Appliance with a Venturi based venting system

• US 8,342,165 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Watkins, Derek Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Kenneth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corboy, William
• Application Number:
  US12/328,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20100139640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 126/1.R, 126/19.R, 126/21.A, 126/21.R, 126/273.R, 126/273.5, 126/275.E
• US Class Current: 126/21.A
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/006 Arrangements for circulation of cooling air

Abstract

An appliance with a Venturi based venting system is disclosed. The appliance includes a housing defining an airflow channel in flow communication with outside of the appliance, the airflow channel having a common channel with a diverging section; first and second heating units disposed in the housing; a first duct through which a first cavity of the first unit is in flow communication with the common channel, the first duct having a first outlet end disposed at least partially in the diverging section; a second duct through which a second cavity of the second unit is in flow communication with the common channel, the second duct having a second outlet end disposed in the diverging section; and a fan in flow communication with the common channel.

Claims

1. An appliance comprising:

a housing defining therein an airflow channel which is in flow communication with outside of the appliance, the airflow channel comprising a common channel, the common channel defining therein an airflow direction and comprising a diverging section with a cross section which increases in size in the airflow direction, and a converging section with a cross section which decreases in size in the airflow direction, the converging section being upstream of and next to the diverging section;

a first heating unit disposed in the housing, the first heating unit defining therein a first cavity;

a second heating unit disposed in the housing, the second heating unit defining therein a second cavity;

a first duct through which the first cavity is in flow communication with the common channel, the first duct comprising a first outlet end disposed at least partially in the diverging section;

a second duct through which the second cavity is in flow communication with the common channel, the second duct comprising a second outlet end disposed in the diverging section; and

a fan in flow communication with the common channel,

wherein when energized, the fan generates an airflow in the common channel to create a Venturi effect in the diverging section so that exhaust air in the first and second cavities is drawn into the common channel.

2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the first duct has a length longer than a length of the second duct, the first outlet end being disposed upstream of the second outlet end.

3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a bottom wall, the common channel being defined in part by the bottom wall.

4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the housing further comprises a front, the common channel further comprising an exhaust end terminating at the front.

5. An appliance comprising:

a housing defining therein an airflow channel which is in flow communication with outside of the appliance, the airflow channel comprising a common channel, the common channel comprising an intake end, an exhaust end, a diverging section disposed between the intake end and the exhaust end and comprising a cross section which increases in size in a direction from the intake end to the exhaust end, and a converging section disposed between the intake end and the exhaust end and comprising a cross section which decreases in size in the direction from the intake end to the exhaust end, the converging section being upstream of the diverging section, the converging section and the diverging section meeting at a common line;

a first oven disposed in the housing, the first oven defining therein a first oven cavity;

a second oven disposed in the housing, the second oven defining therein a second oven cavity;

a first duct through which the first oven cavity is in flow communication with the common channel, the first duct comprising a first outlet end terminating in the diverging section;

a second duct through which the second oven cavity is in flow communication with the common channel, the second duct comprising a second outlet end terminating in the diverging section; and

a fan in flow communication with the common channel and disposed upstream of the first and second outlet ends,

wherein when energized, the fan generates an airflow in the common channel to generate a Venturi effect in the diverging section proximate the first and second outlet ends, so that exhaust air in the first and second oven cavities is drawn into the common channel through the first and second ducts.

6. The appliance of claim 5, wherein the first duct has a length longer than a length of the second duct, the first outlet end being disposed upstream of the second outlet end.

7. The appliance of claim 5, wherein the converging section and the diverging section are defined in part by an angular guide member.

8. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the guide member is substantially V-shaped.

9. The appliance of claim 7, wherein the housing comprises a bottom wall, the common channel being defined in part by the bottom wall, the guide element being supported by the bottom wall.

10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the guide member is sandwiched by an insulation retention member for the second oven and the bottom wall, the guide member comprising a first surface facing the second oven, a second surface facing away from the second oven, and a sealing element disposed on each of the first surface and the second surface.

11. The appliance of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises a front, the exhaust end terminating at the front.

12. The appliance of claim 5, wherein each of the first and second outlet ends extends into the common channel, at least one of the first and second ducts having a length which diminishes along a direction of the airflow.

13. The appliance of claim 12, wherein the housing comprises a back wall, the fan being disposed adjacent to the back wall.

14. The appliance of claim 13, wherein the fan comprises an outlet which is disposed adjacent to the intake end.