Dual-Cavity Oven Door Cooling with Single-Fan Reverse Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual-cavity oven designs typically limit the placement of the control panel due to space constraints and excessive heat from the oven doors, which can damage the control panel and reduce usable space for increasing oven capacity.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum-based reverse airflow cooling system using a single fan to cool both oven cavities, allowing the control panel to be integrated into the oven door and enhancing space utilization by maintaining the oven doors at acceptable temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a dual-cavity oven uses separate fans for each oven cavity to cool them independently, then each oven cavity can be cooled effectively, but the control panel and fans occupy desirable space that could be used for increasing oven capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling functions for both upper and lower oven cavities into a single fan system. The fan draws ambient air through a shared airflow channel that distributes cooling air to both cavities, eliminating the need for separate fans and control panels for each cavity, thereby freeing up space for increased oven capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The single fan system performs multiple cooling functions simultaneously - it cools both the upper and lower oven cavities through a unified airflow channel design, making the cooling system universal for both cavities rather than requiring separate dedicated systems
2Volume of stationary object
If the control panel is mounted on the oven door to save space, then usable space for oven capacity increases, but the excessive heat from the oven door can damage the control panel and cause malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ambient air as an intermediary cooling medium that flows through the airflow channel and past the control panel on the oven door. This ambient air acts as a heat sink, absorbing excess heat from the oven door and protecting the control panel from thermal damage while allowing it to be mounted in the space-saving location
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate control panels and fans are provided for each oven cavity, then each cavity can be controlled and cooled independently, but the system complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions into a single unified control panel located on the oven door, eliminating the need for separate control panels for each cavity. The single fan system also provides coordinated cooling for both cavities, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining functional versatility
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
The cooling system effectively reduces oven door temperatures, enabling the integration of a Human Machine Interface and increasing usable space by allowing the control panel to be mounted on the oven door, thus enhancing oven capacity and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the fan causes ambient air from the outside of the appliance to pass through the first and second airways before entering the central segment so that the first and second doors are cooled off by the ambient air
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance includes a housing having an airflow channel communicating with outside of the appliance; a first chamber in the housing and having a first opening; a first door for selectively closing the first opening, the first door having a first airway communicating with the outside of the appliance; a second chamber in the housing and having a second opening; a second door for selectively closing the second opening, the second door having a second airway communicating with the outside of the appliance; and a fan in the airflow channel. The airflow channel includes a central segment disposed between the first and second chambers and communicating with the first and second airways. When activated, the fan causes ambient air to pass through the first and second airways before entering the central segment so that the first and second doors are cooled off by the ambient air.