HUMIDITY CONTROL SYSTEM FOR COMBINATION OVEN

摘要

A combination oven (10) for the preparation of food has a cooking chamber containing heating elements (22), a fan (28) and an atomizer (18) for radian t, convective or steam cooking. The humidity within the cooking chamber is controlled by a water valve (78) and either by forcing dry air into the cooking chamber and venting the humid air or by using a pressure box (200). Without any moving parts, the pressure box (200) controls air exchange of th e cooking chamber according to the level of water within the pressure box and the pressure in the cooking chamber. The oven (10) has a condensate tank (10 4) to collect condensation drained from the cooking chamber. The pressure box (200) and condensate tanks (104) form water barriers effectively isolating t he cooking chamber from the vent and drain during cooking until venting is required.