GARDEN APPLIANCE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cooking appliance having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] There are numerous different types of cooking appliances for preparing food, both for private households and for restaurants and commercial kitchens. These primarily include ovens, steam cookers, and microwave ovens. Particularly in the private sector, two opposing trends exist. On the one hand, consumers desire the ability to use every cooking method to cover the entire spectrum of food preparation, from pre-prepared convenience foods in the microwave to standard dishes in the oven, as well as particularly gentle cooking methods for vegetables and fish in a steam cooker. On the other hand, cooking in private households is becoming less frequent, and kitchens often lack sufficient space for the large number of appliances.

[0003] The industry has therefore switched to manufacturing combination appliances. In particular, ovens and microwave ovens have so far been combined into a single combination appliance.

[0004] The interior lighting of cooking appliances is of particular importance. It allows the cooking process to be observed and the cooking status to be visually checked by ensuring the food is optimally illuminated. Modern light sources, especially LEDs, enable innovative lighting concepts, but require adapted designs.

[0005] For example, EP 3 820 249 A1 of the applicant discloses a sealing arrangement for a light guide rod. The sealing arrangement sits in a recess in the oven wall and accommodates the light guide rod. A graphite ring serves as the sealing element, bearing against the outer circumference of the light guide rod and preventing cooking fumes from escaping the oven through the opening in the oven wall provided for lighting purposes. The graphite ring is slotted and manufactured with a minimal undersize, so that when a light guide rod is inserted into the graphite ring, it expands the graphite ring slightly, and the restoring forces of the graphite ring ensure a complete seal against the glass rod. The graphite ring is manufactured with such high dimensional accuracy that, ideally, the thermal expansion of the graphite ring at typical cooking temperatures leads to a reduction or even complete closure of the slot.The advantage of this seal is that it is pyrolysis-resistant and can withstand the high temperatures of up to 500 degrees associated with pyrolysis without damage.

[0006] In the non-general application area of ​​cable seals, DE 10 2015 003 269 A1 provides a solution which seals axially against a sheet metal with a first sealing ring and radially against a cable, pipe or hose with a second sealing ring.

[0007] With regard to a combination appliance that also includes a steam cooking function, especially with regard to a combination appliance that combines the oven, microwave and steam cooking functions, a new seal is required that can withstand the steam pressure generated in the cooking chamber.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a cooking appliance with a light and sealing arrangement that securely seals the opening for a lighting device in a primarily pyrolytic oven with steam cooking function to the outside.

[0009] US 2021 / 127885 A1 discloses a lighting device for a cooking appliance.

[0010] The problem of the invention is solved by a cooking appliance having the features of claim 1, in particular its characterizing features.

[0011] The cooking appliance solves the inventive problem by means of the sealing arrangement, specifically through the combination of its essential, claimed features. First, the retaining part, comprising the first and second sealing rings, has two sealing elements. The first sealing ring, arranged in the blind hole, seals against an inserted light guide rod. The second sealing ring seals against the cooking chamber wall. Under normal use, the second sealing ring is located on the side of the cooking chamber wall facing away from the cooking chamber, just as the first sealing ring is positioned away from the wall. This reduces the temperature stress on the sealing rings during normal operation, and especially during pyrolysis processes in pyrolytic-capable cooking appliances.

[0012] Both sealing rings achieve their sealing effect by exerting a sealing force on the respective sealing ring via the compression ring or anchor ring. This sealing force leads to a deformation of the respective sealing ring and thus to a tight fit against a light guide rod penetrating the first sealing ring and against a cooking chamber wall abutting the second sealing ring.

[0013] The sealing rings are made of elastic materials, whereby, due to the intended applications in combination ovens, the sealing rings are designed as high-temperature resistant elastomers, or, in particular for pyrolysis-capable devices, as resilient graphite hybrid components.

[0014] Arranging the sealing rings in a common retaining element reduces the number of components and simplifies assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the anchor sleeve pierces an opening in the cooking chamber wall of a cooking appliance. The anchor ring attached to the anchor sleeve mechanically secures the sealing assembly—and optionally the light fixture held within it—to the cooking chamber wall.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the retaining part, the compression ring and the anchor ring are designed as ceramic components.

[0016] It is particularly preferred if the compression ring of the sealing arrangement can be inserted into the blind hole by means of a first thread pairing of compression ring and blind hole wall.

[0017] In In analogous application, it is provided that the anchor ring can be fastened to the anchor stub by means of a second thread pairing of anchor ring and anchor stub wall.

