Self-cleaning system for convection cooking appliance
AssigneeMaytag Corporation
InventorsJeffrey T. Choat, Timothy M. Pace, Robert Z. Whipple, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-cleaning sequence for a convection cooking appliance employs high velocity air to heat an oven cavity and components/ducting of an air circulation passage to self-cleaning (pyrolitic) temperatures. In accordance with the invention, the self-cleaning sequence includes four stages: a vent catalyst pre-heating stage; a low molecular weight hydrocarbon burn-off stage; a high temperature cleaning stage; and a cool down stage.
Claims20
A method of performing a self-cleaning operation in a convection cooking appliance including an oven cavity, a vent catalyst, a plurality of heating elements, and a blower for generating a convection air flow through the oven cavity comprising:
- initiating a first self-cleaning stage by operating the blower at a first convection air flow speed, while pre-heating the catalyst to a first temperature through the activation of at least one of the plurality of heating elements;
- performing a second self-cleaning stage wherein the catalyst is raised to a second temperature, which is greater than the first temperature, and the blower is operated at a second convection air flow speed, which is greater than the first convection air flow speed;
- effecting a third, high temperature self-cleaning stage by raising the catalyst to a third temperature which is greater than the second temperature, increasing the blower to a third convection air flow speed, and establishing a minimum oven cavity temperature;
- and
- establishing a cooling stage.
A method of performing a self-cleaning operation in a convection cooking appliance including an oven cavity, a vent catalyst, a plurality of heating elements, and a blower for generating a convection air flow through the oven cavity comprising:
- initiating a vent catalyst pre-heating stage with the blower being activated at a small percentage of a maximum blower speed;
- performing a low molecular weight hydrocarbon burn-off stage with both the blower speed and a catalyst temperature being increased, wherein the catalyst temperature is maintained for a first predetermined minimum time period;
- establishing a high temperature cleaning stage wherein both the blower speed and the catalyst temperature are further increased, and a minimum temperature of the oven cavity is maintained for a second predetermined time period;
- and
- effecting a cool down stage, wherein the self-cleaning operation is terminated only after the oven cavity exhibits a temperature reduction below a predetermined level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.