Cooking platform and related method

• US 8,367,979 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2007
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• 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: Oyler, Max Douglas, Chekka, Siva Kiran
• Primary Examiner(s): FUQUA, SHAWNTINA T
• Application Number:
  US11/845,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20090057292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 219/412, 219/395, 219485- 7, 219/497, 219/508, 219/394, 219/398, 219/414, 219/446.1
• US Class Current: 219/394
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/087 of electric circuits regulating heat

Abstract

A household range 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 and a gas 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,

the power management system configured to operate each of the first and second electric cooking elements independently up to a maximum power consumption limit of the cooking platform,

wherein the cooking platform has a first mode of operation in which the first electric cooking element is available to be energized when the second electric cooking element is de-energized, and

wherein the cooking platform has a second mode of operation in which the second electric cooking element is available to be energized and the gas cooking element is available to be operated when the first electric cooking element is de-energized.

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

3. The cooking platform according to claim 1, 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.

4. 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.

5. The cooking platform according to claim 4, 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.

6. The cooking platform according to claim 3, wherein the power management system comprises a single pole double throw relay, and wherein positioning 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.

7. The cooking platform according to claim 3, 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.

8. A method of distributing power between a first electric cooking element in a first oven of a cooking platform and a second electric cooking element in a second oven of the cooking platform, wherein the first oven further comprises a gas cooking element and the first electric cooking element comprises a convection heating element, the method comprising:

energizing the first electric cooking element up to a maximum power consumption limit of the cooking platform; and

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

wherein the first and second electric cooking elements are independently operable to a maximum power consumption limit of the cooking platform; and

wherein when the first electric cooking elements is de-energized, said gas cooking element in the first oven is operated.

9. The method of claim 8, 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.