Oven Cooling Airflow Layout for Larger Cavity and Door Venting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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 venting systems, which restricts the cavity's height, width, and depth, and hinders effective cooling and odor removal.
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 also expanding the cooking cavity's dimensions and improving airflow for odor removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If heating components and cooling systems are arranged in conventional positions, then the cooking cavity size is reduced, but the cooling effectiveness is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical cooling flow path from the upper portion of the cooking cavity down to the lower portion, utilizing the vertical dimension to cool heating components without occupying horizontal space. The cooling fan is positioned at the lower rear portion to generate upward airflow that passes through heating components, effectively using vertical space to resolve the conflict between cavity size and cooling effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary cooling medium that flows through dedicated cooling flow paths. The air moves from the upper cooking cavity, through heating components, to the lower portion and exits through the door, serving as a mediator that transfers heat away from components without requiring direct contact or additional cooling machinery that would reduce cavity space.
2Ease of manufacture
If component room is positioned to the side of cooking cavity, then heating components are housed, but cooling flow and heat venting are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking cavity itself serves multiple functions: it is both the cooking chamber and the cooling flow path. The door serves dual purposes as both the access door and the heat/odor venting outlet. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate component rooms while maintaining effective heat venting through the cooking cavity and door structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of positioning the component room to the side as conventionally done, the patent inverts the arrangement by placing heating components within the cooking cavity at the upper rear portion. This inversion allows the cooling airflow to naturally move from upper to lower regions, effectively venting heat through the door without requiring a separate side-mounted component room.
3Volume of moving object
If rack or plate is used instead of turntable, then cooking cavity dimensions are expanded, but component arrangement becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension and rear space of the cooking cavity to position heating components and control panels. By placing components at the upper rear portion and using vertical airflow paths, the design accommodates component arrangement needs while maintaining expanded horizontal cooking cavity dimensions enabled by the rack or plate configuration.
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 enhances the cooking cavity's height and width, allows for effective cooling of critical components, and efficiently vents heat and odors, resulting in a more spacious and functional cooking environment.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fan located at the lower side of the rear space and generating a flow
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.