GB2355070A

GB2355070A - Cooking appliance chassis

Info

Publication number: GB2355070A
Application number: GB9923490A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peris Wyn Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-10-06
Filing date: 1999-10-06
Publication date: 2001-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-06
Also published as: GB9923490D0; GB2355070B

Abstract

A chassis for a cooking appliance comprises a sub assembly 10,12 within which is defined a cooking chamber and is secured to a supporting element 40. The supporting element 40 includes formations (60, Fig 2) on which a hinge for a closure means can be mounted and may be an elongate metal channel in shape. The support element 40 extends along a peripheral edge of the sub assembly 10,12. Contact may also be at discrete locations (Fig 3) with thermal insulating material (56, Fig 4) disposed between them. Two supporting elements 40 may be used either side of a sub assembly 10, 12. Two or more sub assemblies 10,12 may be secured to the supporting elements 40 either vertically or horizontally (Fig 6) with a further support element 40 between them. The sub assembly 10,12 is tubular in shape with a flange 20 at the aperture end. A bezel 26 is mounted on the flange 20 and is used to secure it to the supporting element 40 . A rear panel 14 is provided and may be punched from the same sheet as the bezel 26. An aperture may be made in the sub assembly 10,12 and air pumping means used to urge air through the chamber. Where two sub assemblies 10,12 are used a duct (50,52 Fig 5) may be provided between them with air being urged through the duct. The cooking chamber maybe an oven or a grill.

Description

2355070 Cooking Appliances The present invention relates to cooking

appliances. In particular, it relates to cooking appliances including one or more cooking cavity such as an oven or a grill.

A typical cooking appliance is constructed on a chassis. The chassis defines one or more cooking cavity, each of which constitutes, for example, an oven or a grill of the appliance. Other parts of the cooking appliance such as heating elements, controls, door hinges, outer covers and so forth, are also carried on the chassis. Such a chassis is typically formed from pressed metal components that are connected together by welding. Those parts of the components that are visible to a user during operation of the apparatus are typically enamelled to provide them with a pleasing, durable finish. Experience has shown that enamelling of these components can contribute significantly to the total cost of the chassis.

This invention has, amongst its aims, the provision of cooking apparatus and a chassis for cooking apparatus that provides manufacturing advantages and cost savings as compared with conventional apparatus.

Accordingly, from a first aspect the invention provides a chassis for a cooking appliance comprising a sub-assembly within which is defined a cooking chamber and a supporting element secured to the sub-assembly, the supporting element including formations upon which a hinge for a closure for the cavity can be mounted.

Such a configuration greatly simplifies construction of the chassis. Moreover, the supporting element need not be enamelled, and the position of the hinges within the supporting element allows them to be spaced from the heat of the cooking chamber.

Typically, the supporting element comprises an elongate element. More particularly, it typically comprises an elongate metal channel element. The latter arrangement provides a strong and compact configuration. In typical embodiments, the supporting element extends along a peripheral edge of the sub-assembly.

Advantageously, the supporting element makes contact with the subassembly at discrete, spaced locations. This minimises the extent to which heat can travel by 4 2 conduction from the sub-assembly into the supporting element and provides a space between the spaced locations into which thermal insulating material can be inserted to minimise heat transfer by radiation.

In preferred embodiments, a chassis includes two such supporting elements disposed to opposite sides of an access aperture of the cooking chamber. This arrangement is particularly advantageous in providing a convenient location for door hinges, A particular advantage of the invention is that a chassis can readily be constructed with two or more sub-assemblies, interconnected by at least one supporting element.

This is a significant advantage in terms of manufacturing convenience and versatility, as the following examples will illustrate. In one arrangement of such a chassis, the sub-assemblies are disposed one above the other in normal use, and two supporting elements are provided, extending generally vertically to opposite sides of an access aperture of each cooking chamber. Alternatively, the sub- assemblies may be disposed horizontally one beside the other in normal use, and having two supporting elements are provided extending generally vertically at opposite outermost sides of the sub-assemblies and a further supporting element disposed between two of the sub-assemblies.

The sub-assembly may comprise a body portion within which a cooking chamber is defined, and a bezel surrounding an access aperture of the cooking chamber, the or each supporting element being attached to the bezel.

