EP4327026B1

EP4327026B1 - Oven with a steam generating device and method for operating an oven

Info

Publication number: EP4327026B1
Application number: EP21735643.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matjaz Podgorsek; Matjaz ES; Rok GROBELNIK; Samo SULIGOJ; Lovro BRDNIK; Andrej Bolcina; Klavdija JANEZIC; Spela Parasuh
Original assignee: Gorenje d o o
Current assignee: Gorenje d o o
Priority date: 2021-06-21
Filing date: 2021-06-21
Publication date: 2026-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2041-06-21
Also published as: EP4327026A1; WO2022268290A1; CN117545959A

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an oven and to a method for operating an oven.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When operating an oven an amount of water can be vaporized and distributed and spread to the heating cavity in order to improve cooking by using hot air with an amount of vaporized air what can influence the properties of cooking.
In commonly used ovens the steam function can be applied such that a vessel or container can be placed in the bottom of the heating cavity or somewhere close to a fan with a separate heating device for the water in the container or vessel in order to vaporize the water to steam during cooking. These containers are usually not removable by the end user and can have complex arrangements of pipes for supplying the container with water.
Document EP 3 372 900 A1 describes a water container and a supply channel for generating steam. KR 2005 0056054 A discloses a cooking apparatus for generating steam by supplying water from a tank to a water receiver of a steam generating heater.
EP 1 995 525 A1 discloses a cooking device with a water receiving container at the bottom of the cooking cavity for steam generation.
FR 2 614 976 A1 discloses a cooking device according to the preamble of claim 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to improve the way of performing a steam generating function and to provide a system with components which can easily be installed in an oven with an improved and simplified way of producing vaporized water in the oven for cooking.
The object is solved by the subject-matter of the independent claims.
The present invention pertains an oven according to claim 1 and a method for operating an oven according to claim 13. Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims.
According to the invention the oven for cooking comprises a heating cavity; a support having a wire or a rod; a heating section inside the heating cavity, wherein the heating section has at least one coil which extends in a top region of the heating cavity and the support extends at least partly along and/or between the coil of the heating section; and a steam generating device, wherein the steam generating device for an oven comprises a vaporizing unit, which is configured such to be attachable to the support of the heating section in the heating cavity of the oven, wherein the vaporizing unit has a bowl section for accepting water; and a water supplying device having a water tank, a pipe arrangement with a water discharge part, a water flow generator for generating a flow of water from the water tank through the pipe arrangement, and a washer device, wherein the washer device is configured such to be mounted to the heating cavity and to seal an interior of the heating cavity from an exterior of the heating cavity and such that the water discharge part is insertable into the washer device such that the water discharge part penetrates into the heating cavity; wherein the vaporizing unit is attachable such that the bowl section is positioned below the water discharge part for collecting the water and such that the bowl section is heated by the heating section for vaporizing the water, wherein the vaporizing unit is attached to the support at a predefined distance to the coil and below the water discharge part.
The wording "steam" can be also replaced by "vaporized water" and vice versa. The heating cavity describes any interior space of an oven inside which air can be heated or radiation for cooking can be provided. A bowl section includes a cavity which can be horizontally oriented and within which water for vaporization can be accepted, in particular the water can be heated by radiation and/or hot air from the heating section until it vaporizes, partly or in complete. The bowl section further can have a margin which surrounds the cavity, wherein mounting regions for attaching the vaporizing unit to the support can be arranged at the margin, in particular the cavity, the margin and the mounting regions as well as further components of the vaporizing unit can be made as one integral part or as several connected parts. The water can be distilled water, by the use of which it is possible to reduce the amount of limescale in in the bowl section after vaporizing the water.
The water supply device can be installed inside a housing of the oven, wherein the housing can have a heating cavity with an interior and exterior region of the heating cavity, wherein also the exterior of the heating cavity is still inside the housing of the oven. The water tank can be accessible from outside of the oven. The water tank can contain a predefined amount of water. The tank can be also refilled during the oven is working. The water tank can be connected to the pipe arrangement.
The washer device can be a sealing device which lets the pipe arrangement with the water discharge part enter the interior of the heating cavity, wherein the space between the pipes and/or the water discharge part and the housing of the heating cavity can be sealed and the water discharge part can be mechanically fixed at the penetrating position by the washer device such that the water discharge part is placed at a constant position inside the heating cavity, with only little and tolerable spatial deviations possible, such that the water can drop into the bowl section by gravity.
The steam generating device can be used at multifunctional ovens, for example in ovens providing steam and/or pyrolytic functions, for freestanding cookers or freestanding (table) ovens.
According to a further embodiment of the steam generating device the vaporizing unit has a first end and a second end along a longitudinal extension of the vaporizing unit, wherein the bowl section is located at least partly between the first end and the second end along the longitudinal extension, and wherein the first end has a first mounting section and the second end has a second mounting for attaching the vaporizing unit to the support, and wherein the vaporizing unit has a holding part at the first end or at the second end for allowing the user holding the vaporizing unit when attaching and/or detaching it to the support.
The longitudinal extension of the vaporizing unit can be at least partly parallel to a coil of the heating section. The first and/or second mounting section can have a part which can be clamped to the support or any other holding component like a hook or u-shaped section of the particular end of the vaporizing unit into which a rod or pole of the support can be pushed or pulled in. The holding part can be a plate or a region of the vaporizing unit itself which is bent perpendicular to the longitudinal extension such that a user can hold it with his fingers and push or pull the vaporizing unit onto or down from the attached position at the support.
According to a further embodiment of the steam generating device the first mounting section comprises a first clamp section which is configured such that the support can be at least partly embraced by the first clamp section and held at a constant position or in a predefined region within the first clamp section when the first mounting section is attached to the support.
According to a further embodiment of the steam generating device the second mounting section comprises a second clamp section which is configured such that the support can be at least partly embraced by the second clamp section and held at a constant position or in a predefined region within the second clamp section when the second mounting section is attached to the support.
