation area 44 and an electrical component area 46. A circuit board 49 and two cooling fans 47 arranged vertically are arranged in the control heat dissipation area 44. The two cooling fans 47 are arranged in the control heat dissipation area 44 adjacent to the electrical component area 46.

[0042] For example Figure 4 As shown, the outer rear panel 130 is provided with a rear air inlet 82 and a rear air outlet 84. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, and refer to Figure 6 , Figure 8 Side air inlets 81 and side air outlets 83 are provided on the rear side of the two side plates 102 and 103 of the outer casing 10. The side air inlets 81 and rear air inlets 82 are located at the outer end of the control heat dissipation area 44, and the side air outlets 83 and rear air outlets 84 are located at the outer end of the electrical component area.

[0043] like Figure 6 As shown, the electrical component area 46 houses a magnetron 41, a steam generating module 42, and a frequency converter 45. The steam generating module 42 and the frequency converter 45 are located on the upper side of the electrical component area 46 and mounted on the rear plate 132. The magnetron 41 is located on the lower side of the electrical component area 46 and mounted on the base plate 48. Of course, in another embodiment, the frequency converter 45 can be replaced with a transformer 450 and a capacitor 451 according to market demand or customer requirements, such as... Figure 8 As shown. In this embodiment, as Figure 8 As shown and referenced Figure 6 The steam generating module 42 and the high-voltage capacitor 451 are arranged on the upper side inside the electrical component area 46, while the transformer 450 and the magnetron 41 are arranged on the lower side outside the electrical component area 46.

[0044] For example Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the magnetron 41 is arranged at the center of the width direction of the box 1, and a bottom waveguide 43 is provided at the bottom of the cooking cavity 2 in the box 1, which is connected to the magnetron 41.

[0045] The following is for reference. Figure 8 and combined Figures 3 to 7 As shown, this explains how the electrical room dissipates heat:

[0046] First, the direction indicated by the arrow in the diagram is the direction of airflow;

[0047] Under the action of two cooling fans 47, the air from the external environment enters the electrical room 4 through the side air inlet 81 and the rear air inlet 82, and cools down the electrical components such as the circuit board 49 in the control heat dissipation area 44 and the magnetron 41 in the electrical component area 46 in turn, and then is discharged to the external environment through the side air outlet 83 and the rear air outlet 84.

[0048] like Figure 9 As shown in the figure, since the suction direction of the side hot air fan 73 and the heat radiation direction of the main heating tube 5 are parallel and do not intersect, as indicated by the arrow in the figure, there will be no air pressure point in the cooking cavity 2, resulting in a good baking effect.

[0049] The technical content and features of this invention have been disclosed above. However, it is understood that, under the inventive concept of this invention, those skilled in the art can make various changes and improvements to the above structure, including combinations of the technical features disclosed or claimed herein, as well as other combinations that explicitly include these features. These modifications and / or combinations all fall within the technical field of this invention and are within the scope of protection of the claims of this invention.

Claims

1. A microwave steam oven, comprising a housing, a door, a cooking cavity and an electrical chamber located within the housing, characterized in that, The cooking cavity and the electrical chamber are arranged front to back along the depth of the enclosure, with the electrical chamber located behind the cooking cavity. Above the cooking cavity is a main heater assembly including two main heating tubes for grilling, which are arranged longitudinally and spaced laterally from each other. The portion of the enclosure outside the cooking cavity constitutes the front enclosure, which includes an outer shell, an inner shell, and an inner liner from the outside in. The microwave steam oven also includes a side hot air structure, which includes a side hot air motor mounted on one side of the inner shell, a side hot air fan driven and connected by the side hot air motor, and an exhaust vent and an air supply vent located on one side of the inner liner. The exhaust vent and the side hot air fan are directly opposite each other, and the air supply vent is arranged around the exhaust vent.

2. The microwave steam oven as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner liner top plate is provided with a pair of longitudinal openings, and the two main heating tubes are installed on the lower side of the inner shell top plate and are directly opposite the pair of longitudinal openings.

3. The microwave steam oven as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The side hot air structure also includes a side heating pipe, which is arranged corresponding to the air outlet and around the side hot air fan.

4. The microwave-steam-roast apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A water tank and a wastewater collection box are installed at the bottom of the cooking cavity.

5. The microwave-steam-roast apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The portion of the enclosure located outside the electrical room constitutes the rear enclosure, which includes a bottom plate, a rear plate, an outer rear plate, and an outer shell. The inner cavity formed between the bottom plate, the rear plate, the outer rear plate, and the top and side plates of the outer shell constitutes the electrical room. The electrical room includes a control and heat dissipation area distributed on the left and right and an electrical component area. Circuit boards and two cooling fans arranged vertically are arranged in the control and heat dissipation area.

6. The microwave steam oven as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The outer rear panel is provided with a rear air inlet and a rear air outlet, and the two side panels of the housing are provided with side air inlets and side air outlets. The side air inlets and rear air inlets are located at the outer ends of the control and heat dissipation area, and the side air outlets and rear air outlets are located at the outer ends of the electrical component area.

7. The microwave steam oven as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The two cooling fans are arranged in the control and heat dissipation area adjacent to the electrical component area.

8. The microwave steam oven as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The electrical component area is equipped with a steam generating module, a magnetron, and a frequency converter. The steam generating module and the frequency converter are located on the upper side of the electrical component area and are mounted on the rear plate. The magnetron is located on the lower side of the electrical component area and is mounted on the base plate.

9. The microwave steam oven as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The magnetron is positioned at the center of the width of the housing, and a bottom waveguide is provided at the bottom of the cooking cavity in the housing, which is connected to the magnetron.

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