EP0584933B1 - Heating apparatus enclosed in a cabinet during its use - Google Patents
Heating apparatus enclosed in a cabinet during its use Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0584933B1 EP0584933B1 EP93305731A EP93305731A EP0584933B1 EP 0584933 B1 EP0584933 B1 EP 0584933B1 EP 93305731 A EP93305731 A EP 93305731A EP 93305731 A EP93305731 A EP 93305731A EP 0584933 B1 EP0584933 B1 EP 0584933B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- cabinet
- air
- flow path
- air flow
- heating apparatus
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
- H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
- H05B6/642—Cooling of the microwave components and related air circulation systems
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24C—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES ; DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F24C15/00—Details
- F24C15/20—Removing cooking fumes
- F24C15/2007—Removing cooking fumes from oven cavities
Definitions
- This invention relates to a heating apparatus such as microwave ovens, and more particularly to such a heating apparatus which is enclosed, in its use, in a cabinet mounted so that its rear is abutted against a wall of the kitchen or the like, see, for instance, US-A-3 878 350.
- a microwave oven with an oven function for example, is sometimes mounted, in its use, on the outer bottom of a cupboard hung on a room wall as well as placed on a stand.
- a body 1 of the microwave oven is enclosed in a cabinet 2 having the height and depth larger than the microwave oven body 1 and the top of the cabinet 2 is fixed to the outer bottom of the cupboard 4 with its rear abutted against the room wall 3, as shown in FIG. 9.
- a fan disposed in a component chamber defined in the body 1 is driven for the cooling of electrical components such as a magnetron during operation of the microwave oven, so that cooling air is drawn in through suction apertures formed in the rear of the microwave oven. After the electrical components have been cooled, the air is discharged through an exhaust aperture formed in the top of the microwave oven body 1. Further, the interior of the cabinet 2 needs to be cooled during the heating operation and in particular, during the oven mode since the air in the cooking chamber 4 is heated to a high temperature.
- an air flow path 5 is defined to extend through the upper, lower and rear spaces between the cabinet 2 and the microwave oven body 1. Further, another fan 6 is provided in the air flow path 5 so that air is drawn in through lower louvers 7 and exhausted through upper louvers 8.
- a sectional area of the air flow path 5 is increased so that a volume of air necessary for the cooling of the electrical components such as the magnetron is ensured.
- the depth of the cabinet 2 is increased.
- the rear of the cabinet 2 is abutted against the room wall 3, high temperature heat induced in the cabinet 2 is transmitted to the room wall 3 during the oven mode, particularly, resulting in increase in the atmospheric temperature of the room wall 3.
- an object of the present invention is to provide a heating apparatus which is enclosed, in its use, in a cabinet having a reduced depth and wherein a sufficient cooling capacity can be ensured and the temperature of the room wall can be prevented from being increased.
- the present invention provides a heating apparatus comprising an apparatus body having therein a heating chamber in which food is heated and a component chamber in which electrical components are disposed, the heating apparatus further comprising a cabinet mounted so as to be abutted against a room wall, characterized by an air flow path continuously extending along a bottom, rear and ceiling of the apparatus body between the cabinet and the apparatus body enclosed in the cabinet, an inlet formed in the lower front of the cabinet and communicating with the air flow path, an outlet formed in the upper front of the cabinet and communicating with the air flow path, a fan disposed in the air flow path for circulating air, means for defining a space between the room wall and the rear wall of the cabinet when abutted against the room wall, and a suction opening provided in the rear wall of the cabinet and communicating with the air flow path.
- the space is defined between the room wall and the rear wall of the cabinet by the space defining means provided on the side walls of the cabinet. Consequently, the temperature of the room wall can be prevented from being increased even if the air flow path between the rear of the apparatus body and the inner rear wall of the cabinet is narrowed.
- the cooling air is drawn in both from the inlet formed in the lower front of the cabinet and from the suction opening. A sufficient air volume is thus provided for the cooling. Consequently, a sufficient cooling capacity can be insured even if the air flow path between the rear of the apparatus body and the inner rear wall of the cabinet is narrowed.
- the apparatus body may have suction apertures formed in the rear thereof and the suction opening may be located so as to correspond to the suction apertures of the apparatus body so that air is drawn into the component chamber.
- the suction of the cooling air into the component chamber can be efficiently performed through the suction opening. Consequently, the electrical components in the component chamber can be cooled efficiently.
- the body of the heating apparatus may have in the ceiling an exhaust aperture through which air in the component chamber is exhausted to the air flow path side.
