WO2023101618A1

WO2023101618A1 - Oven with a switch assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2023101618A1
Application number: PCT/TR2021/051256
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ogun DUZGUN; Yahya AKKUS; Ethem TEKE; Mehmet Gocer
Original assignee: Femas Metal San. Ve Tic. A.S.
Priority date: 2021-11-22
Filing date: 2021-11-22
Publication date: 2023-06-08
Also published as: EP4437277A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an oven with a switch assembly (22) comprising a muffle (14) surrounding a cooking chamber (12); a frame-shaped front wall (16) provided at the opening of the muffle (14); a hinged door (18) covering the front wall (16); a switch element (44) enables a safe mode by breaking electric current at an electric heating element (13) provided in the muffle (14) when the door (18) is opened during the cooking process. The switch assembly (22) further comprises a damper (30) with a damper arm (32) extending out from the front wall (16) and pressed from a movable free end (33) by closing the door (18) and the damper (30) is arranged to enable a safe mode by cut off the electric current with the switch element (44) by the free end (33) returns to its initial position when the door (18) is opened.

Description

OVEN WITH A SWITCH ASSEMBLY

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an oven comprising a switch assembly that breaks the current to the electric heating element in a safe mode when the oven door is open during the cooking.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

The door of a household oven can be opened to access a cooking chamber that delimits the cavity during the cooking operation by means of an electric heating element. Various controls are provided for the cooking process or to ensure user safety, such as providing a lighting or interrupting the current reaching the electric heating element when the door is opened during the cooking process. In order to control the cooking process, a switch device can select an inactive or activate by breaking or transmitting the current flow with the opening and closing of the door.

EP2370735 discloses an oven comprises a cooking chamber wherein the foods to be cooked are placed, a body surrounding the cooking chamber, a frame shaped front wall that forms the front portion of the body, a door provided on the front wall allowing access into the cooking chamber and being opened by rotating around a horizontal axis, two housings arranged on both sides of the front wall, two hinges having a hinge body secured on the body by passing through the housing and a hinge arm with one end fixed to the hinge body and the other end to the door and a lamp for illuminating the cooking chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an oven that includes a switch device that can be easily mounted on the oven's front wall, and electrical safety measures are easily adapted in case the door is open or closed.

In order to achieve the above objective, the invention relates to an oven with a switch assembly comprising a muffle surrounding a cooking chamber; a frame-shaped front wall provided at the opening of the muffle; a hinged door covering the front wall; a switch element enables a safe mode by breaking electric current at an electric heating element provided in the muffle when the door is opened during the cooking process. The switch assembly further comprises a damper with a damper arm extending out from the front wall and pressed from a movable free end by closing the door and the damper is arranged to enable a safe mode by cutting off the electric current with the switch element by the free end returns to its initial position when the door is opened. In this way, when the door is opened during cooking, the transmission of electricity to the electric heating element that provides cooking is cut off and a safe mode is enabled. In this case, while the damper provides a dumped closing against the closing force applied by the door hinge, on the other hand, it provides electrical safety in case the door is opened.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch has a conductive fork extending close to the damper arm connected to the electrical circuit, and the damper arm engages to a conductive collar switch the circuit to the fork when the door is opened. In this way, a switch device operating with the movement of the damper is provided. The damper arm moves backward in a closed state of the door, and the switch is disabled; where the door is open, the damper arm moves forward and applies a pressure force to an element that triggers the switch, enabling the switch.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch assembly has a housing surrounding the damper arm adjacent to the switch and in an axially guiding manner. In this way, with the opening and closing of the door, a switch device movement is restricted to the horizontal axis in a guide.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing is inserted in a slot on the front wall in a way that the free end is facing outwardly. In this way, the switch device, rests in the slot in the form of a recess arranged on an upper corner of the front wall, is enabled or disabled with the free end when the door is opened or the door is closed.

In a preferred application of the invention, the housing is made of an insulating material. In this way, the electrical conductors are supported in the housing and the switch operation is ensured without allowing current flow over the housing structure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the damper has a compression spring pressing from one end of the damper to the collar from the opposite end to the inner wall of the housing and set pre-tensioned in a way that pushes the collar to the fork in the safe mode. In this way, a switch assembly is obtained, which is compressed by the backward movement of the damper and works with a spring that moves the damper forward with force applied to the damper when released.

In a preferred application of the invention, the switch has a contact tip pair that extends parallel to the damper arm and transmits current from its end to the electric heating element. In this way, by establishing an electrical contact connected to the switch, the switch operates when the damper is moved back and forth.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch device is provided on the opposite side to the edge on which the door is hinged. In this way, it is ensured that the switch device is operational by contacting the opening edge of the door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a representative drawing of an oven with a switch assembly according to the subject matter invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the switch assembly when the door of the oven is closed.

Figure 3 is a continuation of the schematic view of the switch assembly when the switch assembly of the oven door for the oven according to the subject matter invention, is closed.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the switch assembly of a switch assembly oven of the invention when the oven door is open.

Figure 5 is the continuation of the schematic view of the switch assembly of a switch assembly oven of the invention when the oven door is open.

Figure 6 is a general schematic view of a switch assembly oven of the invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic view of a damper for a switch assembly oven of the invention.

Figure 8 is the rear side schematic view of a switch assembly of the invention, the switch assembly of the oven on the front wall. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed explanation, the invention is explained without any limitation and only with reference to examples to better explain the subject matter.

Figure 1 shows the schematic of an oven with a switch assembly, according to the subject matter invention. In the oven with the switch assembly, there is a cooking chamber (12) provided through the front side of a metal muffle (14) of an oven (10). The oven muffle (14) has a base, two lateral perpendicular walls, a rear wall, and a top panel together surrounding the cooking chamber (12). In the cooking chamber (12), the cooking process is carried out by placing the items to be cooked by providing controlled transmission of the electricity supplied from the grid to an electric heating element (13). The electric heating element (13) is resistant to heating in the muffle (14). A frame-formed front wall (16) is provided in the front part of the muffle (14). In the center of the front wall (16) there is an opening to enable access to the cooking chamber (12). A door (18) is hinged to the front wall covering by pressing from the top. The door (18) pivoted on the hinge to allow the opening and closing of the passage to the cooking chamber (12). There is also a slot (20) in the form of a pocket on the front wall (16). In an embodiment, the slot (20) in the form of a pocket is on one free edge of the upper corner of the front wall (16). Additionally, the slot (20) is designed in such a way that the switch assembly (22) can be attached and mounted by means of a snap-fit connection. As a safety precaution, the switch assembly (22) prevents the electric heating element (13) inside the oven (10) from operating by cutting off the electrical transmission when the door (18) is open. For this reason, a switch device (22) is utilized at the contact zone for the oven (10) control to interpret whether the door (18) is open or closed. The electric heating element (13) is not powered while the door (10) is open during cooking. In the embodiment of the present invention, the housing (20) is designed in a way that provides a snap fit, facilitate to insert and mount the switch assembly (22) in the housing (20).

