Dynamic flow oven cavity vent

• US 7,468,496 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Marchand, Joseph Marc Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): PELHAM, JOSEPH MOORE
• Application Number:
  US11/559,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20080110879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 219/400
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/2007 from oven cavities

Abstract

A cooking appliance includes a main cavity and a ventilation system. A cavity vent extends between the cooking appliance and the ventilation system such that the ventilation system is in fluid communication with the main cavity to expel an exhaust of gases. A chimney is connected above the cavity vent and includes venturi zone therein, wherein the cavity vent is coupled to the chimney at the venturi zone.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance having a ventilation system comprising:

a main cavity;

a cavity vent in fluid communication with the main cavity to expel an exhaust of gases; and

a chimney connected above the cavity vent, wherein the chimney is defined by a top wall and opposing side walls, the opposing side walls being configured to form a venturi zone therein,

wherein the cavity vent is coupled to the chimney at the venturi zone.

2. The cooking appliance of claim 1, further comprising a cooling fan that produces a cooling airflow into the chimney.

3. The cooking appliance of claim 2, wherein inside the chimney, the exhaust gases mixes with the cooling airflow from the cooling fan.

4. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the venturi zone is formed by a narrowed neck portion in the chimney.

5. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the chimney is a one-piece structure that extends from a front of a cooling fan to a front panel of the cooking appliance.

6. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein a cross sectional area of an entry section of the chimney is wider than a cross sectional area of the venturi zone, and wherein a cross sectional area of an exit section of the chimney is wider than the cross sectional area of the venturi zone.

7. The cooking appliance of claim 1, further comprising a catalyst positioned within the cavity vent.

8. The cooking appliance of claim 1, further comprising a plate member having a tunnel portion provided between a top wall of the main cavity and the chimney.

9. The cooking appliance of claim 8, wherein the tunnel portion includes an aperture through which the cavity vent extends.

10. The cooking appliance of claim 8, wherein the chimney is coupled to the tunnel portion via fasteners.

11. The cooking appliance of claim 1, further comprising a cooling fan and a front appliance panel, wherein an entry section of the chimney is adjacent the cooling fan and an exit section of the chimney is adjacent the front appliance panel.

12. The cooking appliance of claim 11, wherein the front appliance panel includes at least one vent for venting air flowing through the chimney.

13. A cooking appliance having a ventilation system comprising:

a main cavity;

a cavity vent assembly in fluid communication with the main cavity to expel an exhaust of gases from the main cavity; and

a single passage connected above the cavity vent assembly includes a chimney having an entry section, a narrowed middle cross-section to create a venturi effect, and an exit section,

wherein the cavity vent assembly is coupled to the chimney at the narrowed middle cross-section, and

wherein the narrowed middle cross-section is formed by opposing side walls of the chimney.

14. The cooking appliance of claim 13, wherein the cavity vent assembly includes a tube member and a coupling member.

15. The cooking appliance of claim 14, wherein the cavity vent assembly includes a catalyst support member and a catalyst.

16. The cooking appliance of claim 14, further comprising a tunnel portion extending between the tube member and the coupling member wherein the chimney is coupled to a top of the tunnel portion and the cavity vent assembly does not extend into an airflow path in the chimney.

17. The cooking appliance of claim 13, further comprising a cooling fan provided near the entry section of the chimney.