WO2007029172A2

WO2007029172A2 - A cooking device with cooled door of cooking chamber

Info

Publication number: WO2007029172A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/053110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zihni Gurlek; Talip Caglar; Ugur Camli
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2005-09-05
Filing date: 2006-09-05
Publication date: 2007-03-15
Also published as: TR200801451T1; WO2007029172A3

Abstract

By means of the present invention/ concerning the door of a cooking device, it is accomplished that the temperature of an external panel (4) constituting the surface of the door (3) that is in contact with the external medium is rapidly- cooled down to a desired value safe for the user. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to form holes on the door (3) with the purpose of blowing air, the internal volume of the door (3) is prevented from getting dirty.

Description

Description A COOKING DEVICE

[1] This invention relates to a cooking device comprising a door wherein means are provided to cool its surface that is in contact with the external medium.

[2] During the operation of cooking devices, for instance ovens, the temperature of the cooking chamber is considerably higher than the temperature of the environment where the cooking device is located. As a consequence of the high temperature of the cooking chamber, as well as all of the walls of the cooking device, the door is also heated. Especially, in pyrolitic type cooking devices mentioned heat is considerably high. The user may be harmed if he/she touches any portion of the heated door. In order to eliminate such disadvantages, the external surface temperature of the door of the cooking device should be below a certain value defined by international standards.

[3] Several applications are developed in order to reduce the heat loss of the cooking device doors and to keep the temperature of the cooking device door below a certain temperature value. To be able to decrease the temperature of the external panel of the door, the panel constituting the door surface in contact with the external medium, one or more than one intermediate panel is positioned between the mentioned external panel and the internal panel which is in contact with the cooking chamber. Air taken from the environment into the space between the internal, external and the intermediate panels is circulated between said panels and is discharged back to the environment, thus achieving to cool the door of the cooking device. During the described procedure, air absorbed for cooling purposes causes the interior of the door to get dirty since it also conveys dust and similar undesired particles to the internal volume of the door.

[4] It is not possible to keep the door temperature below a certain value by utilizing the temperature of the air absorbed from the external medium to the space between the external panel and the internal panel because both cooling process is not fast enough and also adequate cooling can not be achieved. Moreover, while the cooking device is working, the entire surface of the door cannot be cooled. In addition to that, positioning one or more than one intermediate panel inside the door causes both the door to get considerably heavy and also the time and manpower spent during the assembly of the door to increase.

[5] In the current state of the art, in German Patent Application DE 19523876, a description is given of an embodiment wherein a fan and several air channels are positioned into the door. While the interior of the oven is heated by forced air flow by means of the heater positioned onto the door together with the fan, cooling air channels are also provided in addition to the insulation application, in order to keep the external surface of the door cool. [6] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooking device comprising a door wherein means are provided to effectively cool the surface of said door that is in contact with the surroundings.

[7] The cooking device designed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention and described in the fist claim and claims related to this claim, incorporates one or more than one cooling mechanism which is positioned between the internal and the externals panels forming the door, comprises an evaporator or a thermoelectric element and whereby the external panel is cooled such that the user is not harmed by touching the external panel during the operation of the cooking device.

[8] By means of the afore-mentioned cooling mechanism which is operated according to the information obtained from the sensors positioned into the door in order to measure the temperature inside the door, particularly the temperature at the surface of the external panel, it is accomplished to cool the external panel rapidly and effectively.

[9] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling mechanism comprises a thermoelectric element. Thereby, without the need to utilize a fan or similar electrical devices, without noise generation, the external panel that is in contact with the cold surface of said thermoelectric element is cooled. Furthermore, since the hot surface of the mentioned thermoelectric element is in contact with the internal panel, it is also achieved that the surface of the internal panel is heated homogenously.

[10] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling mechanism comprises an evaporator. By positioning the mentioned evaporator where a refrigerant fluid passes there through into the door, it is achieved to cool the external panel more rapidly and effectively.

[11] By means of the present invention, it is accomplished that the temperature of the external panel constituting the surface of the door that is in contact with the external medium is rapidly cooled down to a desired value safe for the user. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to form holes on the door with the purpose of blowing air, the internal volume of the door is prevented from getting dirty.

