Combination microwave and hood system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023097488-A1
Application number	US-202218073694-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2022
Priority date	Apr 12, 2016
Publication date	Mar 30, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A microwave hood system is provided. The microwave hood system includes a microwave oven enclosure defining a cooking cavity therein. A cooking component is positioned within the cooking cavity and configured to emit microwaves. The heating system defines a heating cavity therein, wherein the heating system is coupled to the microwave oven enclosure. A heating element is positioned in the heating cavity. The heating cavity reaches a temperature in a range from about 40° C. to about 80° C. when the heating element is in use. A broiler element is positioned within the heating cavity. The heating cavity reaches a temperature in a range from about hundred and 150° C. to about 300° C. when the broiler element is in use. A dual hood system is also coupled to the microwave hood system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A microwave, comprising:
an external enclosure having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface defining a cooling air inlet, a cooling air outlet, at least one vent outlet, wherein the bottom surface defines at least one vent inlet; an internal enclosure defining a cooking cavity within the external enclosure, wherein a sidewall of the internal enclosure defines a first air passage and a top wall of the internal enclosure defines a second air passage, wherein a cooking component area is defined between the internal enclosure and the external enclosure; a cooling fan disposed within the cooking component area, wherein the cooling fan is configured to direct air along a cooling air path, and wherein the cooling air path is defined from the cooling air inlet, through the cooking component area, through the cooking cavity, and to the cooling air outlet; and at least one hood fan disposed between the external enclosure and the internal enclosure, wherein the at least one hood fan is configured to draw air through the at least one vent inlet and expel air through the at least one vent outlet.

2 . The microwave of claim 1 , wherein air is configured to be directed along the cooling air path through the first air passage into the cooking cavity and through the second air passage.

3 . The microwave of claim 1 , wherein the cooling fan is configured to draw the air through the cooling air inlet when said microwave is operated in an outside vent mode and when said microwave is operated in a recirculation vent mode.

4 . The microwave of claim 1 , wherein the cooling air inlet is defined adjacent a first side edge of the top surface and the cooling air outlet is defined adjacent a second opposing side edge of the top surface.

5 . The microwave of claim 1 , wherein the external enclosure includes a door for accessing the cooking cavity, and wherein a top edge of the door is aligned with the top surface when the door is closed.

6 . The microwave of claim 5 , wherein the external enclosure includes a front right façade and a front left façade on opposing sides of the door, respectively.

7 . The microwave of claim 1 , wherein the at least one hood fan includes a left hood fan and a right hood fan, and wherein the at least one inlet includes a left inlet aligned with the left hood fan and a right inlet aligned with the right hood fan.

8 . The microwave of claim 7 , wherein the at least one vent outlet includes a recirculation vent outlet defined adjacent a front edge of the top surface and an outside vent outlet defines adjacent a rear edge of the top surface.

9 . A microwave, comprising:
an external enclosure having a top surface, the top surface defining a cooling air inlet and a cooling air outlet along a front edge thereof; an internal enclosure defining a cooking cavity within the external enclosure, wherein a sidewall of the internal enclosure defines a first air passage and a top wall of the internal enclosure defines a second air passage, wherein a cooking component area is defined between the internal enclosure and the external enclosure adjacent the sidewall of the internal enclosure; and a cooling fan disposed within the cooking component area, wherein the cooling fan is configured to direct air along a cooling air path from the cooling air inlet, through the cooking component area, through the cooking cavity, and to the cooling air outlet.

10 . The microwave of claim 9 , wherein the cooking cavity is in fluid communication with the cooking component area via the first air passage.

11 . The microwave of claim 9 , wherein a channel is defined between the internal enclosure and the external enclosure to fluidly couple the second air passage with the cooling air outlet.

12 . The microwave of claim 9 , wherein the top surface of the external enclosure defines a vent outlet between the cooling air inlet and the cooling air outlet.

13 . The microwave of claim 12 , wherein the external enclosure includes a bottom surface defining a vent inlet, and wherein the vent inlet is in fluid communication with the vent outlet.

14 . The microwave of claim 13 , further comprising:
a hood fan disposed between the internal enclosure and the external enclosure, wherein the hood fan is configured to draw air through the vent inlet and expel air through the vent outlet.

15 . The microwave of claim 9 , wherein the cooling air inlet is defined in the external enclosure proximate the sidewall of the internal enclosure, and wherein the cooling air outlet is defined in the external enclosure proximate an opposing sidewall of the internal enclosure.

16 . The microwave of claim 9 , wherein the external enclosure includes a bottom surface and a door for accessing the cooking cavity, and wherein the door extends from the bottom surface to the top surface.

17 . A microwave, comprising:
an external enclosure having a top surface, the top surface defining a cooling air inlet and a cooling air outlet; an internal enclosure defining a cooking cavity within the external enclosure, wherein the internal enclosure defines a first air passage and a second air passage, wherein a cooking component area is defined between the internal enclosure and the external enclosure; and a cooling fan disposed within the cooking component area, wherein the cooling fan is configured to draw air through the cooling air inlet and into the cooking component area, and wherein the air is configured to be routed through the first air passage into the cooking cavity, through the second air passage, and through the cooling air outlet.

18 . The microwave of claim 17 , wherein the internal enclosure has a top wall extending between first and second sidewalls, and wherein the first air passage is defined on the first sidewall and the second air passage is defined in the top wall.

19 . The microwave of claim 17 , further comprising:
a dual hood system having first and second hood fans disposed on opposing lateral sides of the cooking cavity, respectively, and wherein the cooling fan is disposed on a lateral side of the cooking cavity.

20 . The microwave of claim 17 , further comprising:
a heating system coupled to the external enclosure, wherein the heating system defines a heating cavity, and wherein a broiler element is positioned within the heating cavity.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Zhang Owen (Xuncai)
• Ledford Michael A
• Zheng Stephen
• Huang Tony (Xinfeng)
• Pit Heng Tong

Classifications

• F24C15/2042 Primary

  Devices for removing cooking fumes structurally associated with a cooking range e.g. downdraft (F24C15/2007 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05B6/6423 Primary

  wherein the microwave oven air circulation system is also used as air extracting hood · CPC title

• H05B6/6426

  Aspects relating to the exterior of the microwave heating apparatus, e.g. metal casing, power cord · CPC title

• H05B6/80

  Apparatus for specific applications (stoves or ranges F24C7/02) · CPC title

• H05B2206/042

  Microwave oven combined with a toaster or including a toaster · CPC title