[0018] The main advantage of fixing the compression ring and anchor ring to their respective counterparts via a thread pairing lies in the possibility of compensating for manufacturing tolerances when assembling the sealing arrangement and attaching it to a cooking chamber wall.

[0019] However, even with ceramic versions of the retaining part, compression ring, and anchor ring, it is possible to secure the compression ring and anchor ring to the retaining part using snap-fit ​​connections. If the snap-fit ​​elements allow for several successive snap positions arranged in succession along their insertion depth, it is also possible to compensate for material tolerances using such a snap-fit ​​connection and thereby exert a consistently high sealing force on the sealing surfaces.

[0020] It is further provided that a support ring is arranged between the compression ring and the first sealing ring, which transfers the sealing force from the compression ring to the sealing ring.

[0021] Such a support ring prevents the torque applied to the first sealing ring via the compression ring from causing torsional deformation of the first sealing ring when using a threaded pair. Furthermore, it prevents tightening torques from being distorted by friction between the compression ring and the sealing ring.

[0022] As previously described, there are significant advantages to arranging the two sealing rings on the side of the cooking chamber wall facing away from the cooking chamber. Besides lower temperature stress, the exposure to cooking fumes is also reduced, thus preventing soiling and, consequently, the sealing rings from sticking to the retaining part and the cooking chamber wall.

[0023] It is particularly advantageous if the light is mechanically held in place by means of the connection of the sealing arrangement to the oven wall, especially by the light guide rod inserted in the receiving bore.

[0024] Further advantages of the invention, as well as a better understanding of it, can be found in the following description of an exemplary embodiment. It shows Fig. 1 : a perspective view of the sealing arrangement, embedded in a cooking chamber wall of the cooking appliance according to the invention with integrated light guide rod, Fig. 2 : a view of the representation according to Fig. 1 from above, Fig. 3 . a sectional view according to Fig. 2 , section line III-III, Fig. 4 : the order according to Fig. 1 in exploded view, Fig. 5 : the sectional view according to Fig. 3 in exploded view.

[0025] Fig. 1 Figure 10 shows the sealing arrangement, designated with the reference numeral 10, fixed in a cooking chamber wall 11. A light guide rod 12 of a lamp for a cooking appliance is arranged in the sealing arrangement 10. Fig. 1The sealing arrangement can be seen to comprise a retaining part 13, a compression ring 14 and an anchor ring 15.

[0026] In the illustrations of the exemplary embodiment, the cooking chamber wall 11 is schematically depicted as a rectangular, essentially square sheet metal, i.e. as a part or a section of a wall that surrounds a cooking chamber of a cooking appliance.

[0027] The individual parts of the sealing assembly 10 will now be described using the Fig. 4 and 5 presented. These are exploded views in perspective ( Fig. 4 ) or by cutting according to section line III-III ( Fig. 5 ).

[0028] The sealing assembly 10 is designed to receive a light guide rod 12 in the insertion direction Y. For this purpose, the sealing assembly 10, including the retaining part 13, is provided with a receiving bore 16 that completely passes through the retaining part 13 in the insertion direction Y. This receiving bore 16 also passes through the compression ring 14 and the anchor ring 15. Thus, the sealing assembly 10, with its retaining part 13, compression ring 14, and anchor ring 15, is penetrated by a continuous receiving channel. This channel coincides with the receiving bore 16 of the retaining part 13, the compression ring 14, and the anchor ring 15.

[0029] The receiving bore 16 of the retaining part 13 has an upper inlet opening 17 and a lower outlet opening 18.

[0030] The retaining part 13 is furthermore provided with a blind hole 19. The blind hole 19 is arranged concentrically to the receiving bore 16, but its diameter is larger than the diameter of the receiving bore 16 of the retaining part 13. The opening of the blind hole coincides with the entry opening 17 of the retaining part 13.

[0031] The bottom of the blind hole forms a support surface 20 that surrounds the receiving bore 16 passing through the blind hole 19 in a ring-like manner.

[0032] Concentric to the receiving bore 16, the retaining part 13 forms an anchor stub 21, which extends in the insertion direction Y away from the inlet opening 17 and at whose free end the outlet opening 18 of the receiving bore 16 of the retaining part 13 is arranged.

[0033] On the underside of the retaining part 13, opposite the inlet opening 17, a receiving groove 22 is formed, the groove opening 23 of which is aligned with the outlet opening 18 and thus opposite the blind hole opening. The receiving groove 22 is arranged annularly around the anchor stub 21 and concentrically with the receiving bore 16.

