Domestic convection oven

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic convection oven (100) comprising a cooking cavity (110) defined by a muffle (120) and a convection heating unit (130) housed externally to said cooking cavity (110), and arranged in fluid communication therewith through one or more inlet openings (126) and one or more outlet openings (127) formed in a rear wall (125) of said muffle (120). The oven (100) further comprises a divider element (140) adapted to be inserted like an oven rack into the muffle (120) to partition the cooking cavity (110) into an upper sub-cavity (111) and a lower sub-cavity (112). The divider element (140) is a hollow body comprising a cavity (141) having one or more inlet openings (142) formed on one edge and one or more outlet openings (143) formed on an opposite edge and facing toward one of it faces intended to be exposed to the upper and lower sub-cavities (111, 112). The inlet openings (142) are in fluid communication with one or more of the outlet openings (127) formed in the rear wall (125) of the muffle (120). Thanks to these features, the divider element (140) is traversed during operation by the air flow generated by the convection heating unit (130), constituting a heating element that actively participates in food cooking.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a domestic convection oven comprising at least one divider element that enable to partition the oven cooking cavity into at least two sub-cavities.Background

[0002] Domestic ovens equipped with divider elements have been known for many years. A divider element has the shape of an oven rack but, unlike an oven rack, features a continuous surface without openings configured to divide the cooking cavity of an oven into two independent sub-cavities when inserted therein. By using heating elements present in both sub-cavities - for example the electric heating elements located under the bottom wall in the lower sub-cavity and the radiant element for grilling in the upper one - it is possible to perform in parallel two distinct cooking processes at different temperatures.

[0003] Divider elements can also be used in convection ovens, which, in addition to electric heating elements and radiant elements, include a convection heating unit comprising a fan associated with a heating element. Through multiple openings in the rear wall of the muffle which defines the cooking cavity, an air flow drawn by the fan is heated by the heating element and recirculated into the cooking cavity itself.

[0004] The use of divider elements makes it possible to increase the flexibility of use of a domestic oven and optimize energy consumption, for example by using the sub-cavities for cooking, separately and in parallel, a main dish and a side dish thereof, or by using only one of the sub-cavities for cooking food cooking processes that do not require large volumes, such as pizza. In case of convection ovens, depending on the cooking process, it is also possible to selectively direct the hot air flow generated by the fan into one of the sub-cavities, so enhancing the flexibility of use of the oven. An example is described in patent publication EP 2020574 A2.

[0005] A known problem of ovens with divider elements lies in that it is quite difficult to reach high temperatures in the sub-cavities.

[0006] Additionally, based on tests conducted by the Applicant, non-uniform temperature distributions are often observed in the sub-cavities.

[0007] To solve these drawbacks, so-called "active" insulating divider elements are known, which, compared to traditional "passive" divider elements of the type described above, are provided with their own electrically supplied heating elements connected through electrical connection arranged in the cooking cavity.

[0008] Patent publication DE 4217545 A1 describes an example of an active divider element.

[0009] Patent publication US 20120067334 A1 describes another example of an active divider element for ovens, comprising a heating element coupled with a heat accumulator element made of a high-specific-heat material, for example a refractory material.

[0010] However, the insulating divider elements of the "active" type introduce a greater construction complexity in an oven, both because they incorporate electrical components and because they require electrical connections inside the cooking cavity.

[0011] Moreover, divider elements of the active type involve higher operating costs compared to ovens with traditional insulating divider elements.Summary of the invention

[0012] The technical problem addressed and solved by the present invention is therefore to provide a domestic convection oven equipped with a divider element that enables to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the prior art.

[0013] This problem is solved by an oven according to claim 1.

[0014] Preferred features of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0015] In the oven according to the invention, the divider element is a hollow body comprising a cavity having one or more inlet openings obtained on one edge thereof, and one or more outlet openings obtained on an opposite edge thereof and facing one of its faces exposed to the upper and lower sub-cavities defined by the divider element inserted in the muffle. The inlet openings of the divider element are in fluid communication with one or more of the outlet openings in the muffle's rear wall.

