James S Mcfarland

US Patent:

6388235, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Oct 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/984558

Inventors:

Kenneth E. Sauter - Ooltewah TN
James Coty McFarland - Cleveland TN

Assignee:

Maytag Corporation - Newton IA

International Classification:

A21B 126

US Classification:

219400, 219413, 219494

Abstract:

A rapid preheat control system, provided in a cooking appliance having a oven cavity, bake and broil elements for heating the oven cavity and a fan for developing an air flow current within the oven cavity, functions to actuate the broil element a higher percentage of time than the bake element during a preheat operation in order to decrease the required time to preheat the oven cavity for a baking operation, while specifically avoiding the need to increase the overall power rating of the cooking appliance. In one preferred embodiment, 100% of the heat emanates from the broil element, while the convection fan is operated either continuously or in a pulsating manner to quickly establish an even heat distribution in the oven cavity. In other embodiments, a portion of the preheat can come from the bake element, but simply in a much lower percentage than the broil element.

US Patent:

62341618, May 22, 2001

Filed:

Jan 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/487622

Inventors:

David E. Levi - Apison TN
Donald E. McCloud - Cleveland TN
James C. McFarland - Cleveland TN
Jimmy C. Roden - Chattanooga TN
Eddie M. Brock - Cleveland TN
Jeffrey D. Ware - Chattanooga TN

Assignee:

Maytag Corporation - Newton IA

International Classification:

F24C 1532

US Classification:

126 21R

Abstract:

A gas cooking appliance, having burner units mounted on an upper cooktop and an oven cavity arranged below the burner units, incorporates a fan for generating a flow of cooling air within the appliance, with the cooling air extending along an at least back and top wall portions of the oven cavity. The cooling air exits the appliance through a frontal gap formed between a door of the oven cavity and an upper frontal portion of the appliance. The burner units have associated combustion air inlets which are isolated from the flow of cooling air by being disposed in a chamber formed by sealing an isolation pan beneath the cooktop. The cooktop is formed with a plurality of openings for permitting a flow of combustion air to be drawn into the chamber for mixing with a regulated flow of combustion gas. With this arrangement, the gas burner units are isolated from the flow of cooling air within the appliance to enhance the operation of the burner units, particularly during low or simmer settings.