IES990499A2 - A cooker - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooker (1) comprising an oven (8), a main combustion chamber (5) in which fuel may be combusted, a heat exchange means (10) co-operable with the main combustion chamber (5) and the oven (8) for transferring heat from the main combustion chamber (5) to the oven (8), a first heating means (18) associated with the oven (8) for heating the oven (8), the first heating means (18) and the main combustion chamber (5) being independently operable. <Figure 4>

Description

The present invention relates to a cooker, and in particular, to a cooker of the type which is fired by liquid, gas or solid fuel.

According to the invention there is provided a cooker comprising an oven, a main combustion chamber in which fuel may be combusted, a heat exchange means cooperating with the main combustion chamber and the oven for transferring heat from the main combustion chamber to the oven, and a first heating means associated with the oven for heating the oven, the first heating means and the main combustion chamber being independently operable.

In one embodiment of the invention the first heating means comprises a first electrical heating means, and preferably, an electrical heating means.

Preferably, the oven comprises a fan for assisting the heat exchange means or the first heating means.

In one embodiment of the invention the main combustion chamber is suitable for combusting a liquid or gas fuel therein, for example, oil, or gas, such as natural gas. Alternatively, or in addition, the main combustion chamber is suitable for combusting solid fuel therein, for example, coal, turf, timber and the like.

In a further embodiment of the invention a first hob is provided on the cooker, and the heat exchange means co-operates with the main combustion chamber and the hob for transferring heat from the main combustion chamber to the first hob.

IE990499 In one embodiment of the invention the heat exchange means comprises a gallery for accommodating fuel gases from the main combustion chamber past an outer surface of the oven for the transfer of heat from the main combustion chamber to the oven. Preferably, the gallery extends around an outer surface of the oven, and ideally, the gallery extends beneath the first hob.

In a further embodiment of the invention a second hob is provided, and a second heating means is provided for heating the second hob, the second heating means being independent of the main combustion chamber and the first heating means. Preferably, the second heating means is an electrically powered heating means, and ideally, comprises an electric heating element.

In a further embodiment of the invention an insulating means is provided between the main combustion chamber and the second hob for preventing heat transfer from the main combustion chamber to the second hob.

In a further embodiment of the invention the cooker comprises a boiler for heating water, and in a still further embodiment of the invention a boiler heating means is provided associated with the boiler for heating the water in the boiler, the boiler heating means being independently operable relative to the main combustion chamber and the respective other heating means.

In one embodiment of the invention the third heating means comprises a secondary combustion chamber in which fuel may be combusted, and typically, the secondary IE990499 combustion chamber is suitable for combusting liquid, or gas fuel or alternatively, or additionally, is suitable for combusting solid fuel.

Additionally, the invention provides a cooker comprising a first hob, a main 5 combustion chamber in which fuel may be combusted, a heat exchange means cooperating with the main combustion chamber and the first hob for transferring heat from the main combustion chamber to the first hob, a second hob, and a second heating means for heating the second hob, the second heating means being independently operable of the main combustion chamber.

The cooker of the invention facilitates the heating of an oven using combustible fuels and separate heating means typically in the form of electrical heating means. Accordingly, the cooker of the invention may be operated on a year round basis without requiring the use of combustible fuel as desired. Moreover, heat resulting from the combustion of fuel together with heat from the separate heating means such as an electrical element may be used jointly to effect heating of the oven.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof which is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; — Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a cooker according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cooker of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view from above of the cooker of Fig. 1, and IE990499 Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 of the cooker of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a cooker according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The cooker 1 comprises a main outer shell 2 which defines a top plate 3. A main combustion chamber 5 is located within the shell 2 and is adapted for combusting oil therein for providing heat for the cooker 1 from an oil burner located vertically below the combustion chamber 5 in an io oil burner housing 37. Where the cooker 1 is adapted to combust solid fuel the oil burner housing 37 is adapted to receive ash and the like. An oven 8 is also located within the shell 2, and access is provided to the oven 8 through a front door 9 which is hingedly connected to the shell 2. A heat exchange means, namely a gallery 10, extends completely around the oven 8 from the main combustion chamber 5 for accommodating flue gases from the main combustion chamber 5 for heating thereof. The gallery 10 is in communication with a vertical leg 11 which extends upwardly from the main combustion chamber 5 to a flue gas outlet 13. A horizontal top leg 12 extends from the top of the vertical leg 11 across the top of the oven 8 and communicates with a vertical downwardly extending leg 14 which extends downwardly by the side of the oven 8, apd_ in turn communicates with a horizontal bottom leg 15 to convey the flue gases around the oven 8. The horizontal bottom leg 15 comprises a baffle 38 to cause the flue gases to be returned to the flue 13 following heat transfer. Although not illustrated the horizontal top leg 12, the vertical downwardly extending leg 14 and the horizontal bottom leg 15 are partitioned or subdivided in two to form a front half of the gallery 10 and a rear half of the gallery 10 for facilitating adequate heat exchange between the flue gases and the oven 8 IE990499 i.e. flue gases are compelled to travel around the oven 8 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4 in the partitioned downwardly extending leg 14 and horizontal bottom leg 15 and are returned through the partitioned downwardly extending leg 14 and the horizontal bottom leg 15 to the flue 13.

