DE20016790U1 - Cooking device with directed guidance of the cooking space atmosphere - Google Patents

Description

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

LAW FIRM

Bodimcit Si Bwhmert · ?.?,?. 10 71 27 ■ D-28071 Bremen

German Patent and Trademark Office Zweibrückenstr. 12

80297 Munich DR.-ING. KARL BOEHMERT, PA (1899-1973)
DlPL-ING. ALBERTBOEHMERT,PA(1902-1993)
WILHELM JH STAHLBERG, Attorney, Bremen
DR.-ING. WALTER HOORMANN, PA·, Bremen
DIPL.-PHYS. DR. HEINZ GODDAR, PA·, Manchen
DR.-ING. ROLAND LIESEGANG, PA·, mouth»»

WOLF-DIETER KUNTZE, attorney-at-law, Bremen, Alisa»!

DIPL.-PHYS. ROBERT MÜNZHUBER, PA (1933-1992)

DR. LUDWIG KOUKER, LAWYER, Bremen

DR. (CHEM.) ANDREAS WINKLER, PA·, Bio»

MICHAELA HUTH-DBRIG, RA, Munich

DIPL.-PHYS. DR. MARION TÖNHARDT, PA·, Düsseldorf

DR. ANDREAS EBERT-WEIDENFELLER, BA, Bremen

DIPL.-ING. EVA LIESEGANG, PA·, Munich

DR. AXEL NORDEMANN, RA, Berlin

DIPL.-PHYS. DR. DOROTHEE WEBER-BRULS, PA, Frankfurt

DIPL.-PHYS. DR. STEFAN SCHOHE, PA·, Manchen

DR.-ING. MATTHIAS PHILIPP, PA·, Bielerfeld

DR. JAN BERND NORDEMANN, LL.M., RA, Berlin

PA - Patent Attorney

RA - Lawyer/Attorney at Law

• - European Patent Attorney

^&Lgr; -Brandenburg, admitted to the Higher Regional Court of Brandenburg

^&agr; -Maureen Droh

All agreed to attend the meeting before the European Conference. Alicute

ProfeHioasl RepiEienltnoD Utlie Community Tnaenurk Office. Alicante

PROF. DR. WILHELM NORDEMANN, RA, BRB" DIPL.-PHYS. EDUARD BAUMANN, PA·, Höhentirch« DR.-ING. GERALD KLÖPSCH, PA·, Düsseldorf DIPL.-ING. HANS W. GROENING, PA·, Manchen DIPL.-ING. SIEGFRIED SCHIRMER, PA·, Bielefeld DIPL. -PHYS. LORENZ HANEWINKEL, PA·, Paderborn DIPL-ING. DR. JAN TÖNNIES, PA, RA, Kiel DIPL.-PHYS. CHRISTIAN BIEHL, PA·, Kiel MARTIN WIRTZ, RA, Düsseldorf DR. DETMAR SCHÄFER, RA, Bremen

DIPL.-PHYS. DR.-ING. UWE MANASSE, PA·, Bremen DR. CHRISTIAN CZYCHOWSKL RA, Berlin DR. CARL-RICHARD HAARMANN, RA, Munich DIPL.-PHYS. DR. THOMAS L. BITTNER, PA·, Berlin

DR. VOLKER SCHMITZ, LAWYER Munich

DR. FRIEDRICH NICOLAUS HEISE, RA, Potsdam DIPL.-PHYS. CHRISTIAN W. APPELT, PA. Munich DR. ANKE NORDEMANN-SCHIFFEL, Ra ⁰ , Parfam KERSTIN MAUCH, LL.M., RA, Potsdam

In cooperation mil/&iacgr;&pgr; cooperation with

DIPL.-CHEM. DR HANS ULRICH MAY, &Rgr;&Lgr;·, Munich

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New registration (utility model) Our symbol
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L50022(M)

Bremen,

27 September 2000

Rational AG

Iglinger Strasse 62

86899 Landsberg am Lech

Cooking appliance with directed guidance of cooking chamber atmosphere

Description

The invention relates to a cooking appliance with a cooking chamber and a fan chamber separated from the cooking chamber by at least one air guide element, in which a fan wheel is arranged.

Cooking appliances are well known and available in a wide variety of designs with various components. Cooking appliances known from the state of the art include:

-23/31.88-

Hollerallee 32 · D-28209 Bremen · P.O.B. 10 71 27 · D-28071 Bremen · Telephone+49-421-34090 ■ Fax+49-421-3491768

MUNICH - BREMEN - BERLIN - DUSStLD(JRf ·-TRANKFURf-pIElJEJELIJ - POTJDAJif »gRANpENByRlj -}ÜEt - PAfERBORM- HÖHENKIRCHEN - ALICANTE

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BOEHMERTM' BOEHMERT

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For example, a cooking chamber that is separated from a fan chamber by a panel; in this fan chamber there is a fan that circulates the air inside the cooking chamber.

