US3774003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable end traps
Assignee: DCA Food Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-27
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1991-07-27
Abstract
Abstract An end trap for preventing the escape of microwave energy in a microwave fryer having a conveyor passing through an open port is adapted to control the penetration of the microwave field within the trap for adjusting critical cooking parameters. The penetration of the microwave field within the trap is regulated by a longitudinally variable metallic surface extending across the conveyor within the trap at a height above the frying fat surface which is less than one-half the wave length of the energy at which the oven is operated.
Inventors
- 👤 H Kaufman
- 👤 H Roth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:13
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/78; H05B6/782; H05B6/76; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S99/00; Y10S99/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
An end trap for a microwave cavity having an open port through which a conveyor moves comprising a tunnel enclosure attached to the exterior of said cavity and disposed around said port such that said conveyor as it moves through said port moves through said tunnel enclosure, a fixed microwave reflecting surface extending across said tunnel at the end thereof away from said cavity, said fixed reflecting surface having a vertical clearance above the bottom of said tunnel which is less than onehalf ( 1/2 ) of the wave length of the energy at which said cavity is operated, and a plurality of adjustable microwave reflecting plates located side by side between said fixed surface and said cavity, each of said adjustable reflecting plates being individually adjustable between upper and lower positions, facing edges of adjacent reflecting plates including alternate ledge and seat action, said ledge being receivable in said seat when said adjacent conducting plates are in substantially the same plane for preventing the escape of microwave energy from between adjacent plates, said adjustable plates in said lower positions having a vertical clearance above the bottom of said enclosure which is less than one-half ( 1/2 ) of the wave length of the energy at which said cavity is operated, said adjustable plates in said upper position having a vertical clearance above the bottom of said enclosure which is greater than one-half ( 1/2 ) of the wave length of the energy at which said cavity is operated, so that selective positioning of said adjustable plates varies the extent to which the microwave field penetrates into said tunnel for adjusting the point in said tunnel at which microwave cooking begins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
An end trap for a microwave cavity having an open port through which a conveyor moves comprising a tunnel enclosure attached to the exterior of said cavity and disposed around said port such that said conveyor as it moves through said port moves through said tunnel enclosure, a fixed microwave reflecting surface extending across said tunnel at the end thereof away from said cavity, said fixed reflecting surface having a vertical clearance above the bottom of said tunnel which is less than onehalf ( 1/2 ) of the wave length of the energy at which said cavity is operated, and a plurality of adjustable microwave reflecting plates located side by side between said fixed surface and said cavity, each of said adjustable reflecting plates being individually adjustable between upper and lower positions, facing edges of adjacent reflecting plates including alternate ledge and seat action, said ledge being receivable in said seat when said adjacent conducting plates are in substantially the same plane for preventing the escape of microwave energy from between adjacent plates, said adjustable plates in said lower positions having a vertical clearance above the bottom of said enclosure which is less than one-half ( 1/2 ) of the wave length of the energy at which said cavity is operated, said adjustable plates in said upper position having a vertical clearance above the bottom of said enclosure which is greater than one-half ( 1/2 ) of the wave length of the energy at which said cavity is operated, so that selective positioning of said adjustable plates varies the extent to which the microwave field penetrates into said tunnel for adjusting the point in said tunnel at which microwave cooking begins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
173 words
An end trap for a microwave cavity having a port through which a conveyor moves comprising a tunnel enclosure attached to the exterior of said cavity and disposed around said port such that said conveyor as it moves through said port moves through said tunnel enclosure, a flexible microwave reflecting surface extending across said tunnel above said port, said flexible surface having a lower section adjacent the end of said tunnel away from said oven and an upper section between said lower section and said oven, said lower section having a vertical clearance above the bottom of said enclosure which is less than one-half of the wave length of the energy at which said oven is operated, said upper section having a vertical clearance above the bottom of said enclosure which is greater than one-half of the wave length of the energy at which said oven is operated, and means for selectively varying the extent of said upper and lower sections whereby the penetration of microwave energy into said tunnel may be controlled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
173 words