- the air can be exhausted from the component chamber by effective use of the air flow path. Consequently, the cooling of the electrical components in the component chamber can be improved.
- the fan may be disposed on the ceiling of the apparatus body and two exhaust apertures may be formed to be located at opposite sides of the fan respectively. The cooling operation can be performed uniformly in the right-hand and left-hand sides of the apparatus body. As a result, the air flow path at each side of the apparatus body can be narrowed or eliminated.
- the apparatus body may include an exhaust duct provided for introducing air in the heating chamber to the air flow path and having an outlet.
- the air in the heating chamber can be exhausted simultaneously with exhaustion of the cooling air from the component chamber.
- a partition plate may be provided in the air flow path for preventing back flow of the air exhausted from the outlet of the exhaust duct to the exhaust aperture. Even when steam is contained in the air exhausted from the heating chamber into the air flow path through the exhaust duct, the steam can be prevented from flowing back into the component chamber. Consequently, deterioration of the electrical components in the component chamber due to the steam can be prevented.
- FIGS. 1 to 4 A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
- the invention has been applied to a high mount type microwave oven having oven and grill functions in the embodiment.
- the body 11 comprises a rectangular outer casing 12 defining an outer wall of the body 11, a heating chamber (not shown) and a component chamber 13 both defined in the outer casing 12 to be disposed transversely.
- a ceiling 14 serves as those of both the heating chamber and the component chamber 13, as shown in FIG. 1.
- a door 15 is mounted on the front of the heating chamber to be openable for placing food in and taking it out of the heating chamber, as shown in FIG. 4.
- An operation panel 16 including various switches is disposed on the front of the component chamber 13.
- a magnetron 17 for supplying microwaves into the heating chamber, a high voltage transformer 18, a high voltage capacitor 19 and the like.
- a cooling fan 20 is provided at the rear interior of the component chamber 13 for cooling the electrical components such as the magnetron 17.
- the cooling fan 20 comprises a fan blade and an electric motor.
- Suction apertures 21 are formed in the rear of the outer casing 12 of the body 11 so as to be positioned behind the cooling fan 20, as shown in FIG. 2.
- the cooling fan 20 is driven so that a cooling air outside the body 11 is drawn in through the suction apertures 21 to be used for the cooling of the electrical components such as the magnetron 17.
- the cooling air after having passed the magnetron 17, flows through a duct 22 to be exhausted from an opening (not shown) of the ceiling 14 upwardly or into a space between the ceiling 14 and the outer casing 12. A part of the cooling air is supplied into the heating chamber through the duct 22 in the range mode.
- a grill heater 23 having an outer pipe formed from ceramic is disposed near the ceiling 14 in the heating chamber, as shown in FIG. 1.
- An oven heater (not shown) is disposed in the rear interior of the heating chamber.
- the microwave oven body 11 constructed as described above is enclosed in a cabinet 24 and then, the cabinet 24 is mounted on the outer bottom of a cupboard 26 hung on a room wall 25 of the kitchen, for example.
- the cabinet 24 has the height and width slightly larger than the microwave oven body 11 and a front opening and is formed into the shape of a rectangular box.
- a mounting plate 27 is provided at the lower interior of the cabinet 24 so that the microwave oven body 11 is placed on the mounting plate 27.
- Two movable rail members 29 are mounted on the top of the cabinet 24 so as to be engaged with respective fixed rail members 28 mounted on the outer bottom of the cupboard 26, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
- An air flow path 30 is defined between the microwave oven body 11 and the cabinet 24 in the condition that the body 11 is enclosed in the cabinet 24, as is shown in FIG. 1.
- the air flow path 30 extends from under the bottom of the body 11 and the rear of the body 11 to the space over the top of the body 11.
- Decorative panels 31 and 32 are mounted on the upper and lower front portions of the cabinet 24 respectively.
- Each decorative panel 31, 32 includes a plurality of louvers and slits extending transversely substantially a full width of the apparatus body 11.
- the slits of the lower decorative panel 32 serve as an inlet 33 communicating with the air flow path 30 and the slits of the upper decorative panel 31 serve as an outlet 34 communicating with the air flow path 30.
- a fan 35 is provided in the air flow path 30 as shown in FIG. 1.
- the fan 35 may be a transverse fan, for example, and is mounted on the top of the body 11 to be arranged transversely. Upon drive of the fan 35, air is drawn in from the inlet 33 and flows through the air flow path 30 toward the outlet 34.
