GB2344882A

GB2344882A - Applying metal plate to a support assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2344882A
Application number: GB9821899A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Douglas Parker
Original assignee: Stoves PLC; Stoves Group PLC
Current assignee: Stoves PLC; Stoves Group PLC
Priority date: 1998-10-08
Filing date: 1998-10-08
Publication date: 2000-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-08
Also published as: GB9821899D0; GB2344882B; GB2344882A8

Abstract

An assembly has a metal plate (103) preferably of stainless steel. Supporting vertical extrusions (401) define outward facing grooves (407) and the stainless steel plate is located within these grooves, such that the plate extends around edges of the extrusions in a spring-loaded arrangement, thereby introducing a degree of curvature to the plate. The assembly may be used in the construction of oven doors. A front glass panel (403) is held by extrusion (401) and a groove (501) defined in the extrusion (403) securely holds the rear glass panel (404).

Description

2OR 344882 Applying Metal Plate To a Support Assembly The present

invention relates to applying metal plate to a support assembly.

The application of metal plates to support assemblies is performed in many environments. Stainless steel plate is often used on appliances for the preparation and cooking of foodstuffs and may be used, for example, for applying a clean and durable surface to ovens etc.

It is known to apply stainless steel plates to oven doors where the plate remains substantially flat, resulting in the finished product having a substantially box-like appearance. It is also known to apply curvature to the plate by tooling processes so as to define a required profile. A problem with this approach is that the cost of tooling can be substantial, which in turn could limit the extent to which a range of products may be modified over a production lifetime.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of applying metal plate to a support assembly, wherein said support assembly defines outward facing grooves at opposing edges; and said metal plate is located in said grooves at opposing edges such that said plate extends around said edges in a spring-loaded arrangement.

In a preferred embodiment, the metal plate is fabricated from stainless steel and the support assemblies may be extrusions having a groove defined along of their outward facing edge by the extrusion process. Preferably, the support assembly is extruded in aluminium.

The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows the cutting of a stainless steel plate to produce a front panel blank; Figure 2 illustrates a tool for applying folds to the edges of the blank shown in Figure 1; 2 Figure 3 shows the curving of the folded blank; Figure 4 shows an oven door assembly held within a fixing rack or jig; Figure 5 details the assembly shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 shows the oven door applied to an oven.

In a preferred embodiment, stainless steel plate is applied to support assemblies of oven doors, however, it should be appreciated that the technique has application elsewhere, where a curved surface is required without performing complex tooling operations upon the plate. The support assembly defines outward facing grooves at opposing edges. The metal plate is located within these grooves such that the plate extends around the edges in a spring-loaded arrangement. Thus, in preference to tooling the overall shape of the plate, the plate is held securely at its edges whereafter the curved appearance of the plate is obtained by a bending moment; the plate being bent about both of its edges thereby creating a substantially symmetrically curved configuration.

In order to fabricate an oven door embodying the present invention, a modest degree of machine working is performed upon a flat sheet of stainless steel. However, the tools involved are relatively basic, therefore the actual tooling costs are minimal.

The oven door has a stainless steel front behind which glass panels are supported. The stainless steel front therefore includes a cut-out window so that the contents of the oven can be seen through the glass panels.

A rectangular stainless steel plate 101, having a thickness of zero point six millimetres (0.6 mm) is shown in Figure 1. A window is cut in the plate by means of an industrial laser 102 to form a stainless steel blank 103 having a window 104 cut therein. Each stainless steel blank 103 has vertical edges 105 and 106 and it is these edges that are held within outward facing grooves of a support assembly.

Each edge 105, 106 of the stainless steel blank 103 has two folds introduced therein by means of a break press, the tools of which are 3 illustrated in Figure 2. An upper tool 201 travels downwards to cooperate with a lower stationary tool 202. The tools 201, 202 have outlines 203 and 204 respectively, so as to introduce a double fold into the edges of the blank.

The blank is introduced into the gap between tools 201 and 202 until its edge, 105 or 106 abuts against a lower end stop 205. The upper tool 201 is then brought down, thereby introducing the double fold into the edge of the blank. Upper tool 201 then retracts, allowing the blank 103 to be removed and rotated such that the other edge 106 may be introduced into the tool. In this way, double folds are introduced into both edges 105 and 106 of the stainless steel blank 103.

