Whirlpool Corporation

Erin M May

Richard L Baker

Anthony E Jenkins

Robert William Meyer

Steven T Baas

Paul Karl Krueger

Matthew T Wizeman

M Reza Ghassemzadeh

Lawrence D Metcalfe

A method and apparatus is provided for operating a self-cleaning oven in which a gas sensor, such as for measuring concentrations of CO gas, is located remote from, yet in gas communication with, an exhaust flue of the oven. The gas sensor is located at the end of an outlet tube which extends from the exhaust flue. A sample gas flow is provided to the gas sensor through the outlet tube to isolate the sensor from the heat of the oven and a filter device is located in the outlet tube for filtering the sample gas flow. A valve may be provided at the inlet to the outlet tube. The rate of change (slope) of successive readings of gas concentrations may be used to determine when the combustion of food material is complete, in order to terminate a self-cleaning cycle. As a back up method to the gas sampling system, a count of lengths or numbers of baking cycles and broiling cycles performed since a last self-cleaning cycle can be kept, and a look up table consulted to determine a length of time required for a cleaning cycle. A display is provided to advise the user that a cleaning mode is in operation and to inform the user of the amount of time remaining in the cleaning cycle.

System for controlling the duration of a self-clean cycle in an oven

A method for controlling the duration of a self-cleaning operation in an oven responsive to the oven usage. The oven includes a cooking chamber, a heating device for supplying heat into the cooking chamber, an exhaust outlet from the cooking chamber leading to atmosphere, and a heat control device for controlling the heating device for baking, broiling and self-cleaning cycles. The method of controlling the duration includes the steps of maintaining a count at the heat control device of the length of oven operation time performed since a last self-cleaning cycle, accepting an input at the heat control device to begin a self-cleaning operation, and controlling the heating device to heat the oven cavity for a time period based upon the length of oven operation time performed since a last self-cleaning cycle.

Adaptive system for controlling the duration of a self-clean cycle in an oven

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Miamisburg, OH, United States of America

Erin M May