- Two exhaust apertures 38 and 39 are formed in the top of the body 11 to be located at opposite sides of the fan 35 respectively, as is shown in FIG. 2. The air in the body 11 is exhausted through the exhaust apertures 38, 39 into the air flow path 30.
- the cabinet 24 comprises a bottom plate 24a, a rear plate 24b, a top plate 24c and two side plates 24d and 24e.
- the side plates 24d, 24e extend beyond the rear plate 24b, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 such that portions 24f, 24g of the side plates 24d, 24e protruding beyond the rear plate 24b serve as space defining means.
- the rear plate 24b has a generally rectangular suction opening 36, as shown in FIG. 2.
- the position of the suction opening 36 corresponds to that of the suction apertures 21 of the body 11.
- the side plates 24d, 24e of the cabinet 24 serve as side plates of the outer casing 12 of the microwave oven body 11.
- the cooling fan 20 in the component chamber 13 of the body 11 and the fan 35 disposed in the air flow path 30 are driven during execution of the heating.
- An outside air is drawn into the air flow path 30 through the inlet 33 of the decorative panel 32 to serve as the cooling air, as shown by void arrows in FIG. 1.
- the cooling air flows through the air flow path 30 to serve to cool the components such as the magnetron 17 in the component chamber 13, the outer casing 12 of the body 11 and the cabinet 24. Thereafter, the cooling air is exhausted outwards from the outlet 34.
- the outside air is also drawn in through the space S defined between the rear plate 24b and the room wall 25, the suction opening 36 formed in the rear plate 24b and the suction apertures 21 in turn to serve as the cooling air.
- the inventors made an experiment to study the difference in the temperature of the magnetron 17 between the cabinet having the suction opening 36 and that without the suction opening 36.
- the temperature of the magnetron 17 is 210°C (efficiency of 50% or above) in the case of the microwave oven with the suction opening 36 while it is 240°C (efficiency of 48%) in the case of the microwave oven without the suction opening 36.
- the outside air is drawn in from the suction opening 36 through the space S as well as from the inlet 33. Consequently, a sufficient volume of air can be ensured for the cooling of the components in the component chamber 13, the cabinet 24 and the like.
- a sufficient cooling capacity can be ensured in the embodiment even when the air flow path 30 is narrowed behind the body 11. Consequently, the depth of the cabinet 24 can be reduced.
- the suction opening 36 is positioned behind the suction apertures 21 in the foregoing embodiment, the same effect can be achieved as in the foregoing embodiment, even when the suction opening 36 is formed in any portion of the rear plate 24b.
- the space defining means 24f, 24g extend rearwardly from the side plates 24d, 24e of the cabinet respectively, such space defining means may be provided at four corners of a flat rear plate respectively.
- FIGS. 5 through 8 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention.
- a temperature sensor 44 for the temperature control is provided on the ceiling 14a of the heating chamber.
- the temperature sensor 44 is inserted into the ceiling 14a to be mounted in position.
- a partition plate 45 is mounted on the upper side of the ceiling 14a so as to squarely surround the temperature sensor 44.
- an exhaust duct 46 is mounted on the right-hand side wall of the heating chamber for the purpose of exhausting the air from the heating chamber outside the body 11.
- the duct 46 has air outlets 46a open to the outside at the upper rear of the body 11.
- Two exhaust apertures 38, 39 are formed in the top of the body 11 or in the top 12a of the outer casing 12 to be located at opposite sides of the fan 35 respectively, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
- the air in the body 11 or in the space between the ceiling 14a and the top 12a is exhausted through the exhaust apertures 38, 39 into the air flow path 30.
- a partition plate 40 is mounted between the air outlets 46a and the exhaust aperture 38 on the top 12a.
- the cooling fan 20 in the component chamber 13 of the body 11 and the fan 35 disposed in the air flow path 30 are driven during execution of the heating.
- the outside air is drawn into the air flow path 30 through the inlet 33 of the decorative panel 32 and further introduced into the component chamber 13 through the suction apertures 21 formed in the rear wall of the body 11, as shown by void arrows in FIG. 5.
- the air serves to cool the components such as the magnetron 17 in the component chamber 13 and thereafter, the air is exhausted into the space between the ceiling 14a and the top 12a of the outer casing 12 through the duct 22 and an opening 14b (FIG. 6) formed in the ceiling 14. Accordingly, the outer and inner casings 12, 14 and the like are also cooled by the cooling air.
- the air exhausted into the space between the ceiling 14a and the top 12a is further exhausted into the upper portion of the air flow path 30 to be finally exhausted outside through the outlet 34.
- the efficient cooling can be performed by the fan 35.