By the clamp sections the vaporizing unit can be easily attached and/or detached from the support and the chance to fall down (off) from the mounting position during transport of the oven can be lowered.
According to a further embodiment of the steam generating device the first end has a flat first base section which extends along the longitudinal extension and from which flat first base section the first clamp section rises such that the support is attachable between the flat first base section and the first clamp section, and the second end has a flat second base section which extends along the longitudinal extension and from which flat second base section the second clamp section rises such that the support is attachable between the flat second base section and the second clamp section.
The flat first and second base can provide a counterpart so that the support (rod or wire) can be clamped between the first or second base and the corresponding clamp section. The clamp section can be bent out from the corresponding flat base region upside or downside from the vaporizing unit.
According to a further embodiment of the steam generating device the first clamp section and the second clamp section have an open region each which is directed towards an attaching direction of the vaporizing unit, wherein the vaporizing unit is attachable to the support by clamping the support through the open region into first clamp section and/or through the open region into the second clamp section.
The support has a rod or wire. This circle shaped cross section can be pushed or pulled into the first clamp section and/or into the second clamp section. The first clamp section can have an inner space inside the clamp section that the circle section of the support can be partly embraced when clamped. In other words, the first clamp section can have at the opening region a lower height than the diameter of the support such that the support can be held inside the clamp region until the clamp is not released. As an alternative the first clamp can provide a (slide) region inside the clamp region which is in longitudinal extension bigger than the diameter of the support so that the support can be placed at different (fixed) positions inside this region but not being able to leave the clamp region until the clamp is not released because again the first clamp has at the opening region a lower height than the diameter of the support. It is possible that the first clamp region does hold the support at a constant place and at the same time the second clamp region can have a region for sliding of the support inside the second clamp region by which it can be achieved that the vaporizing unit is fixedly held at a position by the first clamp region and the support can be placed at different places within the slide region of the second clamp region what makes the vaporizing unit attachable to different ovens which can have different spaces between a support for the first mounting section and a support for the second mounting section. What has been specified for the first clamp section can also or alternatively be valid for the second clamp section. The opening region can represent a free space between the clamp section and the corresponding flat base into which the support can be pushed or pulled in when the clamp section at the opening region is slightly bent up. The same can happen when the clamp section is detached from the support and the support being pulled or pushed out from the clamp section. The pulling or pushing force can be provided by the user when he holds the holding part of the vaporizing unit and pulls or pushes the whole unit, said force can result in another component which can bent the clamp section up to let the support slide in or out through the open region.
According to a further embodiment of the steam generating device the bowl section extends along the longitudinal extension at a same height as the first end and the second end or at a predefined height difference below a connecting line between the first end and the second end, and wherein the bowl section extends at least partly to a lateral side region, which extends laterally parallel to the connecting line between the first end and the second end, wherein when the first end and/or the second end is attached to the support the lateral side region can extend at least partly below the heating section.
When the bowl section extends on a lower planar level than the mounting sections, then the vaporizing unit can be attached to a support which has little or no variation in height with regard to the plane of the coil of the heating section. Therefore, such a vaporizing unit can have a bowl section which extends below the coil(s) and in the side region can then extend below the coil in order to be better heated up for vaporizing the water.
According to a further embodiment of the steam generating device the vaporizing unit comprises stainless steel material.
The vaporizing unit can also comprise other suitable material(s), for example made by die casting, which can be heated up and withstands high temperatures above 500°C and be resistant against corrosion.
The stainless steel material, for example a stainless steel sheet material, can be bendable enough that the clamp sections can be bent up for pulling or pushing the support through the open region but enough stable and elastic that the probability for being pulled or pushed out without the force of the user is much reduced and enough stable to fulfil the resistivity and stability for vaporizing purposes, mounting purposes, cleaning purposes and to have a long lifetime even when being exposed frequently to high temperatures.
According to a further embodiment of the steam generating device the water flow generator comprises a pump and/or a valve and/or an actuator device.
The water flow generator can be operated and/or triggered by a control unit of the oven or of the steam generating device itself.
According to a further embodiment of the steam generating device the washer device comprises an inner margin inside which the water discharge part penetrates from the exterior to the interior of the heating cavity, and a spacer which is attachable between the inner margin and the heating cavity
The margin can block lateral contacts between the water discharge part and the housing and isolate the spacer from the temperature of the interior of the heating cavity.
The margin (at the opening in the housing of the heating cavity) can be bent upwards (from the interior to the exterior) as a draw and of circular shape when seen in a top view or of any other shape, for example the opening in the housing can be rectangular and without having an upward bent margin but a flat edge of the opening in the housing cavity instead.
For the upward bent version the T-shaped water discharge part can directly contact the margin material and provide a seal there to seal the interior of the heating cavity from the exterior. The T-shaped water discharge part can also provide a sealing contact with the edges of the opening if there is no upwardly bent margin. The material of the margin or edge of the opening can be prevented from being stripped or removed or cracked by the T-shaped water discharge part (by the choice of the material of the T-shaped water discharge part) or the risk therefore being lowered.
By using the oven and the steam generating device by the invention it becomes possible to provide a simple and cheap steam cooking function, in particular for low price ovens for which it can be easy to clean them and which advantageously provide now a better cooking performance. By using the vaporizing unit inside the oven it is possible to add steam in the heating section during a bake cycle or during cooking what represents a cheap and fast solution for providing steam. By the steam generating device it becomes therefore possible to provide steam also for oven and cooking devices which are initially not needed to be built as steam ovens or combi steam ovens. By supporting a baking function by means of adding steam it can be possible to increase the trend of this simple way of cooking and improve the cooking results on most food types, for example the baking of bread, roasting of meat, cook vegetables or others. The oven as mentioned by the invention can be easily feasible and improve the quality of food preparation with minimum investment, costs and can work in the product lifecycle without major quality issues. The costs can be reduced and the cooking results improved and the amount of limescale in the heating cavity can be reduced or even prevented and no additional heater for the steam function is needed. The vaporizing unit can be cleaned outside the oven what improves the possibilities of cleaning.