Figure 2 and Figure 3 show the switch assembly of the invention schematically when the oven door is closed. Figure 4 and Figure 5 show an oven with the switch assembly schematically, according to the subject matter invention, when the oven door is open. Figure 6 schematically shows the general view of the switch assembly of a switch assembly oven, which is the subject of the invention. In Figure 7, a schematic of a damper for a switch assembly for the oven is shown. In Figure 8, a switch assembly of the oven on the front wall is shown schematically from a rear view. The switch assembly (22) is mounted on the front wall (16), and the cooking process in the cooking chamber (12) is initiated after the closing of the door (18). Afterward, the switch device in the cooking chamber (12) provides electrical safety by switching to a safe mode by breaking the electric transmission when the door (18) is opened during cooking. The switch assembly (22) can be mounted by inserting the assembly into a slot (20) located on the front wall (16) by means of the tabs. In an embodiment, the switch assembly (22) can be mounted by inserting orthogonally into the slot (20) in the form of a pocket. The switch assembly (22) is mounted into the pocket with a screw from the screw hole (45) located on one side edge. In this way, the switch assembly (22) simply mounted with the tabs (48) has a firm mounting on the oven (10). In addition, the switch assembly (22) comprises a surrounding housing (24). The housing (24) is a structure that surrounds the damper arm (32) of the switch assembly (22) as adjacent and axially movable hinges to the switch (44). The slot (20) is located on the front wall (16) of the housing (24) and the slot (20) is designed so that the free end (33) of the switch assembly is facing outwardly. Moreover, the housing (24) is made of insulating material. It is ensured that the housing (24) and the parts that allow the switch assembly (22) work together, assemble, and protect the parts of the switch assembly (22). There is a switch (44) inside the housing (24) that enables the cooking mode to be enabled or disabled. The switch (44) is activated when the door (18) is opened, and the power to the electric heating element (13) that provides cooking is cut off. In this way, the heating in the cooking chamber (12) is stopped, ensuring user safety. By closing the door, the safety mode is deactivated, and power is resupplied to the electric heating element (13), where cooking is provided, and thus the heating process in the cooking chamber (12) starts again. In this way, during cooking, switch (44) can be enabled or disabled. Inside the housing (24) there is a damper (30) that moves back and forth (50) (52) depending on whether the door (18) is open or closed and comprises a front end (33), a collar (37) and a rear end (38). The damper (30) moves back and forth on the horizontal axis (50) (52), by transmitting the contact force exerted by a damper arm (32) of a free end (33) with the closing of the door (18). The collar (37) becomes the conductor that the damper arm (32) connects to a fork (40) when the door (18) is opened, engaging the fork (40) in a way that closes the circuit, and the conductor that the damper arm (32) connects to the fork (40) when the door (18) is opened, engaging the fork (40). The switch assembly (22) has the damper (30) with a damper arm (32) extending outward from the front wall (16) by pressing its movable free end (33) upon closing of the door (18). The free end (33) of the damper (30) inside the switch assembly (22) is adjusted when the door (18) is opened, returning the switch (44) to a safe mode where it breaks the electric current. In the example of the invention, the rear end (38) of the damper may be in a narrower cylindrical structure compared to the free end (33). There is a spring (39) on the rear end (38) of the damper (30) that narrows in the reverse direction (50) when the door (18) is closed. In addition, when the door (18) is opened, the forward movement (52) of the damper (30) is provided by exerting the force created by the spring (39) on the damper (30) to be expanded. The forward and back movements (50) (52) of the damper (30) are provided in a guide (36) provided by a front slot (26) in the housing (24), a rear slot (28), and an inner slot (34). In the guide (36) line, there is the damper arm (32) that can move forward and backward (50) (52) and connect the front end (33) and the rear end (38) of the damper (30). When the oven door (18) is opened, the collar (37), moving forward with the force of the spring (39) activates the switch (44) by applying a pressure force to a fork (40). Here, the fork (40) acts as an actuator activating the switch, and the conductor extending close to the damper arm (32) connected to the electrical circuit of the switch (44) is spaced. In addition, the collar (37) geometrically narrows from the rear end (374) to the front end (372), with the rear end (374) being wider than the front end (372). In this way, no force is exerted on the collar (37), and fork (40) in the backward movement of the damper arm (32), and the switch (44) is disabled. There is a first electrical contact (46) and a second electrical contact (47) connected to the switch (44) that enables the switch (44) activated by the fork (40) to establish an electrical contact with the electric heating element (13). In this way, the switch (44) becomes operational when the damper is moved back and forth with the establishment of an electrical contact (46) connected to the switch (44). With the movement (50) (52) of the damper, the fork (40), on which the collar (37) exerts the pressure force, can move up and down on the horizontal axis. A portion of the damper front end (33) is such that it can extend from the front slot (26) located at the front of the housing (24), with the forward movement (52) of the damper. In addition, a part of the damper rear end (38) is such that it extends from the rear slot (28) located at the rear of the housing (24) with the backward movement (50) of the damper (30). With the backward movement (50) of the damper, the fork (40) moves downwards on the vertical axis and triggers the switch (44) by pressing the switch (44), and thus, the switch (44) actively breaks the power of the electric heating element (13). With the forward movement (52) of the damper, the fork (40) moves upwards on the vertical axis, the switch (44) cuts off the pressure, and the power of the electric heating element is provided again as the switch (44) disabled and the cooking process continues. In the switch assembly (22) in the switch assembly oven, which is the subject of the invention, the forward movement of the movement is made by contacting the front slot (26), which is connected between the collar (37) and the front end (33) and which is the last point where the damper (30) can move (52) in the forward movement. There is a stopper (35) that ensures that it does not pass beyond a fixed point in the direction. In addition, the stopper (35) ensures that the damper (30) does not move beyond a predefined measure in the reverse direction by contacting the inner slot (34) during the backward movement (50) of the damper. Here, the stopper (35) is in a feature that allows limited movement. In this way, when the door (18) is opened or closed (50) (52) depending on the opening of the spring (39), it ensures that the damper (30) does not come out of the switch assembly (22) in such a way as to break. REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Oven 35 Stopper

12 Cooking chamber 36 Guide

13 Electric heating element 37 Bracelet

14 Muffle 372 Front end

16 Front wall 374 Rear end

18 Cover 38 Backend

20 Slot 39 Spring

22 Switch 40 Fork

24 Housing 44 Switch

26 Front slit 45 Screw hole

28 Back slit 46 First electrical contact

30 Damper 47 Second electrical contact

32 Damper arm 48 Tab

33 Free end 50 Backwards movement

34 Inner slit 52 Forward movement

Claims

CLAIMS - An oven with a switch assembly (22) comprising a muffle (14) surrounding a cooking chamber (12); a frame-shaped front wall (16) provided at the opening of the muffle (14); a hinged door (18) covering the front wall (16); a switch element (44) enables a safe mode by breaking electric current at an electric heating element (13) provided in the muffle (14) when the door (18) is opened during the cooking process characterized in that the switch assembly (22) further comprising a damper (30) with a damper arm (32) extending out from the front wall (16) and pressed from a movable free end (33) by closing the door (18) and that the damper (30) is arranged to enable a safe mode by cut off the electric current with the switch element (44) by the free end (33) returns to its initial position when the door (18) is opened. - An oven according to claim 1 , wherein the switch (44) has a conductive fork (40) extending close to the damper arm (32) connected to the electrical circuit and the damper arm (32) is engaging to a conductive collar (37) switches the circuit to the fork (40) when the door (18) is opened. - An oven according to claim 2, wherein the switch assembly (22) has a housing (24) surrounding the damper arm (32) adjacent to the switch (44) and in an axially guiding manner. - An oven according to claim 3, wherein the housing (24) is inserted in a slot (20) on the front wall (16) in a way that the free end (33) is facing outwardly. - An oven according to claims 3-4, wherein the housing (24) is made of insulating material. - An oven according to claims 3-5, wherein the damper (30) has a compression spring (39) pressing from one end of the damper (30) to the collar (37) from the opposite end to the inner wall of the housing (24) and set pre-tensioned in a way that pushes the collar (37) to the fork (40) in the safe mode. - An oven according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the switch (44) has a contact tip pair (46, 47) that extends parallel to the damper arm (32) and transmits current from its end to the electric heating element (13). - An oven according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the switch device (22) is provided on the opposite side to the edge on which the door (18) is hinged.