KR20130036802A - Microwave oven - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A microwave oven is provided to respectively install a convection heater and a convection fan at the mutually separated edges of a cooking chamber, and use a cross-flow fan as the convection fan, thereby increasing the amount of hot air circulating inside the cooking chamber. CONSTITUTION: A microwave oven includes a cavity(110), a first cover(210), a second cover(220), a convection fan(230), and a convection heater(250). The first cover is installed at one side of the cavity having a cooking chamber(111) inside, and defines a first space(S1) communicating with the cooking chamber. The second cover is installed at the other side of the cavity, and defines a second space(S2) communicating with the cooking chamber and being separated from the first space. The convection fan is installed in the first space, and makes air flow through the cooking chamber, the first space, and the second space. A cross-flow fan is used as the convection fan. The convection heater is installed in the second space, and heats the air run by the convection fan.

Description

Microwave oven

The present invention relates to a microwave oven.

A microwave oven is a cooking apparatus which cooks food using a microwave. Such a microwave oven is equipped with a magnetron for oscillating microwaves. Recently, microwave ovens for cooking foods using a heater heat or the like other than microwaves have been released. Hereinafter, the microwave oven provided with the convection device which cooks food by the high temperature air circulating inside the cooking chamber is demonstrated especially.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a microwave oven according to the prior art.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cooking chamber 3 in which food is cooked is provided inside the microwave oven 1. And one side of the cooking chamber 3 is provided with a full-length chamber (5). The electric component chamber 5 is provided with various electric components such as a magnetron (not shown) for irradiating microwaves into the cooking chamber 3 and a high voltage transformer (not shown) for supplying a high voltage current to the magnetron. .

In addition, a convection device 10 is provided on one surface of the cooking chamber 3. The convection device 10 allows the hot air to circulate inside the cooking chamber 3. In FIG. 1, the convection device 10 is illustrated as being provided outside one side of the cooking chamber 3 corresponding to the interior of the electric compartment 5. However, the convection device 10 may be installed outside the rear surface of the cooking chamber 3. The convection device 10 includes a convection cover 11, a convection fan 13, a convection motor 15, and a convection heater 17.

In more detail, the convection cover 11 is installed outside one surface of the cooking chamber 3 to define one surface of the cooking chamber 3 and the convection chamber 12. The convection chamber 12 communicates with the cooking chamber 3 through an intake port 7 and an exhaust port 9. The convection fan 13 and the convection heater 17 are provided inside the convection chamber 12. The convection motor 15 is installed outside the convection chamber 12. The convection pan 13 allows air to circulate between the cooking chamber 3 and the convection chamber 12. The convection motor 15 provides a driving force for driving the convection fan 13. The convection heater 17 heats the air circulating through the space between the cooking chamber 3 and the convection chamber 12 by the convection fan 13.

However, the following problems occur in the microwave oven according to the prior art.

Conventionally, an axial fan is used as the convection fan 13. However, in the case of such an axial flow fan, the flow rate of air is relatively small compared to other types of fans, for example, the crossflow fan. Therefore, there is a disadvantage in that it is not possible to ensure a sufficient amount of air circulating the cooking chamber (3) by the convection pan (13).

Also conventionally, the convection fan 13 and the convection motor 15 and the convection heater 17 are located adjacent to each other. Therefore, conventionally, in order to prevent damage to the convection fan 13 and the convection motor 15 which are heated by the convection heater 17, a configuration for cooling both, for example, a separate cooling device is considered. Should be.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven configured to cook food more efficiently.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a microwave oven capable of minimizing the phenomenon that the convection fan is heated by the convection heater.

One aspect of an embodiment of a microwave oven according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a cavity provided with a cooking chamber; A first cover installed at one side of the cavity and defining a first space communicating with the cooking chamber; A second cover installed at the other side of the cavity and defining a second space communicating with the cooking chamber and partitioned from the first space; A convection fan installed in the first space and forming a flow of air flowing through the cooking chamber and the first and second spaces; And a convection heater installed in the second space and heating air flowing by the convection fan. It includes.