[0016] It will be understood that a hot air flow generated by the convection heating unit passes through the divider element from its inlet openings to its outlet openings, heating the divider element before exiting into the sub-cavity where the outlet openings face. Thanks to this configuration, the divider element becomes an actual heating element that actively participates in the food cooking without requiring electrical heating means.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, one or more masses made of refractory material are housed in the cavity of the divider element. During operation, the hot air flow generated by the convection heating unit which passes through the divider element flows over and heats the masses made of refractory material, which store thermal energy. Thanks to the high thermal inertia of the refractory material, the thermal energy is slowly released as heat, thus enabling to maintain a substantially constant temperature in the sub-cavity in fluid communication with the outlet openings of the divider element.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the divider element hoses in particular a single refractory mass shaped as a slab that rests along its perimeter, sealing the cavity at the top thereof. The slab made of refractory material thus advantageously provides a resting surface for cooking of foods.

[0019] Thanks to these features of the divider element, professional-level cooking of foods - like bread and pizza - can be achieved with a standard domestic oven, without needing to purchase a specialized oven, and thus optimizing the space in the kitchen room.

[0020] Other advantages, features and modes of use of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of some embodiments, presented by way of explicative and not limiting examples.Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Reference will be made to the figures of the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an oven according to the present invention without the door; Figure 2 is a front view showing a muffle of the oven in Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the muffle taken along line III-III of Figure 2, which show respectively and schematically the arrangement of a divider element in the muffle of the oven according to the invention and the air flow in the sub-cavities defined by the divider element; Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a divider element of the oven according to the invention; Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the divider element of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the divider element taken along line VII-VII of Figure 5; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the divider element taken along line VIII-VIII of Figure 5. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0022] With reference to Figures 1-6, a domestic oven 100 comprises a cooking cavity 110 defined by a muffle 120 having a bottom wall 121 and a top wall 122 mutually connected through a pair of side walls 123, 124 on which are respectively integrally formed or fixed a plurality of guides for supporting racks (not shown). The muffle 120 further comprises a rear wall 125 connecting the top, bottom and side walls, and closes the cooking cavity 110 at an end opposite an access opening where an oven door (not shown) is typically located.

[0023] Below the bottom wall 121 of the muffle 120 are heating means for traditional cooking processes, typically a coiled resistance, while inside the cooking cavity 110 near the top wall 122 of the muffle 120 is arranged at least one radiant element, which enables grilling cooking and that can also be used in traditional cooking processes for browning food.

[0024] The domestic oven 100 according to the present invention is of the convection type and further comprises a convection heating unit 130 located outside the cooking cavity 110 and in fluid communication therewith through a plurality of inlet openings 126 and outlet openings 127 obtained in the rear wall 125.

[0025] The convection heating unit 130 comprises in a known way a fan that draws air from the cooking cavity 110 in the direction of the rotation axis thereof through the inlet openings 126. The inlet openings 126 are therefore obtained in front of the fan, typically in a central position of the rear wall 125 of the muffle 120.

[0026] The heating element warms the drawn air, which is then expelled radially by the fan through the outlet openings 127. The outlet openings 127 are thus arranged in peripheral positions relative to the inlet openings 126, thereby directing the hot air flow toward the top wall 122 of the muffle 120 and / or its side walls 123, 124 and / or the bottom wall 121.

[0027] With particular reference to Figures 2 and 3, in the illustrated embodiment the rear wall 125 is provided with a cover or baffle 125a that defines therewith a volume enclosing the convection heating unit 130. The inlet openings 126 are formed in a central portion of the cover 125a, while the outlet openings 127 are generally formed along the perimeter of the cover 125a, for example at an upper end thereof facing top wall 122 of the muffle 120.

[0028] The domestic convection oven 100 according to the present invention further comprises a divider element 140 shaped like a rack, and therefore configured to be inserted into the cooking cavity 110 on a pair of guides formed or fixed on the side walls 123, 124 of the muffle 120.

