Automatic cook sequencing system for multiple ovens with refrigeration unit

• US 20040056015A1
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Barritt, William D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,831,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/394
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/087 of electric circuits regulating heat

Abstract

A system used to program and coordinate the cooking operations for two or more ovens such that the cooking operations are completed at the same time, independent of particular setting variations. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a single controller is utilized to program each of the ovens, with the controller incorporating an auto sequencing feature which causes the different cooking operations to be automatically performed, while terminating at the same time. Preferably, the system enables a second cooking operation to be programmed and initiated after a first cooking operation, while still providing for the auto sequencing of the cooking operation. Furthermore, a system is provided to enable the refrigerating of food items in one or more of the ovens prior to initiating a respective cooking operation.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance comprising:

a first oven cavity;

a second oven cavity;

a plurality of heating elements for establishing elevated temperatures in the first and second oven cavities;

a refrigerating system for establishing a reduced temperature in at least one of the first and second oven cavities;

means for inputting control parameters to establish the reduced temperature in the at least one of the first and second oven cavities, along with first and second cooking operations for the first and second oven cavities respectively, wherein the control parameters includes first and second distinct time parameters; and

means for initially establishing the reduced temperature in the at least one of the first and second oven cavities and, subsequently, automatically sequencing the first and second cooking operations such that the first and second cooking operations in the first and second oven cavities are completed simultaneously.

2. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the control parameters include distinct temperature parameters for the first and second oven cavities.

3. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein said means for inputting control parameters comprises directly selecting a refrigeration operation.

4. The cooking appliance according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerating system includes a cooling unit arranged in fluid communication with each of the first and second oven cavities.

5. The cooking appliance according to claim 4, wherein the refrigerating system further includes a common supply duct leading from the cooling unit to each of the first and second oven cavities.

6. The cooking appliance according to claim 5, wherein the refrigerating system further includes first and second damper units interposed between the supply duct and the first and second oven cavities respectively.

7. The cooking appliance according to claim 5, wherein the refrigerating system further includes a common return duct leading from each of the first and second oven cavities to the cooling unit.

8. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the cooking appliance comprises a dual oven wall unit.

9. The cooking appliance according to claim 1, wherein the cooking appliance comprises a dual oven range.

10. In a cooking appliance system including first and second oven cavities, a cooking operation control system comprising:

means for establishing a first cooking operation, including a first time parameter, for the first oven cavity;

means for refrigerating the first oven cavity prior to initiating the first cooking operation;

means for establishing a second cooking operation, including a second time parameter, in the second oven cavity; and

means for automatically sequencing the first and second cooking operations such that the first and second cooking operations in the first and second oven cavities are completed simultaneously.

11. The cooking operation control system according to claim 10, wherein the first and second cooking operations include distinct temperature parameters for the first and second oven cavities.

12. The cooking operation control system according to claim 10, wherein said means for refrigerating the first oven cavity prior to initiating the first cooking operation enables direct selecting of a refrigeration operation.

13. The cooking operation control system according to claim 10, wherein said means for refrigerating the first oven cavity includes a cooling unit arranged in fluid communication with each of the first and second oven cavities.

14. The cooking operation control system according to claim 13, wherein said means for refrigerating the first oven cavity further includes a common supply duct leading from the cooling unit to each of the first and second oven cavities.

15. The cooking operation control system according to claim 14, wherein said means for refrigerating the first oven cavity further includes first and second damper units interposed between the supply duct and the first and second oven cavities respectively.

16. The cooking operation control system according to claim 14, wherein said means for refrigerating the first oven cavity further includes a common return duct leading from each of the first and second oven cavities to the cooling unit.

17. The cooking operation control system according to claim 10, wherein the cooking appliance system constitutes a dual oven wall unit.

18. The cooking operation control system according to claim 10, wherein the cooking appliance system constitutes a dual oven range.

19. A method of operating a cooking appliance having first and second oven cavities comprising:

setting a first set of cooking parameters to establish a first cooking operation for the first oven cavity;

setting a second set of cooking parameters to establish a second cooking operation for the second oven cavity;

performing a refrigerating operation in at least one of the first and second oven cavities prior to initiating either of the first and second cooking operations;

sequencing the first and second cooking operations such that the first and second cooking operations in the first and second oven cavities are completed simultaneously.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

regulating a damper unit arranged in a conduit leading from a cooling unit of a refrigerating system of the cooking appliance to the at least one of the first and second oven cavities to control a refrigeration temperature in the at least one of the first and second oven cavities.