Microwave Oven Front Frame Gasket for Thermal Decoupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multifunctional ovens with microwave heating, heat conduction through the front frame poses a challenge, especially when additional heating functions are present, leading to inefficiencies and potential microwave leakage.

Innovation Solution

A gap is created between the oven cavity and the front frame, filled with a gasket made of low heat conductivity materials, including elastic and electrically conductive components, to thermally decouple the front frame from the oven cavity, preventing heat transfer and microwave infiltration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the front frame is welded to the oven cavity or made as a part of the oven cavity, then microwave leakage at the door is avoided, but heat conduction occurs from the oven cavity via the front frame out of the oven

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrowave leakage preventionVSAvoidheat conduction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The front frame is separated from the oven cavity by introducing a gap between them. This segmentation breaks the direct thermal connection while maintaining the microwave shielding function through the gasket material that fills the gap.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A gasket made of materials with low heat conductivity and high microwave reflection is introduced as an intermediary between the oven cavity and the front frame. This gasket prevents both heat conduction and microwave leakage simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If a gap is formed between the oven cavity and the front frame and filled with low heat conductivity gasket material, then heat conduction is reduced, but the structural integrity and microwave sealing may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat conduction reductionVSAvoidmicrowave leakage prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket material is selected with specific parameter characteristics: low thermal conductivity to reduce heat transfer and high electrical conductivity or microwave reflectivity to prevent microwave leakage. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between thermal insulation and microwave sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If the front frame is thermally decoupled from the oven cavity, then heat loss is reduced, but the fixing and alignment of the front frame may become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat loss reductionVSAvoidfront frame assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible gasket is used to fill the gap between the oven cavity and the front frame. This flexible element simplifies the assembly process by accommodating manufacturing tolerances and alignment variations while maintaining the thermal decoupling function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution effectively reduces heat conduction from the oven cavity to the front frame while maintaining steam tightness and preventing microwave leakage, enhancing the oven's thermal insulation and safety.

Implementation Method 1

at least a part of the gasket is made of one or more materials having low heat conductivity, so that the front frame is thermally decoupled from the oven cavity by said part of the gasket and/or by the gap

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

at least a part of the gasket comprises at least one electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material prevents an infiltration of microwaves into the gap between the front frame and the oven cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave radiation blocking: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2815629B1A microwave oven or a multifunctional oven with microwave heating function

Publication Date: 2016.04.27 ELECTROLUX HOME PROD CORP NV

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a microwave oven or a multi-functional oven with microwave heating function. The oven comprises an oven cavity (10) with an open front side. The oven comprises a front frame (20) enclosing at least partially a front portion of the oven cavity (10). The oven cavity (10) and the front frame (20) comprise metal sheet in each case. The front frame (20) is connected to the oven cavity (10) by a number of fixing elements (24). A gap (26) is formed between the oven cavity (10) and the front frame (20). The gap (26) encloses at least partially the front portion of the oven cavity (10) and the front frame (20) encloses the gap (26) in turn. The gap (26) is at least partially filled by a gasket (30). The oven comprises an oven door (32) covering the open front side of the oven cavity (10) and the gap (30) in a closed state of said oven door (32). At least a part of the gasket (30) comprises one or more materials having low heat conductivity, so that the front frame (20) is thermally decoupled from the oven cavity (10) by said part of the gasket (30) and/or by the gap (26).