Humpback oven-broiler

Claim 2

An oven-broiler including a cooking chamber and a conveyor therein for conveying food products through said chamber for heating of said products by infrared emission within said chamber, and characterized by structure providing opening means for ingress and egress of products with respect to said chamber and orienting said opening means at a level lower than said chamber for causing said chamber to entrap a heated, oxygen-starved atmosphere for achieving substantially flameless cooking of said food products within said chamber, said chamber being of tunnel form and comprising an elongated tubular structure constituted by inner and outer tubular members of annular configuration defining a space between them, said inner tubular member being of heat radiative material, heating means comprising electrical infrared heater panels within said space and surrounding said inner tubular member for causing the walls of said inner tubular member to be heated to said predetermined temperatures for causing said food products to be heated by infrared radiant energy from said walls.

Claim 3

An oven-broiler according to claim 1 and further characterized by said heating panels comprising upper and lower sets of said heater panels for heating upper and lower portions of said inner tubular member for providing different upper and lower temperatures within said cooking chamber.

Claim 4

An oven-broiler including a cooking chamber and a conveyor therein for conveying food products through said chamber for heating of said food products by infrared emission within said chamber, and characterized by structure providing opening means for ingress and egress of products with respect to said chamber and orienting said opening means at a level lower than said chamber for causing said chamber to entrap a heated, oxygen-starved atmosphere for achieving substantially flameless cooking of said food products within said chamber, said cooking chamber being of tunnel form and comprising an elongated tubular structure of heat radiative material, and heating means extending around at least part of said tubular structure for heating interior surfaces of said structure to predetermined temperatures sufficient for cooking of said food products in said cooking chamber by the radiation of infrared energy from said interior surfaces of said tubular structure for impingement upon said food products therein, said heating means comprising a housing for surrounding said tubular structure and defining between said housing and tubular structure a combustion chamber extending annularly around said tubular structure, and burner means for selectively producing combustion of fuel within said combustion chamber.

Claim 5

An oven-broiler including a cooking chamber and a conveyor therein for conveying food products through said chamber for heating of said food products by infrared emission within said chamber, and characterized by structure providing opening means for ingress and egress of products with respect to said chamber and orienting said opening means at a level lower than said chamber for causing said chamber to entrap a heated, oxygen-starved atmosphere for achieving substantially flameless cooking of said food products within said chamber, said cooking chamber being of tunnel form and comprising an elongated tubular structure of heat radiative material, and heating means extending around at least part of said tubular structure for heating interior surfaces of said structure to predetermined temperatures sufficient for cooking of said food products in said cooking chamber by the radiation of infrared energy from said interior surfaces of said tubular structure for impingement upon said food products therein, said heating means comprising a housing for surrounding said tubular structure and defining between said housing and tubular structure a combustion chamber extending annularly around said tubular structure, and burner means for selectively producing combustion of fuel within said combustion chamber.

Claim 6

An oven-broiler according to claim 3 and further characterized by said burner means constituted by upper and lower burners for heating upper and lower portions of said tubular structure for providing different upper and lower temperatures within said cooking chamber.

Claim 7

An oven-broiler including a cooking chamber and a conveyor therein for conveying food products through said chamber for heating of said food products by infrared emission within said chamber, and characterized by structure providing opening means for ingress and egress of products with respect to said chamber and orienting said opening means at a level lower than said chamber for causing said chamber to entrap a heated, oxygen-starved atmosphere for achieving substantially flameless cooking of said food products within said chamber, said cooking chamber being of tunnel form and comprising an elongated tubular structure of heat radiative material, and heating means extending around at least part of said tubular structure for heating interior surfaces of said structure to predetermined temperatures sufficient for cooking of said food products in said cooking chamber by the radiation of infrared energy from said interior surfaces of said tubular structure for impingement upon said food products therein, said tubular structure comprising a tunnel of horizontal orientation, said entrance and exit defining means each providing respective inclined extensions of said tunnel, said tubular structure comprising at least one tubular sectional unit including flanges at opposite ends thereof for being securable to at least one corresponding unit in end-to-end configuration, said unit including a tubular inner member forming said tunnel, said heating means closely surrounding at least a portion of the periphery of said inner member for heating same to said predetermined temperatures, a tubular outer member surrounding and enclosing said inner member and said heating means, and means defining flanges at opposite ends of said unit for flange-to-flange securement to a corresponding unit, said entrance and exit defining means comprising inclined extensions of said inner member.