An end trap for a microwave cavity having a port through which a conveyor moves comprising a tunnel enclosure attached to the exterior of said cavity and disposed around said port such that said conveyor as it moves through said port moves through said tunnel enclosure, a flexible microwave reflecting surface extending across said tunnel above said port, said flexible surface having a lower section adjacent the end of said tunnel away from said oven and an upper section between said lower section and said oven, said lower section having a vertical clearance above the bottom of said enclosure which is less than one-half of the wave length of the energy at which said oven is operated, said upper section having a vertical clearance above the bottom of said enclosure which is greater than one-half of the wave length of the energy at which said oven is operated, and means for selectively varying the extent of said upper and lower sections whereby the penetration of microwave energy into said tunnel may be controlled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for varying the extent of said upper and lower sections comprises a pair of rods extending across said tunnel in upper and lower relation to one another, the lower edge of said lower rod being in alignment with said lower section, the top of said upper rod being in alignment with said upper section, said flexible conducting surface passing over said upper rod and beneath said lower rod, with said upper and lower rods being adapted to move toward and away from said oven for selectively varying the extent of said upper and lower conducting surfaces.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
An end trap in accordance with claim 2 wherein said lower flexible surface extends substantially across said tunnel from side to side thereof and said upper flexible surface comprises a central portion of said surface, said central portioN being secured to the remainder of said flexible surface in the lower section thereof by zippers adapted to be opened by motion of said roller assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
An end trap for a microwave cavity having a port through which a conveyor moves comprising a tunnel enclosure attached to the exterior of said cavity and disposed around said port such that said conveyor as it moves through said port, moves through said enclosure, a horizontal guide track extending along the sides of said tunnel, a microwave reflecting plate extending across said tunnel at a vertical height above the bottom of said tunnel enclosure which is less than one-half ( 1/2 ) the wavelength of the energy at which said cavity is operated, said reflecting plate being slidably mounted in said track for movement in a horizontal direction toward and away from said cavity, and means for moving said reflecting plate toward and away from said cavity for selectively varying the penetration of microwave energy within said tunnel for controlling the point at which microwave cooking begins.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
An end trap for a microwave cavity having a port through which a conveyor moves comprising a tunnel enclosure attached to the exterior of said cavity and disposed around said port such that said conveyor as it moves through said port, moves through said enclosure, a horizontal guide track extending along the sides of said tunnel, a microwave reflecting plate extending across said tunnel at a vertical height above the bottom of said tunnel enclosure which is less than one-half ( 1/2 ) the wavelength of the energy at which said cavity is operated, said reflecting plate being slidably mounted in said track for movement in a horizontal direction toward and away from said cavity, and means for moving said reflecting plate toward and away from said cavity for selectively varying the penetration of microwave energy within said tunnel for controlling the point at which microwave cooking begins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
An end trap for a microwave cavity having a port through which a conveyor moves comprising a tunnel enclosure attached to the exterior of said cavity and disposed around said port such that said conveyor as it moves through said port, moves through said enclosure, a flexible microwave reflecting screen extending across said tunnel at a vertical height above the bottom of said tunnel enclosure which is less than one-half ( 1/2 ) the wavelength of the energy at which said cavity is operated, roller means for adjusting the position of said flexible microwave reflecting screen, permitting said screen to move in a horizontal direction toward and away from said cavity, and means for moving said flexible microwave reflecting screen toward and away from said cavity for selectively varying the penetration of microwave energy within said tunnel for controlling the point at which microwave cooking begins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
An end trap for a microwave cavity having a port through which a conveyor moves comprising a tunnel enclosure attached to the exterior of said cavity and disposed around said port such that said conveyor as it moves through said port, moves through said enclosure, a flexible microwave reflecting screen extending across said tunnel at a vertical height above the bottom of said tunnel enclosure which is less than one-half ( 1/2 ) the wavelength of the energy at which said cavity is operated, roller means for adjusting the position of said flexible microwave reflecting screen, permitting said screen to move in a horizontal direction toward and away from said cavity, and means for moving said flexible microwave reflecting screen toward and away from said cavity for selectively varying the penetration of microwave energy within said tunnel for controlling the point at which microwave cooking begins.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |