Rear-Component Microwave Oven Layout for Larger Cooking Cavity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking apparatuses have limited space for components like magnetrons, high voltage transformers, and cooling fans, restricting the expansion of cooking cavity height and width, and inefficient cooling of these components.

Innovation Solution

The cooking apparatus utilizes the rear space by installing a convection heater assembly, magnetron, high voltage transformer, and high voltage capacitor, along with a cooling fan positioned at the lower side of the component room, allowing for an expanded cooking cavity with increased height and width, and effective cooling through separate forced flows.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If components are installed at one side or upper side of cooking cavity, then component arrangement is simplified, but cooking cavity height and width cannot be expanded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking cavity volumeVSAvoidcomponent arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent relocates components from traditional side-wall or upper-position installations to the rear space of the cooking cavity. This spatial reconfiguration utilizes the previously underutilized rear dimension, enabling expansion of the cooking cavity's height and width while maintaining organized component placement through dedicated mounting structures in the rear space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If components are installed at rear space, then cooking cavity height and width can be expanded, but cooling efficiency of components may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking cavity volumeVSAvoidcomponent cooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cooling function from the cooking cavity interior and positions the cooling fan in the rear space alongside the components. This separate cooling system draws air through dedicated cooling passages that directly reach the magnetron, high voltage transformer, and other heat-generating components, ensuring efficient heat dissipation despite their rear-space location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces cooling passages as intermediary channels that connect the cooling fan to the components in the rear space. These passages serve as conduits for cooling air, efficiently transporting thermal energy from the components to the exterior while maintaining the expanded cooking cavity configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If turntable is replaced with rack or plate, then cooking cavity dimensions can be adjusted, but microwave distribution uniformity may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking cavity dimension adaptabilityVSAvoidmicrowave distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the static turntable with a rack or plate structure that can be configured in different arrangements. This dynamic configuration allows the cooking cavity dimensions to be adjusted while maintaining effective microwave distribution through optimized positioning of the cooking surface relative to the magnetron and waveguide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 configuration allows for efficient use of rear space, effective cooling of components, and adjustment of cooking cavity dimensions by replacing the turntable with a rack or plate, enhancing the overall cooking capacity and cooling efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a cooling fan located at the lower side of the component room and generating a forced flow for cooling the magnetron, the high voltage transformer and the other components

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a magnetron located in the component room and provided with a wave guide communicating the magnetron with the cooking cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMicrowave generation: Microwave Radiation

Implementation Method 3

the magnetron being provided with a wave guide communicating the magnetron with the cooking cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave transmission: Waveguide

Data Source

PatentEP2057417B1Cooking apparatus
Publication Date: 2010.09.22 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2057417B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2057417B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2057417B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In order to provide a cooking apparatus having a cooking cavity with an increased height and width by efficiently using the rear space of the cooking apparatus, the present invention discloses a cooking apparatus, comprising: a cooking cavity; and a component room located at the rear side of the cooking cavity and provided with a plurality of components used for a cooking process in the cooking cavity. Through this structure, the cooking apparatus has an expanded cooking cavity with an increased height and width. Although the modification of the cooking cavity of a conventional cooking apparatus is restricted by a circular turntable therein, the use of a rack or a plate instead of the turntable may resolve such restriction.