[0029] The divider element 140 partitions the cooking cavity 110 into two independent sub-cavities. With reference to a vertical direction along which gravity acts, there can be distinguished an upper sub-cavity 111 and a lower sub-cavity 112.

[0030] According to the present invention, the divider element 140 is a hollow body comprising a cavity 141 having one or more inlet openings 142 and one or more outlet openings 143. The inlet openings 142 are formed on one edge of the divider element 140. The outlet openings 143 are formed on the opposite edge of the divider element 140 and face toward one of the faces thereof intended to be exposed to the upper and lower sub-cavities 111 and 112.

[0031] In an operating condition, the divider element 140 is inserted into the muffle 120 and the inlet openings 142 are in contact with one or more of the outlet openings 127 of the rear wall 125, thereby establishing a fluid communication with the convection heating unit 130.

[0032] Thanks to this configuration, a flow of hot air generated by the convection heating unit 130 passes through the divider element 140 from its inlet openings 142 to its outlet openings 143, heating the divider element before exiting into the sub-cavity where the outlet openings 143 face.

[0033] The divider element 140 thus becomes an actual heating element that participates in food cooking.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet openings 142 are in particular in contact with the outlet openings 127 located at the upper end of the cover 125a of the muffle 120, and thus facing toward the top wall 122 thereof.

[0035] Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment the divider element 140 is for example arranged such that its outlet openings 143 face toward the upper sub-cavity 111.

[0036] Since the outlet openings 127 of the rear wall 125 are obtained at the upper end of its cover 125a, it will be understood that the upper sub-cavity 111 has a smaller volume than the lower sub-cavity 112, making it ideal for cooking compact foods like bread and pizza, that require high cooking temperatures. The arrangement of the outlet openings 143 of the divider element 140 toward the upper sub-cavity 111 thus allows to convey the hot air flow into the smaller-volume sub-cavity, wherein higher cooking temperatures are required.

[0037] Also according to the invention, one or more masses 150 made of a refractory material are housed in the cavity 141 of the divider element 140.

[0038] Examples of refractory materials which can be used for the masses 150 include cordierite and steatite or soapstone. Steatite is particularly preferred for its high thermal inertia.

[0039] Additional examples of refractory materials suitable for the masses 150 include ceramic materials such as alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide, as well as graphene and graphene-based materials.

[0040] In operation, the flow of hot air generated by the convection heating unit 130, which passes through the divider element 140 as described above, flows over and heats the masses 150 made of refractory material. The masses 150 accumulate thermal energy which, thanks to the high thermal inertia of their refractory material, is slowly released as heat, so enabling to maintain the temperature in the sub-cavity which is in fluid communication with the outlet openings 143 of the divider element 140 substantially constant.

[0041] With particular reference to Figures 5 and 6, in the illustrated embodiment the divider element 140 houses in particular a single mass 150 made of refractory material. This mass 150 is shaped as a slab resting along the perimeter of the divider element 140 and which closed the cavity 141 at the top. The slab-shaped mass 150 of refractory material further defines a resting surface for food cooking.

[0042] This configuration is particularly advantageous considering the arrangement of the divider element 140 in the cooking cavity 110 and the hot air supply to the upper sub-cavity 111. Indeed, the refractory mass 150 directly faces the upper sub-cavity 111, itself defining a cooking surface capable of accumulating thermal energy and slowly releasing it, minimizing temperature variations throughout a cooking process.

[0043] With particular reference to Figures 6 and 7, according to one aspect of the invention, the edge of the divider element 140 where the outlet openings 143 are formed has a U-shaped curved profile in cross-section, connected at one end to the cavity 141 and terminating with the outlet openings 143, which are arranged vertically above the slab constituting the mass 150 of refractory material. Thanks to this configuration, the hot air passing through the cavity 141, which flows over and heats the slab, is directed toward the rear wall 125 while also flowing over the surface of the slab exposed to the sub-cavity 111. The flow of hot air thus remains in contact with the surface of the divider element 140 intended to receive the food being cooked, maximizing the effectiveness of the convection heating, reducing the cooking times and consequently the energy consumption.

