GB2381442A - Combined oven and dishwasher using a single chamber for both functions - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to save space an oven and a dishwasher are combined together into a single unit in which a single chamber is used for both functions. In addition to the saving of space a further advantage is that the oven is automatically cleaned during the washing cycles. The equipment in the chamber which is specifically for use in one of the modes is preferably made removable - such as the washer spray arms, dish racks - unless they are made from materials with will withstand all environments. Other components which are present at all times are made from materials able to withstand conditions in either the oven or dishwashing mode, such as door seals. Figs. 3 and 4 shown the appliance in oven and dishwashing mode respectively.

Description

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A hybrid of commonly used appliances or machines used both domestically and commercially This invention relates to a hybnd appliance or machine The hybnd combines an appliance or machine which can cook with one that washes, becoming a hybnd such as a dishwashung oven and gnll A hybnd with a common compartment capable of cooking, washing the inside of its compartment and dishwashung Appliances or machines such as ovens, gnus and dishwashers are well known but ovens and gnlls don't wash the inside of their own compartments themselves Likewise dishwashers don't bake, roast, grill or cook An object of this invention is to provide a hybnd apphance with a compartment that not only cooks or washes but cooks, washes the inside of its compartment and dish washes all in one solving the problems and having the benefits hsted below I A hybnd would have little need for the much hated job of manual cleamng of its internal compartment Unlike the conventional oven or gnU, the hybnd has the ability to wash the inside of its compartment 2 A hybnd could reduce smoke and fumes sometimes produced by dirty heating elements and compartment when its compartment washing or dishwashung capability is regularly used simply through more frequent automated cleaning 3 A hybnd could reduce the transfer of tastes and smells from previous cooking. (e g apple crumble that tastes of beef), when its compartment washing or chshwaslung capability is regularly used, increasing the standard of hygiene when cooking by reducing the food particles and resides reheated 4 Where space is limited a hybnd would be more compact than two separate appliances such as an

oven/gnll and a dishwasher side by side With this invention cooking and cleamng can be earned out in the same appliances compartment A hybnd could also have the following benefits- I It could be more energy efficient when using an already warm cooking device and compartment It can transfer heat to the water carrying out the hybrids internal compartment waslung or dishwaslung capability, raising the temperature of the water therefore reducing the need for heating 2 Where previously two appliances or machines were made for use side by side A hybnd can be more economic with the use materials, manufactunng, packaging, storage and distribution costs As the hybnd uses a common compartment, there is only one unit to build, pack, store and distribute

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This invention provides a hybrid appliance which uses a known heating component part or parts usually found in cookmg apphances such as ovens and gnlls to cook within the same appliance compartment as known waslung components such as that found in dish washers Producing a hybrid appliance and compartment capable of cooking, washing the inside of its own compartment and dishwashmg The inside of the hybrid appliances compartment would be made of materials that could withstand cooking heat, water, detergents, nnse aids. water softeners and food An example of suitable materials being- Various metals, ceramics, some heat resistant plastics and some oven proof glass or it could be made of a combination of such materials Constructed in such a way as to be resistant to water leakage

when washing and insulated preventing excessive heat loss to its outside casings and controls when cooking Preferably inside the hvbnds compartment Component parts not compatible with cooking heat, water, detergents. and food is made of a suitable material capable of carrying out the function in hand, and are made removable from the compartment before the hybrids next function For example in its

construction if low heat resistant plastic washer spraying arms and dish racks where used for washing they could be taken out of the compartment before cooking to prevent heat damage to them A preferred emboiment of the invention will now be described with references to the accompanying drawings A hybrid can have different combinations of heating devises used for cooking arranged inside the same compartment as a device or devices used for waslung An example of more than one

possible combinations of a hybnd appliance will now be described The following hybrid described is a dish washung oven and gnll in whichThe drawings Pa2e 1/2. fi2ure1 Shows a front view of the hybnd appliance with a front opening door to its compartment shown closed The compartment is viewed through a window in the door The drawings Pa2e 1/2 figure2 Shows a front view of the same hybnd apphance without its door It shows a view inside the compartment with a water reservoir, water pump, water heater and dram pipe in this figure the compartment is shown with a gnll pan inside ready to gnll The drawings Page 2/2. figure 3.

Shows the same hybnd apphance as in figure 2 In this figure the appliance has its oven heatmg element and fan on and is shown roasting some meat The drawings Page 2/2. fifre 4.