- the cooling can be performed uniformly in the right-hand and left-hand sides of the body 11 or the cabinet 24 since the exhaust apertures 38, 39 are positioned at opposite sides of the fan 35 respectively.
- the temperature sensor 44 is disposed in the space between the ceiling 14a and the top 12a of the outer casing 12, it is not influenced by the air flowing through the space since it is surrounded by the partition plate 45. Consequently, the temperature of the atmosphere in the heating chamber can be accurately detected by the temperature sensor 44.
- a part of the cooling air is supplied into the heating chamber through the duct 22 and exhausted outside the body 11 through the exhaust duct 46 in the range mode, for example.
- the air exhausted from the heating chamber contains steam or the like induced in it. Accordingly, the electrical components may be damaged when the air containing steam flows back into the component chamber 13.
- the partition plate 40 is mounted between the air outlets 46a and the exhaust aperture 38 on the top 12a. The partition plate 40 prevents the air containing steam or the like from flowing back into the component chamber when the air is exhausted from the exhaust duct 46 to the air flow path 30 through the exhaust aperture 38.
- high cooling efficiency can be achieved by the fan 35 disposed in the air flow path 30. Further, the cooling can be performed uniformly in the right-hand and left-hand sides of the body 11 or the cabinet 24. Accordingly, although the air flow path is necessitated at the right-hand and left-hand sides of the body of the microwave oven in the prior art, the increase in the temperature of each side wall can be restrained without the air flow path at the right-hand and left-hand sides of the body in the embodiment. Consequently, the width of the cabinet can be reduced and space saving can be enhanced.
- the partition plate 40 is mounted between the air outlets 46a and the exhaust aperture 38 on the top 12a. Accordingly, even when the steam is exhausted with the air from the heating chamber through the exhaust duct 26, the steam can be prevented from flowing back into the body 11 through the exhaust aperture 38, which prevents a bad influence of the steam upon the electrical components in the component chamber.
- the partition plate 40 may or may not be provided.
- the above-described object can be achieved without provision of the partition plate 40.
- the invention is applied to the microwave oven with oven and grill functions in the embodiments, it may be applied to the other heating apparatuses.
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Description
- This invention relates to a heating apparatus such as microwave ovens, and more particularly to such a heating apparatus which is enclosed, in its use, in a cabinet mounted so that its rear is abutted against a wall of the kitchen or the like, see, for instance, US-A-3 878 350.
- A microwave oven with an oven function, for example, is sometimes mounted, in its use, on the outer bottom of a cupboard hung on a room wall as well as placed on a stand. When the microwave oven is conventionally mounted on the outer bottom of the cupboard, a
body 1 of the microwave oven is enclosed in a cabinet 2 having the height and depth larger than themicrowave oven body 1 and the top of the cabinet 2 is fixed to the outer bottom of thecupboard 4 with its rear abutted against the room wall 3, as shown in FIG. 9. - A fan disposed in a component chamber defined in the
body 1 is driven for the cooling of electrical components such as a magnetron during operation of the microwave oven, so that cooling air is drawn in through suction apertures formed in the rear of the microwave oven. After the electrical components have been cooled, the air is discharged through an exhaust aperture formed in the top of themicrowave oven body 1. Further, the interior of the cabinet 2 needs to be cooled during the heating operation and in particular, during the oven mode since the air in thecooking chamber 4 is heated to a high temperature. - In view of the foregoing, an air flow path 5 is defined to extend through the upper, lower and rear spaces between the cabinet 2 and the
microwave oven body 1. Further, another fan 6 is provided in the air flow path 5 so that air is drawn in through lower louvers 7 and exhausted through upper louvers 8. - In the above conventional construction, however, a sectional area of the air flow path 5 is increased so that a volume of air necessary for the cooling of the electrical components such as the magnetron is ensured. As a result, the depth of the cabinet 2 is increased. Further, the rear of the cabinet 2 is abutted against the room wall 3, high temperature heat induced in the cabinet 2 is transmitted to the room wall 3 during the oven mode, particularly, resulting in increase in the atmospheric temperature of the room wall 3.
- Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a heating apparatus which is enclosed, in its use, in a cabinet having a reduced depth and wherein a sufficient cooling capacity can be ensured and the temperature of the room wall can be prevented from being increased.