The heating section can have one coil or several coils, for example one for conventional heating the air and another for grill or infrared heating. The oven can be a multifunctional or pyrolytic oven. The oven can have a fan by which it is possible to distribute the vaporized water inside the heating cavity.
The function for providing steam can be active only when the corresponding oven heating section is active, what can be activated and controlled by a control unit, for example by running different programs (temperature, water supply amount, steam amount). The heating section can in principle perform its main function at the same time as heating the water for vaporization, what is the heating of the heating cavity or providing heat or radiation to the food in addition to heat up the water in the vaporizing unit.
When the vaporizing unit is attached to the support it can be hidden inside the heating cavity such that it is not or hardly visible at the first moment when the user looks at the oven from outside and with the vaporizing unit also the limescale is hardly or not visible from outside. For the case that the heating section has two coils which have curved and partially straight sections the vaporizing unit can be placed between the two heater coils (straight sections) which can lead to an improved water evaporation and still can provide a good cooking performance by the steam and by the coil(s). Part of the steam generating device is a special shaped stainless-steel tube as part of the pipe arrangement with a (rapid) washer device for fixating the pipe arrangement in the housing cavity, which can be easily mounted to the oven cavity ceiling and can provide a good sealing during use. As further advantages it can be mentioned that it is possible by using the steam generating device to provide an upgrade of the existing ovens, to use it also for pyro ovens. Due to the bowl shape and due to the possibility of detaching the vaporizing unit the cleaning of the vaporizing unit can be simplified but also the vaporizing unit does not significantly affect baking results if left up on the support without using it (at switched off steam function). If needed for improved cooking results, the vaporizing unit can also be removed when no steam function is used.
The bowl section can have a bottom as an evaporation surface formed as a flat plane with higher edges which can block water leakage to lateral side or at least lower the probability for leakage. In principle it is also possible to mount the vaporizing unit beside the heating coil at other heating element. When working, the heating section can thus be used for other oven functions or it can be used exclusively for heating up the evaporation surface. After or during the evaporation surface is heated up (and when heating section is still active) the water flow can start and the water (pulsed volume or drops) can fall to the evaporation surface of the bowl section, either only when the heating section is active or before or after it. The water pulses or drops can be stopped or have a predefined delay between the drops, pulses or between a predefined number or pulses or drops (which can be applied at once and afterwards a brake of the duration of said delay can follow). A length (duration) of the delay length can depend on the evaporation surface position and oven function (heating temperature, cooking procedure or other parameters). Alternatively, the size or amount of water drops does not dependent to the set oven temperature or a regulation of the oven performance.
By using the water flow generator and the pipe arrangement it becomes possible that the water is provided in the heating cavity and consequently can be supplied directly to the bowl section, wherein water droplets can be supplied via a silicone tube of the pipe arrangement to a stainless steel tube of the pipe arrangement, wherein the latter can have, for example, an inner diameter of 4 mm, and being mounted to the oven cavity ceiling. The stainless-steel tube can be fixed to the oven cavity ceiling via a standardized spring washer which can be used as the washer device, for example from Araymond or others.
The tubes, the vaporizing unit and the support can comprise materials which withstand regular usage in the oven and can be suitable for food contact. The tubes can also be made of die casting, for example.
When the washer is pressed during installation on the stainless-steel tube, it is possible that flanges on the washer are bent and locked into grooves made for this purpose on the stainless steel tube in order to lock it in a predefined position in the washer device. To prevent steam leakage or to ensure sealing, a ceramic spacer or seal can additionally be installed between the perimeter of the oven cavity and the washer.
Regarding the stainless steel tube (provided for example by turning or casting) it is possible that its shape can correspond to a cylindrical shape, for example further having a diameter of 12mm on one side, which is positioned in an integrated drawn cut-out on the oven cavity ceiling and additionally provides a seal when pushed at the surface of the cut-out and can be formed as the water discharge part. An end of the stainless steel tube can be serrated to make it easier to position the ceramic spacer or seal during installation. The other side of the stainless steel tube can have a spruce detail for easier insertion of the silicone tube to it. The tube is elongated, for example with a whole length of 55 mm, so that is also suitable for use in pyrolitic ovens, where higher oven temperatures can be generated.
The bowl section can be placed on the right or left side of the oven upper heater (heating section) or several vaporizing units can be placed in the heating cavity at different locations of the heating section. The vaporizing unit can form a vessel which can be made of 0.5 mm thick stainless-steel sheet metal, for example, or having another thickness. The bowl section can run, when placed, directly along the contour of the outer heating coil of the upper heater, for example, or at another location. The depth of the bowl section can be for example 4 mm, or 0,5 mm to 6 mm, relative to an upper side of the margin which can surround the bowl section. The bowl section can have a volume for water of 7500 mm³. This depth was determined by several tests to achieve the appropriate ratio between the amount of water in the bowl section and the appropriate distance from the heating element to achieve the fastest possible evaporation of water.
The vaporizing unit does therefore not fully cover the whole area of the heating section, but for example less than 10%. The vaporizing unit further has no holes for generation of steam, thus less possibility of limescale buildup.
Advantageously, the steam generating device can be used in a multifunctional oven, for example with a glass or metal control panel version, especially to easily enhance said oven to a steam oven.
The position of the bowl section below the coil can be recognized to represent the most desired embodiment because in this position it can be easy to detach it from the support. From the water evaporation view the most favourable embodiment can be the positioning of the bowl section above the coil because there the vaporizing unit could be heated also from the oven ceiling.
Further, also other embodiments are possible, in particular the device and a method of using it can be used at existing built-in ovens (glass or metal control panel version for example) with some construction accommodations or on pyrolytic ovens (glass or metal control panel version). The evaporation tube which forms the water discharge part can be made also from die casting. Also, other details (drawn-cutout on the oven cavity ceiling can be made with additional parts, the vaporizing unit can be made from other materials and by using other technologies like die casting) with the same function are possible. It is further possible to use an additional (or several) vaporizing units on the opposite side. Instead of a ceramic spacer or seal also other types of sealing elements are possible what can depend of the oven type. After cooking (baking or similar) the remaining water in the tank can remain in the tank or it can be pumped out to the heating cavity or to the bowl section, for example to its bottom so that the tank and the pipe arrangement can be empty afterwards, for example to reduce limescale in the pipe arrangement and in the tank.
According to a further embodiment of the oven, the oven comprises a control unit, which is configured to switch on a steam generating function, wherein the water flow generator is activated and a flow of water from the water tank through the pipe arrangement is generated and a predefined amount of water is provided to the bowl section or to deactivate the steam generating function.
The flow of water can be provided such that only few (predefined amount) of water drops are applied to the bowl section or a predefined volume of water at once during one water flow period (pulse or continuous period). Due to the pulsed flow no elements like a detector for measuring the flow amount or similar are needed what can lower the costs of the whole steam generating device. However, for an upgraded appliance a flow detector can be used.
The steam generating can be performed by using a fan and one or both of the upper coils and provide the water or by using one upper coil and one lower coil in the oven together with the water discharge and the fan.
According to a further embodiment of the oven the support has a mounting section which is located at the predefined distance beside the at least one coil in a planar direction of the coil and/or above and/or below a plane along which the coil extends in the heating cavity, wherein the bowl section of the vaporizing unit extends at least partly to a lateral side region, which extends laterally parallel to a connecting line between a first end and a second end of the vaporizing unit, wherein when the first end and/or the second end is attached to the mounting section the lateral side region extends at least partly above or below the coil.
The predefined distance can be chosen such that the heating of the material of the vaporizing unit and of the water in the bowl section gets optimally (maximally) heated. For example, the mounting section and the longitudinal extension can then be placed in the middle between two neighbouring coils of the heating section, at least where they run parallel to each other with regard to their planar extensions. The mounting section of the support can be a bent part in upward or downward direction with regard to the plane of the extension of the coil(s) or a specific straight region at a predefined place at or between or beside the coil(s). The mounting section can be marked to be recognizable by the user where to place the mounting sections of the vaporizing unit or recognizable by its bent shape. The lateral direction can be perpendicular to the longitudinal extension and parallel to the (straight) planar direction of the coil(s). The lateral side region can extend below the coil and be heated by the coil(s) or above the coil and be heated by the coil and the top of the housing of the heating cavity as well. For the latter example the vaporizing unit should be attached at the support such that the vaporizing unit extends above the plane of the coil(s). Therefore, the clamp regions can be placed at an underside of the vaporizing unit wherein they can be placed on an upper side when the vaporizing unit should be placed below the plane of the coil(s).
According to a further embodiment of the oven the mounting section has a v-shaped or u-shaped form which extends below, or above, the plane along which the coil extends, wherein the first end and/or the second end of the vaporizing unit is attachable to the v-shaped form such that the first end and/or the second end can be held laterally at a constant position within a predefined tolerance and at the predefined distance beside the at least one coil in a planar direction of the coil.
The support can be made of stainless steel, glass or any other material, for example which can be resistant to the typical temperature inside the oven and to corrosion. The support can be made by any known technology (for example as a heater holder made from die casting or heater holder made from sheet-metal).
The v-shape can also be formed such that there are inclined lateral sides and a horizontal straight region between them, in other words as a u-shape with inclined side regions, wherein the side regions can overcome the difference in height between the upper side of the heating section and a region between (the coils of) the heating sections. The side regions can provide a lateral stop for the mounting sections of the vaporizing unit. Also other forms of the support at the mounting section and different materials at the mounting section and outside it are possible.
According to the invention a method for operating an oven according to the invention comprises the steps of attaching the vaporizing unit to the support by a user; heating of the heating cavity by operating the heating section; activating a steam generating function, wherein the water flow generator is activated and a flow of water from the water tank through the pipe arrangement is generated and a predefined amount of water is provided to the bowl section and the water is at least partly vaporized from the bowl section to the interior of the heating cavity and a predefined amount of vaporized water is produced inside the heating cavity before and/or during cooking, wherein the vaporized water is spread through the heating cavity by a fan of the oven.
The predefined amount of delivered water and then of vaporized water can depend on the used temperature, on the food to be cooked and on the size of the oven and can be regulated by predefined cooking programs and applied by the control unit.
The wording "cooking" can also represent or be replaced by "baking", "heating" and other kinds of preparing food by heat or radiation with or without steam (vaporized water). The oven can further be designed as an in-built oven for kitchen solutions.
According to a further embodiment of the method the heating cavity is cooled down to a cleaning temperature after cooking and then the vaporizing unit is detached from the support and removed from the heating cavity.
It is also possible that the vaporizing unit remains permanently in the oven when attached to the support and that it can be fixed to the support.
The cleaning temperature can be room temperature or any other temperature which does not harm the user when opening the heating cavity and holding (touching) the holding part and the vaporizing unit.
According to a further embodiment of the method the steam generating function is stopped before or during or after cooking and the flow of water to the bowl section is stopped.
According to a further embodiment of the method the vaporizing unit is attached to the support such that a rod of the support is pushed or pulled through a first open region of a first clamp section of a first end of the vaporizing unit and thereby clamped into the first clamp section and/or that another rod of the support is pushed or pulled through a second open region of a second clamp section of a second end of the vaporizing unit and thereby clamped into the second clamp section, wherein the vaporizing unit is held by a holding part at the first end or at the second end by a user and is pushed or pulled in an attaching direction of the vaporizing unit and/or that the vaporizing unit is detached from the support by pushing or pulling it against the attaching direction and releasing the first clamp section and/or the second clamp section from the support through the first open region and through the second open region.
The method can be also characterized by the features and advantages of the steam generating device and vice versa. The same is valid for the oven and the method and for the oven and the steam generating device.