From a second of its aspects the invention provides a sub-assembly for use in construction of a chassis for a cooking appliance comprising a tubular enclosure, a rear panel closing one end of the enclosure and a bezel component surrounding an opposite end of the tubular enclosure, in which the bezel component is formed from a blank, and the rear panel is punched from the same blank, the aperture thereby formed in the blank being disposed to provide an access aperture through the bezel into the tubular enclosure.

From a third aspect, which may be independent or may be subsidiary to the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a sub-assembly for use in construction of a chassis for a cooking appliance comprising a tubular enclosure, a rear panel closing 3 one end of the enclosure, and a facia panel disposed within the tubular enclosure parallel to the rear panel and spaced from it towards an opposite end of the enclosure.

In such a sub-assembly, an aperture may be formed in the tubular enclosure in a region between the rear panel and the facia panel. Such an aperture permits the flow of air and other gasses into and out of that region.

From a fourth aspect, the invention provides a chassis for a cooking appliance including a sub-assembly according to the last-preceding paragraph, further including air pumping means whereby air and/other gasses can be urged to pass through the sub-assemblies.

From yet another aspect, the invention provides a chassis for a cooking appliance comprising two or more sub-assemblies according to the last-but-one preceding paragraph, further including a duct extending between at least two adjacent sub assemblies, the duct communicating with the apertures in the respective tubular components to create an air passage therebetween. Such a chassis may be provided with air pumping means whereby air and/other gasses can be urged to pass through the sub-assemblies and the duct. The arrangements described in this paragraph and the last-preceding paragraph may advantageously be employed in cooking appliances that include pyrolytic cleaning means for one or more cooking cavity.

From another aspect, the invention provides a cooking appliance comprising at least one chassis as defined above in which the chassis provides at least on of an oven chamber or a grill chamber of the cooking appliance. In such a cooking appliance, thermal insulation material is typically disposed surrounding the or each cooking chamber.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I shows schematically, and in perspective view, the main components of a chassis for a cooking appliance embodying the invention, 4 Figure 2 is a modification of Figure 1, partially cut-away to reveal additional detail, Figure 3 shows a detail of the embodiment of Figure I illustrating the interconnection between a supporting element and a bezel of the chassis, Figure 4 is a rear view of the chassis of Figure 1, Figure 5 illustrates, somewhat diagrammatically, the location of a door hinge in a supporting element of the emb( -'iment of Figure 1, and Figure 6 is a front view of a chassis for a cooking appliance being a second embodiment of the invention.

With reference first to Figure 1, there is shown a chassis for a cooking appliance being a first embodiment of the invertion. A chassis, in this embodiment, provides two cooking cavities, a smaller upper cavity 10 that might typically be used to construct a grill, and a larger lower cavity 12 that might typically be used to construct an oven. 15 Each cavity 10, 12 is constructed as a sub-assembly of several metal components. The components of the two cavities are similar, differing principally in scale. A first component 14 of the cavity 10,12 forms side, top and bottom walls of the cavity. The first component is formed from a rectangular metal sheet, folded along its length into a rounded rectangular tubular shape. End regions of the metal sheet are 20 welded together to maintain the tubular configuration. In this embodiment, the first component is bent to produce spaced, parallel upper and lower walls and spaced, parallel end walls. Where adjacent walls meet, the metal is radiussed, as shown, for example, at 18. This provides a cavity that has a rounded internal configuration. An edge region of the first component, which is disposed towards the front of a 25 completed cavity, is formed with an outwardly extending peripheral flange 20. This flange is shown as a broken line in Figure 1. As will be seen, the flange 20 extends in a direction outward with respect to the tubular configuration of the first component 14. A further edge region of the first component 14, which is disposed towards the rear of a completed cavity, is formed with an inwardly extending peripheral flange 22. This flange is shown as a broken line in Figure 2, extending in a direction inward with respect to the tubular configuration of the first component 14.

Each cavity further includes a front face component 26, also formed from a pressed metal sheet. Its periphery is generally rectangular, and it is formed with an aperture 28 of size and shape corresponding generally to the cross-sectional shape of the tubular configuration of the first component 14. A flat bezel region 30 of rectangular outline surrounds the aperture 28. The front face component 26 is secured, typically by welding, to the outwardly extending flange 20 such that its aperture 28 is in alignment with the tubular configuration of the first component 14, and such that the bezel region 30 projects radially from the first component 14. Thus, the bezel region forms a surround to the aperture 28 that gives access to the cavity. The bezel region 30 carries, around its periphery, a flange 32, which extends rearwardly to surround a forward edge portion of the first component 14.

At the rear of each cavity, 10,12 is an outer closure member 34, 34'. The outer closure members 34,34' are secured to the inwardly-directed flanges 22 of the respective first components 14, having been inserted into the cavity 10, 12 from what is, in use, the front. The closure members 34,34' are typically secured in place by screws. The closure members 34,34' are generally C-shaped in section, being disposed to provide a closure panel which closes the rear of the tubular formation of the first component 14. From the closure panel, two webs project forward, each carrying an inwardly directed flange 36. Typically, the closure panel 34 for a cavity intended to serve as a grill has apertures on which a heating element for the grill can be mounted. Likewise, the closure panels 34' for an oven cavity typically includes apertures for mounting a heating element and optionally further apertures for mounting an air circulation fan. In this embodiment, the closure members 3 4,3 4' are formed as metal pressings which are not subject to an enamelling process. As will become apparent, this is possible because they are not visible to a user in a completed cooking apparatus.

An inner closure member 3 8,3 8' is provided in each cavity 10, 12. Each inner closure member 38,38' is formed as a generally flat metal component, shaped and dimensioned to be a close fit within the tubular formation of the respective first 6 component 14. Conveniently for manufacture, the inner closure member 38, 38' may be formed from the piece of metal removed from the respective front face component 26 when the aperture is formed therein. The inner closure member 3 8,3 8' is secured, for example, by means of screws, to the flanges 36 of the corresponding outer closure member 34,34'. Thus, the inner closure member 38,38' forms a back wall of the cavity 10,12. An outer surface of the inner closure member 38, 38'will be visible to a user when the appliance is in use. Accordingly, at least that surface of the inner closure member is finished with an enamel coating. Where the inner closure member 38 is for use in a grill cavity, at least one aperture is typically provided, through which heating elements carried on the outer closure member 34 may pass into the grill chamber. An air passage 39 may also be provided through the inner closure member to carry air and gasses into the duct (which will be described below). Similarly, where the inner closure member 38' is for use in a grill cavity, at least one aperture is typically provided, through which heating elements carried on the outer closure member 3 4' may pass into the grill chamber. In addition, in suitable embodiments, apertures may be provided to allow passage of air moved by the air circulation fan, or for air and gasses to escape from the chamber.

The cavity sub-assemblies described above are supported between a pair of elongate supporting elements 40. In this embodiment, each supporting element is in the form of a steel U-shaped channel. The channel has side walls 44 which extend rearwardly from a front wall 46. Each front wall has one or more elongate slots 60 formed through it. A door hinge 62 (see Figure 5) can be mounted within and secured to the channel, with its supporting arms 64 projecting through the slots 60.

The means by which the sub-assemblies are secured to the supporting elements 40 can be seen most clearly in Figure 3. At intervals spaced along vertical sections of the flange 32, a frusto-conical, outwardly-directed depression 42 is made in the metal of the flange 32. A through-hole is formed at the centre of the depression 42.

A screw 48 is inserted into the through hole and screwed into a correspondingly positioned hole in the adjacent side wall 44 of the supporting element 40. Thus, the base of the depression 42 is clamped against the side wall 44 of the supporting element while the flange 32 remote from the depression is spaced a short distance 7 form it. Several such depressions 42 are provided so that the sub- assembly can be securely fixed to the supporting element.

As will be understood, heat can be carried by conduction from the subassembly into the supporting elements only through the depressions 42. Since these are of much lesser area than the flange 32 as a whole, the amount of heat thereby conducted is much less than would be the case if the flange 32 were in contact with the supporting element 40 along its length.

As is shown in Figure 2, a void is formed at the rear of each cavity 10, 12 between its inner closure member 38, 38' and its outer closure member 34,34'. In an optional feature of the embodiment, apertures are provided in the first component 14 of the cavity in regions that form the upper and lower walls of the void. These apertures allow air and other gasses to pass vertically through the void. As is shown in Figure 4, duct elements 50 may be provided to interconnect the voids of the two cavities 10, 12 and to connect them to air moving equipment 52 whereby a flow of air between the voids can be induced. This arrangement is especially suited to implement a gas extraction system in a cooking appliance equipped to perform pyrolytic cleaning.

As can also be seen from Figure 4, thermal insulation material 56 can be provided to surround the cavities 10, 12. In particular, such material can be disposed between the cavities 10,14 and the supporting elements. This resists the flow of heat from the cavities 10,12 to the supporting elements and to components, such as hinges, contained therein.

The present invention enables a large variety of chassis to be constructed. For example, thee or more cavities could be disposed between one pair of vertical supporting elements. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 6, a third supporting element 40' could be provided, for example having a double U-shaped cross-section and serving to support two or more horizontally-spaced cavities 10, 12,12'.

8

Claims

1. A chassis for a cooking appliance comprising a sub-assembly within which is defined a cooking chamber and a supporting element secured to the sub assembly, the supporting element including formations upon which a hinge for a closure for the cavity can be mounted.

2. A chassis according to claim 1 in which the supporting element comprises an elongate element.

3. A chassis according to claim 2 in which the supporting element comprises an elongate metal channel element.

4. A chassis according to any preceding claim in which the supporting element extends along a peripheral edge of the sub-assembly.

5. A chassis according to any preceding claim in which the supporting element makes contact with the sub-assembly at discrete, spaced locations.

6. A chassis according to claim 5 having thermal insulating material disposed between the spaced locations.

7. A chassis according to any preceding claim comprising two of such supporting elements disposed to opposite sides of an access aperture of the cooking chamber.

8. A chassis according to any preceding claim comprising two or more sub assemblies, interconnected by at least one supporting element.

9. A chassis according to claim 8 in which the sub-assemblies are disposed vertically one above the other in normal use, and having two supporting elements extending generally vertically to opposite sides of an access aperture of each cooking chamber.

10. A chassis according to claim 8 in which the sub-assemblies are disposed horizontally one beside the other in normal use, and having two supporting elements extending generally vertically at opposite outermost sides of the 9 sub-assernblies and a further supporting element disposed between two of the sub-assemblies.

11. A chassis for a cooking assembly according to any preceding claim in which the sub-assembly comprises a body portion within which a cooking chamber is defined, and a bezel surrounding an access aperture of the cooking chamber, the or each supporting element being attached to the or each bezel.

12. A sub-assembly for use in construction of a chassis for a cooking appliance comprising a tubular enclosure, a rear panel closing one end of the enclosure and a bezel component surrounding an opposite end of the tubular enclosure, in which the bezel component is formed from a blank, and the rear panel is punched from the same blank, the aperture thereby formed in the blank being disposed to provide an access aperture through the bezel into the tubular enclosure.

13. A sub-assembly for use in construction of a chassis for a cooking appliance optionally in accordance with claim 12 comprising a tubular enclosure, a rear panel closing one end of the enclosure, and a facia panel disposed within the tubular enclosure parallel to the rear panel and spaced from it towards an opposite end of the enclosure.

14. A sub-assembly according to claim 13 in which an aperture is formed in the tubular enclosure in a region between the rear panel and the facia. panel.

15. A sub-assembly for use in construction of a chassis for a cooking appliance substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A chassis for a cooking appliance including a sub-assembly according to claim 14 further including air pumping means whereby air and/other gasses can be urged to pass through the sub-assemblies.

17. A chassis for a cooking appliance comprising two or more subassemblies according to claim 14 and having a duct extending between at least two adjacent sub-assemblies, the duct communicating with the apertures in the respective tubular enclosures to create an air passage therebetween.

18. A chassis according to claim 17 further including air pumping means whereby air and/other gasses can be urged to pass through the sub5 assemblies and the duct.

19. A chassis for a cooking appliance substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A cooking appliance comprising at least one chassis according to any one of claims I to I I or 16 to 19 in which the chassis provide at least on of an oven 10 chamber or a grill chamber of the cooking appliance.

21. A cooking appliance according to claim 20 further comprising thermal insulation material disposed surrounding the or each cooking chamber.

22. A cooking appliance substantially as herein described 'With reference to the accompanying drawings.