US 5,958,278 AGranted

Microwave oven having an orthogonal electromagnetic seal

AssigneeAmana Company, L.P.

InventorsLarry M. Engebritson, Thomas L. Miller, Richard H. Edgar

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Abstract

An orthogonal electromagnetic seal for an oven that heats items through the use of microwave energy is set forth. The oven has a cavity in which the items are to be placed, an opening to the cavity, and peripheral surfaces that surround the opening to the cavity. One of the peripheral surfaces is orthogonal to the other peripheral surfaces. The electromagnetic seal includes a choke panel, a plurality of tabs, and a choke ring. The choke panel is aligned with and has generally the same shape as the opening. The plurality of tabs extend from a periphery of the choke panel. A first set of the plurality of tabs is generally parallel to the orthogonal peripheral surface. The remaining tabs are parallel with the other peripheral surfaces. Each of the plurality of tabs is positioned between the associated peripheral surface and the choke ring. A choke cavity adjacent to each peripheral surface is defined by the choke ring, the choke panel, and the adjacent peripheral surface. The choke cavity reflects energy propagating in a direction parallel to the adjacent one of the peripheral surface and suppressing energy propagating in a direction transverse to the adjacent one of the peripheral surfaces.

Claims38

Dependent claims

An electromagnetic seal for an oven that heats items through the use of microwave energy, said oven having a cavity in which said items are to be placed and a rectangular opening leading to said cavity, said oven including peripheral surfaces surrounding said opening to said cavity, one of said peripheral surfaces being orthogonal to the other peripheral surfaces, said electromagnetic seal comprising:

a choke panel having a generally rectangular base portion with four edges and a set of tabs extending from each of said four edges, a first set of tabs is generally parallel to said orthogonal one of said peripheral surfaces, each of said remaining three sets of tabs is generally parallel to a corresponding one of said other peripheral surfaces;
a choke ring circumscribing said four edges of said base portion and is electrically connected to said choke panel, said sets of tabs are positioned between said choke ring and said peripheral surfaces;
and
a choke cavity adjacent to each of said peripheral surfaces for reflecting one directional component of said microwave energy and for suppressing another directional component of said microwave energy, each of said choke cavities is defined by said choke panel, said choke ring, and said adjacent peripheral surface, said choke cavity adjacent to said orthogonal peripheral surface reflects said microwave energy from a region of said base portion of said choke panel, said choke cavities adjacent to said other peripheral surfaces reflect said microwave energy from said choke ring, each of said choke cavities has a first energy path defined by said adjacent peripheral surface and said choke panel and a second energy path defined by said choke panel and said choke ring.

1 more element

An electromagnetic seal for an oven that heats items through the use of microwave energy, said oven having a cavity in which said items are to be placed, an opening leading to said cavity lying in a first plane, and peripheral surfaces surrounding said opening to said cavity, one of said peripheral surfaces is at an angle relative to said first plane, the other peripheral surfaces are substantially within said first plane, said electromagnetic seal comprising:

a choke panel generally parallel to and spaced from said first plane, said choke panel having a plurality of edges;
a set of tabs attached to each of said plurality of edges of said choke panel, one of said sets of tabs is generally parallel with and adjacent to said angled one of said peripheral surfaces, each of the remaining sets of tabs is generally parallel with and adjacent to one of said other peripheral surfaces;
a choke ring connected to said choke panel, said choke ring having an orthogonal ring section adjacent to said orthogonal peripheral surfaces and a main ring section adjacent to said other peripheral surfaces;
and
a choke cavity adjacent to each of said peripheral surfaces for reflecting one directional component of said microwave energy and for suppressing another directional component of said microwave energy, each of said choke cavities having a first energy path defined by said adjacent peripheral surface and said choke panel, and a second energy path defined by said choke panel and said choke ring, said choke cavities reflecting three different directional components of said microwave energy.

2 more elements

A microwave oven that heats items through the use of microwave energy, comprising:

a housing structure defining a cavity in which said items are to be placed and an opening to said oven cavity, said housing structure including peripheral surfaces surrounding said opening to said cavity, one of said peripheral surfaces being orthogonal to the other peripheral surfaces;
a microwave energy source for producing microwave energy in said oven cavity for heating said items;
a door capable of moving between an open position in which said opening to said oven cavity is accessible and a closed position in which said opening is inaccessible, said door including a choke panel, a choke ring connected to said choke panel, and a choke cavity adjacent to each of said peripheral surfaces for reflecting one directional component of said microwave energy and for suppressing another directional component of said microwave energy, said choke panel having a base portion and a plurality of tabs extending from said base portion, said plurality of tabs including a first set of tabs that is orthogonal to the remaining ones of said plurality of tabs and generally parallel to said orthogonal peripheral surface when said door is in said closed position, said choke ring has an orthogonal ring section adjacent to said orthogonal peripheral surface and a main ring section adjacent to said other peripheral surfaces, each of said choke cavities having a first energy path defined by said adjacent peripheral surface and said choke panel and a second energy path defined by said choke panel and said choke ring, said choke cavities reflecting three different directional components of said microwave energy;
and
means for moving said door between said open position and said closed position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.