System for controlling the duration of a self-clean cycle in an oven
US6392204B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 9, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF24C14/02
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An oven capable of being operated in a self-cleaning cycle wherein the time period of the self clean cycle is responsive to the amount of soil accumulation in the oven. The oven includes a cooking chamber, a heating device for supplying heat into the cooking chamber and an exhaust flue extending from the cooking chamber leading to atmosphere. A heat control device is provided for controlling the operation of the heating device and an input device is used for signaling the heat control device to initiate the self-cleaning cycle. A gas sensor communicates with the exhaust flue for measuring a concentration of a gas component produced from combustion of food soils within the cooking chamber. The gas sensor has a signal output indicative of the measured concentration of the gas component during the self-cleaning cycle. The heat control device receives successive gas concentration signals from the gas sensor and calculates a gas concentration versus time curve. The heat control further calculates a gas concentration area representing the area under the gas concentration curve, and terminates the self-cleaning cycle in correspondence with the gas concentration area. The heat control devi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.