Porous insert for a heating element of an oven appliance

Abstract

An oven appliance is provided having a chamber for cooking food items. A heating element is also provided and, e.g., may be configured for providing heat to the food items in the chamber of the oven appliance. A porous insert is disposed within the heating element. The porous insert can, e.g., improve mixing of gas fuel and air flowing through the heating element and/or regulate the pressure and/or velocity of gas fuel and air flowing through the heating element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oven appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chamber for the receipt of food for cooking, the chamber accessed through an opening defined by the cabinet;   a heating element for providing heat to the food for cooking in the chamber, said heating element defining a conduit and extending between an inlet and an end, the conduit configured for directing a flow of gas fuel and air from the inlet to the end of said heating element, said heating element defining a series of burner holes with a first one of the series of burner holes positioned adjacent the end of the said heating element and a last one of the series of burner holes positioned away from the end of said heating element such that said series of burner holes extends away from the end of said heating element, said heating element also having a Venturi throat positioned downstream of the inlet and upstream of the last one of the series of burner holes; and   a porous insert disposed within the conduit of said heating element, said porous inert disposed downstream of the Venturi throat and upstream of the last one of the series of burner holes, the porous insert configured for regulating the pressure and velocity of the flow of air and gas fuel through the conduit of said heating element.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said heating element defines a bend downstream of the inlet and upstream of the last one of the series of burner holes such that the flow of gas fuel and air through the conduit changes direction at the bend. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the bend is positioned downstream of the Venturi throat and upstream of said porous insert. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber of said cabinet extends between a top and a bottom, said heating element being positioned adjacent the top of the chamber such that said heating element is a broiler heating element. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber of said cabinet extends between a top and a bottom, said heating element being positioned adjacent the bottom of the chamber such that said heating element is a baking heating element. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said heating element is constructed of metal. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said porous insert is constructed of metal, ceramic, or carbon fiber. 
     
     
         8 . An oven appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chamber for the receipt of food for cooking, the chamber accessed through an opening defined by the cabinet;   a heating element for providing heat to the food for cooking in the chamber, said heating element defining a conduit and extending between an inlet and an end, the conduit configured for directing a flow of gas fuel and air from the inlet to the end of said heating element, said heating element defining a series of burner holes with a first one of the series of burner holes positioned adjacent the end of said heating element and a last one of the series of burner holes positioned away from the end of said heating element such that said series of burner holes extends away from the end of said heating element, said heating element also defining a bend positioned downstream of the inlet and upstream of the last one of the series of burner holes such that the flow of gas fuel and air through the conduit changes direction at the bend; and   a porous insert disposed within the conduit of said heating element, said porous inert disposed downstream of the bend and upstream of the last one of the series of burner holes, the porous insert configured for regulating the pressure and velocity of the flow of air and gas fuel through the conduit of said heating element.   
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising a Venturi throat positioned within the conduit of said heating element downstream of the inlet of the conduit and upstream of said porous insert. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein said Venturi throat is defined by said heating element. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein said Venturi throat is positioned downstream of the inlet and upstream of the bend. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the chamber of said cabinet extends between a top and a bottom, said heating element being positioned adjacent the top of the chamber such that said heating element is a broiler heating element. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the chamber of said cabinet extends between a top and a bottom, said heating element being positioned adjacent the bottom of the chamber such that said heating element is a baking heating element. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein said heating element is constructed of metal. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein said porous insert is constructed of metal, ceramic, or carbon fiber. 
     
     
         16 . A heating element comprising:
 a housing defining a conduit and extending between an inlet and an end, the conduit configured for directing a flow of gas fuel and air from the inlet to the end, said housing also defining a series of burner holes with a first one of the series of burner holes positioned adjacent the end of said housing and a last one of the series of burner holes positioned away from the end of said housing such that said series of burner holes extends away from the end of said housing, said housing having a Venturi throat positioned within the conduit downstream of the inlet and upstream of the last one of the series of burner holes, said housing further defining a bend downstream of the Venturi throat and upstream of the last one of the series of burner holes such that the flow of gas fuel and air through the conduit changes direction at the bend; and   a porous insert disposed within the conduit of said housing, said porous inert disposed downstream of the bend and upstream of the last one of the series of burner holes, the porous insert configured for regulating the pressure and velocity of the flow of air and gas fuel through the conduit of said housing.   
     
     
         17 . The heating element of  claim 16 , wherein said housing is constructed of metal. 
     
     
         18 . The heating element of  claim 16 , wherein said porous insert is constructed of metal, ceramic, or carbon fiber.