BRIEF DESCIRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings as appended.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate a comparative embodiment and embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the present invention and many of the intended advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts.

Fig. 1 shows a water supplying device for a steam generating device according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 shows a water discharge part and a washer device of the water supplying device at an oven in a side view according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 3 shows an oven with a vaporizing unit according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 4 shows a vaporizing unit of a steam generating device according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 5 shows a vaporizing unit of a steam generating device attached to the support according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 6 shows a flowchart of a method for operating an oven according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a water supplying device for a steam generating device according to an embodiment of the invention.
The water supplying device 4 has a water tank 5, a pipe arrangement 6 with a water discharge part 9 which can penetrate into a heating cavity, a water flow generator 7 for generating a flow of water from the water tank 5 through the pipe arrangement 6, and a washer device 8, wherein the washer device 8 is configured such to be mounted to the heating cavity HC and to seal an interior of the heating cavity HC from an exterior. The pipe arrangement 6 can have a plurality of pipes (6-1, 6-2) and a bracket BT for holding a pipe. The tank 5 can be a pump for providing pulses or droplets of water. The pump can be connected to a control unit CU of the oven 10. The pipes can comprise silicon, rubber, steel and/or any other material, advantageously from a flexible material.
Fig. 2 shows a water discharge part and a washer device of the water supplying device at an oven in a side view according to an embodiment of the invention.
In Fig. 2 a side view of the exterior and of the interior of the heating cavity HC is shown as a cross section when viewed from direction D as shown in Fig. 1. The washer device 8 is attached to an opening in the housing HC-H of the heating cavity HC, either on top of the housing or from a lateral side. The washer device 8 arranged in said opening can either comprise an inner margin 8a, for example of circular shape itself or be put around and on an inner margin 8a which is formed as part of the housing HC-H. The inner margin 8a is bent upwards (as a drawn opening) and inside which the water discharge part 9 is placed and penetrates from the exterior to the interior of the heating cavity HC. Further, the washer device 8 comprises a spacer 8b, for example a ceramic disc which has a cut-out in its central region through which the discharge part 9 penetrates and which is attachable between the inner margin 8a and the heating cavity housing HC-H. On top (and/or from the exterior in general) a cap 8d is placed onto the opening as part of the washer device 8 which also seals the exterior from the interior.
The discharge part 9 can represent an end of a third pipe 6-3, which can run mostly orthogonal to the cavity housing HC-H and directly into the interior of the heating cavity HC and can be made of stainless steel. The third pipe can have, for example, an inner diameter of 4 mm and be surrounded by a covering material radially on its surface and have an outer diameter, for example of 6,2 mm, and being mounted to the oven cavity housing (ceiling for example). The stainless-steel tube 6-3 can be fixed to the oven cavity ceiling via the washer 8 as a standardized spring washer, for example from Araymond or others. When the washer is pressed during installation on the stainless-steel tube (6-3), it is possible that flanges of the cap 8d of the washer 8 are bent and locked into grooves 6-3b made for this purpose on the stainless steel tube's radial cover in order to lock it in a predefined position in the washer device 8. At the inner end and inside the heating cavity the discharge part 9 can have an opening for the water, placed above the vaporizing unit, and be formed in T-shape geometry, possibly in circular ground shape (and/or shapes with no sharp edges or corners to prevent enamel from cracking or at least to lower the risk therefore) and contact the bent part 8a in order to provide a physical contact to fully seal the opening from the interior of the heating cavity HC. The T-shaped part can have a diameter of 12 mm, for example. The total length between the inner end and the outer end of the third pipe 6-3 can, for example, be 55,5 mm, what improves its use also for ovens using high temperatures and/or multifunctional ovens. In other words, there can be an improved cooling effect of the third pipe 6-3 from the heating cavity to the outer end if the pipe is long enough, for example 55 mm so that the risk of melting the second pipe 6-2 is much decreased. The ratio between the diameter (outer) of the third pipe 6-3 and its length can be, for example 3 to 12 times the outer diameter. The thickness of the third pipe can be 1,25 mm, for example, or the ratio between the outer diameter and the thickness can be between 2 and 6 times the thickness. At the opposite (outer) end the third pipe 6-3 can be bent or a silicone tube (for example the second pipe 6-2 with larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the third pipe at this end, the second pipe can have an outer diameter of 10 mm, for example) can be attached to this end and the third pipe 6-3 at this end can have a serrated region 6-3a on its surface or the second pipe can be serrated there at its interior surface, to make it easier to position and hold the second pipe onto the third pipe at this end.
The spacer 8b can provide a distance between the housing of the cavity and a cap 8d of the washer 8 but also at least partly provide a sealing function between the cap and the interior of the heating cavity HC. The spacer 8b can comprise a ceramic material, a metal, a metal foam, a ceramic foam and/or any type of temperature resistant material. When a pipe with the water discharge part 9 is inserted into the opening in the heating cavity, for example at the inner margin, the water discharge part 9 can contact the inner margin 8a and seal the interior from the exterior at its lateral extent. The spacer can be slightly deformed and the areas of contact between the cap and the housing of the cavity can be engaged with the spacer material. The cap can hold the force stable which is needed to hold the water discharge part close to the inner margin for sealing. Serrated details in the pipe 6-3 help to achieve a locked and pressed assembly on the Z-axis