Claim 8

An oven-broiler including a cooking chamber and a conveyor therein for conveying food products through said chamber for heating of said food products by infrared emission within said chamber, and characterized by structure providing opening means for ingress and egress of products with respect to said chamber and orienting said opening means at a level lower than said chamber for causing said chamber to entrap a heated, oxygen-starved atmosphere for achieving substantially flameless cooking of said food products within said chamber, said cooking chamber being of tunnel form and comprising an elongated tubular structure of heat radiative material, and heating means extending around at least part of said tubular structure for heating interior surfaces of said structure to predetermined temperatures sufficient for cooking of said food products in said cooking chamber by the radiation of infrared energy from said interior surfaces of said tubular structure for impingement upon said food products therein, said tubular structure comprising a tunnel of horizontal orientation, said entrance and exit defining means each providing respective inclined extensions of said tunnel, said tubular structure comprising at least one tubular sectional unit including flanges at opposite ends thereof for being securable to at least one corresponding unit in end-to-end configuration, said unit including a tubular inner member forming said tunnel, said heating means closely surrounding at least a portion of the periphery of said inner member for heating same to said predetermined temperatures, a tubular outer member surrounding and enclosing said inner member and said heating means, and means defining flanges at opposite ends of said unit for flange-to-flange securement to a corresponding unit, said entrance and exit defining means comprising inclined extensions of said inner member.

Claim 9

An oven-broiler according to claim 5 and further characterized by said unit having a base for supporting said unit separate from any other corresponding unit, said base including casters for rendering said unit mobile.

Claim 10

An oven unit including a heating chamber in the form of a tunnel and means for conveying products through said chamber for infrared heating of said products and characterized by a tubular inner structure defining said tunnel, means surrounding said tubular inner structure for providing heating thereof for emission of infrared radiant energy into said chamber and an outer tubular structure for surroundingly enclosing said tubular inner structure and said heating means, and means for coupling of said unit to a corresponding unit in end-to-end relationship to provide a multiple unit oven.

Claim 11

An oven unit including a heating chamber in the form of a tunnel and means for conveying products through said chamber for infrared heating of said products and characterized by a tubular inner structure defining said tunnel, means surrounding said tubular inner structure for providing heating thereof for emission of infrared radiant energy into said chamber and an outer tubular structure for surroundingly enclosing said tubular inner structure and said heating means, and means for coupling of said unit to a corresponding unit in end-to-end relationship to provide a multiple unit oven.

Claim 12

An oven including a heating chamber in the form of a tunnel and a conveyor therein for conveying food products through said chamber for infrared heating of said food products, and characterized by said tunnel being tubular in form and constituted by at least one oven unit including a tubular inner member, means surrounding said tubular inner member for heating of surfaces of said tubular inner member to predetermined temperatures for emission of infrared radiant energy into said chamber, and an outer tubular member for surroundingly enclosing said tubular inner member and said heating means, means at opposite ends of said tubular inner and outer members for coupling of said unit to a corresponding unit in end-to-end relationship to provide a multiple unit oven, and means for rendering said unit mobile.

Claim 13

An oven including a heating chamber in the form of a tunnel and a conveyor therein for conveying food products through said chamber for infrared heating of said food products, and characterized by said tunnel being tubular in form and constituted by at least one oven unit including a tubular inner member, means surrounding said tubular inner member for heating of surfaces of said tubular inner member to predetermined temperatures for emission of infrared radiant energy into said chamber, and an outer tubular member for surroundingly enclosing said tubular inner member and said heating means, means at opposite ends of said tubular inner and outer members for coupling of said unit to a corresponding unit in end-to-end relationship to provide a multiple unit oven, and means for rendering said unit mobile.

Claim 14

An oven according to claim 8 and further characterized by said unit having a base for individually supporting said unit separate for any other corresponding unit, said base including casters constituting said means for rendering said unit mobile.

Claim 15

An oven according to claim 9 and further characterized by said means for coupling of said unit comprising flanges at opposite ends of said tubular inner and outer members.

Claim 16

An oven according to claim 10 and further characterized by means at opposite ends of said oven for defining an opening and exit at the opposite ends of said chamber, and orienting said entrance and exit each at a level lower than said chamber for causing said chamber to entrap a heated, oxygen-starved atmosphere for substantially flameless cooking of food products within said chamber.

Claim 17

An oven according to claim 11 and further characterized by means communicating with said inner tubular member for selectively venting gases and vapors within said chamber and drain means for communicating with said inner tubular member for selective draining of liquids from said chamber.

Claim 18

An oven according to claim 8 and further characterized by said means for heating comprising a combustion chamber and gas burners for providing combustion within said combustion chamber.

Claim 19

An oven according to claim 8 and further characterized by said means for heating comprising a plurality of electrical heating panels surrounding said tubular inner member.