Another aspect of an embodiment of a microwave oven according to the present invention includes a cavity in which a cooking chamber is provided therein, and edge portions defined by the upper and both sides thereof are inclined with respect to the upper and both sides; A convection fan installed outside one of the inclined edge portions of the cavity; A fan cover that shields the convection pan and defines a space in communication with the cooking chamber; A convection heater installed outside the other of the inclined edge portions of the cavity; And a heater cover that shields the convection heater and defines a space in communication with the cooking chamber. And a fan cover and a heater cover are separately formed and fixed to the cavity, and when the convection fan is operated, air in the cooking chamber circulates inside the cooking chamber while passing through the convection heater.

In an embodiment of the microwave oven according to the present invention, a convection heater and a convection fan are respectively installed at corners spaced apart from each other in the cooking chamber. As the convection fan, a cross flow fan is used. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the amount of hot air circulating in the cooking chamber is increased, the cooking efficiency of the actual food may be improved.

Also in this embodiment, the convection heater and the convection fan are positioned substantially apart from each other. Therefore, in this embodiment, the phenomenon in which the convection fan is heated by the convection heater is prevented, so that damage to the convection fan is prevented or a configuration for preventing the convection fan is unnecessary.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a microwave oven according to the prior art.
2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a microwave oven according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the flow of air in the first embodiment of the microwave oven according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second embodiment of the microwave oven according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a first embodiment of a microwave oven according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a microwave oven according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the cooking chamber 111 is provided inside the cavity 110 of the microwave oven 100. The cooking chamber 111 is a place where food is cooked. And the inside of the cavity 110 corresponding to the outside of the cooking chamber 111 is provided with a full-length chamber 113. Various electrical components are installed in the electric compartment 113. For example, a magnetron 115 for irradiating microwaves to the inside of the cooking chamber 111 and a high voltage transformer for supplying a high voltage current to the magnetron 115 inside the electric chamber 113. ) Is installed. In addition, the electric field chamber 113 is provided with a wave guide 117. The wave guide 117 guides the microwaves oscillated from the magnetron 115 to the cooking chamber 111.

The cavity 110 includes a front plate 120, an upper plate 130, a bottom plate 140, a rear plate 150, two side plates 160, and two inclined plates 171 and 175. It includes. The cooking chamber 111 is defined by the upper plate 130, the bottom plate 140, the rear plate 150, the side plate 160, and the inclined plate 171, 175.

In more detail, the front plate 120 forms a front appearance of the cavity 110. The front plate 120 has an opening 121 through which food is introduced into and out of the cooking chamber 111. For example, the front plate 120 may be formed in a rectangular plate shape, and the opening 121 may be formed by cutting the inside of the front plate 120 into a substantially hexagonal shape.

The upper plate 130 forms a part of the ceiling surface of the cooking chamber 111. Front and rear ends of the upper plate 130 are connected to the front plate 120 and the rear plate 150, respectively.

The bottom plate 140 forms a bottom surface of the cooking chamber 111. Front and rear ends of the bottom plate 140 are also connected to the front plate 120 and the rear plate 150, similarly to the upper plate 130.

The rear plate 150 forms the rear surface of the cooking chamber 111. Substantially, the rear plate 150 may be formed in the same shape and size as the front plate 120.

The side plate 160 forms both side surfaces of the cooking chamber 111. The front, bottom and rear ends of the side plate 160 are connected to the front plate 120, the bottom plate 140 and the rear plate 150, respectively.

The inclined plates 171 and 175 form the remainder of the ceiling surface of the cooking chamber 111. The inclined plates 171 and 175 are inclined with respect to the upper plate 130 and the side plate 160, respectively. Front and rear ends of the inclined plates 171 and 175 are connected to the front plate 120 and the rear plate 150, respectively. Both ends of the inclined plates 171 and 175 are connected to both ends of the upper plate 130 and an upper end of the side plate 160, respectively. For example, the inclined plates 171 and 175 may be bent at both ends of the upper plate 130 with respect to the rest of the upper plate 130, or an upper end of the side plate 160 may be formed in the side plate ( It may be formed by bending the rest of the 160. Substantially, the inclined plates 171 and 175 may be symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane that bisects the cooking chamber 111 from side to side. And by the inclined plate 171, 175 substantially the edge portion defined by the upper plate 130 and the side plate 160, that is, the edge portion defined by the upper surface and both sides of the cavity 110 is It can be expressed as being inclined.