- The present invention provides a heating apparatus comprising an apparatus body having therein a heating chamber in which food is heated and a component chamber in which electrical components are disposed, the heating apparatus further comprising a cabinet mounted so as to be abutted against a room wall, characterized by an air flow path continuously extending along a bottom, rear and ceiling of the apparatus body between the cabinet and the apparatus body enclosed in the cabinet, an inlet formed in the lower front of the cabinet and communicating with the air flow path, an outlet formed in the upper front of the cabinet and communicating with the air flow path, a fan disposed in the air flow path for circulating air, means for defining a space between the room wall and the rear wall of the cabinet when abutted against the room wall, and a suction opening provided in the rear wall of the cabinet and communicating with the air flow path.
- According to the above-described construction, the space is defined between the room wall and the rear wall of the cabinet by the space defining means provided on the side walls of the cabinet. Consequently, the temperature of the room wall can be prevented from being increased even if the air flow path between the rear of the apparatus body and the inner rear wall of the cabinet is narrowed.
- The cooling air is drawn in both from the inlet formed in the lower front of the cabinet and from the suction opening. A sufficient air volume is thus provided for the cooling. Consequently, a sufficient cooling capacity can be insured even if the air flow path between the rear of the apparatus body and the inner rear wall of the cabinet is narrowed.
- The apparatus body may have suction apertures formed in the rear thereof and the suction opening may be located so as to correspond to the suction apertures of the apparatus body so that air is drawn into the component chamber. The suction of the cooling air into the component chamber can be efficiently performed through the suction opening. Consequently, the electrical components in the component chamber can be cooled efficiently.
- The body of the heating apparatus may have in the ceiling an exhaust aperture through which air in the component chamber is exhausted to the air flow path side. In this case, the air can be exhausted from the component chamber by effective use of the air flow path. Consequently, the cooling of the electrical components in the component chamber can be improved. In this regard, the fan may be disposed on the ceiling of the apparatus body and two exhaust apertures may be formed to be located at opposite sides of the fan respectively. The cooling operation can be performed uniformly in the right-hand and left-hand sides of the apparatus body. As a result, the air flow path at each side of the apparatus body can be narrowed or eliminated.
- The apparatus body may include an exhaust duct provided for introducing air in the heating chamber to the air flow path and having an outlet. The air in the heating chamber can be exhausted simultaneously with exhaustion of the cooling air from the component chamber. Furthermore, a partition plate may be provided in the air flow path for preventing back flow of the air exhausted from the outlet of the exhaust duct to the exhaust aperture. Even when steam is contained in the air exhausted from the heating chamber into the air flow path through the exhaust duct, the steam can be prevented from flowing back into the component chamber. Consequently, deterioration of the electrical components in the component chamber due to the steam can be prevented.
- The invention will be described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- FIG. 1 is a longitudinally sectional side view of a cabinet and a heating apparatus enclosed in the cabinet in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cabinet and the heating apparatus;
- FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cabinet enclosing the heating apparatus;
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cabinet enclosing the heating apparatus, for the purpose of showing the mounting of the cabinet on a cupboard;
- FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the heating apparatus;
- FIG. 7 is a partially broken perspective view of the upper portion of the heating apparatus as taken from its rear;
- FIG. 8 is a front view of the cabinet enclosing the heating apparatus; and
- FIG. 9 is a longitudinally sectional view of a cabinet enclosing a heating apparatus in accordance with the prior art.
- A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The invention has been applied to a high mount type microwave oven having oven and grill functions in the embodiment.
