GB2195760A

GB2195760A - Muffle insulation in a cooker

Info

Publication number: GB2195760A
Application number: GB08719168A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter Gramlich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-08-18
Filing date: 1987-08-13
Publication date: 1988-04-13
Anticipated expiration: 2007-08-13
Also published as: FR2602856B1; IT8721656A0; IT1222499B; GB2195760B; FR2602856A1; DE3627998A1; GB8719168D0; DE3627998C2

Abstract

A cooker comprises a muffle (5) which is surrounded by an insulating layer (6). A metal spacer plate (10), which leaves free an air gap (13), is arranged between the insulation layer (6) and each of the cooker side walls (8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Muffle insulation in a cooker The present invention relates to a cooker and has particular reference to lowering of the temperature of the cooker side walls in the region of a muffle.

In cookers, the baking oven is usually protected against heat conduction and outward heat radiation by a heat-resistant layer which is a poor conductor of heat and surrounds the oven muffle at all sides. However, there is a risk, in the case of longer operation of the oven at a higher temperature, that the insulation is heated at least partially and thus the cooker side walls are heated up. This leads to an additional outward heat radiation by the cooker and also to the heating-up of neigh bouring appliances or kitchen cupboards. One remedy is to make the insulating layer thicker, but this is possible only to a limited extent because of the fixed size relationship of bak ing oven muffle and standardised cooker width.

It would thus be desirable to achieve the greatest possible temperature drop over the narrowest space between muffle and cooker side wall whilst still using, for example, con -ventional muffle insulation.

According to the present invention there is provided a cooker comprising a housing, a muffle arranged in the housing, a layer of insu lating material surrounding the muffle and a respective spacer plate arranged between the layer and at least one of the side walls of the housing to form an air gap therebetween.

The spacer plate preferably comprises an elongate substantially planar metal plate with webs bent away, for example perpendicularly, at the longitudinal edges.

By means of a spacer plate of that kind, a secure spacing is thus effected between insu lation layer and side wall and a free air chan nel is created in which an automatic air circulation can take place, whereby the side wall can be cooled.

The spacer plate can comprise a reflecting material.

Expediently, the spacer plate is arranged with one face against the insulation layer and supported by the webs against the side wall.

In that case, a respective spacer plate can be arranged over the height of the muffle at both sides of the open end of the muffle.

The width of the spacer plate can be about one quarter to one third of its height.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional front view of a cooker embodying the invention, showing the muffle of the cooker; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the cooker with a side wall omitted; Figure 3 is a side view, to an enlarged scale, of a spacer plate in the cooker; and Figure 4 is an end elevation of the spacer plate.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a cooker 1 which includes a cooker plate 2 with a switch panel 3 extending thereunder and a baking oven 4 with a muffle 5. The muffle 5 is surrounded by a temperature-resistant and strongly heat-retarding insulating layer 6.

As is evident from Fig. 2, the muffle 5 is fastened solely to the front wall 7 of the cooker 1 and projects freely from there into the interior space of the cooker. The cooker side walls 8 do not lie directly against the muffle 5 or the insulation layer 6, since the spacing can be irregular due to installation tolerances or deformation of the side walls.

In order to ensure a constant spacing and an additional insulation with greatest possible temperature drop, a respective metal spacer plate 10, which is shown in more detail in Figs. 3 and 4, is arranged at each of the two sides of the muffle 5.

Each spacer plate 10 comprises a planar plate 11 with a side ratio of about 1:3 to 1:4 and with several webs 12 bent over to extend perpendicularly at its two longitudinal edges.

The webs 12 define the spacing between the layer 6 around the muffle 5 and the cooker side walls 8.

As is evident from Figs. 1 and 2, the spacer plates 10 are arranged at both sides of the open end of the muffle 5 and in that case directly adjoin, at longitudinal edges thereof, the cooker front wall 7. The spacer plates 10 are in that case buiit in with their faces 11 lying against the insulation layer 6 so that the webs 12 point outwardly against the respective cooker side walls 8 and thus bear against the cooker housing.

The spacing defined by the length of the webs 12 between layer 6 and cooker side wall 8 thus results in a free channel, through which an automatic air circulation takes place according to the arrow 13, whereby the side walls 8 are additionally cooled.

If, in addition, the spacer plates 10 of a reflecting material or with a reflecting surface are used, the radiated heat is reflected back to the baking oven side and thus kept away from the cooker side walls, so that a further reduction of temperature can thereby be achieved.

By the described arrangement of additional spacer plates it is thus possible in simple manner to achieve a temperature drop in a narrow space and thereby at the cooker side walls to keep within temperatures fixed by appropriate regulations.

1. A cooker comprising a housing, a muffle

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Muffle insulation in a cooker The present invention relates to a cooker and has particular reference to lowering of the temperature of the cooker side walls in the region of a muffle. In cookers, the baking oven is usually protected against heat conduction and outward heat radiation by a heat-resistant layer which is a poor conductor of heat and surrounds the oven muffle at all sides. However, there is a risk, in the case of longer operation of the oven at a higher temperature, that the insulation is heated at least partially and thus the cooker side walls are heated up. This leads to an additional outward heat radiation by the cooker and also to the heating-up of neigh bouring appliances or kitchen cupboards. One remedy is to make the insulating layer thicker, but this is possible only to a limited extent because of the fixed size relationship of bak ing oven muffle and standardised cooker width. It would thus be desirable to achieve the greatest possible temperature drop over the narrowest space between muffle and cooker side wall whilst still using, for example, con -ventional muffle insulation. According to the present invention there is provided a cooker comprising a housing, a muffle arranged in the housing, a layer of insu lating material surrounding the muffle and a respective spacer plate arranged between the layer and at least one of the side walls of the housing to form an air gap therebetween. The spacer plate preferably comprises an elongate substantially planar metal plate with webs bent away, for example perpendicularly, at the longitudinal edges. By means of a spacer plate of that kind, a secure spacing is thus effected between insu lation layer and side wall and a free air chan nel is created in which an automatic air circulation can take place, whereby the side wall can be cooled. The spacer plate can comprise a reflecting material. Expediently, the spacer plate is arranged with one face against the insulation layer and supported by the webs against the side wall. In that case, a respective spacer plate can be arranged over the height of the muffle at both sides of the open end of the muffle. The width of the spacer plate can be about one quarter to one third of its height. An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional front view of a cooker embodying the invention, showing the muffle of the cooker; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the cooker with a side wall omitted; Figure 3 is a side view, to an enlarged scale, of a spacer plate in the cooker; and Figure 4 is an end elevation of the spacer plate. Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a cooker 1 which includes a cooker plate 2 with a switch panel 3 extending thereunder and a baking oven 4 with a muffle 5. The muffle 5 is surrounded by a temperature-resistant and strongly heat-retarding insulating layer 6. As is evident from Fig. 2, the muffle 5 is fastened solely to the front wall 7 of the cooker 1 and projects freely from there into the interior space of the cooker. The cooker side walls 8 do not lie directly against the muffle 5 or the insulation layer 6, since the spacing can be irregular due to installation tolerances or deformation of the side walls. In order to ensure a constant spacing and an additional insulation with greatest possible temperature drop, a respective metal spacer plate 10, which is shown in more detail in Figs. 3 and 4, is arranged at each of the two sides of the muffle 5. Each spacer plate 10 comprises a planar plate 11 with a side ratio of about 1:3 to 1:4 and with several webs 12 bent over to extend perpendicularly at its two longitudinal edges. The webs 12 define the spacing between the layer 6 around the muffle 5 and the cooker side walls 8. As is evident from Figs. 1 and 2, the spacer plates 10 are arranged at both sides of the open end of the muffle 5 and in that case directly adjoin, at longitudinal edges thereof, the cooker front wall 7. The spacer plates 10 are in that case buiit in with their faces 11 lying against the insulation layer 6 so that the webs 12 point outwardly against the respective cooker side walls 8 and thus bear against the cooker housing. The spacing defined by the length of the webs 12 between layer 6 and cooker side wall 8 thus results in a free channel, through which an automatic air circulation takes place according to the arrow 13, whereby the side walls 8 are additionally cooled. If, in addition, the spacer plates 10 of a reflecting material or with a reflecting surface are used, the radiated heat is reflected back to the baking oven side and thus kept away from the cooker side walls, so that a further reduction of temperature can thereby be achieved. By the described arrangement of additional spacer plates it is thus possible in simple manner to achieve a temperature drop in a narrow space and thereby at the cooker side walls to keep within temperatures fixed by appropriate regulations. CLAIMS

1. A cooker comprising a housing, a muffle arranged in the housing, a layer of insulating material surrounding the muffle and a respective spacer plate arranged between the layer and at least one of the side walls of the housing to form an air gap therebetween.

2. A cooker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each spacer plate comprises an elongate substantially planar metal plate provided with bent-over spacer webs at its longitudinal edges.

3. A cooker as claimed in claim 2, wherein the substantially planar plate is arranged with one face against the layer and the webs against the respective side wall.

4. A cooker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer plate comprises reflective material.

5. A cooker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a respective spacer plate arranged between the layer and each of the side walls to extend over the height of the muffle in the region of an open end thereof.

6. A cooker as claimed in claim 5, wherein the width of each plate is substantially one quarter to one third the height of the plate.

7. A cooker substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.