In addition, a first intake port 172 and a first exhaust port 173 are formed on the left side of the inclined plates 171 and 175 (hereinafter, referred to as a 'first inclined plate 171' for convenience of description). (See FIG. 3) The first intake port 172 and the first exhaust port 173 are formed by cutting a portion of the first inclination plate 171, respectively. In the present embodiment, each of the first intake port 172 and the first exhaust port 173 is formed by cutting a portion of the first inclination plate 171 in front and rear directions. The first intake port 172 is positioned relatively to the side plate 160 relative to the first exhaust port 173. On the contrary, the first exhaust port 173 is positioned adjacent to the upper plate 130 relatively to the first intake port 172.

A second intake port 176 and a second exhaust port 177 are formed on the right side of the inclined plate 171 and 175 (hereinafter referred to as a 'second inclination plate 175' for convenience of description). (See FIG. 3) The second intake port 176 and the second exhaust port 177 are formed by cutting a portion of the second inclination plate 175, respectively. In the present embodiment, each of the second intake port 176 and the second exhaust port 177 is formed by cutting a portion of the second inclination plate 175 in the longitudinal direction. The second intake port 176 is located adjacent to the upper plate 130 relatively to the second exhaust port 177. On the contrary, the second exhaust port 177 is positioned relatively to the side plate 160 relative to the second intake port 176. In other words, the second intake port 176 may be located adjacent to the first exhaust port 173 relative to the second exhaust port 177.

On the other hand, the cavity 110 is provided with a convection device. The convection device serves to allow high temperature air to flow inside the cooking chamber 111. The convection device may operate simultaneously or separately from a heating source such as the magnetron 115. The convection device includes first and second covers 210 and 220, a convection fan 230, a convection motor 240, and a convection heater 250.

More specifically, the first and second covers 210 and 220 may be formed on the outer surfaces of the first and second slope plates 171 and 175, that is, the first and second slope plates 171 in the drawing. 175 is installed on the upper surface. The first and second covers 210 and 220 are each formed in a polyhedral shape in which one surface thereof is opened. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first and second covers 210 and 220 are formed in a triangular pillar shape in which one surface thereof is opened. The first and second covers 210 and 220 are fixed to the outer surfaces of the first and second inclined plates 171 and 175, and the first and second covers 210 and 220 are fixed. The two sides of are located on the same imaginary plane as the upper plate 130 and the side plate 160, respectively. Accordingly, the cavity 110 formed by the upper plate 130, the bottom plate 140, the rear plate 150, the side plate 160, and the first and second covers 210 and 220 is generally formed. A hexahedral shape with a front face open can be defined. In particular, an upper surface and both side surfaces of the cavity 110 may be substantially planar by the first and second covers 210 and 220. This is to facilitate the installation of components on the upper surface and both side surfaces of the cavity 110.

In the present exemplary embodiment, projections of the first exhaust port 173 and the second intake port 176 with respect to a virtual plane bisecting the cooking chamber 111 may overlap each other. Alternatively, the projection of the first exhaust port 173 with respect to the virtual plane dividing the cooking chamber 111 from side to side may cause the projection of the second intake port 176 with respect to the virtual plane dividing the cooking chamber 111 from side to side. May be included in the projective. The air discharged into the cooking chamber 110 through the first exhaust port 173 by the convection fan 230, which will be described later, of the second space S2 to be described later through the second intake port 176. This is to allow sufficient suction inside. When the projections in the horizontal direction of the first exhaust port 173 and the second intake port 176 overlap with each other, the first exhaust port 173 and the second intake port 176 move the cooking chamber 111. It can also be said to be symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane that bisects left and right.