- A
body 11 of the microwave oven will be first described in brief. Thebody 11 comprises a rectangularouter casing 12 defining an outer wall of thebody 11, a heating chamber (not shown) and acomponent chamber 13 both defined in theouter casing 12 to be disposed transversely. Aceiling 14 serves as those of both the heating chamber and thecomponent chamber 13, as shown in FIG. 1. Adoor 15 is mounted on the front of the heating chamber to be openable for placing food in and taking it out of the heating chamber, as shown in FIG. 4. Anoperation panel 16 including various switches is disposed on the front of thecomponent chamber 13. - In the
component chamber 13 are provided amagnetron 17 for supplying microwaves into the heating chamber, ahigh voltage transformer 18, ahigh voltage capacitor 19 and the like. Acooling fan 20 is provided at the rear interior of thecomponent chamber 13 for cooling the electrical components such as themagnetron 17. Thecooling fan 20 comprises a fan blade and an electric motor.Suction apertures 21 are formed in the rear of theouter casing 12 of thebody 11 so as to be positioned behind thecooling fan 20, as shown in FIG. 2. Thecooling fan 20 is driven so that a cooling air outside thebody 11 is drawn in through thesuction apertures 21 to be used for the cooling of the electrical components such as themagnetron 17. The cooling air, after having passed themagnetron 17, flows through aduct 22 to be exhausted from an opening (not shown) of theceiling 14 upwardly or into a space between theceiling 14 and theouter casing 12. A part of the cooling air is supplied into the heating chamber through theduct 22 in the range mode. - A grill heater 23 having an outer pipe formed from ceramic is disposed near the
ceiling 14 in the heating chamber, as shown in FIG. 1. An oven heater (not shown) is disposed in the rear interior of the heating chamber. - The
microwave oven body 11 constructed as described above is enclosed in acabinet 24 and then, thecabinet 24 is mounted on the outer bottom of acupboard 26 hung on aroom wall 25 of the kitchen, for example. - The
cabinet 24 has the height and width slightly larger than themicrowave oven body 11 and a front opening and is formed into the shape of a rectangular box. Amounting plate 27 is provided at the lower interior of thecabinet 24 so that themicrowave oven body 11 is placed on themounting plate 27. Twomovable rail members 29 are mounted on the top of thecabinet 24 so as to be engaged with respective fixedrail members 28 mounted on the outer bottom of thecupboard 26, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. - An
air flow path 30 is defined between themicrowave oven body 11 and thecabinet 24 in the condition that thebody 11 is enclosed in thecabinet 24, as is shown in FIG. 1. Theair flow path 30 extends from under the bottom of thebody 11 and the rear of thebody 11 to the space over the top of thebody 11.Decorative panels cabinet 24 respectively. Eachdecorative panel apparatus body 11. The slits of the lowerdecorative panel 32 serve as aninlet 33 communicating with theair flow path 30 and the slits of the upperdecorative panel 31 serve as anoutlet 34 communicating with theair flow path 30. - A
fan 35 is provided in theair flow path 30 as shown in FIG. 1. Thefan 35 may be a transverse fan, for example, and is mounted on the top of thebody 11 to be arranged transversely. Upon drive of thefan 35, air is drawn in from theinlet 33 and flows through theair flow path 30 toward theoutlet 34. Twoexhaust apertures body 11 to be located at opposite sides of thefan 35 respectively, as is shown in FIG. 2. The air in thebody 11 is exhausted through theexhaust apertures air flow path 30. - The
cabinet 24 comprises abottom plate 24a, arear plate 24b, atop plate 24c and twoside plates side plates rear plate 24b, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 such thatportions 24f, 24g of theside plates rear plate 24b serve as space defining means. - The
rear plate 24b has a generallyrectangular suction opening 36, as shown in FIG. 2. The position of thesuction opening 36 corresponds to that of thesuction apertures 21 of thebody 11. In the embodiment, theside plates cabinet 24 serve as side plates of theouter casing 12 of themicrowave oven body 11. - In mounting the
cabinet 24 enclosing thebody 11 on thecupboard 26 hung on theroom wall 25, themovable rail members 29 are inserted into the fixedrail members 28 secured on the outer bottom of thecupboard 26 and moved rearwardly until it abuts against theroom wall 25, as is shown in FIG. 4. A space S is defined between therear plate 24b of thecabinet 24 and theroom wall 25 by thespace defining means 24f, 24g when the rear edges of theside plates room wall 25, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. - In operation, the cooling
fan 20 in thecomponent chamber 13 of thebody 11 and thefan 35 disposed in theair flow path 30 are driven during execution of the heating. An outside air is drawn into theair flow path 30 through theinlet 33 of thedecorative panel 32 to serve as the cooling air, as shown by void arrows in FIG. 1. The cooling air flows through theair flow path 30 to serve to cool the components such as themagnetron 17 in thecomponent chamber 13, theouter casing 12 of thebody 11 and thecabinet 24. Thereafter, the cooling air is exhausted outwards from theoutlet 34. Simultaneously, the outside air is also drawn in through the space S defined between therear plate 24b and theroom wall 25, thesuction opening 36 formed in therear plate 24b and thesuction apertures 21 in turn to serve as the cooling air. Accordingly, a sufficient volume of cooling air is ensured since the cooling air is thus drawn in both from theinlet 33 and from thesuction opening 36. In particular, since thesuction opening 36 is positioned immediately behind thesuction apertures 21, the air is efficiently drawn in from thesuction opening 36. Consequently, the cooling effect for the components such as themagnetron 17 in thecomponent chamber 13 can be improved. - The inventors made an experiment to study the difference in the temperature of the
