Heating appliance control panel structure
United States Patent 1191 Doner HEATING APPLIANCE CONTROL PANEL STRUCTURE [75] Inventor: John T. Doner, Marion, Ohio [73] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 [21 Appl. No.: 430,174  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1941 Shroyer 219/460 x 8/1955 Farquharson 126/214 A x Primary ExaminerEdward G. Favors Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman &amp; McCord Apr. 15, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT Structure for mounting the controls of a heating appliance suitably to minimize operating temperature thereby to effectively prevent injury or damage to the controls by heat from the appliance. The mounting structure defines an enclosure for housing the control having a lower inlet opening and an upper outlet opening permitting cooling air to pass in heat exchange relationship to the control within the enclosure by convective flow from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. The control mounting enclosure is defined by a plurality of wall elements retained in vertically spaced, parallel relationship by end walls mounted to the heating appliance. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating appliance comprises a range having an oven subjacent the control mounting enclosure and a cooktop rearwardly of the control mounting enclosure.  
 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures HEATING APPLIANCE CONTROL PANEL STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION which may adversely affect the controls thereof. This problem is particularly vexatious in set-in ranges wherein the controls for the oven are disposed above the oven door on the front wall of the range. Such oven controls conventionally include timer motors for pro viding timed operation of the oven heating means and a serious problem arises in preventing damage to the relatively heat-susceptible timer motor.  
  A number of devices have been developed for cirulating air in connection with control elements to effect a cooling of the control elements in the operation of the associated apparatus. Illustratively, in U.S. letters Pat. No. 3,329,918 of Glenn E. Mealy, a high voltage divider system is shown having a fan for circulating air in a coronainhibiting enclosed environment.  
  In U.S. letters Pat. No. 3,396,780 of M. A. Koltuniak et al, a cooling system is disclosed for use witharectifier assembly wherein a cooling apparatus directs flow of cooling air across the heat generating electrical components of the apparatus.  
  In the U.S. letters Pat. No. 3,462,553 of Paul B. Spranger, a solid state amplifier and control panel assembly is disclosed wherein the control mounting means comprises a panel received within a pervious enclosure and carried by the cabinet of a solid state amplifier and loudspeaker combination.  
  In U.S. letters Pat. No. 3,560,629, of Morris L. Tucci, an upright housing is provided at the rear of an electronic chassis to provide a convective venturi action for cooling heat generating components mounted in an upper portion of the chassis.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved means for minimizing operating temperatures of an appliance control panel thereby effectively preventing injury or damage to a control of a heating appliance by heat generated in the operation of the appliance. More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision in a heating appliance having control means for controlling the operation of the appliance of mounting means for carrying the control means suitably to effectively prevent damage to the control means by heat from the appliance and provide a low temperature exposed surface, the mounting means including a pair of spaced end walls each defining top, bottom, and midportions, a top wall extending between the top portions of the spaced end walls, and a bottom wall extending between the bottom portions of the spaced end walls. The enclosure means further includes a center wall extending between the mid-portion of the spaced end walls and defining with the top and bottom walls a lower air inlet opening and an upper air outlet cooperating to conduct cooling air through the lower inlet opening into heat exchange relationship with the control means carried by the mounting means and conduct the cooling air subsequently from the enclosure means outwardly through the upper outlet opening to effectively maintain the temperature of the control means of the appliance below a preselected maximum temperature and the exposed surface of the mounting means below a preselected maximum temperature. Such an appliance, as a prerequisite for Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) listing, is subject to UL requirements for maximum operating temperatures and the present invention facilitates compliance with such requirements.  
  In one specific form, the heating appliance control means includes a timer and deflector means rearwardly of the timer for directing the air flow between the inlet opening and outlet opening adjacent the timer in a confined flow path providing maximum cooling effect adjacent the timer.  
  In the illustrated embodiment, the heating appliance comprises a cooking range having a lower oven portion provided with a front door, an upper cooktop portion, and control means for controlling the operation of the oven and cooktop heating means including manual operating portions. The invention comprehends providing in such a range means for mounting the control means suitably to effectively prevent damage to the control means by heat from the range and maintain exposed portions of the mounting means and control means below a preselected temperature. The mounting means includes a mounting panel, means for mounting the panel to the front of the range above the door, and wall means mounted to the range defining with the mounting panel a lower, inlet opening below the panel, an upper, outlet opening above the panel, and an air flow passage behind the panel, the control means being mounted to the mounting panel to be cooled by air flowing through said air flow passage and with the manual operating portion disposed forwardly of the mounting panel for adjustment of the controls by a user, the air flowing through the passage further serving to maintain the temperature of the exposed surface of the mounting means and manual operating portion of the control means below a preselected temperature.  