Claim 20

A modular oven including a heating chamber in the form of a tunnel and means for conveying products through said chamber from one end to the other for infrared heating of said products, and characterized by said oven comprising a plurality of units joined in end-to-end relationship, each of said units comprising a tubular inner structure, definind a portion of the length of said tunnel, means surrounding said tubular inner structure for heating surfaces thereof to predetermined temperatures for emission of infrared radiant energy into said tunnel portion, said units being separable for cleaning or reconfiguration of said oven.

Claim 21

A modular oven including a heating chamber in the form of a tunnel and means for conveying products through said chamber from one end to the other for infrared heating of said products, and characterized by said oven comprising a plurality of units joined in end-to-end relationship, each of said units comprising a tubular inner structure, definind a portion of the length of said tunnel, means surrounding said tubular inner structure for heating surfaces thereof to predetermined temperatures for emission of infrared radiant energy into said tunnel portion, said units being separable for cleaning or reconfiguration of said oven.

Claim 22

A modular oven according to claim 15 and further characterized by said units each being supported on a mobile base.

Claim 23

A modular oven according to claim 15 and further characterized by said tunnel having a circular cross section.

Claim 24

A modular oven according to claim 15 and further characterized by said tunnel having an eliptical cross section.

Claim 25

An oven-broiler having a tunnel-form cooking chamber and a conveyor therein for conveying food products through said chamber for heating of said food products by infrared emission within said chamber, and characterized by an elongated tubular structure constituted by inner and outer tubular members of annular configuration defining a space between them, said inner tubular member being of heat radiative material, heating means within said space for causing the walls of said inner tubular member to be heated to predetermined temperatures sufficient for cooking of food products within said inner tubular member by the radiation of infrared energy from interior surfaces thereof for impingement upon said food products, said inner tubular member being of horizontal orientation and defining said cooking chamber, said structure including angled extensions at opposite ends providing downwardly inclined extensions of said inner tubular member, the outer ends of said extensions respectively providing an entrance and exit for said chamber, said conveyor comprising an endless belt having a main horizontal reach extending along the length of said inner tubular member and inclined reaches extending along said angled extensions, and a return reach extending within said inner tubular member below said main reach and along said angled extensions, whereby food products are carriable by said conveyor up one of said inclined reaches from said entrance, horizontally along said main reach during cooking, and down the other of said inclined reaches for delivery through said exit, said entrance and exit each being at a level lower than said inner tubular member for causing a heated, oxygen-starved atmosphere to be entrapped within said inner tubular member for achieving substantially flameless cooking of said food products therein.

Claim 26

An oven-broiler having a tunnel-form cooking chamber and a conveyor therein for conveying food products through said chamber for heating of said food products by infrared emission within said chamber, and characterized by an elongated tubular structure constituted by inner and outer tubular members of annular configuration defining a space between them, said inner tubular member being of heat radiative material, heating means within said space for causing the walls of said inner tubular member to be heated to predetermined temperatures sufficient for cooking of food products within said inner tubular member by the radiation of infrared energy from interior surfaces thereof for impingement upon said food products, said inner tubular member being of horizontal orientation and defining said cooking chamber, said structure including angled extensions at opposite ends providing downwardly inclined extensions of said inner tubular member, the outer ends of said extensions respectively providing an entrance and exit for said chamber, said conveyor comprising an endless belt having a main horizontal reach extending along the length of said inner tubular member and inclined reaches extending along said angled extensions, and a return reach extending within said inner tubular member below said main reach and along said angled extensions, whereby food products are carriable by said conveyor up one of said inclined reaches from said entrance, horizontally along said main reach during cooking, and down the other of said inclined reaches for delivery through said exit, said entrance and exit each being at a level lower than said inner tubular member for causing a heated, oxygen-starved atmosphere to be entrapped within said inner tubular member for achieving substantially flameless cooking of said food products therein.

Claim 27

An oven-broiler according to claim 19 and further characterized by vent means extending through said outer and inner tubular members for communicating with said inner tubular member at a high point therein for selectively venting steam and vapors produced upon cooking of food products therein.

Claim 28

An oven-broiler according to claim 19 and further characterized by drain means extending through said outer and inner tubular members and communicating with the inner tubular member at a low point therein for selectively draining of grease and other liquids produced upon cooking of food products therein.

Claim 29

An oven-broiler according to claim 19 and further characterized by said elongated tubular structure being constructed for coupling to corresponding tubular structures in end-to-end relationship to provide a multiple unit oven.

Claim 30

An oven-broiler according to claim 19 and further characterized by said inner and outer tubular members each being of circular cross section.

Claim 31

An oven-broiler according to claim 19 and further characterized by said inner and outer tubular members each being of eliptical cross section.