Microwave oven with water feeding system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016374159-A1
Application number	US-201615185189-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Jun 19, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A domestic microwave oven is provided having an oven cavity, a water reservoir, a piping system coupling the reservoir and the oven cavity, and a pump for pumping a predetermined amount of water into the oven cavity. The pump is a mono-directional positive displacement pump and the piping system includes a by-pass coupled in parallel to the pump and an on/off electro valve configured to allow a drainage of the piping system when the pump is idle.

First claim

1 .- 9 . (canceled)

10 . A domestic oven comprising:
an oven cavity; a water reservoir; a piping system coupling the water reservoir and the oven cavity; and a pump for pumping a predetermined amount of water into the oven cavity; wherein the pump is a mono-directional positive displacement pump and the piping system comprises a by-pass line coupled in parallel to the pump and an on/off electro valve configured to allow a drainage of the piping system when the pump is idle.

11 . The domestic oven of claim 10 , wherein the pump is a vibration pump or a diaphragm pump.

12 . The domestic oven of claim 10 , wherein the water reservoir is shaped as a drawer configured to be inserted in a seat below the oven cavity.

13 . The domestic oven of claim 12 , wherein the piping system comprises an automatic valve which is in an open configuration when the water reservoir is inserted into the seat.

14 . The domestic oven of claim 10 , wherein the pump and the on/off electro valve are coupled to a control unit.

15 . The domestic oven of claim 10 , wherein the domestic oven is a microwave oven.

16 . The domestic oven of claim 10 , wherein the piping system comprises a flow meter.

17 . The domestic oven of claim 16 , wherein the flow meter is coupled downstream from the pump.

18 . The domestic oven of claim 16 , wherein the flow meter is electrically coupled to a control unit.

19 . A microwave oven comprising:
an oven cavity; a water reservoir; a piping system coupling the water reservoir and the oven cavity; and a pump for pumping a predetermined amount of water into the oven cavity; wherein the pump is a mono-directional positive displacement pump and the piping system comprises a by-pass line coupled in parallel to the pump and an on/off electro valve configured to allow a drainage of the piping system when the pump is idle; and wherein the pump and the on/off electro valve are coupled to a control unit.

20 . The microwave oven of claim 19 , wherein the pump is a vibration pump or a diaphragm pump.

21 . The microwave oven of claim 19 , wherein the water reservoir is shaped as a drawer configured to be inserted in a seat below the oven cavity.

22 . The microwave oven of claim 21 , wherein the piping system comprises an automatic valve which is in an open configuration when the water reservoir is inserted into the seat.

23 . The microwave oven of claim 19 , wherein the piping system comprises a flow meter.

24 . The microwave oven of claim 23 , wherein the flow meter is coupled downstream from the pump.

25 . The microwave oven of claim 23 , wherein the flow meter is electrically coupled to the control unit.

26 . A microwave oven comprising:
an oven cavity; a water reservoir; a piping system coupling the water reservoir and the oven cavity; and a diaphragm pump for pumping a predetermined amount of water into the oven cavity; wherein the diaphragm pump is a mono-directional positive displacement pump and the piping system comprises a by-pass line coupled in parallel to the diaphragm pump and an on/off electro valve configured to allow a drainage of the piping system when the diaphragm pump is idle; and wherein the piping system comprises a flow meter electrically coupled to a control unit and the flow meter is coupled downstream from the diaphragm pump.

27 . The microwave oven of claim 26 , wherein the water reservoir is shaped as a drawer configured to be inserted in a seat below the oven cavity.

28 . The microwave oven of claim 26 , wherein the piping system comprises an automatic valve which is in an open configuration when the water reservoir is inserted into the seat.

29 . The microwave oven of claim 26 , wherein the pump and the on/off electro valve are coupled to the control unit.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Lee Power
• Xu Jack

Classifications

• H05B6/6479

  using steam · CPC title

• F24C15/003 Primary

  moisturising of air · CPC title

• F24C15/32

  Arrangements of ducts for hot gases, e.g. in or around baking ovens · CPC title

• H05B6/804 Primary

  Water heaters, water boilers · CPC title

• H05B6/6402

  Aspects relating to the microwave cavity · CPC title