The first cover 210 shields the first intake port 172 and the first exhaust port 173. The second cover 220 shields the second intake port 176 and the second exhaust port 177. Therefore, the space S1 substantially defined by the first cover 210 is in communication with the cooking chamber 111 by the first intake 172 and the first exhaust 173. The space S2 defined by the second cover 220 communicates with the cooking chamber 111 by the second intake 176 and the second exhaust 177. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the spaces S1 and S2 defined by the first and second covers 210 and 220 are referred to as first and second spaces S1 and S2, respectively.

Meanwhile, the convection fan 230 is installed in the first space S1. The convection pan 230 forms a flow of air circulating between the cooking chamber 111 and the first and second spaces S1 and S2. More specifically, a cross flow fan is used as the convection fan 230. In addition, the air of the inside of the cooking chamber 111 is sucked into the first space S1 through the first inlet 172 by the driving of the convection fan 230. In addition, by driving the convection fan 230, the air inside the first space S1 is discharged into the cooking chamber 111 through the first exhaust port 173. In addition, the air discharged into the cooking chamber 111 through the first exhaust port 173 by the continuous driving of the convection fan 230 is connected to the second intake port 176 and the second exhaust port 177. After passing through the second space (S2) through the discharge to the cooking chamber 111 again.

The convection motor 240 is connected to one end of the convection fan 230. The convection motor 240 provides a driving force for driving the convection fan 230. The convection motor 240 may be fixed to one side of the first cover 210 substantially corresponding to the outside of the first space S1.

The convection heater 250 is installed in the second space S2. The convection heater 250 sucks air that is sucked into the second space S2 through the second intake 176 and discharged into the cooking chamber 111 through the second exhaust 177. It serves to heat. More specifically, the convection heater 250 is installed on the flow path of air sucked through the second intake 176 and discharged through the second exhaust 177. For example, various types of heaters may be used as the convection heater 250.

In addition, although not shown, a heating source for cooking food in the cooking chamber 111 may be additionally provided in addition to the magnetron 115 or the convection device. For example, a heater for heating food inside the cooking chamber 111 may be installed on the top or bottom surface of the cavity 110.

Hereinafter, the flow of air inside the cooking chamber in the first embodiment of the microwave oven according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the flow of air in the first embodiment of the microwave oven according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, first, when a food is cooked by a microwave in a state where a food (not shown) is positioned inside the cooking chamber 111, the microwave is oscillated in the magnetron 115. As described above, the microwaves oscillated by the magnetron 115 are guided into the cooking chamber 111 by the wave guide 117.

Meanwhile, the convection device may operate simultaneously or separately with the cooking of the food by the microwave or with the heating of the food by another heating source. When the convection device is operated, the convection fan 230 is operated by the convection motor 240 substantially. When the convection pan 230 is operated, the air circulating in the order of the cooking chamber 111-> first space S1-> cooking chamber 111-> second space S2-> cooking chamber 111 The flow is made. Air flowing in this way is heated by the convection heater 250 while passing through the second space (S2). Accordingly, high temperature air may flow substantially inside the cooking chamber 111.

In the present embodiment, however, a crossflow fan having a relatively large output is used as the convection fan 230 by the axial flow fan. Therefore, since the amount of air circulating in the cooking chamber 111 is relatively increased, a substantial cooking efficiency can be expected to increase.

In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, the convection fan 230 and the convection heater 250 are installed in the first and second spaces S1 and S2, respectively. That is, in the present embodiment, the convection fan 230 and the convection heater 250 are spaced apart from the space substantially partitioned from each other. Therefore, the phenomenon that the convection fan 230 is damaged by the heat of the convection heater 250 can be significantly reduced. In addition, the configuration for cooling the convection fan 230 which is heated by the heat of the convection heater 250 may be deleted.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the microwave oven according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second embodiment of a microwave oven according to the present invention. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are used for the same constituent elements as those of the first embodiment of the present invention, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the convection heater 250 is installed in the second space S2 so as to be equidistant from the second intake 176 and the second exhaust 177. The first and second guides 261 and 263 are provided at one side of the second cover 220, that is, inside the second space S2. The first guide 263 serves to guide the air sucked into the second space S2 to the convection heater 250 through the second inlet 176. In addition, the second guide 263 serves to guide the air passing through the convection heater 250 to the second exhaust port 177.