Each folded edge of the blank 103 is sequentially restrained within a clamp 301, as shown in Figure 3. After being secured in clamp 301, the central portion of the blank 103 extending substantially upwards away from the clamp. A curved fold is introduced into the blank, extended from its clamped position, by means of a roller 302, arranged to roll over the extending central blank portion, thereby introducing a degree of curvature to the edges of the blank immediately following the position of the introduced folds, by the process illustrated in Figure 2.

The oven door assembly includes the stainless steel front panel 103, a left aluminium extrusion 401, a right aluminium extrusion 402, a front glass panel 403 and a rear glass panel 404, as shown in Figure 4. The stainless steel panel 103 is located face downwards upon an assembly rack. 405.

Each of the extrusions 401 and 402 includes an outward facing groove 407 and 408 respectively. Grooves 407 and 408 allow their respective extrusions to be slid into position such that the folded edges 105 and 106 of the stainless steel panel 103 engage within respective grooves 407 and 408.

High temperature silicon adhesive is applied to the back of the stainless steel panel 103 at positions where it engages with front glass panel 403 and front glass panel 403 is then applied over the glued stainless steel plate.The aluminium extrusions 401 and 402 are then located in their 4 required orientation with respect to panel 103 and then firmly secured by means of clamps 409 and 410. The back glass panel 404 is then located in position, whereafter further force is applied to clamps 409 and 410 thereby firmly holding the glass panels in their required orientation.

The assembly shown in Figure 4 is held within rack 405 for twenty-four hours, thereby ensuring that a durable bond is formed between the glass and metal components at positions where the silicon adhesive has been applied.

As shown in Figure 5, edge 105 of stainless steel panel 103 is held firmly within groove 407 of the extrusion 401. The stainless steel panel is effectively bent in an elastic fashion such that a bending moment continues to be applied, resulting in a natural curvature being created for the panel front.

Front glass panel 403 is held by extrusion 403 and a groove 501 defined in the extrusion 403 securely holds the rear glass panel 404.

The top and bottom ends of the extrusions 401 and 402 are finished off by the application of a plastic cap 411.

The overall assembly illustrated in Figure 4 provides an oven door 601 as illustrated in Figure 6. A curved handle 602 has been attached to the oven door 601 and this assembly is then attached to a main oven chassis 603. A similarly profiled front panel 604 is included above the oven door having oven controls 605.

The overall arrangement provides an alternative to simple flat stainless steel panels but with minimal additional expense. Furthermore, given that the front panel is permanently being held in tension, it remains more resilient to knocks and misuse, for a given stainless steel gauge.

The invention has been described with reference to its application for an oven door but it should be appreciated that the invention may be exploited elsewhere in situations where a metal plate is to be supported by an assembly with a degree of curvature being applied to the plate.

Claims

1. A method of applying metal plate to a support assembly, wherein said support assembly defines outward facing grooves at opposing edges;and said metal plate is located in said grooves at opposing edges such that said plate extends around said edges in a spring-loaded arrangement.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said metal plate is fabricated from stainless steel.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said support assembly is an extrusion having a groove defined along its outward facing edge by the extrusion process.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said support assembly is extruded in aluminium.

5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said metal plate and said support assembly define an oven door.

6. A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein folds are applied to the edges of the metal plate so as to engage said plate within said grooves.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said folded edges are curved so as to facilitate further bending into the required shape.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said curve is introduced by the application of rolling means.

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9. A method according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein a window is cut in said plate and a glass panel is secured to edges of said plate.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein a second glass panel is secured by said assembly displaced from said first glass panel, to facilitate the introduction of cooling air between said glass panels.

11. An assembly comprising a metal plate secured by supporting means, wherein said supporting means define outward facing grooves at opposing edges, and said metal plate is located within said grooves such that said plate extends around said edges in a spring-loaded arrangement, thereby introducing a degree of curvature to said plate.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein said metal plate is fabricated from stainless steel.

13. An assembly according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said supporting means includes extrusions wherein each of said extrusion defines a groove along its outward facing edge.

14. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein said supporting means is extruded in aluminium.

15. An assembly according to any of claims 11 to 14, fabhcated to define an oven door.

16. An assembly according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein said metal plate has folds defined at its edges and said folds engage within said outward facing grooves.

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17. An assembly according to any of claims 11 to 16, wherein a window is cut in the metal plate and the glass panel is secured behind said window.

18. An assembly according to claim 17, wherein a second glass panel is secured to said assembly, displaced from said first glass panel to facilitate the introduction of cooling air between said glass panels.

19. A method of applying metal plate to a support assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. An assembly comprising a metal plate secured by supporting means substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.