Vehicle Oven Having an Optimized Water Vapor Injector

Abstract

An oven heating element assembly includes a heating element operable to heat air that flows across the heating element, a fan operable to cause air to flow across the heating element, and a water vapor injector. The water vapor injector is operable to inject mist into the air heated by the heating element to facilitate the mist being converted to steam by the heated air.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An oven heating element assembly comprising:
 a heating element operable to heat air that flows across the heating element;   a fan operable to cause air to flow across the heating element; and   a water vapor injector operable to inject mist into the air heated by the heating element to facilitate the mist being converted to steam by the heated air.   
     
     
         2 . The oven heating element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the water vapor injector is disposed in a location on an opposite side of the heating element from the fan whereby heated air flows proximate the water vapor injector after having flowed across the heating element. 
     
     
         3 . The oven heating element assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a compartment in which the oven heating assembly is installed, wherein:
 the heating element is operable to heat air within the compartment; and   the water vapor injector is disposed in a location of the compartment proximate where heated air flows.   
     
     
         4 . The oven heating element assembly of  claim 3 , the compartment further comprising a wall at which the heating element, the fan, and the water vapor injector are installed. 
     
     
         5 . The oven heating element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises an electrical heating element that heats when electrical current is passed therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The oven heating element assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the heating element comprises a plurality of electrical heating elements proximate one another. 
     
     
         7 . The oven heating element assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the heating element encircles a majority of the fan and the fan blows air across a majority of the heating element that encircles the fan. 
     
     
         8 . The oven heating element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the water vapor injector comprises a nebulizer. 
     
     
         9 . The oven heating element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element heats the air to a temperature above the boiling point of water. 
     
     
         10 . The oven heating element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the water vapor injector is disposed in a location to inject water vapor into heated air that is at a temperature above the boiling point of water. 
     
     
         11 . A method of injecting water vapor into an oven, the method comprising:
 heating a heating element of the oven to a temperature above the boiling point of water;   causing air to flow across the heated heating element by a fan;   heating the air that flows across the heated heating element by the heating element to a temperature above the boiling point of water;   injecting mist into the heated air by a water vapor injector; and   converting the mist to steam by the heated air.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein heating the heating element comprises passing electrical current through the heating element. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element is heated within a compartment of the oven, and the mist is injected into the heated air in a location of the compartment proximate where heated air flows. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the heating element encircles a majority of the fan, and causing air to flow across the heated heating element comprises blowing air across a majority of the heating element that encircles the fan. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein injecting mist into the heated air comprises generating the mist using a nebulizer. 
     
     
         16 . An oven comprising:
 a compartment;   a heating element disposed in the compartment, the heating element operable to heat air that flows across the heating element;   a fan disposed proximate the heating element and operable to cause air to flow across the heating element; and   a water vapor injector operable to inject mist into the air heated by the heating element to facilitate the mist being converted to steam by the heated air.   
     
     
         17 . The oven of  claim 16 , further comprising a wall at which the heating element, the fan, and the water vapor injector are installed. 
     
     
         18 . The oven of  claim 16 , wherein the heating element comprises a plurality of electrical heating elements proximate one another. 
     
     
         19 . The oven of  claim 16 , wherein the heating element encircles a majority of the fan and the fan blows air across a majority of the heating element that encircles the fan. 
     
     
         20 . The oven of  claim 16 , wherein the water vapor injector comprises a nebulizer, and injecting mist into the heated air comprises generating the mist using the nebulizer.