Fig. 2 also partly shows the interior of the heating cavity HC where a heating section HS is mounted inside the heating cavity HC, wherein the heating section HS can have a first coil HS-C1 which extends in a top region of the heating cavity HC and a second coil HS-C2. The second coil HS-C2 can extend laterally inside the region which is defined by the first coil HS-C1 and the support 3 can extend between the first and the second coil HS-C1 and HS-C2. The support 3 can have a mounting section 3-MS which is located at the predefined distance I beside the second (and/or first) coil HS-C2 in a planar direction of the coils and can in a region between the coils be bent below a plane or below the top side of the coils or of at least one of the coils.
The vaporizing unit 2 can be attached to this mounting section 3-MS. Therefore, a first end 2a and/or second end 2b of the vaporizing unit 2 can be attached to the mounting section(s) 3-MS, wherein it can be seen in Fig. 2 that the mounting section (m1, m2) of the vaporizing unit 2 at this end can be at one lateral side located at a distance I from the second coil HS-C2 and at another lateral side located at a distance I from the first coil HS-C1 what can result in similar and optimized heating effects on the ends and to this part of the vaporizing unit from both coils. The vaporizing unit 2 can have a bowl section BS which extends below the ends and partly between them and the bowl section BS can extend to a lateral side region LS which can then be placed below the first coil HS-C1 in order to achieve better heating results from the first coil HS-C1. The bowl section BS can be located below the discharge part 9 in order to accept the water from the water flow.
The first coil HS-C1 can have a power of 1300 W as a tubular heater and the second coil HS-C2 can have a power of 1000 W as a tubular or infra heater, for example and/or the powers of the coils can vary between +20 % and -10 %. Both can work at the same time together or individual. The predefined distance I can be 3,8 mm, for example, or 0,2 to 1,5 times of the thickness (diameter) of the coil, which is for example 6,25 mm. A distance between the coils and the top of the heating cavity HC can be 10,7 mm, for example.
Fig. 3 shows an oven with a vaporizing unit according to an embodiment of the invention.
Inside the heating cavity the of the oven 10 the support 3 can have a wire or a rod, the heating section HS can be arranged inside the heating cavity, wherein the heating section HS can have a first coil HS-C1 and a second coil HS-C2 which extend in a top region of the heating cavity and the support 3 extends across and between the coils HS-C1 and HS-C2. Fig. 3 shows the vaporizing unit, the coils and the ceiling of the oven laterally from an underside. The vaporizing unit 2 being attached to the support 3 to its mounting sections 3-MS, which can be arranged such the when the vaporizing unit 2 is attached to the support a longitudinal extension L of the vaporizing unit 2 can extend parallel to a part of the first coil HS-C1 and to a part of the second coil HS-C2 and the first end 2a and the second end 2b of the vaporizing unit 2 can both be located at a same distance from the coils respectively. The vaporizing unit 2 can have a holding part HP at the first end 2a by which the end user can grab the vaporizing unit for pulling or pushing it (when attaching or detaching it) before or after the vaporizing unit is hot. The first coil HS-C1 can laterally surround the second coil HS-C2 at least partly and both coils can extend in a same plane or in planes at different heights to each other. The water supplying device 4 having a water tank 5, a pipe arrangement 6 and a water flow generator 7 can be arranged above the heating cavity. It can further be seen from Fig. 3 that the lateral side region LS of the bowl section BS extends below a straight part of the first coil HS-C1. An overall length of the vaporizing unit in extension L can be, for example 151 mm.
The lateral side region LS can extend under the first coil HS-C1 such that a maximum covering in lateral extend can be 8,6 mm, for example, or 2 - 12 mm as an alternative. The width of the bowl section BS in lateral extend, what is perpendicular to the longitudinal extension L, can be 38 mm, for example, or between 4 - 15 times a thickness of a coil.
A distance between the coils at their straight parts between which the vaporizing unit 2 can be mounted can be 2 to 8 times the thickness of a coil or 40,9 mm, for example. A lateral extend of one or both coils depends on the type of oven and can be, for example, 372,5 mm.
Fig. 4 shows a vaporizing unit of a steam generating device according to an embodiment of the invention.
The vaporizing unit 2 has a bowl section BS for accepting water and has a first end 2a and a second end 2b along a longitudinal extension L of the vaporizing unit 2, wherein the bowl section BS is located at least partly between the first end 2a and the second end 2b along the longitudinal extension L, and wherein the first end 2a has a first mounting section m1 and the second end 2b has a second mounting section m2 for attaching the vaporizing unit 2 to the support of the heating section, and wherein the vaporizing unit 2 has a holding part HP, for example at the first end 2a for the user when attaching and/or detaching it to the support. The holding part HP can extend perpendicular to the mounting section m1. The first mounting section m1 can comprise a first clamp section c1 and the second mounting section m2 can comprises a second clamp section c2. The first end 2a can have a flat first base section BS1 which extends along the longitudinal extension L and from which flat first base section BS1 the first clamp section c1 rises such that the support is attachable between the flat first base section BS1 and the first clamp section c1, and the second end 2b can have a flat second base section BS2 which extends along the longitudinal extension L and from which flat second base section BS2 the second clamp section c2 rises such that the support is attachable between the flat second base section BS2 and the second clamp section c2. The second clamp section can have an inner length (region) of 12 to 19 mm, for example. The open region OR can have a height of 2 - 3 mm, for example.
