Circulating Air Oven

Abstract

The invention relates to a circulating gas oven incorporating a cooking surface wherein the cooking surface and air above are heated by a circulating gas system involving ducting and gas diffusers. The oven is portable and the cooking surface is made of ceramic or glass material. The ducting means and diffusers are adapted to create a laminar air flow. Foodstuff such as pizza can be cooked in a uniform manner.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A gas oven for providing a circulation of heated gas to a gas exhaust, the gas oven comprising:
 a platen, a first region below the platen containing a diffuser, a second region above the platen containing the gas exhaust, and one or more first ducts between the first region and the second region; wherein:   the diffuser is adapted to deflect gas received in the first region towards the first ducts, and the diffuser has a radiative surface facing the platen to radiate heat towards the platen;   the first ducts are disposed apart from the gas exhaust and an upper part of the second region is adapted such that gas received through the first ducts passes across an upper surface of the platen;   wherein the first and second region, the gas inlet, the gas exhaust, the diffuser and the first ducts are disposed to promote laminar flow in the circulation of gas at least over the upper surface of the platen.   
     
     
         21 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the first and second region, the gas inlet, the gas exhaust, the diffuser and the first ducts are disposed to promote laminar flow in the circulation of gas substantially throughout the gas oven. 
     
     
         22 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the platen is made of a ceramic material. 
     
     
         23 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the platen is made of a silicate material. 
     
     
         24 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  1  wherein the diffuser comprises two plates. 
     
     
         25 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  1  wherein the first ducts and the gas exhaust are substantially diametrically opposed across the platen. 
     
     
         26 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  1  wherein the platen is stepless so as to enable food products to be slid directly on to the platen. 
     
     
         27 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  1  adapted to be portable. 
     
     
         28 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  1  wherein an interior cavity is provided between the diffuser and the platen. 
     
     
         29 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  9 , wherein the interior cavity comprises at least one vent. 
     
     
         30 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  10 , wherein said at least one vent opens externally to the gas oven. 
     
     
         31 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  10 , wherein said at least one vent opens internally to the gas oven. 
     
     
         32 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  1  wherein the gas oven is adapted for mounting over a source of heated gas. 
     
     
         33 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  13  adapted for use with a source of heated gas comprising a solid fuel burner. 
     
     
         34 . A gas oven as claimed in claim  1  adapted for outdoor use. 
     
     
         35 . A method of heating a food product in an oven with a circulation of heated gas, the oven comprising a platen, a first region below the platen containing a diffuser, a second region above the platen containing a gas exhaust, and one or more first ducts between the first region and the second region; wherein the circulation comprises:
 admission of heated gas into the first region;   deflection of the heated gas by the diffuser to the first ducts, whereby the heated gas heats the diffuser and the diffuser radiates heat to a lower surface of the platen;   passage of the heated gas through the first ducts from the first region to the second region; and   passage of the heated gas from the first ducts to the gas exhaust by means of an upper part of the second region across an upper surface of the platen with substantially laminar flow.   
     
     
         36 . A method of heating a food product as claimed in claim  16  wherein the circulation of gas substantially throughout the oven is with substantially laminar flow. 
     
     
         37 . A method of heating a food product as claimed in claim  16  comprising heating gas with a solid fuel burner. 
     
     
         38 . A gas oven for mounting on a source of heated gas provided by a solid fuel burner providing a circulation of heated gas to a gas exhaust, the gas oven comprising:
 a platen, a chassis below the platen for mounting on a solid fuel burner and containing a diffuser, a housing above the platen containing the gas exhaust, and one or more first ducts between the chassis and the housing; wherein:   the diffuser is adapted to deflect gas received from the solid fuel burner towards the first ducts, and the diffuser has a radiative surface facing the platen to radiate heat towards the platen;   the first ducts are disposed apart from the gas exhaust and an upper part of the housing is adapted such that gas received through the first ducts passes across an upper surface of the platen;   wherein the chassis, the housing, the gas inlet, the gas exhaust, the diffuser and the first ducts are disposed to promote laminar flow in the circulation of gas at least over the upper surface of the platen.