[12] The cooking device designed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated on the attached figures where:

[13] Fig.1 - is a perspective view of a cooking device.

[14] Fig.2 - is a side schematic view of the cooking device.

[15] Fig.3 - is an upper schematic view of a door.

[16] Fig.4 - is a front schematic view of a door.

[17] Fig.5 - is an upper schematic view of a door comprising a thermoelectric element.

[18] Fig.6 - is a schematic view of the cooking device, in another embodiment of the present invention.

[19] Fig.7 - is a schematic view of a cooling device and the cooking device. [20] Elements shown on figures are numbered as follows:

[21] 1. Cooking device

[22] 2. Cooking chamber

[23] 3. Door

[24] 4. External panel

[25] 5. Internal panel

[26] 6. Hinge

[27] 7. Cooling mechanism

[28] 8. Compressor

[29] 9. Condenser

[30] 10. Evaporator

[31] 11. Thermoelectric element

[32] 12. Sensor

[33] 13. Control card

[34] The cooking device (1) in accordance with the present invention comprises a cooking chamber (2) where foods to be cooked are placed into, a door (3) which permits the user to access the interior of said cooking chamber (2) and incorporates an internal panel (5) forming the surface that is in contact with the cooking chamber (2) and an external panel (4) forming the surface that is in contact with the external medium, the mentioned external panel (4) being positioned such that a certain distance is left between the internal panel (5) and itself and, one or more than one hinge (6) whereby the door (3) is mounted to the cooking chamber (2) and is opened or closed (Figure 1).

[35] The cooking device (1) further comprises a cooling mechanism (7) which incorporates one or more than one evaporator (10) or thermoelectric element (11) positioned between the internal panel (5) and the external panel (4), decreasing the temperature of the external panel (4) with respect to the internal temperature of the cooking chamber (2) and keeping it inside a certain temperature interval, one or more than one temperature sensor (12) positioned between the internal panel (5) and the external panel (4) whereby the temperature of the interior of the door (3) is sensed and, a control card (13) whereby, according to the values measured by the mentioned temperature sensor (12), the cooling mechanism (7) is activated between certain temperature values for certain periods of time, during the operation of the cooking device (1) (Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4).

[36] In the embodiment according to the present invention, the temperature of the interior of the door (3) especially of the external panel (4) is measured by means of the temperature sensor (12) positioned inside the door (3), while the cooking device (1) operates. If the temperature of the external panel (4) is not within the temperature interval determined by the manufacturer, the control card (13) starts to operate the cooling mechanism (7). By means of the cooling mechanism (7) that is in contact with the external panel (4), it is achieved to cool the external panel (4). As the external panel (4) attains a temperature within the temperature range determined by the manufacturer, the cooling mechanism (7) is closed by the control card (13). Thereby, by using the cooling mechanism (7), it is accomplished to keep the temperature of the external panel (4) within a certain temperature interval during the operation of the cooking device (1).

[37] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling mechanism (7) incorporates a thermoelectric element (11) having a cold and a hot surface. In that embodiment, the cold surface of the mentioned thermoelectric element (11) is in contact with the external panel (4). If the temperature of the external panel (4) located at the door (3) is not within the temperature range determined by the manufacturer, by means of the control card (13) voltage is applied onto the thermoelectric element (11) wherein, as a result of said applied voltage the cold surface of the thermoelectric element (11) loses heat. By that way, by means of the thermoelectric element (11) that is in contact with the external panel (4), the external panel (4) is cooled. As the external panel (4) attains a temperature within the temperature range determined by the manufacturer, the voltage applied on the thermoelectric element (11) is cut off by the control card (13), the cold surface of the thermoelectric element (11) reaching a nominal temperature value. In the described embodiment of the present invention, the hot surface of the thermoelectric element (11) is in contact with the internal panel (5). In that case, while the control card (13) applies a voltage on the thermoelectric element (11), the cold surface is cooled whereas the hot surface is heated. Thus, during the operation of the cooking device (1), it is achieved that the temperature of the external panel (4) that is to be decreased to a certain temperature value is decreased by the cold surface in contact, whereas the temperature of the cooking chamber (2) is homogenously distributed on the internal panel (5) as the hot surface in contact with the internal panel (5) is heated (Figure 5).

