Vented Oven Cavity Shutter for Reversing Airflow Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ventilated cavity cooking ovens face inefficiencies in heating performance, particularly in modes requiring high central cavity temperatures and pyrolytic cleaning, due to temperature loss of hot air flow before reaching the center or oven door, and the expense of reversible motors to reverse air flow direction.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating shutter means that can move between two positions to alter the central opening's passage surface, allowing air flow direction reversal without reversing the air circulation fan's direction, ensuring consistent high temperatures in the cavity and at the oven door by adjusting the central opening's closure in relation to peripheral openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the airflow direction is reversed by reversing the ventilation system rotation, then the airflow direction is reversed, but the motor cost increases making the oven expensive
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reversing the motor rotation to change airflow direction, the patent inverts the approach by using a fixed-rotation motor combined with movable sealing means that block different openings. The sealing means can be positioned to close either the central opening or the peripheral openings, thereby reversing the airflow direction without reversing the motor rotation, thus avoiding the need for an expensive reversible motor
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sealing means as an intermediary element between the motor and the airflow path. These sealing means act as a mediator that controls airflow direction by selectively blocking openings, allowing the fixed-rotation motor to achieve variable airflow directions without requiring the motor itself to be reversible
2Temperature
If hot air flows through the cavity to heat the center, then the cavity is heated, but the temperature is lost by the time the hot air reaches the center or oven door
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the sealing means to close the central opening before the hot air flow reaches it. This prevents the hot air from taking the long path through the cavity where it would cool down, and instead directs it through a shorter path that maintains higher temperature when it reaches the center or oven door
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 enhances cooking and heating performance by maintaining uniform high temperatures in the cavity and at the oven door without increasing the oven's manufacturing cost, using simple and inexpensive means to reverse air flow direction.
Implementation Method 1
a fan, drawing air into the cavity through the central opening. This air enters the air circulation compartment, is then heated by the heating elements, and exits the air circulation compartment through the peripheral openings, entering the cavity
Implementation Method 2
This air enters the air circulation compartment, is then heated by the heating elements
Implementation Method 3
the sealing means are positioned in the second position... the airflow passing through the peripheral openings of the cavity to the air circulation compartment, and the central opening of the air circulation compartment to the cavity
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
A cooking oven (1) has a cavity (2), and an air circulation compartment (4) separated by a rear wall (2a), the rear wall (2a) comprising a central opening (6) located at the center of the posterior wall (2a) and several peripheral openings (7a-7d) located on the periphery of the posterior wall (2a). The cooking oven (1) further comprises ventilation means/air circulation means (5) generating a flow of air circulating in the oven, and closing means (8) shaped to close a central part of the central opening (6) and being movable between: - a first position in which the central part of the central opening (6) is not closed, and - a second position in which the closing means (8 ) are positioned in contact with the central opening so that the central part of the central opening (6) is closed.