Oven

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for heating a muffle ( 1 ) of an oven or a similar household appliance, wherein the heating element employed is a heating wire ( 15 ) made of carbon, carbon fiber or the like, which can provide thermal energy by electric dissipation and infrared irradiation within the muffle heating temperature range.

1 . A method for heating a muffle of an oven or a similar household appliance, the method comprising:
 utilizing, as a heating element, at least one resistive element made of a material suitable for providing thermal energy by electric dissipation and irradiation in the infrared range, for the muffle heating temperatures.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resistive element is made of carbon, carbon fiber or the like. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one resistive element is applied on a wall of the muffle. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating element operates at temperatures below 230° C. 
     
     
         5 . An oven muffle, comprising:
 a plurality of walls circumscribing a cooking chamber,   heating means for heating the cooking chamber, wherein the heating means includes a resistive element made of carbon, carbon fiber or the like, suitable for providing heat by electric dissipation and infrared irradiation.   
     
     
         6 . The oven muffle according to  claim 5 , wherein the resistive heating element is arranged inside and/or outside the cooking chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The oven muffle according to  claim 5 , wherein the resistive heating element includes a wire made of carbon, carbon fiber or the like, which is supported by a plate substantially facing one of the walls that circumscribe the cooking chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The oven muffle according to  claim 6 , comprising ventilation means adapted to cause air to circulate between the plate and the wall opposite thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The oven muffle according to  claim 7 , wherein the plate is of the irradiating type and is adapted to irradiate within the infrared range at muffle heating temperatures. 
     
     
         10 . The oven muffle according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the walls is coated or associated with a layer of carbon, carbon fiber or the like, so as to emit heat by infrared irradiation. 
     
     
         11 . The oven muffle according to  claim 5 , further comprising a sheet for protecting a respective wall, made of a material transparent to infrared radiations. 
     
     
         12 . The oven muffle according to  claim 5 , further comprising a sheet juxtaposed to a bottom wall, made of a material suitable for absorbing infrared radiations, thereby getting heated. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one resistive element is applied on a wall of the muffle. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the heating element operates at temperatures below 230° C. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the heating element operates at temperatures below 230° C. 
     
     
         16 . The oven muffle according to  claim 6 , wherein the resistive heating element includes a wire made of carbon, carbon fiber or the like, which is supported by a plate substantially facing one of the walls that circumscribe the cooking chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The oven muffle according to  claim 8 , wherein the plate is of the irradiating type and is adapted to irradiate within the infrared range at muffle heating temperatures. 
     
     
         18 . The oven muffle according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the walls is coated or associated with a layer of carbon, carbon fiber or the like, so as to emit heat by infrared irradiation. 
     
     
         19 . The oven muffle according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the walls is coated or associated with a layer of carbon, carbon fiber or the like, so as to emit heat by infrared irradiation. 
     
     
         20 . The oven muffle according to  claim 6 , further comprising a sheet for protecting a respective wall, made of a material transparent to infrared radiations.