The first and the second end can further have (parallel) guiding sections GS which protrude from the surface of the first mounting section m1 and from the surface of the second mounting section m2, for example at the corresponding flat base BS1 and/or BS2, and can extend also over a bending structure from the flat base downwards to the bowl section, if the vaporizing unit has such a bending (knee) section between the ends and the bowl section for overcoming the height difference d. The bending can have an angle of 135 °, for example. By these guiding sections GS (for example placed parallel to each other at a distance of 10 - 14 mm) the wire of the support can be lead to the clamp sections c1/c2 and since the guiding sections can be formed as round protrusions with a longitudinal extend along the longitudinal extension L, also in projection to L over the knee if present, the wire of the support can be guided into the clamp more easily. The guiding sections GS can additionally improve a mechanical strength of the vaporizing unit (more rigid bends, because GS can increase the cross-section). This helps to prevent the vaporizing unit to bend during heating or at least to lower the risk therefore. Further, for such a rounded protrusion-guided section as GS, which can be present also in said bending-knee section, and if the protrusion is made after the bending section, than the bending section (bending angle) can be more stable and overall dimensions can be more accurate.
The thickness of the material of the vaporizing unit 2 can be 0,5 mm, for example. A lateral width of the mounting sections m1 and m2 can be, for example 18 mm, also a possible lateral width of the second u-shaped clamp section c2.
Fig. 5 shows a vaporizing unit of a steam generating device attached to the support according to an embodiment of the invention.
The vaporizing unit 2 from Fig. 4 is shown in a lateral side view and attached to the support wires 3 inside the heating cavity HC. The support 3 has in this case 2 parallel wires with circular cross shape which can be attached to the coils of the heating section. These two wires are clamped into the corresponding clamp sections c1 and c2 in the attaching direction AD, in the case of Fig. 5 towards the front opening of the heating cavity HC, wherein the clamp sections c1 and c2 have their open regions OR directed in the same direction towards the front opening and the user has to pull the wires of the support into the open regions OR of the clamps c1 and c2. The wires can then be pulled into the clamp sections between the clamp sections and the flat base sections BS1 and BS2. The attaching direction AD can be parallel to the longitudinal extension L. In particular, the vaporizing unit is directly pulled and the wires of the support are then indirectly pulled into the clamps but truly they are not moved. The wires can be truly stable at a constant position.
In the embodiment of Fig. 5 the vaporizing unit 2 can therefore be attached to the support 3 such that a wire of the support 3 is pulled through a first open region OR1 of a first clamp section c1 and thereby clamped into the first clamp section c1 and another wire of the support 3 can be pulled through a second open region OR2 of a second clamp section c2 and thereby clamped into the second clamp section c2, wherein the vaporizing unit 2 is held at a holding part HP and pulled in an attaching direction AD.
The support 3 can be partly embraced by the first clamp section c1 and held at a constant position within the first clamp section c1 when the first mounting section m1 is attached to the support.
The second clamp section c2 can have a longitudinal extend of the inner region of the clamp c2. The support 3 can be partly embraced by the second clamp section c2 and held in this predefined region within the second clamp section c2 when the second mounting section m2 is attached to the support 3, so that depending on the kind of the oven and on the distance between the parallel wires of the support, the first clamp c1 can hold the front wire 3 at a predefined and constant (with regard to all kinds of support and ovens) position relative to the rest of the vaporizing unit and the rear wire of the support can be placed at different places (with regard to all kinds of support) inside the second clamp region c2, which differ by the kinds of ovens and/or their support on the distance between the wires with larger dimensional tolerances (depending of technological process of heater production) for the particular oven. Therefore, it is possible to apply the vaporizing unit to different types of ovens.
The front wire of the support can be embraced over a radial section and over a predefined angle. The rear wire of the support can be only contacted at a finite place/location from its top and bottom side by the second clamp and second base section to hold it at its particular place/position within the predefined region in the second clamp section. This place/position of contact can be at different positions for different ovens and support structures but still inside the predefined region of the second clamp section. Without the pulling or pushing force of the end user the clamps regions c1 and c2 can hold the vaporizing unit then fixed to the support or at least increase the probability for holding it fixed.
Fig. 6 shows a flowchart of a method for operating an oven according to an embodiment of the invention.
The method for operating an oven comprises the steps of attaching S1 the vaporizing unit to the support by a user; heating S2 of the heating cavity by operating the heating section; activating S3 a steam generating function, wherein the water flow generator is activated and a flow of water from the water tank through the pipe arrangement is generated and a predefined amount of water is provided to the bowl section and the water is at least partly vaporized from the bowl section to the interior of the heating cavity and a predefined amount of vaporized water is produced inside the heating cavity before and/or during cooking, wherein the vaporized water is spread through the heating cavity by a fan of the oven.

