Cooking appliance
US6279464A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25B2321/023
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A cooking appliance (100) comprising a housing (10) providing a cooking chamber (12), a cooking mechanism associated with the cooking chamber (12) for cooking food therein, and a peltier unit (20) arranged to alter the temperature of the interior of the cooking chamber (12). The peltier unit (20) comprises a peltier device (30) having first and second metal parts which form a junction therebetween and are associated with the interior and exterior of the cooking chamber (12) respectively. In a cooling mode, the peltier device (30) is operable to, upon the passage of an electrical current across the junction in one direction, absorb heat by the first metal part and liberate heat by the second metal part, such that the interior temperature of the chamber (12) may be lowered to facilitate the storage of perishable food. In a heating mode, the peltier device (30) is operable to, upon the passage of an electrical current across the junction in the reverse direction, absorb heat by the second metal part and liberate heat by the first metal part, such that the interior temperature of the chamber (12) may be raised for the purpose of keeping cooked food warm.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.