[0044] Now referring to Figures 6 and 8, according to a further aspect of the invention the divider element 140 advantageously comprises recirculation zones 144 positioned laterally to the inlet openings 142. The recirculation zones 144 each have a U-shaped curved profile in cross-section, connected at one end to the cavity 141 and terminating with a mouth 145 positioned vertically above the mass 150 of refractory material. Thanks to this configuration, the hot air emitted from the outlet openings 143, which is directed as described above toward the rear wall 125 while flowing over the surface of the slab 150 exposed to the sub-cavity 111, re-enters in part into the cavity 141 recirculating internally before exiting again through the outlet openings 143. In other words, the provision of the recirculation zones 144 helps in maximizing the effectiveness of the convection heating of the divider element 140, further reducing the cooking times and the oven's energy consumption.

[0045] The present invention has been described thus far with reference to its preferred embodiments. It should be understood that other embodiments pertaining to the same inventive concept may exist, as defined by the claims set forth below.

Claims

1. A domestic convection oven (100) comprising a cooking cavity (110) defined by a muffle (120) and a convection heating unit (130) that is arranged outside said cooking cavity (110) and in fluid communication therewith through one or more inlet openings (126) and one or more outlet openings (127) formed in a rear wall (125) of said muffle (120), the oven (100) further comprising at least one divider element (140) configured to be inserted like an oven rack into the muffle (120) to partition the cooking cavity (110) into an upper sub-cavity (111) and lower sub-cavity (112) independent from each other, characterized in that the divider element (140) is a hollow body comprising a cavity (141) having one or more inlet openings (142) formed on one edge of the divider element (140) and one or more outlet openings (143) formed on an opposite edge thereof and facing toward one of its faces intended to be exposed to the upper sub-cavity (111) and lower sub-cavity (112), and in that: in an operating condition of the divider element (140) arranged inside the muffle (120), said inlet openings (142) are in fluid communication with one or more of the outlet openings (127) formed in the rear wall (125) of the muffle (120), whereby the hot air generated by the convection heating unit (130) flows through the divider element (140) heating it before exiting into the sub-cavity (111, 112) where the outlet openings (143) face, the divider element (140) further comprises one or more masses (150) made of a refractory material, said one or more masses (150) being housed in the cavity (141) of the divider element (140).

2. The oven (100) according to claim 1, wherein said refractory material is steatite.

3. The oven (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the divider element (140) houses a single mass (150) made of refractory material, said mass (150) being shaped as a slab and resting along a perimeter of the divider element (140) closing the cavity (141) thereof at the top.

4. The oven (100) according to claim 3, wherein the edge of the divider element (140) in which the outlet openings (143) are formed has a U-shaped cross-section connected at one end to the cavity (141) and terminating with the outlet openings (143), which are vertically arranged above the slab constituting the mass (150) made of refractory material.

5. The oven (100) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the divider element (140) comprises recirculation zones (144) arranged laterally to the inlet openings (142), said recirculation zones (144) each having a U-shaped cross-section connected at one end to the cavity (141) and terminating with a mouth (145) positioned vertically above the slab constituting the mass (150) made of refractory material.

6. The oven (100) according to claim 1, wherein the rear wall (125) of the muffle (120) is provided with a cover (125a) that defines therewith a volume enclosing the convection heating unit (130), and wherein the inlet openings (126) for drawing air from the cooking cavity (110) are formed in a central portion of said cover (125a), while the outlet openings (127) are formed along the perimeter of the cover (125a).

7. The oven (100) according to claim 6, wherein the outlet openings (127) of the rear wall (125) are formed at an upper end of the cover thereof (125a), and wherein the outlet openings (143) of the divider element (140) face toward the upper sub-cavity (111).

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