Claims

Oven (10) for cooking, comprising:
a heating cavity (HC);

a heating section (HS) inside the heating cavity (HC),

wherein the heating section (HS) has at least one coil (HS-C) which extends in a top region of the heating cavity (HC);

and a steam generating device (1) for the oven (10), comprising:
- a vaporizing unit (2), wherein the vaporizing unit (2) has a bowl section (BS) for accepting water; and

- a water supplying device (4) having a water tank (5), a pipe arrangement (6) with a water discharge part (9), a water flow generator (7) for generating a flow of water from the water tank (5) through the pipe arrangement (6), and a washer device (8), wherein the washer device (8) is configured such to be mounted to the heating cavity (HC) and to seal an interior of the heating cavity (HC) from an exterior of the heating cavity (HC) and such that the water discharge part (9) is insertable into the washer device (8) such that the water discharge part (9) penetrates into the heating cavity (HC);

wherein the vaporizing unit (2) is attachable such that the bowl section (BS) is positioned below the water discharge part (9) for collecting the water and such that the bowl section (BS) is heated by the heating section (HS) for vaporizing the water,

characterized in that

the oven comprises a support (3) having a wire or a rod, wherein the support (3) extends at least partly along and/or between the coil (HS-C) of the heating section (HS), and in that

the vaporizing unit (2) is attached to the support (3) of the heating section (HS) in the heating cavity (HC) of the oven (10), at a predefined distance (I) to the coil (HS-C) and below the water discharge part (9).
Oven (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the vaporizing unit (2) has a first end (2a) and a second end (2b) along a longitudinal extension (L) of the vaporizing unit (2), wherein the bowl section (BS) is located at least partly between the first end (2a) and the second end (2b) along the longitudinal extension (L), and wherein the first end (2a) has a first mounting section (m1) and the second end (2b) has a second mounting section (m2) for attaching the vaporizing unit (2) to the support (3), and wherein the vaporizing unit (2) has a holding part (HP) at the first end (2a) or at the second end (2b) for allowing the user holding the vaporizing unit (2) when attaching and/or detaching it to the support (3).
Oven (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that, the first mounting section (m1) comprises a first clamp section (c1) which is configured such that the support (3) can be at least partly embraced by the first clamp section (c1) and held at a constant position or in a predefined region within the first clamp section (c1) when the first mounting section (m1) is attached to the support (3).
Oven (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, the second mounting section (m2) comprises a second clamp section (c2) which is configured such that the support (3) can be at least partly embraced by the second clamp section (c2) and held at a constant position or in a predefined region within the second clamp section (c2) when the second mounting section (m2) is attached to the support (3).
Oven (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, the first end (2a) has a flat first base section (BS1) which extends along the longitudinal extension (L) and from which flat first base section (BS1) the first clamp section (c1) rises such that the support (3) is attachable between the flat first base section (BS1) and the first clamp section (c1), and the second end (2b) has a flat second base section (BS2) which extends along the longitudinal extension (L) and from which flat second base section (BS2) the second clamp section (c2) rises such that the support (3) is attachable between the flat second base section (BS2) and the second clamp section (c2).
Oven (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, the first clamp section (c1) and the second clamp section (c2) have an open region (OR) each which is directed towards an attaching direction (AD) of the vaporizing unit (2), wherein the vaporizing unit (2) is attachable to the support (3) by clamping the support through the open region (OR) into first clamp section (c1) and/or through the open region (OR) into the second clamp section (c2).
Oven (10) according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 6, characterized in that, the bowl section (BS) extends along the longitudinal extension (L) at a same height as the first end (2a) and the second end (2b) or at a predefined height difference (d) below a connecting line between the first end (2a) and the second end (2b), and wherein the bowl section (BS) extends at least partly to a lateral side region (LS), which extends laterally parallel to the connecting line between the first end (2a) and the second end (2b), wherein when the first end (2a) and/or the second end (2b) is attached to the support (3) the lateral side region (LS) can extend at least partly below the heating section (HS).
Oven (10) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, the water flow generator (7) comprises a pump and/or a valve and/or an actuator device.
Oven (10) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, the washer device (8) comprises an inner margin (8a) inside which the water discharge part (9) penetrates from the exterior to the interior of the heating cavity (HC), and a spacer (8b) which is attachable between the inner margin (8a) and the heating cavity (HC).
Oven (10) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, the oven (10) comprises a control unit (CU), which is configured to switch on a steam generating function, wherein the water flow generator (7) is activated and a flow of water from the water tank (5) through the pipe arrangement (6) is generated and a predefined amount of water is provided to the bowl section (BS) or to deactivate the steam generating function.
Oven (10) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, the support (3) has a mounting section (3-MS) which is located at the predefined distance (I) beside the at least one coil (HS-C) in a planar direction of the coil (HS-C) and/or above and/or below a plane along which the coil (HS-C) extends in the heating cavity (HC), wherein the bowl section (BS) of the vaporizing unit (2) extends at least partly to a lateral side region (LS), which extends laterally parallel to a connecting line between a first end (2a) and a second end (2b) of the vaporizing unit (2), wherein when the first end (2a) and/or the second end (2b) is attached to the mounting section (3-MS) the lateral side region (LS) extends at least partly above or below the coil (HS-C).
Oven (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that, the mounting section (3-MS) has a v-shaped form which extends below the plane along which the coil (HS-C) extends, wherein the first end (2a) and/or the second end (2b) of the vaporizing unit (2) is attachable to the v-shaped form such that the first end (2a) and/or the second end (2b) can be held laterally at a constant position within a predefined tolerance and at the predefined distance (I) beside the at least one coil (HS-C) in a planar direction of the coil (HS-C).
Method for operating an oven (10) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 12, comprising the steps:
- attaching (S1) the vaporizing unit (2) to the support (3) by a user;

- heating (S2) of the heating cavity (HC) by operating the heating section (HS);

- activating (S3) a steam generating function, wherein the water flow generator (7) is activated and a flow of water from the water tank (5) through the pipe arrangement (6) is generated and a predefined amount of water is provided to the bowl section (BS) and the water is at least partly vaporized from the bowl section (BS) to the interior of the heating cavity (HC) and a predefined amount of vaporized water is produced inside the heating cavity (HC) before and/or during cooking, wherein the vaporized water is spread through the heating cavity by a fan of the oven (10).
Method according to claim 13, characterized in that, after cooking the heating cavity (HC) is cooled down to a cleaning temperature and then the vaporizing unit (2) is detached from the support (3) and removed from the heating cavity (HC),
wherein the steam generating function is stopped before or during or after cooking and the flow of water to the bowl section is stopped.
Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that, the vaporizing unit (2) is attached to the support (3) such that a rod of the support (3) is pushed or pulled through a first open region (OR) of a first clamp section (c1) of a first end (2a) of the vaporizing unit (2) and thereby clamped into the first clamp section (c1) and/or that another rod of the support (3) is pushed or pulled through a second open region (OR) of a second clamp section (c2) of a second end (2b) of the vaporizing unit (2) and thereby clamped into the second clamp section (c2), wherein the vaporizing unit (2) is held by a holding part (HP) at the first end (2a) or at the second end (2b) by a user and is pushed or pulled in an attaching direction (AD) of the vaporizing unit (2) and/or that the vaporizing unit (2) is detached from the support (3) by pushing or pulling it against the attaching direction (AD) and releasing the first clamp section (c1) and/or the second clamp section (c2) from the support (3) through the first open region (OR) and through the second open region (OR).