Oven Door Control Panel Cooling for Larger Cooking Cavities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooking apparatuses face challenges in maximizing the usable size of the cooking cavity due to the placement of heating components and the arrangement of cooling and ventilation systems, which restricts the cavity's height, width, and depth, and hinders effective cooling and odor venting.
Innovation Solution
The cooking apparatus is designed with a component room located at the rear, utilizing a rack or plate instead of a turntable, and incorporates a cooling fan at the lower portion of the rear space to create an efficient cooling flow path that effectively cools major components like the magnetron and convection heater assembly, while directing heat and odors out of the cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If heating components and cooling systems are arranged in a conventional configuration, then the control panel can be accessed, but the usable size of the cooking cavity is reduced and cooling efficiency is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the control panel from the front face to the door surface, utilizing the vertical dimension of the door. This spatial reconfiguration allows heating components to be arranged optimally within the cavity without compromising control accessibility, thereby maximizing the usable cooking volume while maintaining system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the control panel from the main body housing and integrates it into the door structure. This segmentation allows independent optimization of the cooking cavity space and cooling system arrangement, enabling better thermal management and component placement without interfering with control accessibility.
2Volume of moving object
If heating components are densely arranged to maximize cavity size, then volume is improved, but cooling flow and heat venting become inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated cooling flow path that acts as an intermediary channel between the densely packed heating components and the external environment. This separate cooling circuit enables efficient heat removal without requiring additional space in the cooking cavity, allowing dense component arrangement while maintaining adequate thermal management.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design expands the cooking cavity's height and width, enhances cooling efficiency, and effectively vents heat and odors, allowing for a cleaner appearance and improved utility of the cooking space.
Implementation Method 1
incorporates a cooling fan at the lower portion of the rear space to create an efficient cooling flow path that effectively cools major components like the magnetron and convection heater assembly, while directing heat and odors out of the cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking apparatus is provided. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking cavity, an upper space formed above the cooking cavity, lateral side spaces formed to at opposite lateral sides of the cooking cavity, a rear space formed behind the cooking cavity, and a lower space formed below the cooking cavity. A fan provided in the rear space generates a cooling flow that cools components housed in the rear space. A cooling flow path extends from the rear space and into the upper space and lateral side spaces. Flow from the upper space enters the door to cool the door and is exhausted through a lower portion of the door. Flow from the lateral side spaces, which includes an exhaust flow from the cooking cavity, is guided to the lower space and exhausted. In this manner, the cooking apparatus can be completely cooled and cooking odors and heat appropriately exhausted by the cooling fan positioned in the rear space.