From DE 200 02 833.2 a cooking appliance with a lockable cooking chamber is known, in which a shut-off device for the cooking chamber can be controlled and/or regulated depending on the state of the cooking chamber atmosphere in order to shut off or open the cooking chamber from the environment.

Also known from the state of the art are so-called pressure cooking devices that use steam to cook food, as disclosed for example in DE 291 28 71 A1. Also known are so-called "pressure cookers", in which the corresponding food can be cooked under pressure.

However, the disadvantage of the cooking appliances known from the prior art is that when cooking under pressure, the entire cooking chamber must be pressurized, which places high demands on the cooking chamber walls and can lead to problems, particularly when it comes to precisely regulating the cooking chamber climate and thus during the cooking process. In addition, the cooking appliances from the prior art have the disadvantage that although a normal cooking or cooking container can be inserted into the cooking chamber, it is not possible to automatically circulate water contained in the cooking or cooking container, for example, so that either the food in the container may stick or, leading to a loss of quality, the water has to be stirred manually, which is labor-intensive and costly.

The present invention is based on the object of further developing the generic cooking appliance in such a way that the disadvantages of the prior art are overcome, in particular the cooking process is optimized in a cost-effective manner.

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This object is achieved according to the invention on the one hand by at least one compressor and at least one line that can be connected to the compressor for the directed introduction of cooking chamber atmosphere into the food to be cooked in the cooking chamber and/or on the other hand by at least one compressor and at least one pressure vessel for food to be cooked that can be arranged in the cooking chamber, can be closed and is provided with at least one safety valve, in particular a pressure relief valve, wherein either cooking chamber atmosphere can be sucked in by the compressor, guided into the pressure vessel, preferably into the food to be cooked in the cooking chamber, and at least partially released into the cooking chamber via the safety valve.

It can be provided that the cooking chamber atmosphere can preferably be regulated, directed or withdrawn from cooking appliance components in the cooking chamber, such as a cooking chamber door, a cooking chamber window, a rack, a food holder or the like, and/or from food in the cooking chamber, via the compressor.

Furthermore, it is proposed according to the invention that the compressor is permanently installed or removable, in particular in the fan compartment.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the compressor can be driven via the fan shaft of the fan wheel.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the pressure vessel can be connected to the compressor via at least one line.

A further development can be provided by at least one shut-off device between the compressor and the food to be cooked and/or the pressure vessel, preferably in the line.

Furthermore, the invention is characterized by a filter and/or catalyst for cleaning directed cooking chamber atmosphere, preferably in the line.

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The invention further proposes that aroma substances can be fed into a directed cooking chamber atmosphere.

It can also be provided that the pressure vessel can be connected to at least one pressure relief device, in particular a manually operable one.

A further embodiment of the invention is characterized by at least one heating device in operative connection with the pressure vessel, in particular can be connected or is firmly connected to the pressure vessel.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the pressure in the pressure vessel and/or the food to be cooked is/are adjustable via the cooking chamber atmosphere, the fan wheel, the compressor, the pressure relief valve, the shut-off device, the pressure relief device and/or the heating device.

The invention also preferably proposes that at least one insert, such as a sieve, a net or the like, an insert and/or a divider for food to be cooked can be arranged in the pressure vessel.

Furthermore, according to the invention it can also be provided that the pressure vessel can be filled at least in part with food to be cooked and/or a cooking medium, such as water or the like, and the connection between the pressure vessel and the compressor, in particular the line, opens into the filled area.

The invention also proposes that the pressure vessel has at least one overflow pipe which opens into a water-filled area of the pressure vessel.

The invention further proposes that several pressure vessels can be connected to a compressor via one line each.

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A further development can also be provided by at least one sensor for detecting a size of the food and/or cooking appliance, in particular in the pressure vessel, preferably for detecting the temperature of water and/or food in the pressure vessel, and/or in the food.

The invention preferably provides a control and/or regulating unit in operative connection with a motor driving the fan wheel, the compressor, the pressure relief valve, the shut-off device, the pressure relief device, the sensor and/or the heating device.

It can also be provided that the directed cooking chamber atmosphere is adjustable in relation to cooking parameters, such as temperature, humidity and/or the like.

Finally, it is also proposed that the control and/or regulating unit carries out a cooking process or cleaning process depending on the cooking chamber atmosphere, a cooking program and/or a product to be cooked.

The invention is therefore based on the surprising discovery that, by using a compressor, food in a cooking chamber can be subjected to cooking chamber atmosphere at an adjustable pressure directly and in a targeted manner, and that, on the other hand, food can be cooked under pressure in a container while the cooking chamber is at the same time pressureless in a regulated cooking chamber atmosphere outside the container. In a special embodiment of the cooking device according to the invention, it is also possible to circulate water or food in the pressure vessel by deliberately introducing cooking chamber atmosphere into the pressure vessel.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description, in which three embodiments of the invention are explained in detail using schematic drawings. Shown here are:

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Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a cooking appliance according to the invention with a pressure vessel located in the cooking chamber in cross section;

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the cooking appliance according to the invention with a pressure vessel located in the cooking chamber in cross section; and

Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of the cooking appliance according to the invention in cross section.

Fig. 1 shows a cooking appliance 1 which is divided into a fan chamber 2 and a cooking chamber 3 by an air baffle 4. In the fan chamber 2 there is a fan wheel 5 which can be driven by a motor 7 via a fan wheel shaft 6. Also in the fan chamber 2 there is a compressor (pressure booster) 8 which can also be driven via the fan wheel shaft 6. In the cooking chamber 3 there is a drain 9 and a pressure vessel 10 which has a safety and outlet valve on its head side, for example in the form of a pressure relief valve 11. The compressor 8 in the fan chamber 2 is connected to the pressure vessel 10 via a line 12 in which a shut-off device 13 is arranged.

When the cooking appliance according to the invention is in operation, the compressor 8, which is driven by the fan shaft 6, compresses the cooking chamber atmosphere it draws in and leads it via the line 12 into the pressure vessel 10, so that the pressure in the pressure vessel 10 increases. If the pressure in the pressure vessel 10 exceeds a certain value, pressure is released to the cooking chamber 3 via the pressure relief valve 11. The cooking chamber 3, however, remains at atmospheric pressure.

With the aid of a sensor 14, which can be arranged within the pressure vessel 10 and/or in the cooking chamber 3, individual parameters of the food and/or cooking appliance can be detected, in particular the temperature within the pressure vessel 10. A control and/or regulating unit (not shown) can carry out a cooking process depending on the parameters detected, on a cooking program, the cooking chamber atmosphere and/or the food.

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The shut-off device 13 allows the pressure vessel 10 to be separated from the line 12. A pressure relief device (not shown), which can be operated manually in particular, enables the pressure to be slowly released from the pressure vessel 10 for subsequent removal of the food to be cooked.

A further embodiment of the cooking appliance 1 according to the invention is shown in Fig. 2, wherein identical components of the cooking appliance are provided with the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1. The cooking appliance shown in Fig. 2 shows a pressure vessel 10 with a line 12 which is arranged on the underside of the pressure vessel 10 and opens into an area of the pressure vessel 10 filled with water 15 or food to be cooked. The line 12 and the pressure vessel 10 are partially filled with water 15. An overflow pipe 16 is also arranged within the pressure vessel 10, which opens into the area of the pressure vessel 10 filled with water 15 and prevents the pressure vessel 10 from being completely filled with water 15.

When the cooking appliance shown in Fig. 2 is in operation, the compressor 8 sucks in cooking chamber atmosphere in the form of hot air and/or steam from the cooking chamber and directs this cooking chamber atmosphere via the line 12 into the pressure vessel 10. Due to the special arrangement of the line 12 on the underside of the pressure vessel 10, it is possible for the fed-in cooking chamber atmosphere to circulate the water 15 and/or food (not shown) in the pressure vessel 10. If the pressure in the pressure vessel 10 exceeds a maximum value, water vapor is released back into the cooking chamber 3 via the pressure relief valve 11. An insert (not shown), for example a sieve or similar, can be provided within the pressure vessel 10 for easy removal of the food, such as rice or pasta, from the pressure vessel 10.

Fig. 3 shows a cooking appliance 1 according to the invention, in which the same components as in the two previous embodiments are provided with the same reference numerals, but the cooking chamber atmosphere is supplied from the compressor 8 via the line 12, which has several outlets.

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branches, can be guided directly and immediately into the food 17 to be cooked in the cooking chamber 3. For example, when cooking chicken, the cooking device 1 shown in Fig. 3 shows significantly improved cooking results, since a targeted heat supply (high flow velocity) can be achieved.

It is obvious that the directed guidance of the cooking chamber atmosphere does not have to be limited to the introduction of the cooking chamber atmosphere into the food 17 located in the cooking chamber 3. It is also conceivable that the cooking chamber atmosphere can be partially guided, for example, against the door of the cooking appliance 1 (not shown), in order to remove dripping fat and/or moisture, for example, which improves the view of the food from outside in a mechanical and/or thermodynamic manner.

It is also possible with a cooking appliance according to the present invention for a compressor to be operable to generate a negative pressure.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments both individually and in any combination.

1 Cooking appliance 2 Fan room 3 Cooking chamber 4 Air baffle 5 Fan wheel 6 Fan shaft 7 engine 8th compressor 9 Drain 10 pressure vessel 11 Pressure relief valve 12 Line 13 Shut-off device 14 sensor 15 Water 16 Overflow pipe 17 Food

BOEHMERT

L50022(M)

List of reference symbols

Claims (20)

1. Cooking appliance ( 1 ) with a cooking chamber ( 3 ) and a fan chamber ( 2 ) separated from the cooking chamber ( 3 ) by at least one air guide member ( 4 ), in which a fan wheel ( 5 ) is arranged, characterized by at least one compressor ( 8 ) and at least one line ( 12 ) connectable to the compressor ( 8 ) for the directed introduction of cooking chamber atmosphere into food ( 17 ) to be cooked in the cooking chamber ( 3 ). 2. Cooking appliance ( 1 ) with a cooking chamber ( 3 ) and a fan chamber ( 2 ) separated from the cooking chamber ( 3 ) by at least one air guide element ( 4 ), in which a fan wheel ( 5 ) is arranged, in particular according to claim 1, characterized by at least one compressor ( 8 ) and at least one pressure vessel ( 10 ) for food to be cooked that can be arranged in the cooking chamber ( 3 ), can be closed and is provided with at least one safety valve, in particular a pressure relief valve ( 11 ) or vacuum valve, wherein either cooking chamber atmosphere can be sucked in by the compressor ( 8 ), guided into the pressure vessel ( 10 ), preferably into food to be cooked in the cooking chamber ( 3 ), and at least partially released into the cooking chamber ( 3 ) via the safety valve ( 11 ), or cooking container atmosphere can be sucked in by the compressor ( 8 ) and released to the cooking chamber ( 3 ). 3. Cooking appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that via the compressor ( 8 ) cooking chamber atmosphere can preferably be regulated, directed or withdrawn from cooking appliance components in the cooking chamber ( 3 ), such as a cooking chamber door, a cooking chamber window, a rack, a food holder or the like, and/or from food in the cooking chamber ( 3 ). 4. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compressor ( 8 ), in particular in the fan compartment ( 2 ), is permanently installed or removable. 5. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compressor ( 8 ) can be driven via the fan shaft ( 6 ) of the fan wheel ( 5 ). 6. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the pressure vessel ( 10 ) can be connected to the compressor ( 8 ) via at least one line ( 12 ). 7. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one shut-off device ( 13 ) between the compressor ( 8 ) and the food to be cooked ( 17 ) and/or the pressure vessel ( 10 ), preferably in the line ( 12 ). 8. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a filter and/or catalyst for cleaning directed cooking chamber atmosphere, preferably in the line ( 12 ). 9. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that aromatic substances can be fed into a directed cooking chamber atmosphere. 10. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the pressure vessel ( 10 ) can be connected to at least one, in particular manually operable, pressure relief device. 11. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized by at least one heating device in operative connection with the pressure vessel ( 10 ), in particular connectable or connected firmly to the pressure vessel ( 10 ). 12. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the pressure in the pressure vessel ( 10 ) and/or the food to be cooked ( 17 ) is/are adjustable via the cooking chamber atmosphere, the fan wheel ( 5 ), the compressor ( 8 ), the pressure relief valve ( 11 ), the shut-off device ( 13 ), the pressure relief device and/or the heating device. 13. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that at least one insert, such as a sieve, a net or the like, an insert and/or a divider for food to be cooked can be arranged in the pressure vessel (10). 14. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 2 to 13, characterized in that the pressure vessel ( 10 ) can be filled at least in regions with food to be cooked and/or a cooking medium, such as water ( 15 ) or the like, and the connection between the pressure vessel ( 10 ) and the compressor ( 8 ), in particular the line ( 12 ), opens into the filled region. 15. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 2 to 14, characterized in that the pressure vessel ( 10 ) has at least one overflow pipe ( 16 ) which opens into the pressure vessel ( 10 ) in a region of the pressure vessel ( 10 ) filled with water ( 15 ). 16. Cooking appliance according to one of claims 2 to 15, characterized in that several pressure vessels ( 10 ) can be connected to a compressor ( 8 ) via a line ( 12 ) each. 17. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one sensor ( 14 ) for detecting a size of the food and/or cooking appliance, in particular in the pressure vessel ( 10 ), preferably for detecting the temperature of water ( 15 ) and/or food in the pressure vessel ( 10 ), and/or in the food ( 17 ). 18. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control and/or regulating unit in operative connection with a motor ( 7 ) driving the fan wheel ( 5 ), the compressor ( 8 ), the pressure relief valve ( 11 ), the shut-off device ( 13 ), the pressure relief device, the sensor ( 14 ) and/or the heating device. 19. Cooking appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the directed cooking chamber atmosphere is adjustable in relation to cooking parameters such as temperature, humidity and/or the like. 20. Cooking appliance according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the control and/or regulating unit carries out a cooking process or cleaning process depending on the cooking chamber atmosphere, a cooking program and/or a product to be cooked.