  The wall means defining the inlet and outlet openings may comprise elongated extrusions which are retained in vertically spaced, horizontally parallel relationship by end walls carrying the opposite ends of the extrusions. The inlet and outlet openings may extend the full length of the mounting panel, and in the illustrated embodiments, extend substantially the full width of the oven door and cooktop portion of the range to provide improved cooling of the control elements of the appliance.  
  The control mounting means of the present invention is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing the highly desirable features discussed above.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:  
  FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a set-in range having a control mounting means embodying the invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a broken exploded front elevation of the control mounting means;  
 FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectio taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a control mounting means generally designated is provided in a heating appliance generallydesignated 11 illustratively comprising a range having a lower oven portion generally designated 12 and an upper cook-top portion generally designated 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the controls of the oven may include suitable rotary controls 14 and a timer 15 which are carried by the mounting means 10 to be accessible at the upper front of the range above the oven door 16 and forwardly of the cooktop portion 13. As further shown in FIG. 1, the cooktop may be provided with its own control means 17 at one side of the cooktop portion 13.  
 1 As indicated briefly above, it is desirable to prevent damage to the range controls as from heat generated in the operation of the range and more specifically, as by heat generated in the operation of the oven 12. Conventional timers utilize electric motors such as motor 18 of timer 15 and it is important to prevent the temperature of such timer motors from exceeding a preselected safe maximum temperature. The present invention is concerned with an improved means for mounting the controls 14 and 15 in the range 11 which effectively precludes damage to the control means by the heat generated in the use of the range and which maincontrol and mounting means below a preselected maximum temperature.  
  More specifically, the control mounting means 10 cffectively&#39; defines an enclosure means for housing the control means 14 and 15 at the upper front portion of the range. The mounting means, as best seen in FIG. 2, includes a left end wall 19, a right end wall 20, a top wall21, a bottom wall 22, and a center wall 23. On end 21a, 22a and 23a of walls 21, 22 and 23, respectively, is mounted to end wall 19 and the opposite end 21b, 22b and 23b of walls 21, 22 and 23, respectively, is mounted to end wall with the walls 21, 22 and 23 extending&#39;horizontally parallel in vertically spaced relationship. End walls 19 and 20 are provided with mounting screw 24, inwardly projecting connectors 25, 26 and 27, and mounting screw 28. Top wall 21 includes a mounting lug 29 to which top screw 24 is threadedly connected, and bottom wall 22 includes a mounting lug 30 to which screw 28 is threadedly connected. Center wall 23 includes an upper mounting lug portion 31 and a lower mounting lug portion 32 embracing connectors 25 and 27, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, central connector 26 is engaged by the rear surface of center wall 23 to support the wall at the opposite ends 23a and 23b.  
  By virtue of the vertically spaced relationship between walls 21, 22 and 23, the mounting means 10 effectively defines a lower inlet opening 33 and an upper outlet opening 34. Cooling air is delivered through the flow passage 35 rearwardly of center wall 23 from inlet opening 33 to outlet opening 34 to provide a convective flow of the cooling air over the mounting means element and the controljelements disposed in the space 35 and thereby effectively cooling the mounting means and preventing damage to the control elements by heat from the oven and cooktop units.  
  In the illustrated embodiment, walls 21, 22&#39; and 23 comprise elongated extrusions which define the respective mounting lugs as integral portions thereof. As best seen in FIG. 4, the top and bottom walls further define inturned flanges 3,6 and 37, respectively, for guiding the air flow adjacent the outlet and inlet openings 34 and 33, respectively. A mounting strap 38 may further extend around the top wall 21 and bottom wall 22, as shown in FIG. 4, to assist in retaining the top and bottom walls in connected association with the end walls. More specifically, each of the end walls further includes an upper retaining lug 39 and the lower retaining lugs 40 against which the upper and lower walls are respectively urged by the strap 38 in the secured arrangement of the mounting means 10. End walls 19 and 20 may be secured in the range by suitable securing means, such as screws 41, as shown in FIG. 4.  
  A rear wall element 42 is secured to bottom wall 22 by suitable means, such as screws 43, and includes an upper flange 44 engaging the lower end of top wall flange 36 to define a rearward enclosure of the space 35 about timer motor 18, as shown in FIG. 3. A U- shaped deflector 45 is secured to the rear wall 42 by suitable means, such as screws 46, to extend horizon-&#39; tally forwardly therefrom and defining a restricted air flow passage 47 about the timer motor 18 for improved cooling of the timer motor by the convective air flow from inlet 33 to outlet 34.  
  lllustratively, in a conventional range unit utilizing the improved control mounting means 10 described above wherein the UL maximum temperature requirements for the timer motor winding and the control knobs were 265 F. and 120 F., respectively, the temperature of the timer motor winding was found to be approximately 245 F. with the temperature of the bottom wall 22 being approximately 189 F. The temperature of the control knobs&#39;was approximately F. and the temperature of the upper wall 21 was approximately 210 F. The ambient temperature of the air within the space 35 was found to be approximately 260 F. with the temperature of the center wall 23 being approximately 220 F. Thus, the use of the present invention resulted in an appliance structure in full compliance with UL requirements for maximum operating temperature in the control panel area.  
