IP Library Granted Patent US 7,886,658
Granted Patent B2
US 7,886,658 · App. 11/928,084 · Granted Feb 15, 2011

Speed cooking oven with improved radiant mode

Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,886,658
App. No.
11/928,084
Granted
Feb 15, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A speed cooking with improved gas flow by-pass mechanism for radiant cooking mode. A speed cooking oven with radiant mode is disclosed comprising a cooking cavity, a controller, thermal heating source, blower assembly, air directing means, a vent assembly and a single door gas by-pass system. Hot gas is circulated by the blower motor assembly into the oven cavity where the hot air is directed in a manner wherein a conflicting, colliding turbulent gas flow is directed at a food product providing for the rapid cooking of food products. Alternatively, a single movable door may be utilized that operates between an open position wherein gas flow exhausts from the top of the oven or in the closed position wherein gas is diverted through a conduit and back to the blower mechanism. Gas may therefore flow into the oven cooking cavity or may be diverted around the cooking cavity and maintained at the same temperature, lower temperature or elevated temperature as compared to the cooking cavity without having a direct effect on the food product being cooked.

Claims (27)

1. An oven for cooking a food product by hot gas, comprising:

a housing;

a cooking chamber disposed within the housing;

a thermal means for heating the gas;

a gas circulating chamber disposed between the housing and the cooking chamber;

a flow means for circulating the gas through the gas circulating chamber, over the thermal means, through the cooking chamber, and back through the gas circulating chamber; and

a bypass system for reducing the flow of gas into the cooking chamber, the bypass system comprising:

a recirculation aperture disposed in a wall of the gas circulation chamber;

a conduit extending from the recirculation aperture to the flow means;

a bypass aperture disposed in a wall of the cooking chamber;

a single bypass door; and

an actuator for selectively actuating the bypass door;

wherein the bypass door is operable between a non-bypass mode in which the bypass door seals the conduit, thereby allowing the gas to flow from the cooking chamber to the flow means, and thereby preventing the gas from flowing from the gas circulating chamber to the flow means; and a bypass mode in which the bypass door seals the bypass aperture, thereby allowing the gas to flow from the gas circulating chamber to the flow means, and thereby preventing the gas from flowing from the cooking chamber to the flow means.

2. The oven according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a worm gear.

3. The oven according to claim 1 , wherein the bypass door is sliding door.

4. The oven according to claim 1 , wherein the cooking chamber is radiantly heated by the hot gas flowing through the gas circulating chamber when the bypass system is in the bypass mode.

5. The oven according to claim 1 , wherein the bypass door is adjacent the thermal means.

6. The oven according to claim 1 , wherein the recirculation aperture is disposed in a lower portion of a back wall of the gas circulating chamber, and the bypass door is disposed in a top wall of the cooking chamber.

7. The oven according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a control system for selectively activating the bypass system.

8. The oven according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a control system for activating the bypass system according to a preprogrammed schedule.

9. The oven according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a microwave cooking subsystem for sending microwave energy into the cooking chamber.

10. The oven according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a speed cooking subsystem for speed cooking the food product.

11. The oven according to claim 1 , wherein the flow of gas over the thermal means is sufficient to prevent overheating of the thermal means when the bypass system is in the bypass mode.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2008
From: MC FADDEN, DAVID H.; BOLTON, DAVID A
To: TURBOCHEF TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 020414/0183 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 11098280 · Apr 4, 2005
Continuation In Part 10614268 · Jul 7, 2003
Continuation In Part 10614532 · Jul 7, 2003
Continuation In Part 11392050 · Mar 29, 2006
Related Publication 20080105133A1 · May 8, 2008