Oven appliance and method for operating oven appliance

Abstract

Oven appliances and methods for operating oven appliances are provided. An oven appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction that are each perpendicular to each other. The oven appliance includes a cabinet defining a cooking chamber, the cooking chamber configured for receipt of items to be cooked and including a top wall and a bottom wall spaced apart along the vertical direction. The oven appliance further includes a baking gas burner disposed adjacent the bottom wall and configured to heat the cooking chamber, and a broiling gas burner disposed adjacent the top wall and configured to heat the cooking chamber. The oven appliance further includes a controller in communication with the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner, the controller operable to activate a preheat mode wherein the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner are simultaneously on.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oven appliance that defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction that are each perpendicular to each other, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a cooking chamber, the cooking chamber configured for receipt of items to be cooked and comprising a top wall and a bottom wall spaced apart along the vertical direction;   a baking gas burner disposed adjacent the bottom wall and configured to heat the cooking chamber;   a broiling gas burner disposed adjacent the top wall and configured to heat the cooking chamber; and   a controller in communication with the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner, the controller operable to activate a preheat mode wherein the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner are simultaneously on.   
     
     
         2 . The oven appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve in communication with the controller and the broiling gas burner, the valve operable to control a firing rate of the broiling gas burner based on signals from the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The oven appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the valve is a two-stage valve having a high stage and a low stage. 
     
     
         4 . The oven appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the controller activates the valve to the low stage in the preheat mode. 
     
     
         5 . The oven appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the valve is a proportional valve. 
     
     
         6 . The oven appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the valve operates in the preheat mode at a firing rate such that a maximum vent capacity of the oven appliance is not exceeded. 
     
     
         7 . The oven appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to activate a bake mode wherein the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner are on. 
     
     
         8 . The oven appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising a valve in communication with the controller and the baking gas burner, the valve operable to control a firing rate of the baking gas burner based on signals from the controller. 
     
     
         9 . The oven appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the valve is a two-stage valve having a high stage and a low stage. 
     
     
         10 . The oven appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the valve is a single-stage valve. 
     
     
         11 . The oven appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the valve is a proportional valve. 
     
     
         12 . A method for operating an oven appliance, the method comprising:
 activating a baking gas burner to provide heat to a cooking chamber defined in the oven appliance when a preheat mode is selected; and   activating a broiling gas burner to provide heat to the cooking chamber when the preheat mode is selected;   wherein the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner are simultaneously on in the preheat mode.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the broiling gas burner is selectively operable at a low firing rate and a high firing rate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the broiling gas burner operates at the low firing rate in the preheat mode. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the broiling gas burner operates at a firing rate during the preheat mode such that a maximum vent capacity of the oven appliance is not exceeded. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 activating a baking gas burner to provide heat to a cooking chamber defined in the oven appliance when a bake mode is selected; and   activating a broiling gas burner to provide heat to the cooking chamber when the bake mode is selected;   wherein the baking gas burner and the broiling gas burner are simultaneously on in the bake mode.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the baking gas burner is selectively operable at a low firing rate and a high firing rate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the baking gas burner is operable at a single firing rate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the broiling gas burner is selectively operable at a low firing rate and a high firing rate. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the broiling gas burner operates at the low firing rate in the bake mode.