  As the inlet and outlet openings 33 and 34 extend substantially fully across the range, i.e., for a length substantially equal to the width of the oven door 16 and cook-top unit 13, a substantial volume of air is passed upwardly through the air flow passage 35 and timer space 47 to provide the improved cooling effect discussed above. The control mounting means is extremely simple and economical of construction and permits facilitated installation in the range while yet providing the highly desirable maintained low temperature condition of the control elements as discussed above.  
  The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.  
 trol means for controlling the operation of the oven and cooktop heating means including manual operating portions, means for mounting the control means suitably to effectively prevent damage to the control means by heat from the range and maintain exposed portions of the mounting means and control means below a preselected temperature, said mounting means comprising: a mounting panel; means for mounting said panel to the front of said range above said door; and wall means mounted to said range defining with the mounting panel a lower, inlet opening below said panel, an upper, outlet opening above said panel, and an air flow passage behind said panel for conducting all of the air entering said inlet opening to said outlet opening, the control means being mounted to said mounting panel to be cooled directly by air flowing through said air flow passage and with said manual operating portions disposed forwardly of the mounting panel for adjustment of the controls by a user, said air flowing through said passage further serving to maintain the temperature of the exposed surface ofsaid mounting means and manual operating portions of the control means below a preselected temperature, said walls means preventing air flow from between said oven and cooktop portions to said flow passage, said openings having a horizontal length substantially equal to the width of said oven door.  
  2. The heating appliance control mounting means of claim 1 further including deflector means rearwardly of said timer for directing the air flow between said inlet opening and outlet opening adjacent said timer in a confined flow path providing maximum cooling effect of the cooling air flow adjacent said timer.  
  3. The heating appliance control mounting means of claim 2 wherein said deflector extends between said top wall and said bottom wall.  
  4. The heating appliance control mounting means of claim 2 wherein said deflector is mounted to said bottom wall.  
  5. The heating appliance control mounting means of claim 2 wherein said deflector includes an insulative wall rearwardly of said timer.  
  6. The heating appliance control mounting means of claim 2 wherein said deflector includes an insulative wall laterally of said timer.  
  7. The heating appliance control mounting means of claim 2 wherein said deflector defines a u-shaped, horizontally extending element straddling the timer and defining a vertical air flow passage.  
  8. The heating appliance control mounting means of claim 2 wherein said deflector defines a U-shaped, horizontally extending element formed of thermally insulative material straddling the timer and defining a vertical air flow passage.  
  9. The heating appliance control mounting means of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a timer, and said wall means include means rearwardly of the timer for providing effectively maximum cooling effect of said flowing air adjacent said timer.  
  10. The heating appliance control mounting means of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a timer acjacent one end of said mounting panel and selector switch means adjacent the other end of said mounting panel.  
  1 l. The heating appliance control mounting means of claim 1 wherein said mounting panel andwall means comprise elongated extrusions disposed in vertically spaced relationship to define said openings.  
  12. In a range having a lower oven portion provided with a front door, an upper cooktop portion, and control means for controlling the operation of the oven and cooktop heating means including manual operating portions, means for mounting the control means suitably to effectively prevent damage to the control means by heat from the range and maintain exposed portions of the mounting means and control means below a preselected temperature, said mounting means comprising: a mounting panel; means for mounting said panel to the front of said range above said door; and wall means mounted to said range defining with the mounting panel a lower, inlet opening below said panel, an upper, outlet opening above said panel, and an air flow passage behind said panel for conducting all of the air entering said inlet opening to said outlet opening, the control means being mounted to said mounting panel to be cooled directly by air flowing through said air flow passage and with said manual operating portions disposed forwardly of the mounting panel for adjustment of the controls by a user, said air flowing through said passage further serving to maintain the temperature of the exposed surface of said mounting means and manual operating portions of the control means below a preselected temperature, said wall means preventing air flow from between said oven and cooktop portions to said flow passage, said openings having a horizontal length substantially equal to the width of said cooktop portion.  
  13. The heating appliance control mounting means of claim 12 wherein said outlet opening is disposed substantially horizontally forwardly of said cooktop portion of the range.