[0034] The sealing arrangement 10 then comprises a first sealing ring 24, which is designed to rest on the support surface 20 in the blind hole 19 and whose ring opening 25 is aligned with the receiving bore 16.

[0035] A second sealing ring 26 is designed to fit into the receiving groove 22. The ring opening 27 is also arranged concentrically to the receiving bore 16 of the retaining part 13.

[0036] Optionally, a support ring 28 is provided, which sits in the blind hole 19 and rests on the first sealing ring 24. The optional support ring 28 is thus arranged between the compression ring 14 and the first sealing ring 24.

[0037] The compression ring 14 has a threaded stud 29, which points towards the retaining part 13 and is arranged concentrically to the receiving bore 16. This stud is provided with an external thread. The perimeter wall of the blind hole also has a thread. The external thread of the threaded stud 29 of the compression ring 14 and the thread of the perimeter wall of the blind hole form a threaded pairing, via which the compression ring 14 can be screwed into the blind hole 19 of the retaining part 13.

[0038] The sealing arrangement 10 also includes – as already mentioned – the anchor ring 15. The anchor ring 15 has an inner circumferential wall that defines the annular space 30 of the anchor ring 15. This wall is provided with a thread that engages with an outer circumferential thread on the outer circumferential wall of the anchor socket 21. Both threads form a threaded pair by means of which the anchor ring 15 can be screwed onto the anchor socket 20. This can be seen from the Figures 4 and 5It is now easy to imagine that when the compression ring 14 is screwed into the blind hole 19, a sealing force can be applied to the first sealing ring 24, whereby – assuming a sufficient sealing force – the annular space of the first sealing ring 24 will narrow. Screwing the anchor ring 15 onto the anchor stub 21 applies a sealing force to the second sealing ring 26, which is seated in the receiving groove 22 and is manufactured with an axial oversize relative to the groove depth, i.e., in the insertion direction Y. This second sealing ring 26 experiences axial compression due to the sealing force applied via the anchor ring 15. This also leads to a radial deformation, so that the second sealing ring 26 sits snugly against the inner circumferential surfaces of the receiving groove 22.

[0039] In one embodiment, the sealing arrangement 10 can be part of a light fixture for a cooking appliance (not shown in detail). The light guide rod 12 of such a cooking appliance light is shown in the figures as an example. It is inserted into the receiving bores 16 or the receiving channel of the sealing arrangement 10 in the insertion direction Y and held there. The sealing forces applied by the compression ring 14 to the first sealing ring 24 lead—as already mentioned above—to a reduction in the diameter of the annular space. A light guide rod 12, seated in the sealing arrangement 10 and, in particular, enclosed by the first sealing ring 24, thus provides a counter-sealing surface with its outer circumferential wall. A first sealing ring 24, bearing against the outer circumferential wall of the light guide rod 12, thus reliably seals the receiving bore 16 against the passage of fluids.

[0040] According to the invention, the sealing arrangement 10 is part of a cooking appliance, of which only a section of the cooking chamber wall 11 is shown in the illustrations. As part of a cooking appliance, the sealing arrangement 10 carries at least the light guide rod 12 of a cooking appliance light as described above. The second sealing ring 26 rests on the outside of the cooking chamber wall 11, with the anchor sleeve 21 passing through a wall opening 31 in the cooking chamber wall 11. On the opposite side, usually the inside of the cooking chamber wall 11, the anchor ring 15 is placed onto the anchor sleeve 21. Tightening the screw causes the retaining part 13 to be pulled against the cooking chamber wall 11, thereby pressing the second sealing ring 26 both into the receiving groove 22 and against the outside of the cooking chamber wall.In this way, the passage space for the light guide rod 12 is sealed against both the light guide rod 12 and the cooking chamber wall 11 via the sealing arrangement 10.

[0041] In this way, the sealing arrangement 10 is able to create a seal for a cooking appliance light against the cooking chamber wall 11 of a cooking appliance, which ensures protection against the usual cooking fumes when cooking in ovens, but especially also against the steam pressure in combination appliances that combine an oven function and a steam cooking function.

[0042] Instead of threaded pairings for fixing the crush ring 14 and anchor ring 15, locking devices are also conceivable, preferably those which ensure several locking positions arranged one after the other in the insertion direction Y, in order to be able to vary the immersion depth of the crush ring 14 in the blind hole 19 on the one hand and of the anchor stud 21 in the anchor ring 15 on the other hand and thus to be able to take into account the sealing forces to be applied or material tolerances.