To this end, the first guide 261 extends roundly at a predetermined curvature toward the convection heater 250 from an upper end of the second inlet 176. The second guide 263 extends roundly at a predetermined curvature toward the convection heater 250 at the lower end of the second exhaust 177.

In this embodiment configured as described above, it is possible to substantially prevent the occurrence of vortices in the inside of the second space (S2), in particular, the corner portion of the second cover 220. Therefore, the flow of air circulating inside the cooking chamber 111 by the convection pan 230 can be made more efficiently.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. .

In the above-described embodiments, the inclined plate is described as forming a part of the ceiling surface of the cooking chamber, but this is an exemplary description for better understanding of the present invention. That is, it may be described that the inclined plate substantially forms a part of both sides of the cooking chamber.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the member installed in the inclined plate was called the said 1st and 2nd cover, respectively. However, the first and second covers serve to substantially shield the convection fan and the convection heater. Accordingly, the first and second covers may be referred to as fan covers and heater covers, respectively.

Claims (10)

Cavity is provided inside the cooking chamber;
A first cover installed at one side of the cavity and defining a first space communicating with the cooking chamber;
A second cover installed at the other side of the cavity and defining a second space communicating with the cooking chamber and partitioned from the first space;
A convection fan installed in the first space and forming a flow of air flowing through the cooking chamber and the first and second spaces; And
A convection heater installed in the second space and heating air flowing by the convection fan; Microwave including a.
The method of claim 1,
The cavity includes first and second inclined plates that are inclined with respect to the top and both sides thereof,
And the first and second covers are provided on the first and second inclined plates, respectively.
The method of claim 1,
The first space is in communication with the cooking chamber by a first intake vent and a first exhaust vent formed in the cavity,
And the second space communicates with the cooking chamber by a second intake port and a second exhaust port formed in the cavity.
The method of claim 3, wherein
And a projection of the first exhaust port and the second intake port on an imaginary plane that bisects the cooking chamber from side to side.
The method of claim 3, wherein
And the projection of the first exhaust port with respect to the virtual plane dividing the cooking compartment left and right is located inside the projection of the second intake port with respect to the virtual plane dividing the cooking compartment left and right.
The method of claim 1,
And the top and side surfaces of the cavity and the outer surfaces of the first and second covers are located on the same imaginary plane, respectively, with the first and second covers installed in the cavity.
A cavity in which a cooking chamber is provided therein, and edge portions defined by the upper surface and both sides thereof are inclined with respect to the upper surface and both sides;
A convection fan installed outside one of the inclined edge portions of the cavity;
A fan cover that shields the convection pan and defines a space in communication with the cooking chamber;
A convection heater installed outside the other of the inclined edge portions of the cavity; And
A heater cover that shields the convection heater and defines a space in communication with the cooking chamber; Including,
The fan cover and the heater cover are formed separately and fixed to the cavity, respectively
And when the convection fan is operated, air in the cooking chamber circulates inside the cooking chamber while passing through the convection heater.
The method of claim 7, wherein
And the fan cover and the heater cover are formed in a triangular column shape in which two surfaces adjacent to each other are positioned on the same virtual plane as the upper surface and both side surfaces of the cavity.
The method of claim 7, wherein
An exhaust port through which air flows into the cooking chamber by the convection fan, and an air inlet through which air flows from the inside of the cooking chamber toward the convection heater, are symmetrical with respect to an imaginary plane dividing the cooking chamber from side to side. range.
The method of claim 7, wherein
When the convection fan is operated, air flows in the order of the cooking chamber, the space defined by the fan cover, the cooking chamber, the space defined by the heater cover, and the cooking chamber.

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