Appliance with a vacuum-based reverse airflow cooling system

• US 8,006,687 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Laundroche, Kevin Scott, McGonagle, Michael Paul, Barber, Philip Ames, Watkins, Derek Lee, Armstrong, James, Broniak, Jay Andrew, Froelicher, Steve B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart; Kenneth B
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREIRO, JORGE ANDRES
• Application Number:
  US12/209,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20100065036A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 126/193, 126/198, 126/287
• US Class Current: 126/198
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/006 Arrangements for circulation of cooling air
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/02 Doors specially adapted for stoves or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/085 on baking ovens

Abstract

An appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a main body defining a cavity and an air channel which is in flow communication with an outside of the appliance; an access door supported by the main body for selectively closing the cavity, the access door having an airway in flow communication with the outside of the appliance and the air channel; a fan disposed in the air channel; and an Human Machine Interface disposed on or in the access door. When activated, the fan causes ambient air from the outside of the appliance to pass through the airway before entering the air channel so that the access door is cooled off by the ambient air.

Claims

1. An appliance comprising:

a main body defining a first cavity, a second cavity adjacent to the first cavity, and an air channel which is in flow communication with an outside of the appliance, the air channel comprising a center air channel disposed between the first cavity and the second cavity and having an intake end;

a first access door attached to the main body for selectively closing the first cavity, the first access door having a first airway in flow communication with the outside of the appliance and the air channel;

a second access door attached to the main body for selectively closing the second cavity, the second access door having a second airway in flow communication with the outside of the appliance and the air channel; and

a fan disposed in the air channel,

wherein each of the first airway and the second airway has an air outlet which is disposed adjacent to the intake end, and

wherein when activated, the fan causes ambient air from outside of the appliance to pass through the first airway and the second airway before entering the air channel so that the first and second access doors are cooled by the ambient air.

2. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a sealing wiper disposed between the first access door and the second access door when the first access door and the second access door close the first cavity and the second cavity, respectively.

3. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the sealing wiper is supported by one of the first access door and the second access door.

4. The appliance of claim 2, wherein the sealing wiper is pivotably attached to the one of the first access door and the second access door and is configured to extend outward to reach the other of the first access door and the second access door.

5. The appliance of claim 2, further comprising a Human Machine Interface integrated into at least one of the first access door and the second access door.

6. An appliance comprising:

a main body defining a first cavity, a second cavity adjacent to the first cavity, and an air channel which is in flow communication with an outside of the appliance;

a first access door attached to the main body for selectively closing the first cavity, the first access door having a first airway in flow communication with the outside of the appliance and the air channel;

a second access door attached to the main body for selectively closing the second cavity, the second access door having a second airway in flow communication with the outside of the appliance and the air channel;

a sealing wiper disposed between the first access door and the second access door when the first access door and the second access door close the first cavity and the second cavity, respectively; and

a fan disposed in the air channel,

wherein when activated, the fan causes ambient air from outside of the appliance to pass through the first airway and the second airway before entering the air channel so that the first and second access doors are cooled by the ambient air.

7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the sealing wiper is supported by one of the first access door and the second access door.

8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the sealing wiper is pivotably attached to the one of the first access door and the second access door and is configured to extend outward to reach the other of the first access door and the second access door.

9. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the sealing wiper comprises opposite ends and a stop adjacent to each of the opposite ends.

10. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the air channel comprises an intake end, each of the first airway and the second airway having an air outlet which is disposed adjacent to the intake end and between the intake end and the sealing wiper.

11. The appliance of claim 6, further comprising a Human Machine Interface integrated into at least one of the first access door and the second access door.

12. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the Human Machine Interface comprises at least one of a consumer interface and a feedback display.

13. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the fan is disposed behind the second cavity.

14. The appliance of claim 6, wherein the air channel comprises a center air channel disposed between the first cavity and the second cavity, the fan being substantially aligned with the center air channel.

15. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet having a top, a bottom, opposing sides, a back, an open front, upper and lower oven cavities, and upper and lower access doors for selectively closing the respective upper and lower oven cavities, the upper access door having a lower edge and the lower access door having an upper edge, the lower and upper edges defining a space therebetween, the cabinet defining;

a first air flow channel disposed between the top and the back and the upper and lower oven cavities, the first air flow channel having a first air inlet;

a center air channel between the upper and lower oven cavities and in flow communication with the first air flow channel;

an internal airway in each of the upper and lower access doors, each internal airway having a second air inlet and an air outlet which is in flow communication with the center air channel; and

a lower air channel extending back to front beneath the lower oven cavity and in flow communication with the first air flow channel; and

a sealing wiper disposed to span the space between the lower and upper edges when the upper and lower access doors are in closed positions to limit ambient air entering the center air channel; and

a fan disposed proximate a back portion of the appliance, the fan being configured to create negative pressure to pull ambient air through the first and second air inlets and the internal airways of the upper and lower access doors and force air through the lower air channel to the exterior of the appliance so that the upper and lower access doors are cooled by the ambient air.

16. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the sealing wiper is pivotably attached to the upper access door and extends outward to reach the lower access door.

17. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the fan is disposed adjacent to the bottom and behind the lower oven cavity.

18. The appliance of claim 15, wherein the fan is disposed behind and in between the upper and lower oven cavities.

19. The appliance of claim 15, further comprising a Human Machine Interface integrated into at least one of the upper and lower access doors.

20. The appliance of claim 19, wherein the Human Machine Interface comprises at least one of a consumer interface and a feedback display.