[0043] The sealing rings 24 and 26 are arranged on the outside of the cooking chamber wall 11 and are therefore less exposed to the cooking and, if applicable, pyrolysis temperatures than sealing rings located directly in the wall opening 31 or on the inside of the cooking chamber inner wall 11. In this way, the temperature stress on the sealing rings 24 and 26 is reduced.

[0044] Sealing rings 24 and 26 can be made of an elastomer, typically a high-performance, high-temperature resistant elastomer. However, graphite hybrid components are advantageous; although their elasticity is comparatively low and they therefore require high-precision manufacturing, their temperature resistance is suitable even for pyrolytic devices.

[0045] The optional support ring, which rests on the first sealing ring 24 in the insertion direction Y and is thus arranged between the compression ring 14 and the first sealing ring 24, prevents friction between the compression ring 14 and the first sealing ring 24. In this way, the torsional forces present when screwing in the compression ring 14 are prevented from being transferred to the first sealing ring 24.

[0046] Fig. 3 shows once again a sectional view according to section line III-III in Fig. 2, in which the individual components of the sealing arrangement 10 are assembled and the sealing arrangement 10 is anchored as part of a cooking appliance with a cooking appliance light in the cooking chamber wall 11.

[0047] In this illustration, the light guide rod 12 is located in the sealing arrangement 10. It enters through the inlet opening 17 of the sealing arrangement 10 and exits at its end through the outlet opening 18 of the sealing arrangement 10, so that light from a light source not shown can be introduced into the cooking chamber of a cooking appliance represented only by its cooking chamber wall 11.

[0048] The compression ring 14 is inserted into the retaining part 13 and sits – optionally with an intermediate support ring 28 – on the first sealing ring 24. The compression ring 24 is compressed by the sealing forces applied by the compression ring 14, thereby narrowing the diameter of the annular space of the first seal 24. This seal then rests against the outer surface of the light guide rod 12. In this way, fluid leakage along the light guide rod 12 through the receiving bore 16 is reliably prevented.

[0049] The anchor stud 21 of the retaining part 13 pierces the wall opening 31 of the cooking chamber wall 11. The anchor ring 15 is placed onto the anchor stud 21 from the side of the cooking chamber wall opposite the retaining part 13. In this way, the cooking chamber wall 11 comes into contact between the anchor ring 15 and the underside of the retaining part 13.

[0050] The second sealing ring, seated in the receiving groove 22, rests against the cooking chamber wall 11. The anchor ring 15 now exerts sealing forces on the second sealing ring 26, which – manufactured with an axial interference relative to the groove depth – is pressed axially into the receiving groove 22. The resulting elastic deformation of the second sealing ring 26 leads, on the one hand, to its sealing contact with the wall of the receiving groove 22 and, on the other hand, to a sealing contact with the cooking chamber wall 11. Fluid leakage along the interfaces between the anchor ring 15 and the anchor stub 21, and further along the interface between the underside of the retaining part and the cooking chamber wall 11, is thus reliably prevented.

[0051] Based on the preceding description of the invention, it is now clear that a simple yet advantageous sealing arrangement 10 has been created. Using as few components as possible, a seal is achieved both along the receiving bore 16 for a light guide rod 12 and a seal around the wall opening 31 of a cooking chamber wall 11. By applying sealing forces to the sealing rings 24 and 26, a seal is also possible, particularly against the steam pressure prevailing in the cooking chamber of a cooking appliance with a steam cooking function.

[0052] The integration of the first sealing ring 24 and the second sealing ring 26 into a common retaining element 13 simplifies the sealing arrangement 10 by reducing the number of components and enables pre-assembly, which simplifies transport and proper use of the sealing arrangement 10 during the manufacture of an oven light or cooking appliance. An oven light incorporating the sealing arrangement 10 according to the invention was then presented. This light is characterized by a light guide rod 12 that passes through the receiving bore 16 of the sealing arrangement 10. The light guide rod 12 is not only sealed in the sealing arrangement 10 by the first sealing ring 24, but is also mechanically held within the sealing arrangement 10. When the light source is mechanically fixed to the light guide rod 12, the sealing arrangement 10 can thus also serve as the mechanical support for the oven light.

[0053] A cooking appliance according to the invention was presented, which includes a cooking appliance light with a sealing arrangement 10. In this cooking appliance, the sealing arrangement 10 is mechanically held against the cooking chamber wall 11 by the anchor sleeve 21 and the anchor ring 15 mounted thereon. By fixing the sealing arrangement 10 to the cooking chamber wall 11, it is possible to mechanically anchor the cooking appliance light (see above) to the cooking appliance.