Shows the same appliance without its door as in figure 2 and 3. with the top draw removed, two dish racks with dishes and cutlery inside its compartment Both dishes, cutlery and compartment are shown being sprayed with water containing detergent

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As shown in figure 1 Tius example of the hybrid appliance comprises of * a compartment 6 in which its cooking and washing functions are earned out * A door and handle 1 for access to its compartment * A control panel 2 On the front of the control panel are the following controls- 'A function select knob which can be turned to select either the gnll, the oven, its washing functions or off 3 * A start button to start a wash 4 * A wash selector knob 5 for different types of washes 'An oven temperature selection knob and thermostat 7 for oven temperature control * A gnll heat selector knob 8 for grilling temperature control Figure 2 shows Wlthm the compartment there are two heatmg elements controlled from the control panel 2 in figurel.] One of the elements is for heating the compartment for use as a gnll 15 and the other is for heatmg the compartment as an oven 11 The heatIng element for using the compartment as an oven in

this example is assisted by a fan 10 In figure 2. the compartment is shown ready to gnll a gnll pan is shown mserted 30. on it's top draw 18 The compartment also contains a muddle draw 19 and a bottom draw 21 winch can be used to support balang trays when the appliance is functioning as an oven or dish racks when functioning as a dishwasher.

The compartment in figure 2 also shows three spraying arms, one at the top 14, one m the nuddle 20 and one at the bottom 23 These are for washing the compartment, and chshwashing when that function is selected on the control panel The spraying arms are shown connected by water fed pipes 27 to a water pump, heater and dram of pipe 24 The appliance can circulate heated water around its compartment or dram itself of water collected in its water reservoir 26 through its water filter 12 Figure 2 also shows the compartments heat insulation 13 to help keep heat inside the compartment surrounded by an outside casing 9 The inside casing shown in this figure on the same line as the door seal 17 the vent 28 is to equalise air presser between the inside and outside of the compartment preventing a vacuum or positive presser being created The fresh water inlet 29 shown is to introduce fresh water into the compartment when needed for washing The compartment light 16. is used to light the compartment and comes on when any function is selected. In figure 2 there are two short insulating pipes of different diameters shown 22 and 25 which help prevent transfer of heat by conduction from the inside of the compartment to the outside, the vent 28 and the fresh water mlet 29 also have the same for the same reason As figure 3 shows Within the hybnds compartment the hybnd is functioning as an oven The oven heating element 11 and fan 10 have been switched on and the appliance is shown roasting meat in an oven proof dish 31 As figure 4 shows The hybnd is functioning as a dishwasher the top shelf 18 [shown 10 figure 2 and 3] has been removed the appropriate washing devices have been switched on two dish racks with cutlery and dishes 32 have been shown inserted being washed by spraying them with water and detergent If only compartment cleaning is required the dishes and racks 32 can be left out and the shelf 18 [shown m figure 2 and 3] left in

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The hybnd appliance carnes out its functions of cookmg such as grilling roasting and balang m much the same way as a known oven and grill on their own activating the appropriate heating element or elements and or devices from the control panel Likewise The hybnd appliance carries out its function of dhshwashung and compartment cleamng in much the same way as a known dishwasher activating the appropriate devices from the control panel The hybnd is different because it can carry out both cooking and washing m the same compartment and can be controlled from the same control panel The hybnd compartment however is therefore constructed chfferently to individual appliance or machine compartments Thus is because it can get baking hot and wet with water containing detergent, nnse aids and water softeners the materials used to construct the inside of the compartment 6 components inside the compartment such as 10, 11. 12, etc, need to have different properties to the conventional separate appliances For example the inside of its access door. 1 the seal between its access door and compartment 17 need to be made of or protected by such matenals capable of withstanding damage or failure from more than one thmg such as- 1 The heat needed to roast, bake, gnll or cook.

2 Water, detergent nnse aids and water softeners 3. Food 4 Temperature changes An example of suitable matenals areVanous metals, ceramics, some heat resistant plastics and some oven proof glass or made of a combination of such materials that meet the requirements listed above If by choice the component parts are not made compatible with the list above they should be made of a suitable matenal capable of carrying out the individual function in hand, and made removable from the compartment before the hybnd carnes out an unsuitable function for them For example if m its construction washer spraying arms 14,20, 23 and dish racks 32 where made of low heat resistant plastics used when washmg they could be taken out of the compartment before cooking to prevent heat damage to them

Claims (1)

1. Claims.

   1 Any hybnd applIance or machine capable of carrying out food coolang and dishwashmg in the same compartment 2 An appliance or machine as descnbed in I made of any matenal or combination of matenals arranged m such a way as to be capable of either-coolang food or dish washing m the same compartment or more simply cook food and be capable of washmg the inside of its own compartment 3 Any compartment containing any combination of heating devices and washing devices making the one compartment capable of cooking and washing This is whether both types of devices are inside the compartment all of the time, or some of the devices are made removable, and are inside the compartment part of the time 4 An) hybnd appliance or machine of which an example is substantially as herein descnbed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings