Multi-mode convection oven with flow control baffles

An airflow control system for an oven having an oven cavity partially bounded by a rear wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, the airflow control system comprising:

• a fan disposed in the cavity, the fan being separated from the cavity by a grill cover through which the fan draws air during operation;
• the fan having a first operating mode for generating a first flow of air and a second operating mode for generating a second flow of air;
• and,
• a baffle housing including a first baffle and a second baffle adjacent the fan configured to direct the first flow of air to a first region of the cavity and to direct the second flow of air to a second region of the cavity;
• the baffle housing having a first inlet proximate the fan and a second inlet proximate the fan;
• the baffle housing disposed in the cavity proximate the rear wall and extending to, but not intersecting, the first side wall or the second side wall;
• wherein the baffle housing has a first outlet and a second outlet, the first outlet being distal the fan and allowing air to exit the baffle housing along the rear wall prior to intersecting the first side wall of the oven cavity and the second outlet being distal the fan and allowing air to exit the baffle housing along the rear wall prior to intersecting the second side wall of the oven cavity, the first and second side walls being substantially parallel;
• wherein, during the first operating mode, a first air flowpath is created between the first inlet and the first outlet and, during the second operating mode, a second air flowpath is created between the second inlet and the second outlet;
• wherein the baffle housing seals off areas from the cavity of the oven where air does not flow;
• the sealed off areas being adjacent either the first flowpath or the second flowpath.

An airflow control system for an oven having an oven cavity, the airflow control system comprising:

• a fan disposed in the cavity, the fan being separated from the cavity by a grill cover through which the fan draws air during operation;
• the fan having a first operating mode for generating a first flow of air and a second operating mode for generating a second flow of air;
• and,
• a baffle housing including a first baffle and a second baffle adjacent the fan configured to direct the first flow of air to a first region of the cavity and to direct the second flow of air to a second region of the cavity;
• the first baffle having a first inlet proximate the fan;
• the second baffle having a second inlet proximate the fan;
• wherein the first baffle has a first outlet and the second baffle has a second outlet, the first outlet being distal the fan and proximate a first side wall of the oven cavity and the second outlet being distal the fan and proximate a second side wall of the oven cavity, the first and second side walls being substantially parallel;
• wherein, during the first operating mode, a first air flowpath is created between the first inlet and the first outlet and, during the second operating mode, a second air flowpath is created between the second inlet and the second outlet;
• wherein the baffle housing seals off areas from the cavity of the oven where air does not flow;
• the sealed off areas being adjacent either the first flowpath or the second flowpath;
• wherein the first and second outlets include bottom openings and side openings in airflow communication with the cavity of the oven;
• wherein the side openings are larger than the bottom openings.

An oven comprising:

• an oven cavity having a rear wall, a baffle housing in the oven cavity, the baffle housing being spaced from and extending along the rear wall;
• a reversible fan disposed in the cavity, the fan having a first operating mode for directing a first flow of air when the fan is operated in a clockwise direction and a second operating mode for directing a second flow of air when the fan is operated in a counterclockwise direction;
• and
• the baffle housing including at least one baffle adjacent and extending away from the fan configured to direct the first flow of air to a first region of the cavity and to direct the second flow of air to a second region of the cavity,
• wherein when the fan is operated in the clockwise direction, at least a portion of the first flow of air travels along the baffle between the baffle housing and the rear wall to a first outlet, the first outlet being distal the fan and at least partially bounded by the baffle, baffle housing, rear wall, and a first side wall of the oven cavity;
• the baffle allowing air to exit the baffle housing prior to intersecting the first side wall and not proximate the fan.

A method of controlling airflow in an oven having an oven cavity, the oven cavity including a rear wall, a baffle housing, a first side wall, and a second side wall adjacent the rear wall, the baffle housing being spaced from and at least partially coextensive with the rear wall, the method comprising:

• operating a fan disposed in the cavity in a first operating mode in a clockwise direction to generate a first flow of air;
• directing the first flow of air to a first region of the cavity with a first baffle and a second baffle disposed adjacent the fan, the first flow of air entering the baffle housing proximate the fan and exiting the baffle housing prior to intersecting the first side wall and distal the fan;
• operating the fan in a second operating mode in a counterclockwise direction to generate a second flow of air;
• and
• directing the second flow of air to a second region of the cavity with the first and the second baffle;
• the first baffle and the second baffle being between the baffle housing and the rear wall, the second flow of air exiting the baffle housing prior to intersecting the second side wall.

An airflow control system for an oven having an oven cavity partially bounded by a rear wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, the rear wall and the first side wall intersecting at a first intersection, the rear wall and the second side wall intersecting at a second intersection, the airflow control system comprising:

• a reversible fan disposed between a baffle housing and the rear wall of the cavity, the fan having a first operating mode for generating a first flow of air when the fan is operated in a clockwise direction and a second operating mode for generating a second flow of air when the fan is operated in a counterclockwise direction;
• the baffle housing extending along the rear wall between the first intersection and the second intersection, but the baffle housing does not extend to the first intersection or the second intersection;
• and
• the baffle housing including a first baffle and a second baffle configured to direct the first flow of air to a first region of the cavity and to direct the second flow of air to a second region of the cavity, the first flow of air being directed away from the fan to exit the baffle housing prior to the first intersection, the second flow of air being directed away from the fan to exit the baffle housing prior to the second intersection;
• the first baffle and the second baffle disposed between the baffle housing and the rear wall.

An airflow control system for an oven having an oven cavity partially bounded by a rear wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall, and a baffle housing spaced from and partially coextensive with the rear wall, the airflow control system comprising:

• a reversible fan disposed between the baffle housing and the rear wall of the cavity, the fan generating a first flow of air when the fan is operated in a clockwise direction and a second flow of air when the fan is operated in a counterclockwise direction;
• and
• a first baffle and a second baffle between the baffle housing and the rear wall configured to direct the first flow of air away from the fan to a first region of the cavity and the second flow of air away from the fan to a second region of the cavity;
• the first flow of air exiting the baffle housing at a first outlet along the rear wall prior to intersecting the first side wall;
• the second flow of air exiting the baffle housing at a second outlet along the rear wall prior to intersecting the second side wall;
• wherein the first outlet includes bottom openings and side openings, the side openings being larger than the bottom openings.

An airflow control system for an oven having an oven cavity, the airflow control system comprising:

• a reversible fan disposed between a baffle housing and the rear wall of the cavity, the fan having a first operating mode for generating a first flow of air in a clockwise direction when the fan is operated in the first direction and a second operating mode for generating a second flow of air in a counterclockwise direction when the fan is operated in the second direction;
• and
• the baffle housing extending along the rear wall to a first outlet proximate a first wall and a second outlet proximate a second wall;
• the first outlet and the second outlet being distal the fan;
• the first wall and the second wall being adjacent and perpendicular the rear wall;
• the baffle housing including at least one baffle adjacent the fan configured to direct the first flow of air out the first outlet and to direct the second flow of air out the second outlet;
• the at least one baffle allowing air to exit the first or second outlet proximate, but prior to intersecting, the first or second wall and not proximate the fan;
• wherein the first outlet includes bottom openings and side openings, the side openings being larger than the bottom openings.

An airflow control system for an oven having an oven cavity, the cavity partially bounded by a rear wall and at least one side wall, the airflow control system comprising:

• a reversible fan disposed between a baffle housing and the rear wall of the cavity, the fan having a first operating mode for generating a first flow of air when the fan is operated in a clockwise direction and a second operating mode for generating a second flow of air when the fan is operated in a counterclockwise direction;
• and
• the baffle housing including at least one baffle adjacent the fan;
• the baffle housing extending along the rear wall with the at least one baffle disposed between the baffle housing and rear wall;
• the at least one baffle being configured to direct the first flow of air to a first region of the cavity and to direct the second flow of air to a second region of the cavity;
• the at least one baffle having a first inlet proximate the fan and a first outlet distal the fan and proximate the at least one side wall of the cavity;
• the first flow of air exiting the first outlet along the rear wall prior to intersecting the at least one side wall.