WO2013164199A1

WO2013164199A1 - An oven having smoking function

Info

Publication number: WO2013164199A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/058103
Authority: WO
Inventors: Haluk Karatas; Bengul ASAR
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2012-05-03
Filing date: 2013-04-18
Publication date: 2013-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 2014-11-03
Also published as: EP2844921A1

Description

AN OVEN HAVING SMOKING FUNCTION

The present invention relates to an oven having smoking function.

In ovens having smoking function, the sawdust placed into a container is burned by means of a heater and smoke is generated. The smoke disperses into the oven cavity and the foods situated inside the oven cavity are provided to be smoked. In the state of the art embodiments, the container wherein sawdust is placed, is disposed at the lower part of the oven cavity, on the rear wall. The sawdust burns by means of the heater and generates smoke. The container that is disposed on the lower part of the oven cavity narrows down the utilization area of the oven cavity. Furthermore, during smoking, the foods are overheated and their upper surfaces burn resulting from the heat emitted by way of radiation by the heater disposed on the casing upper wall. Therefore, in the state of the art embodiments, a plate is used that enables the decreasing of the heat emitted by way of radiation by the heater disposed on the casing upper wall. The plate and the heater disposed inside the container cause increase in the production cost of the oven.

In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US2008121632, an oven is described, comprising a smoking box disposed at the lower part of the receiving chamber, on the rear wall, wherein wood is placed, a heating element installed in the smoking box, providing the burning of the wood and a plate providing the decreasing of the heat dissipated by radiation from the heater disposed on the casing upper wall.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of an oven having smoking function and wherein the oven cavity volume is utilized effectively.

The oven realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a heater situated inside the oven cavity, a smoking member disposed under the heater and at least partially covering the front of the heater when placed into the oven cavity and having a container wherein sawdust is placed. When the smoking member is placed into the oven cavity, the container is almost opposite to the heater. The smoking member is disposed into the oven cavity after the sawdust is placed into the container. The heater is disposed on the casing upper wall. The sawdust contained in the container is provided to be burned without requiring an additional heater since the container faces the heater. The sawdust burns upon the operation of the heater and smoke is generated. The smoke that fills into the volume between the smoking member and the casing upper wall disperses into almost the entire oven cavity.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the smoking member is detachably mounted into the oven cavity. The smoking member is easily detached from the oven cavity when smoking process is not performed.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the smoking member is placed into the oven cavity, distance remains between the heater and the smoking member. The smoke, generated as a result of burning sawdust, impacts the casing upper wall and disperses into almost the entire oven cavity by moving in the downward direction.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the depth of the smoking member is smaller than the depth of the casing upper wall and when placed into the oven cavity, the smoking member allows smoke to disperse into almost the entire oven cavity from the small volume remaining between the heater and the smoking member. Thus, the smoke, generated as a result of burning sawdust contained in the container, disperses from the upper part of the smoking member towards the lower part by means of the gaps remaining at the front and rear of the smoking member situated in the oven cavity.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the smoking member is produced from a material with low-emissivity that prevents the heat emitted from the heater by way of radiation from reaching the food. Thus, during the smoking, the smoking member that prevents overheating and burning of foods also supports the container and saving from the area occupied by the container inside the oven cavity is maintained.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the smoking member has a horizontal ceiling and inclined side walls that extend from the ceiling downwards. The side walls of the smoking member, due to the inclined configuration, serve as a path whereby the smoke disperses by accelerating inside the oven cavity. Furthermore, the smoke disperses by passing from a wider area by means of the inclined configuration of the side walls of the smoking member.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the smoking member comprises a housing disposed thereon and wherein the container is placed. When the smoking member is placed into the oven cavity before the container is disposed on the smoking member, the housing is situated almost opposite the resistance-type heater.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the heater is bent in serpentine shape with smaller pitch distance at the level of the housing. Thus, intensive and fast heat transfer is realized from the resistance-type heater to the container and the sawdust is provided to be burned quickly.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven comprises at least two rails arranged oppositely on the casing side walls that provide the cooking trays to be placed into the oven cavity. In this embodiment, the smoking member comprises at least two extensions on its side walls, which provide the smoking member to be placed into the oven cavity by being seated into the rails. The present rails disposed on the casing are also used for placing the smoking member into the oven cavity. Consequently, the smoking member is provided to be easily mounted/dismounted into the oven cavity without requiring an additional member.

In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one suspender is situated on the surface of the smoking member facing the heater which enables the smoking member having curved tubes to be fixed to the heater. The suspender at least partially surrounds the tubes of the resistant-type heater. Thus, the smoking member is provided to be fixed to the heater.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the container is in the form of an open-top rectangular prism. Thus, the sawdust is stored in the container without spilling.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven comprises at least one cover that is detachably mounted on the container. Consequently, sawdust is prevented from scattering in the oven cavity and spilling over the food that is being cooked.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover comprises an opening arranged thereon and which allows the smoke generated during burning to leave the container. The smoke, generated as the result of burning sawdust, is provided to disperse into the oven cavity by providing the smoke to flow from inside the container to outside the container. The opening is sized such that the sawdust is prevented from leaving the container.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover is in cage form. The cover has a shape that prevents the sawdust from leaving the container and also allows the smoke, generated as the result of burning sawdust, to leave the container.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven comprises a control unit which provides the heater to remain at the temperature suitable for smoking. Thus, the heater is turned on/off by the control unit such that the surface temperature thereof remains between 400-600 degrees C.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the smoking member comprises at least one hole that enables air to flow from the volume between the casing upper wall and the smoking member to the volume remaining thereunder. The holes allow delivery of more smoke within the same time period from the top to the bottom of the smoking member situated in the oven cavity.

By means of the present invention, an oven is realized, comprising a heater enabling the interior of the oven cavity to be heated and a smoking member situated opposite to the heater, having a container wherein sawdust is placed and which prevents the heat emitted from the heater to directly contact the food. The smoking member, placed near the casing wall inside the oven cavity, enables the oven cavity to be used effectively. Furthermore, the sawdust is provided to be burned and to generate smoke without requiring an additional heater. Thus, saving in production cost is achieved.

An oven realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the front view of an oven.

Figure 2 – is the top perspective view of a smoking member, a container and a heater relating to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the smoking member and the container relating to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the smoking member, the container and the casing relating to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 – is the perspective view of the smoking member and the casing when the smoking member is placed on the casing relating to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 – is the perspective view of the smoking member, the rail and the heater when the extensions are seated on the rails relating to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 – is the exploded view of the smoking member, the container, the cover and the heater relating to an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Oven
Casing
Oven cavity
Heater
Container
Smoking member
Housing
Ceiling
Side wall
Hole
Control unit
Cover
Opening
Rail
Extension
Suspender

The oven (1) comprises a casing (2), an oven cavity (3) situated within the casing (2), wherein the trays containing foods to be cooked are placed and a heater (4) disposed on the casing (2) upper wall, that provides the heating of the air in the oven cavity (3). The air being heated with the operation of the heater (4) heats the oven cavity (3) and provides the foods placed in the oven cavity (3) to be cooked or heated.

The oven (1) of the present invention comprises a smoking member (6) that at least partially closes the side of the heater (4) facing the oven cavity (3) when placed into the oven cavity (3), having a container (5) enabling sawdust to be placed therein and which faces the heater (4) when placed into the oven cavity (3). The sawdust is placed into the container (5) and the container (5) almost faces the heater (4) when the smoking member (6) is placed into the oven cavity (3). During the operation of the heater (4), the sawdust burns with the effect of the heat emitted from the heater (4) and smoke is generated. Thus, the present heater (4) that provides the heating of the oven cavity (3) also provides the burning of the sawdust. The smoke, generated during burning, provides the foods that are being cooked to be smoked by dispersing into almost the entire oven cavity (3). The smoking member (6) prevents the heat emitted from the heater (4) by radiation from reaching the food and provides the heat to reach the food by way of convection. Thus, the outer surface of the food is prevented from overheating and burning. The flavor and storage life of the foods cooked by smoking method are increased (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the smoking member (6) is detachably placed into the oven cavity (3). Thus, when the smoking process is not performed, the smoking member (6) is easily taken out of the oven cavity (3) and the front of the heater (4) is opened.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the smoking member (6) is placed into the oven cavity (3), space remains between the heater (4) and itself. During the operation of the heater (4), the sawdust burns with the effect of the heat emitted from the heater (4) and smoke is generated. Thus, the heat emitted from the heater (4) is provided to be transmitted to the container (5) effectively. The smoke rising with the burning of the sawdust is provided to impact the casing (2) upper wall in a short distance and thus to reach the food in a shorter time period (Figure 2, Figure 3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the depth of the smoking member (6) is smaller than the depth of the casing (2) upper wall and when placed into the oven cavity (3), the smoking member (6) allows air to pass from the volume remaining between the heater (4) and itself to the remaining volume. The smoke generated during burning fills in the volume that remains between the heater (4) and the smoking member (6). The smoke that impacts the casing (2) upper wall moves downwards and inside the oven cavity (3) smoke passes from the volume that remains between the smoking member (6) and the casing (2) upper wall to the other volume. Consequently, the foods that are cooked are provided to be smoked by the smoke that disperses almost to the entire oven cavity (3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the smoking member (6) is produced from a material having low emissivity that prevents the heat emitted by the heater (4) from being conveyed to the foods by way of radiation. In the case the surface temperature increases during the operation of the heater (4), extensive heat transfer into the oven cavity (3) is realized by radiation. This extensive heat emitted from the heater (4) reaching the food to be cooked is prevented by means of the smoking member (6). Thus, the food is provided to be smoked by being cooked slowly. The container (5) serves as a carrier wherein sawdust is placed and the smoking member (6) serves as a shield against the heat emitted by way of radiation during the smoking of the foods.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the smoking member (6) has a ceiling (8) parallel to the horizontal plane and inclined side walls (9) that extend from the ceiling (8) downwards. The smoking member (6) is shaped as a plate. The smoke generated during the burning of sawdust moves upwards. The smoke that leaves the container (5) impacts the casing (2) upper wall. The smoking member (6) ceiling (8) is disposed near the casing (2) upper wall so as to at least partially contact the casing (2) upper wall. Thus, the smoke that leaves the container (5) is provided to impact the casing (2) upper wall by rising in a short distance. The smoke that impacts the casing (2) upper wall disperses into the oven cavity (3) by passing through the gaps remaining between the walls of the oven (1) and the smoking member (6), around the periphery of the smoking member (6). The smoke is provided to flow from the sides by accelerating by means of the inclined shape of the side walls (9) (Figure 3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the smoking member (6) comprises a housing (7) wherein the container (5) is disposed and which enables the container (5) to be mounted detachably to the smoking member (6). The container (5) is provided to be mounted detachably to the smoking member (6) by means of the housing (7). Consequently, the container (5) is easily emptied after the smoking process or sawdust is easily placed into the container (5) again after emptying (Figure 7).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the heater (4) is bent in serpentine shape such that the pitch distance is smaller at the level of the housing (7). Thus, intensive and fast heat transfer is realized from the resistance-type heater (4) to the container (5) and the sawdust is provided to be burned quickly.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises at least two rails (14) disposed oppositely on the casing (2) side walls and at least two extensions (15) disposed at the sides of the side walls (9), that provide the smoking member (6) to be placed into the oven cavity (3) by being seated into the rails (14). The smoking member (6) is mounted/dismounted by being moved forwards/backwards inside the oven cavity (3). While the smoking member (6) is placed into the oven cavity (3) by the user, the extension (15) moves towards the casing (2) rear wall inside the rail (14) and the smoking member (6) is provided to be placed into the oven cavity (3) (Figure 6).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the smoking member (6) comprises at least one suspender (16) that provides the smoking member (6) to be attached on the heater (4) by being suspended. The suspender (16) is produced from a material that is flexible and resistant to high temperatures. When the smoking member (6) is pushed towards the casing (2) upper wall by the user, the suspender (16) at least partially clasps the resistant-type heater (4) formed of serpentine shaped tubes. Consequently, the smoking member (6) is provided to be fixed to the heater (4) (Figure 3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the container (5) is in the form of an open-top box. The container (5) comprises skirts enabling the container (5) to be seated into the rails (14) and which extend from its upper sides to the sides of the housing (7) when the container (5) is disposed on the smoking member (6). Thus, the container (5) is provided to remain in the housing (7) without sliding. The sawdust is provided to be stored inside the container (5) without spilling (Figure 4, Figure 7).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises at least one cover (12) that covers the container (5). Thus, the sawdust is provided to be stored inside a closed environment. The sawdust is prevented from reaching into the oven cavity (3) during burning (Figure 7).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover (12) comprises at least one opening (13) arranged thereon and which allows air to leave the container (5). Thus, the smoke generated as the result of burning sawdust is provided to leave the container (5). The smoke that leaves the container (5) disperses into the oven cavity (3) and provides the smoking of the foods (Figure 7).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover (12) is in grid form. Thus, the sawdust is prevented from scattering around during burning and the smoke is provided to easily leave the container (5) (Figure 7).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the oven (1) comprises a control unit (11) that provides the heater (4) surface temperature to remain within the temperature interval of 400-600 degrees C which is suitable for generating smoke. When the temperature of the heater (4), that operates with on/off cycle, reaches a predetermined upper limit value, the heater (4) is turned off by the control unit (11). When the temperature of the heater (4) reaches a predetermined lower limit value during the smoking, the heater (4) is operated again. Thus, flaming of the sawdust and thereby occurrence of safety risk are prevented by providing the heater (4) to remain at the temperature suitable for generating smoke.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the smoking member (6) comprises at least one hole (10) that allows passage of smoke. During the burning, the smoke that fills in the space between the heater (4) and the smoking member (6) passes through the hole (10) and continues to disperse into the oven cavity (3). Consequently, smoke is provided to disperse quickly to almost the entire oven cavity (3) by means of the hole (10).

By means of the present invention, an oven (1) is realized, comprising a smoking member (6), placed detachably into the oven cavity (3) and having a container (5) wherein sawdust is placed. By the container (5) being placed near the heater (4), which provides the heating of the oven cavity (3) interior, the sawdust is provided to be burned by the present heater (4) without requiring an additional heater. Consequently, saving in material cost is provided and the oven cavity (3) volume is used effectively.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

An oven (1) comprising a casing (2), an oven cavity (3) situated within the casing (2), wherein the trays containing foods to be cooked are placed and a heater (4) disposed on the casing (2) upper wall, that provides the heating of the air in the oven cavity (3),

characterized by a smoking member (6)

- that at least partially closes the side of the heater (4) facing the oven cavity (3) when placed into the oven cavity (3),

- that has a container (5) enabling sawdust to be placed therein, and facing the heater (4) when placed into the oven cavity (3).
An oven (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the smoking member (6) that is detachably placed into the oven cavity (3).
An oven (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the smoking member (6) having space remaining between the heater (4) and itself when placed into the oven cavity (3).
An oven (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the smoking member (6), the depth of which is smaller than the depth of the casing (2) upper wall, and which allows air to flow from the volume remaining between the heater (4) and itself to the other volume when placed into the oven cavity (3).
An oven (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized by the smoking member (6) that is produced from a material having low emissivity and which prevents the heat emitted by the heater (4) to be conveyed to the foods by radiation.
An oven (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 5, characterized by the smoking member (6) having a ceiling (8) parallel to the horizontal plane and inclined side walls (9) that extend from the ceiling (8) downwards.
An oven (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the smoking member (6) having a housing (7) wherein the container (5) is disposed and which enables the container (5) to be mounted detachably to the smoking member (6).
An oven (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the heater (4) that is bent in serpentine shape such that the pitch distance is smaller at the level of the housing (7).
An oven (1) as in Claim 6 or 7, characterized by at least two rails (14) disposed oppositely on the casing (2) side walls and at least two extensions (15) disposed at the sides of the side walls (9) that provide the smoking member (6) to be placed into the oven cavity (3) by being seated into the rails (14).
An oven (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the smoking member (6) having at least one suspender (16) that provides the smoking member (6) to be attached on the heater (4) by being suspended.
An oven (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a cover (12) that covers the container (5).
An oven (1) as in Claim 11, characterized by the cover (12) having at least one opening (13) situated thereon and which allows air to leave the container (5).
An oven (1) as in Claim 11 or 12, characterized by the grid-shaped cover (12).
An oven (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a control unit (11) that provides the heater (4) surface temperature to remain within the temperature interval of 400-600 degrees C suitable for generating smoke.
An oven (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the smoking member (6) having at least one hole (10) that enables passage of smoke.