FORCED CONVECTION STEAM ASSEMBLY

• US 20180259192A1
• Filed: 03/07/2017
• Published: 09/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: MAYBERRY, TIMOTHY A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,451,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 and at least one heating element to heat up the air in the cooking cavity;

a trough assembly comprising a trough tray portion located underneath a portion of said convection fan and said at least one 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 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.

9. A convection fan assembly with a steaming device, comprising:

a convection fan connected to a motor that rotates said convection fan;

at least one generally annular heating element coupled near said convection fan;

a trough assembly comprising a trough tray located underneath a portion of said convection fan and said at least one generally annular heating element, a trough supply portion shaped to receive fluid and direct it to the trough tray portion so that it can be heated by said at least one generally annular heating element and turned into steam which is blown by said convection fan.

10. The convection fan assembly of claim 9, wherein:

said trough assembly is manually filled with fluid.

11. The convection fan assembly of claim 9, wherein:

said trough tray and said trough supply portion are coupled together.

12. The convection fan assembly of claim 9, wherein:

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

13. The convection fan assembly of claim 12, wherein:

said drip ball valve is controlled electronically.

14. The convection fan assembly of claim 9, wherein:

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

15. The convection fan assembly of claim 9, wherein:

said fluid is water with an additive.

16. The convection fan assembly of claim 9, including:

a fluid delivery system that has a conduction break to prevent heat from damaging any valves in said fluid delivery system.

17. A method for providing steam to a convection oven, comprising:

forming a trough tray capable of holding fluid while enclosing a portion of the annular heating elements of the convection oven;

forming a trough supply portion shaped to direct fluid to said trough tray; and

adding fluid to the trough tray so that it can be heated by the heating elements and forced into the cooking cavity by the fan of the convection oven.

18. The method of providing steam to a convection oven of claim 17, wherein:

said trough tray and said trough supply portion are formed as a unitary piece.

19. The method of providing steam to a convection oven of claim 17, including:

positioning a drip ball valve above said trough tubular portion to provide fluid to said trough supply portion.

20. The method of providing steam to a convection oven of claim 19, including:

coupling an electronic control to said drip ball valve to control the rate at which the fluid is dripped into the trough supply portion.