Forced convection steam assembly

• US 10,451,290 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Mayberry, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Savani, Avinash A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heyamoto, Aaron H
• Application Number:
  US15/451,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20180259192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 219401
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/003 moisturising of air
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/327 with air moisturising

Abstract

A convection oven includes a convection fan assembly and a trough assembly that surrounds a portion of the heating element(s) of the convection fan assembly. Fluid in the trough assembly is heated and turned into steam by the heating element(s) and blown into the cooking cavity of the convection oven by the convection fan of the convection fan assembly. The steam in the cooking cavity provides moisture to the items that are being cooked and/or heated in the cooking cavity.

Claims

1. An oven comprising:

an oven housing defining a cooking cavity;

a door coupled to the housing;

a convection fan assembly comprising a convection fan with a fan blade and at least one generally cylindrical heating element surrounding said blade to heat up the air in the cooking cavity;

a trough assembly comprising an open trough tray portion having walls surrounding a portion of said at least one generally cylindrical heating element, and a trough supply portion shaped to receive fluid and direct it to the trough tray portion so that it can be heated and turned into steam by said at least one generally cylindrical heating element and blown into said cooking cavity by said convection fan.

2. The oven of claim 1, wherein:

said trough assembly is manually filled with fluid.

3. The oven of claim 1, wherein:

said trough tray portion and said trough supply portion are connected.

4. The oven of claim 1, wherein:

said trough assembly is filled with fluid by a drip ball valve positioned above said trough supply portion of said trough assembly.

5. The oven of claim 4, wherein:

said drip ball valve is controlled electronically.

6. The oven of claim 1, wherein:

said trough assembly is filled with fluid by a fluid line connected to a solenoid valve.

7. The oven of claim 1, wherein:

said fluid is water with an additive.

8. The oven of claim 1, including:

a fluid delivery system that has a conduction break to prevent heat from travelling to at least one valve in said fluid delivery system.