magnetron 17 between the cabinet having thesuction opening 36 and that without thesuction opening 36. According to the experiment, the temperature of themagnetron 17 is 210°C (efficiency of 50% or above) in the case of the microwave oven with thesuction opening 36 while it is 240°C (efficiency of 48%) in the case of the microwave oven without thesuction opening 36. - According to the above-described embodiment, the outside air is drawn in from the
suction opening 36 through the space S as well as from theinlet 33. Consequently, a sufficient volume of air can be ensured for the cooling of the components in thecomponent chamber 13, thecabinet 24 and the like. Although a large air flow path is necessitated behind the body of the microwave oven in the prior art, a sufficient cooling capacity can be ensured in the embodiment even when theair flow path 30 is narrowed behind thebody 11. Consequently, the depth of thecabinet 24 can be reduced. - Further, as the result of provision of the space S between the
rear plate 24b and theroom wall 25, an amount of heat transferred to theroom wall 25 can be reduced as compared with the prior art wherein an overall rear of the cabinet is in close contact with the room wall. Consequently, the increase in the temperature of the room wall can be restrained. - Although the
suction opening 36 is positioned behind thesuction apertures 21 in the foregoing embodiment, the same effect can be achieved as in the foregoing embodiment, even when thesuction opening 36 is formed in any portion of therear plate 24b. Further, although thespace defining means 24f, 24g extend rearwardly from theside plates - FIGS. 5 through 8 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. A
temperature sensor 44 for the temperature control is provided on theceiling 14a of the heating chamber. Thetemperature sensor 44 is inserted into theceiling 14a to be mounted in position. Apartition plate 45 is mounted on the upper side of theceiling 14a so as to squarely surround thetemperature sensor 44. Referring further to FIG. 7, anexhaust duct 46 is mounted on the right-hand side wall of the heating chamber for the purpose of exhausting the air from the heating chamber outside thebody 11. Theduct 46 hasair outlets 46a open to the outside at the upper rear of thebody 11. - Two
exhaust apertures body 11 or in the top 12a of theouter casing 12 to be located at opposite sides of thefan 35 respectively, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The air in thebody 11 or in the space between theceiling 14a and the top 12a is exhausted through theexhaust apertures air flow path 30. Apartition plate 40 is mounted between theair outlets 46a and theexhaust aperture 38 on the top 12a. - In operation, the cooling
fan 20 in thecomponent chamber 13 of thebody 11 and thefan 35 disposed in theair flow path 30 are driven during execution of the heating. The outside air is drawn into theair flow path 30 through theinlet 33 of thedecorative panel 32 and further introduced into thecomponent chamber 13 through thesuction apertures 21 formed in the rear wall of thebody 11, as shown by void arrows in FIG. 5. The air serves to cool the components such as themagnetron 17 in thecomponent chamber 13 and thereafter, the air is exhausted into the space between theceiling 14a and the top 12a of theouter casing 12 through theduct 22 and anopening 14b (FIG. 6) formed in theceiling 14. Accordingly, the outer andinner casings ceiling 14a and the top 12a is further exhausted into the upper portion of theair flow path 30 to be finally exhausted outside through theoutlet 34. - In the above-described embodiment, the efficient cooling can be performed by the
fan 35. The cooling can be performed uniformly in the right-hand and left-hand sides of thebody 11 or thecabinet 24 since theexhaust apertures fan 35 respectively. Although thetemperature sensor 44 is disposed in the space between theceiling 14a and the top 12a of theouter casing 12, it is not influenced by the air flowing through the space since it is surrounded by thepartition plate 45. Consequently, the temperature of the atmosphere in the heating chamber can be accurately detected by thetemperature sensor 44. - A part of the cooling air is supplied into the heating chamber through the
duct 22 and exhausted outside thebody 11 through theexhaust duct 46 in the range mode, for example. The air exhausted from the heating chamber contains steam or the like induced in it. Accordingly, the electrical components may be damaged when the air containing steam flows back into thecomponent chamber 13. In the embodiment, however, thepartition plate 40 is mounted between theair outlets 46a and theexhaust aperture 38 on the top 12a. Thepartition plate 40 prevents the air containing steam or the like from flowing back into the component chamber when the air is exhausted from theexhaust duct 46 to theair flow path 30 through theexhaust aperture 38. - According to the above-described embodiment, high cooling efficiency can be achieved by the
