Convection Oven Blower Reversal and Steam Condensation Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ovens face challenges in providing convenient access to electrical components for servicing, inefficient steam disposal, and non-uniform cooking due to suboptimal steam generation and air circulation systems.
Innovation Solution
A convection oven design with a movable front wall for easy access to electrical components, an improved steam collection and condensation system, and a variable speed, reversible blower with optimized air circulation patterns and water injection for uniform cooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the control panel is fixed and integrated into the housing, then the structural integrity and appearance are maintained, but the electrical components are difficult to access for servicing
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is segmented from the main housing structure, with the front wall made movable to allow access to electrical components. The panel includes a removable cover that can be detached to expose switches, outlets, and other electrical elements for servicing while maintaining integration during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The front wall is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to move between a closed position (maintaining structural integrity and appearance) and an open position (providing access to electrical components). This dynamic feature enables the panel to serve multiple functions without requiring complete disassembly.
2Ease of manufacture
If steam is expelled directly into the atmosphere, then the steam disposal is simple, but it causes environmental pollution and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The steam exhaust system converts the potentially harmful steam discharge into a beneficial cooling mechanism. The exhaust structure includes cooling fins and is positioned to allow ambient air to cool the steam before discharge, reducing thermal pollution and improving environmental compatibility while maintaining simple construction.
3Productivity
If a complex atomizer system is used with blower wheel, then steam generation efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex atomizer system is extracted and replaced with a simpler water injection mechanism. Water is injected directly onto the heated blower wheel spokes, which rotate to distribute the water across the heating elements. This extraction of the atomizer complexity maintains steam generation efficiency through direct contact vaporization while significantly simplifying the overall system design.
4Ease of operation
If conventional air circulation systems are used, then the basic cooking function is provided, but uniform cooking throughout the chamber is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The air circulation system employs asymmetric blower wheel spoke design and strategically positioned heating elements to create optimized airflow patterns. The blower wheel spokes are arranged to generate specific turbulence and circulation patterns that ensure uniform heat distribution throughout the cooking chamber, addressing the limitations of conventional symmetric designs.
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
Facilitates convenient servicing of electrical components, efficient steam management, and achieves uniform cooking by ensuring consistent air circulation and steam distribution, enhancing the baking process.
Implementation Method 1
a blower for circulating gas through the cooking chamber
Implementation Method 2
a heater for heating the gas
Implementation Method 3
inject water against heated rotating blower wheels to generate steam
Implementation Method 4
injected water does not turn to steam
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A convection oven having a vapor collection system; water injection system; easily accessible electrical components; and a variable-speed, reversible blower is disclosed. The vapor collection system collects vapor from the cooking chamber during a cooking event, condenses the vapor, and drains the condensed vapor. The water injection system injects water for impact against a blower wheel for dispersion into the air circulating through the cooking chamber. The electrical components are housed within a housing that in a closed position conceals the components and in a closed position exposes the components for easy access. The rotational speed and direction of the variable-speed, reversible blower is controlled during a cooking event according to predetermined speed curves which may include one or more reversal events to achieve more uniform cooking of food. A main controller is programmable via an operator input (e.g., liquid crystal display touch screen) to control operating parameters of the oven.