Hybrid range and method of use thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An appliance comprising:
- an oven cavity;
a gas burner disposed within the oven cavity;
an electrical heating element disposed within the oven cavity;
a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature within the oven cavity;
a controller in operative communication with the gas burner and the electrical heating element, the controller being configured to calculate an energy supply factor, the controller further being configured to operate the appliance based on a demand limit and the energy supply factor, wherein the energy supply factor is calculated based on a relative present demand of gas and electricity;
the controller further configured to receive a signal indicative of a current state of an associated utility, and to selectively activate at least one of the gas burner and the electrical heating element based upon the demand limit, the calculated energy supply factor and the signal;
the controller being further configured to communicate with the temperature sensor to operate the appliance in a transitional mode wherein the oven cavity is heated by both the electrical heating element and the gas burner so that the temperature within the oven cavity is maintained during a transition from a normal mode to an energy savings mode in response to a determination that the demand limit has been exceeded.
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Abstract
An appliance includes an oven cavity; a gas burner disposed within the oven cavity; an electrical heating element disposed within the oven cavity; and a controller in operative communication with the gas burner and the electrical heating element, the controller being configured to receive a signal indicative of a current state of an associated utility, and to selectively activate at least one of the gas burner and the electrical heating element based upon the signal.
238 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An appliance comprising:
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an oven cavity; a gas burner disposed within the oven cavity; an electrical heating element disposed within the oven cavity; a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature within the oven cavity; a controller in operative communication with the gas burner and the electrical heating element, the controller being configured to calculate an energy supply factor, the controller further being configured to operate the appliance based on a demand limit and the energy supply factor, wherein the energy supply factor is calculated based on a relative present demand of gas and electricity; the controller further configured to receive a signal indicative of a current state of an associated utility, and to selectively activate at least one of the gas burner and the electrical heating element based upon the demand limit, the calculated energy supply factor and the signal; the controller being further configured to communicate with the temperature sensor to operate the appliance in a transitional mode wherein the oven cavity is heated by both the electrical heating element and the gas burner so that the temperature within the oven cavity is maintained during a transition from a normal mode to an energy savings mode in response to a determination that the demand limit has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An oven comprising:
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an oven cavity; a gas burner disposed within the oven cavity; an electrical heating element disposed within the oven cavity, a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature within the oven cavity; a controller in operative communication with the gas burner and the electrical heating element, the controller being configured operate the oven based on a user selected demand limit and to calculate an energy supply factor, wherein the energy supply factor is calculated based on a relative present demand of gas and electricity;
the controller being further configured to selectively activate at least one of the gas burner and the electrical heating element based upon the demand limit and the energy supply factor;
the controller being further configured to communicate with the temperature sensor to operate the oven in a transitional mode wherein the oven cavity is heated by both the electrical heating element and the gas burner so that the temperature within the oven cavity is maintained during a transition from a normal mode to an energy savings mode in response to a determination that the demand limit has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating an oven comprising a controller, the method comprising:
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inputting a demand limit into the controller; calculating an energy supply factor at the controller, wherein the energy supply factor is calculated based on a relative present demand of gas and electricity; in response to the input demand limit and the calculated energy supply factor, selectively activating by the controller at least one of a gas burner and an electrical heating element, the gas burner and the electrical heating element being disposed within an oven cavity of the oven and in operative communication with the controller; measuring, by a temperature sensor, a temperature within the oven cavity;
the temperature sensor is in operative communication with the controller; andoperating the oven in a transitional mode including heating the oven cavity with both the electrical heating element and the gas burner so that the temperature within the oven cavity is maintained during a transition from a normal mode to an energy savings mode in response to a determination the demand limit has been exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification