Steam cooking system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10959560-B2
Application number	US-201715690470-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2017
Priority date	Aug 31, 2016
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A steam cooking system includes a first steam cooking cavity, a second steam cooking cavity and a steam generator. The steam generator includes a steam outlet for selectively feeding steam to one or both of the first steam cooking cavity and the second steam cooking cavity, the outlet selectively connectable to feed steam to the first steam cooking cavity and/or the second steam cooking cavity via a valved fluid path. The valved fluid path includes a main supply valve, a first valve and a second valve configured and controllable to assure that the steam generator outlet is always connect to atmosphere by one or more paths.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steam cooking system, comprising:
a first steam cooking cavity accessible via a first door, the first steam cooking cavity fluidly connected to atmosphere even when the first door is closed;
a second steam cooking cavity accessible via a second door, the second steam cooking cavity fluidly connected to atmosphere even when the second door is closed;
a steam generator for heating water to generate steam, the steam generator including at least one steam outlet for selectively feeding steam to one or both of the first steam cooking cavity and the second steam cooking cavity, the outlet selectively connectable to feed steam to the first steam cooking cavity and/or the second steam cooking cavity via a valved path arrangement, wherein the valved path arrangement includes:
a main supply valve having an input, a default output and a switched output, wherein the input is fluidly connected to the outlet of the steam generator, wherein the main supply valve is configured with a default configuration that connects the outlet of the steam generator to a vent path to atmosphere via the default output;
a first valve downstream of the main supply valve, the first valve having a first input, a first default output and a first switched output, the first input fluidly connected to the switched output of the main supply valve, the first default output fluidly connected to the second steam cooking cavity and the first switched output fluidly connected to the first steam cooking cavity, wherein the first valve is configured with a default configuration that fluidly connects the first input to the second cavity via the first default output;
a second valve downstream of the main supply valve, the second valve having a second input, a second default output and a second switched output, the second input fluidly connected to the switched output of the main supply valve, the second default output fluidly connected to the first steam cooking cavity and the second switched output fluidly connected to the second steam cooking cavity, wherein the second valve is configured with a default configuration that connects the second input to the first cavity via the second default output; and

a control arrangement configured to control the main supply valve, the first valve and the second valve such that the steam generator is always fluidly connected to atmosphere via at least one of the vent path to atmosphere, the first steam cooking cavity or the second steam cooking cavity.

2. The steam cooking system of claim 1 wherein:
the first steam cooking cavity includes a drain opening providing fluid connection to atmosphere,
the second steam cooking cavity includes a drain opening providing fluid connection to atmosphere.

3. The steam cooking system of claim 1 wherein each of the main supply valve, the first valve and the second valve comprise valves that open to one output before closing to the other output.

4. The steam cooking system of claim 3 wherein each of the main supply valve, the first valve and the second valve include at least one end switch connected as part of the control arrangement for the main supply valve and the steam generator.

5. The steam cooking system of claim 4 wherein the control arrangement comprises a controller configured to assure that the main supply valve is in its default configuration whenever both the first valve and the second valve are in their respective default configurations.

6. The steam cooking system of claim 4 wherein the control arrangement comprises a controller configured with a first timer function for the first steam cooking cavity and a second timer function for the second steam cooking cavity, the controller configured such that:
running of the first timer function causes the first valve to move to its switched position;
running of the second timer function causes the second valve to move to its switched position; and
an end switch signal from either the first valve or the second valve indicating the first valve is in its switched position or the second valve is in its switched position causes the main supply valve to move to its switched position.

7. The steam cooking system of claim 6 wherein the controller is configured such that:
completion of the first timer function causes the first valve to move from its switched position to its default configuration;
completion of the second timer function causes the second valve to move from its switched position to its default configuration;
the presence of end switch signals from both the first valve and the second valve indicating the first valve and the second valve are both in default configuration causes the main supply valve to move from its switched position to its default configuration.

8. A steam cooking system, comprising:
a first steam cooking cavity accessible via a first door,
a second steam cooking cavity accessible via a second door,
a steam generator for heating water to generate steam, the steam generator including at least one steam outlet for selectively feeding steam to one or both of the first steam cooking cavity and the second steam cooking cavity, the outlet selectively connectable to feed steam to the first steam cooking cavity and/or the second steam cooking cavity via a valved fluid path, wherein the valved fluid path includes:
a main supply valve, a first valve and a second valve, the main supply valve connected to selectively control feed of steam from the steam generator to one or both of (i) the first valve and the second valve or (ii) a vent path to atmosphere, the first valve connected to selectively control delivery of steam from the main supply valve to one or both of (i) the first steam cooking cavity or (ii) the second steam cooking cavity, and the second valve connected to selectively control delivery of steam from the main supply valve to one or both of (i) the second steam cooking cavity or (ii) the first steam cooking cavity; and
a valve control arrangement,
wherein the main supply valve is connected to selectively control feed of steam from the steam generator to either (i) a valve feed path to the first valve and the second valve or (ii) the vent path to atmosphere, the first valve is connected to selectively control delivery of steam from the main supply valve to either (i) a first cavity feed path to the first steam cooking cavity or (ii) a second cavity feed path to the second steam cooking cavity, and the second valve connected to selectively control delivery of steam from the main supply valve to either (i) the second cavity feed path to the second steam cooking cavity or (ii) the first cavity feed path to the first steam cooking cavity;
wherein the main supply valve, the first valve and the second valve are configured such that, in combination with the valve control arrangement, the main supply valve, the first valve and the second valve are controlled such that the steam generator is always fluidly connected to atmosphere via at least one of the vent path to atmosphere, the first cavity feed path to the first steam cooking cavity or the second cavity feed path to the second steam cooking cavity.

9. The steam cooking system of claim 8 wherein:
the first steam cooking cavity includes a drain opening providing fluid connection to atmosphere,
the second steam cooking cavity includes a drain opening providing fluid connection to atmosphere.

10. The steam cooking system of claim 8 wherein the valve control arrangement includes:
end switches on each of the main supply valve, end switches on the first valve and end switches on the second valve.

11. The steam cooking system of claim 8 wherein the valve control arrangement further includes a first

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Reckner Michael B

Classifications

• A23L5/13 Primary

  using water or steam · CPC title

• F24C15/003

  moisturising of air · CPC title

• A23V2002/00

  Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs · CPC title

• F24C15/327

  with air moisturising · CPC title

• A47J2027/043

  for cooking food in steam · CPC title