A first heating means, namely a first electrical heating element 18 in combination with an oven fan 35 is provided in association with the oven 8 for heating the oven 8 independently of the main combustion chamber 5, for example, in the summer, where it may not be desirable to use the main combustion chamber 5. Additionally, io the fan assisted first electrical heating element 18 may be used as an auxiliary heat supply to the oven 8.

The fan 35 of the oven 8 is also adapted to assist in the transfer of heat from the combustion chamber 5 to the oven 8 regardless of whether the first electrical heating element 18 is employed.

A first hob 20 is located on the top plate 3 for cooking purposes, and is heated by flue gases from the main combustion chamber 5 which pass through the horizontal top leg 12 of the gallery 10. Covers 21 which are hingedly connected to the top plate 3 close the first hob 20. The covers 21 are illustrated in a closed covering position in Fig. 1, and an open position exposing the first hob 20 in Fig. 3 The cooker 1 is also provided with a grill element 39 within the oven 8 for performing grilling operations as required.

IE990499 A pair of second hobs 24 are also located on the top plate 3, and are heated by second heating means, namely, electrical heating elements (not shown), which are located within the second hobs 24. In addition, a pair of third hobs 30 are located on the top plate 3, and, like the second hobs 24, are heated by second heating means such as the second electrical heating elements. The second electrical heating elements are independently operable of the main combustion chamber 5 and the first electrical heating element 18. An insulating means, namely, insulating material (not shown) is located in a cavity 25 containing insulating material for heat insulating the second hobs 24,30 from the main combustion chamber 5.

A boiler 27 for heating water, for example, domestic hot water and/or hot water for a central heating system is also located in the shell 2. The cooker 1 is provided with water communicating pipes 36 to the rear of the shell 2 for transporting water to and from the cooker 1. The boiler 27 defines a secondary combustion chamber 28 which forms a third heating means for heating the water in the boiler 27. The secondary combustion chamber 28 is also adapted for receiving an oil or gas fired burner for combusting oil or gas within the secondary combustion chamber 28. The secondary combustion chamber 28 is independently operable of the main combustion chamber 5 and the first and second heating elements. However, it will be appreciated that if desired, the boiler 27 and the main combustion chamber 5 could be associated so that the main combustion chamber 5 also heated the boiler 27.

A door 31 which is hingedly connected to the shell 2 provides access to control knobs and switches for controlling the operation of the burners (not shown) of the two combustion chambers, and the heating elements for the oven and the second hobs. A door 32 which is hingedly connected to the shell 2 provides access to the IE990499 main and secondary combustion chambers 5 and 28, respectively. A door 33 which is hingedly connected to the shell 2 provides access to a heated compartment 34 which is heated by heat transfer from the first combustion chamber 5, and flue gases passing through the horizontal bottom leg 15 of the gallery 10 which pass over the top of the heated compartment 34.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (5)

1. A cooker comprising an oven, a main combustion chamber in which fuel may be combusted, a heat exchange means co-operable with the main combustion chamber and the oven for transferring heat from the main combustion chamber to the oven, and a first heating means associated with the oven for heating the oven, the first heating means and the main combustion chamber being independently operable.

2. A cooker as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the first heating means comprises a first electrical heating means.

3. A cooker as claimed in Claim 2 characterised in that the first electrical heating means comprises an electrical heating element.

4. A cooker as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the oven comprises a fan for assisting the heat exchange means or the first heating means.

5. A cooker substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.