fan 35 disposed in theair flow path 30. Further, the cooling can be performed uniformly in the right-hand and left-hand sides of thebody 11 or thecabinet 24. Accordingly, although the air flow path is necessitated at the right-hand and left-hand sides of the body of the microwave oven in the prior art, the increase in the temperature of each side wall can be restrained without the air flow path at the right-hand and left-hand sides of the body in the embodiment. Consequently, the width of the cabinet can be reduced and space saving can be enhanced. - Furthermore, the
partition plate 40 is mounted between theair outlets 46a and theexhaust aperture 38 on the top 12a. Accordingly, even when the steam is exhausted with the air from the heating chamber through theexhaust duct 26, the steam can be prevented from flowing back into thebody 11 through theexhaust aperture 38, which prevents a bad influence of the steam upon the electrical components in the component chamber. - The
partition plate 40 may or may not be provided. The above-described object can be achieved without provision of thepartition plate 40. Further, although the invention is applied to the microwave oven with oven and grill functions in the embodiments, it may be applied to the other heating apparatuses. - The foregoing disclosure and drawings are merely illustrative of the principle of the present invention and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense. The only limitation is to be determined from the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (7)
- A heating apparatus comprising an apparatus body (11) having therein a heating chamber in which food is heated and a component chamber (13) in which electrical components are disposed, the heating apparatus further comprising a cabinet (24) mounted so as to be abutted against a room wall (25), characterized by an air flow path (30) continuously extending along a bottom, rear and ceiling of the apparatus body (11) between the cabinet (24) and the apparatus body (11) enclosed in the cabinet (24), an inlet (33) formed in the lower front of the cabinet (24) and communicating with the air flow path (30), an outlet (34) formed in the upper front of the cabinet (24) and communicating with the air flow path (30), a fan (35) disposed in the air flow path (30) for circulating air, means (24f, 24g) for defining a space (S) between the room wall (25) and the rear wall of the cabinet (24) when abutted against the room wall (25), and a suction opening (36) provided in the rear wall of the cabinet (24) and communicating with the air flow path (30).
- A heating apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the space defining means (24f, 24g) are formed by rearwardly protruding the opposite side walls of the cabinet (24).
- A heating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the apparatus body (11) has suction apertures (21) formed in the rear thereof and the suction opening (36) is located so as to correspond to the suction apertures (21) of the apparatus body (11) so that air is drawn into the component chamber (13).
- A heating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fan (35) is disposed nearer to the outlet (34) than to the inlet (33).
- A heating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the apparatus body (11) has in the ceiling an exhaust aperture (38) through which air in the component chamber (13) is exhausted to the air flow path side.
- A heating apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the fan (35) is disposed on the ceiling of the apparatus body (11) and two exhaust apertures (38, 39) are formed to be located at opposite sides of the fan (35) respectively.
- A heating apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the apparatus body (11) includes an exhaust duct (46) provided for introducing air in the heating chamber to the air flow path (30) and having an outlet (46a), and a partition plate (40) is provided in the air flow path (30) for preventing back flow of the air from the outlet (46a) of the exhaust duct (46) to the exhaust aperture (38).
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP226988/92 | 1992-08-26 | ||
JP4226988A JP2825400B2 (en) | 1992-08-26 | 1992-08-26 | Cooker |
JP226987/92 | 1992-08-26 | ||
JP4226987A JP2966658B2 (en) | 1992-08-26 | 1992-08-26 | Cooker |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0584933A1 EP0584933A1 (en) | 1994-03-02 |
EP0584933B1 true EP0584933B1 (en) | 1996-11-27 |
Family
ID=26527445
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP93305731A Expired - Lifetime EP0584933B1 (en) | 1992-08-26 | 1993-07-21 | Heating apparatus enclosed in a cabinet during its use |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0584933B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69306199T2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ITMI941183A1 (en) * | 1994-06-07 | 1995-12-07 | Smeg Spa | DEVICE TO REDUCE THE FORMATION OF CONDENSATION IN THE COOKING COMPARTMENT OF A MICROWAVE OVEN |
JP3113621B2 (en) * | 1997-04-07 | 2000-12-04 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Cooking device |
FR2868151B1 (en) * | 2004-03-25 | 2006-05-05 | Brandt Ind Sas | INTERNAL VENTILATION OF A MICROWAVE OVEN |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3783219A (en) * | 1970-11-11 | 1974-01-01 | Sharp Kk | Air cooled microwave cooking oven and door |
US3878350A (en) * | 1971-07-15 | 1975-04-15 | Sharp Kk | Microwave cooking apparatus |
-
1993
- 1993-07-21 EP EP93305731A patent/EP0584933B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-07-21 DE DE69306199T patent/DE69306199T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69306199T2 (en) | 1997-04-24 |
DE69306199D1 (en) | 1997-01-09 |
EP0584933A1 (en) | 1994-03-02 |
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