[0054] By selecting appropriate materials, in particular graphite hybrid components in the form of the first and second seals 24, 26 as well as by manufacturing the compression ring 14, anchor ring 15 and retaining part 13 from ceramic materials, it is possible to use the sealing arrangement 10 in pyrolysis-capable cooking appliances.

[0055] In a special and preferred application, the sealing arrangement 10 is used in combination cooking appliances that combine at least one oven and one steam cooking function. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0056] 10 Sealing arrangement 11 Cooking chamber wall 12 Light guide rod 13 Retaining part 14 Compression ring 15 Anchor ring 16 Mounting bore 17 Inlet opening of 13 18 Outlet opening 19 Blind hole 20 Support surface 21 Anchor stud 22 Mounting groove 23 Groove opening 24 First sealing ring 25 Ring opening 26 Second sealing ring 27 Ring opening 28 Support ring 29 Threaded stud of 14 30 Annular space of 15 31 Wall opening Y insertion direction

Claims

1. Cooking device, in particular a multifunctional oven with a steam cooking function, - with a sealing arrangement (10), - the sealing arrangement (10) is provided with a holding part (13), which is provided with a receiving bore (16) passing through the holding part (13) from top to bottom, into which a light guide rod (12) can be inserted along an insertion direction Y, - the sealing arrangement (10) is provided with a blind hole (19) which has a larger diameter than the receiving bore (16) and is arranged concentrically to the receiving bore in the holding part (13), and whose blind hole opening coincides with the inlet opening (17) of the receiving bore (16) located at the top in insertion direction Y, - the sealing arrangement (10) is provided with a first support surface (20) which is formed by the bottom of the blind hole and surrounds the receiving bore (16) passing through the blind hole (19) in a ring-like manner, - the sealing arrangement (10) is provided with a receiving groove (22) arranged concentrically to the receiving bore (16), the groove opening of which is formed in insertion direction Y at the bottom of the holding part (13) and is directed counter to the blind hole opening, - the sealing arrangement (10) is provided with a first sealing ring (24) which is arranged in the blind hole (19) and rests on the support surface (20), and whose annular space (30) corresponds approximately to the diameter of the receiving bore (16), - the sealing arrangement (10) is provided with a second sealing ring (26) which is arranged in the receiving groove (22) and is manufactured with an oversize compared to the axial groove depth, - with a lamp, - the lamp is provided with a light guide rod (12) which is seated in the receiving bore (16) of the holding part (13) of the sealing arrangement, characterized in that - the sealing arrangement (10) is provided with an anchor socket (21) which originates from the holding part (13) on the underside and is arranged concentrically to the receiving bore (16), - the sealing arrangement (10) is provided with an anchor ring (15) which can be fastened to the anchor socket (21), - with an opening in a cooking chamber wall (11) of the cooking device through which the anchor socket (21) passes with the light guide rod (12) of the lamp seated in the anchor socket (21), - wherein the anchor ring (15) fastened to the anchor socket (21) applies a sealing force to the second sealing ring (26), - with the second sealing ring (26), which rests against a surface of the cooking chamber wall (11) and experiences axial compression and a sealing fit against the cooking chamber wall (11) and in the receiving groove (22) due to the sealing force of the anchor ring (15), wherein - the sealing arrangement (10) is provided with a compression ring (14), - the compression ring (14) can be anchored in the blind hole (19), - the compression ring (14) anchored in the blind hole (19) applies a sealing force to the first sealing ring (24), - the first sealing ring (24) is a high-temperature-resistant elastomer or a resilient graphite hybrid component and - the first sealing ring (24) experiences a diameter constriction of the annular space due to the sealing force of the compression ring (14) and rests in a sealing manner against the outer diameter of the light guide rod (12).

2. Cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the compression ring (14) can be inserted into the blind hole (19) by means of a first thread pairing of compression ring (14) and blind hole wall.

3. Cooking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the anchor ring (15) can be fastened to the anchor socket (21) by means of a second thread pairing of anchor ring (15) and anchor socket wall.

4. Cooking device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a support ring (28) is arranged between the compression ring (14) and the first sealing ring (24), which support ring transfers the sealing force from the compression ring (14) to the sealing ring (24).

5. Cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two sealing rings are arranged on that side of the cooking chamber wall facing away from the cooking chamber.

6. Cooking device according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that the lamp is mechanically held by means of the connection of the sealing arrangement (10) to the cooking chamber wall (11), in particular by the light guide rod (12) seated in the receiving bore (16).

7. Cooking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first sealing ring (24) is formed as an O-ring.