Mark Manganiello

US Patent:

7810488, Oct 12, 2010

Filed:

May 19, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/154055

Inventors:

Mark Manganiello - Everett MA, US
Angelo Antonio Giangrande - Medford MA, US

International Classification:

A21B 1/00
A21B 1/06
A21B 1/08

US Classification:

1263692, 126348, 126369, 126 20, 1263811, 1263891, 99330, 219401, 236 15 A

Abstract:

A pressureless or atmospheric steamer for cooking food with a high cooking efficiency has a cooking compartment with an outlet for steam and condensate that feeds to a tempering tank via an outlet conduit. The outlet conduit is spaced closely from the controlled water level in the tempering tank, and is in fluid communication with the atmospheric vent to create an open steam cooker. A steam generator is adjacent the cooking compartment and has a water reservoir, a heat exchanger secured within the reservoir in a heat-transferring relationship at an exterior surface of the heat exchanger with the water held in the reservoir, and a heater that supplies heat to the interior of the heat exchanger. The tempering tank has a drain and level controls for a water supply held in the tempering tank. A pressure-sensitive device is disposed to measure the steam pressure in the cooking compartment and to generate electrical output signals indicative of minimum and maximum pressure values to control the operation of the heater to maintain the steam pressure in the cooking compartment within that operating range.

US Patent:

20020139253, Oct 3, 2002

Filed:

Mar 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/105179

Inventors:

Mark Manganiello - Everett MA, US
Mark Doran - Providence RI, US

International Classification:

A23L001/00
A47J027/00
A47J037/12

US Classification:

099/331000, 099/417000

Abstract:

A connectionless steam cooker has an insulated housing that surrounds an internal cooking compartment accessible through a door. A supply of water is held in the compartment and immerses a plate-like heating element mounted at the floor, preferably of the electrical resistance type. A steam outlet located above the maximum water level is in fluid communication with and adjacent an electrically-operated solenoid valve that is normally open to atmosphere. A temperature sensor in close physical proximity to the steam outlet and the solenoid valve closes the solenoid wherein the sensed steam temperature is at or above a set level. The outlet steam is also connected to a pair of water column pressure-responsive microswitches. One microswitch controls power to the heating element. It is set closely, e.g. to cycle between ON and OFF in response to a sensed pressure range of 1 and 3 inches of water W. C.) The second microswitch responds to a higher set pressure (e.g. 9 inches W. C.) indicative of an unsafe over-pressure to open the solenoid valve to vent the steam to atmosphere. The heating element is mounted with a tilt with respect to the horizontal water level. Two heat-sensing elements are secured on upper and lower portions of the tilted heater plate, preferably diagonally opposite comers. The temperature sensors are each set to produce an output alarm signal when the adjacent region of the heating element is not immersed in water.

US Patent:

20030178411, Sep 25, 2003

Filed:

Sep 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/253127

Inventors:

Mark Manganiello - Everett MA, US
Peter Castrichini - Peabody MA, US
Mark Doran - Providence RI, US

International Classification:

A21B001/22
H05B001/02
F27D011/00

US Classification:

219/496000, 219/401000, 219/494000

Abstract:

A steam cooker has an insulated housing that surrounds an internal cooking compartment accessible through a door. In one form, a supply of water is held in the compartment and immerses a plate-like resistance heating element mounted at the floor. Water is automatically added to this supply when both 1) a water level sensor indicates a refill, and 2) a door switch signals that the door is open. these signals together open a normally-closed solenoid valve in a water feed line. A steam outlet located above the maximum water level is in fluid communication with and adjacent another electrically-operated solenoid valve that is normally open to atmosphere. In one mode of operation, a temperature sensor in close physical proximity to the steam outlet and the solenoid valve closes the solenoid wherein the sensed steam temperature is at or above a set level. The outlet steam is also connected to a pair of water column pressure-responsive microswitches that control power to the heating element and, if there is an over-pressure, to open the solenoid valve to vent the steam to atmosphere. Plural such steam cookers can operate in parallel stacked in a single cabinet, and each capable of operating in a fast cook mode where the water and power savings advantages of the electric steam trap are disabled or adjusted.