[38] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling mechanism (7) incorporates a compressor (8) positioned either on the cooking device (1) or in an external cooling system, an evaporator (10) which is connected to a condenser (9), is positioned inside the door and where a refrigerant fluid passes there through, one or more than one valve (not shown on figures) used to control the flow of said refrigerant fluid and, a control card (13) operating the mentioned valves and the compressor (8). The evaporator (10) where a refrigerant fluid passes there through is positioned inside the door (3) between the internal panel (5) and the external panel (4) so as to touch the external panel (4). In that embodiment, as the compressor (8) and the condenser (9) may be a part of the cooking device (1) (Figure 6), they may also be the compressor (8) and the condenser (9) of the cooling device located in the kitchen (Figure 7). In all of the embodiments, the refrigeration cycle is completed by connecting the compressor (8), condenser (9) and the evaporator (10) to each other. While the cooking device (1) operates, when the temperature of the external panel (4) reaches a temperature value determined by the manufacturer, the compressor (8) is started to operate by the control card (13) and the refrigerant fluid fills the evaporator (10). As the refrigerant fluid passes through the evaporator (10) positioned inside the door (3), the heat of the air inside the door (3) is absorbed by the evaporator (10) wherein the temperature of the external panel (4) also decreases together with the temperature of the air inside the door (3).

[39] In another embodiment of the present invention, the pipes transferring electrical energy and the refrigerant fluid which are necessary for the operation of the cooling mechanism (7) are passed from the inside and / or top of the hinge (6) where the door (3) is attached to the cooking device (1).

[40] By means of the present invention, by cooling the external panel (4) of the door (3) that is in contact with the external medium, the external panel (4) is brought to a temperature which is safe for the user. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to form holes on the door (3) with the purpose of blowing air, the internal volume of the door (3) is prevented from getting dirty.

Claims

[1] A cooking device (1) comprising

- a cooking chamber (2) where foods to be cooked are placed into,

- a door (3) which permits the user to access the interior of said cooking chamber (2) and incorporates an internal panel (5) forming the surface that is in contact with the cooking chamber (2) and an external panel (4) forming the surface that is in contact with the external medium, the mentioned external panel (4) being positioned such that a certain distance is left between the internal panel (5) and itself, and characterized by a cooling mechanism (7) incorporating one or more than one evaporator (10) or thermoelectric element (11) positioned between the internal panel (5) and the external panel (4), decreasing the temperature of the external panel (4) with respect to the internal temperature of the cooking chamber (2) and keeping it inside a certain temperature interval.

[2] A cooling device (1) as described in Claim 1, characterized by one or more than one temperature sensor (12) positioned between the internal panel (5) and the external panel (4) whereby the temperature of the interior of the door (3) is sensed and, by a control card (13) whereby, according to the values measured by the mentioned temperature sensor (12), the cooling mechanism (7) is activated between certain temperature values for certain periods of time, during the operation of the cooking device (1).

[3] A cooling device (1) as described in Claims 1 or 2, characterized by a cooling mechanism (7) incorporating a thermoelectric element (11) having a cold and a hot surface, said cold surface being in contact with the external panel (4) whereas the hot surface is in contact with the internal panel (5).

[4] A cooling device (1) as described in Claims 1 or 2, characterized by a cooling mechanism (7) incorporating an evaporator (10) positioned inside the door (3).

[5] A cooling device (1) as described in Claim 4, characterized by a cooling mechanism (7) incorporating a compressor (8) positioned either on the cooking device (1) or on an external cooling system, a condenser (9), one or more than one valve used to control the flow of the refrigerant fluid and, a control card (13) operating the mentioned valves and the compressor (8).

[6] A cooling device (1) as described in any of the above Claims, characterized by one or more than one hinge (6) whereby the door (3) is mounted to the cooking device (1) and where the pipes transferring electrical energy and the refrigerant fluid which are necessary for the operation of the cooling mechanism (7) pass there inside and / or thereon.