COOKING PLATFORM AND RELATED METHOD

• US 20090057292A1
• Filed: 08/27/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Chekka, Siva Kiran, Oyler, Max Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 8,367,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/394
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/087 of electric circuits regulating heat

Abstract

A cooking platform includes a first oven having a first electric cooking element, and a second oven includes a second electric cooking element. A power management system is used to distribute power such that when the second electric cooking element is energized the first electric cooking element is de-energized.

Claims

1. A cooking platform comprising:

a first oven comprising a first electric cooking element;

a second oven comprising a second electric cooking element; and

a power management system configured to distribute power such that when the second electric cooking element is energized the first electric cooking element is de-energized.

2. The cooking platform according to claim 1, wherein the first oven comprises a gas cooking element, and the first electric cooking element comprises a convection heating element.

3. The cooking platform according to claim 2, wherein the power management system is configured to operate each of the first and second electric cooking elements at a maximum power consumption limit of the cooking platform.

4. The cooking platform according to claim 3, wherein the first oven comprises a convection fan.

5. The cooking platform according to claim 4, wherein the power management system is configured to operate each of the first and second electric cooking elements at a maximum power consumption limit corresponding to a 15 ampere circuit rating.

6. The cooking platform according to claim 5, wherein the power management system comprises a coil and first and second switches, and wherein closing the first switch energizes the second electric cooking element and the coil, the energized coil switching the second switch to de-energize the first electric cooking element.

7. The cooking platform according to claim 1, wherein the power management system comprises a coil and first and second switches, and wherein closing the first switch energizes the second electric cooking element and the coil, the energized coil switching the second switch to de-energize the first electric cooking element.

8. The cooking platform according to claim 7, wherein the power management system comprises a thermostat, and wherein closing the first switch energizes the second electric cooking element and the coil in response to a signal from the thermostat, the energized coil switching the second switch to de-energize the first electric cooking element.

9. The cooking platform according to claim 5, wherein the power management system comprises a single pole double throw relay, and wherein position the relay in a first position energizes the first electric cooking element and de-energizes the second electric cooking element, and positioning the relay in a second position energizes the second electric cooking element and de-energizes the first electric cooking element.

10. The cooking platform according to claim 5, wherein the power management system comprises first and second switches, and wherein closing the first switch energizes the second electric cooking element and opens the second switch to de-energize the first electric cooking element.

11. A cooking platform comprising:

a first oven comprising a first electric cooking element;

a second oven comprising a second electric cooking element; and

means for distributing power such that when the second electric cooking element is energized the first electric cooking element is de-energized.

12. The cooking platform according to claim 11, wherein the means comprises a coil and first and second switches, and wherein closing the first switch energizes the second electric cooking element and the coil, the energized coil switching the second switch to de-energize the first electric cooking element.

13. The cooking platform according to claim 12, wherein the means comprises a thermostat, and wherein closing the first switch energizes the second electric cooking element and the coil in response to a signal from the thermostat, the energized coil switching the second switch to de-energize the first electric cooking element.

14. The cooking platform according to claim 13, wherein the first oven comprises a gas cooking element, and the first electric cooking element comprises a convection heating element and a convection fan.

15. A method of distributing power between a first electric cooking element in a first oven and a second electric cooking element in a second oven comprising:

energizing the first electric cooking element; and

de-energizing the first electric cooking element when the second electric cooking element is energized.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein energizing the first electric cooking element comprises closing a first normally open switch and distributing power through a second switch to the first electric cooking element.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein de-energizing the first electric cooking element comprises closing a third normally open switch to energize the second electric cooking element and a coil, and switching the second switch such that power is not distributed to the first electric cooking element.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first electric cooking element comprises a convection heating element.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first electric cooking element comprises a convection fan.