The subject of this invention i _$ a high-efficiency wood-fired oven. In particular, this invention relates to a wood-burning oven capable of reaching high temperatures, for example around 500 degrees, in a short time, without the need to consume a significant amount of wood.

The oven of this invention is also capable of varying the temperature inside it and maintaining substantially constant intermediate temperatures. To this end, manual or electronic regulation valves are provided.

Many types of wood-fired ovens are known, both of the type that can be built into building structures, or simply to rest on special supports or worktops. In all cases, they are formed by a supporting structure substantially shaped as a vault which defines a baking chamber and/or a combustion chamber. The two chambers can be integrated into a single space (direct baking in which the combustion chamber is the baking chamber) or can be separated from each other (indirect baking), for example, by overlapping.

In the upper part of this vault, a duct or an opening is provided for connecting the internal chamber to a chimney, while at least one duct or an air intake opening from the outside is formed in the lower area of the supporting structure.

In well-known direct-fired ovens, the air is captured by the hatch.

It is also known to make walls or channels inside the supporting structure that optimize the air flow from the suction opening towards the baking and/or combustion chambers and then towards the chimney. These types of oven generally have a door in the front part of the structure, usually shaped like the vault of the structure itself, through which it is possible to load the wood or introduce the food to be baked. Patent EP2279665, for example, describes an oven of this known type in which the combustion chamber and the paths of the combustion fumes are separated from the baking chamber.

Patent EP2401918, on the other hand, describes an oven in which the combustion chamber and the baking chamber are a single space. The supporting structure is double-walled and, between the external and internal walls, a heat-resistant material such as, for example, basalt granules is foreseen.

This invention is part of this second category by providing an oven having the features of claim 1.

The characteristics and advantages of the oven according to this invention will become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows the oven fireplace in a perspective view;

• Figure 2 illustrates, in a perspective view, a base on which the fireplace rests when the oven is in the version with support column;

• Figure 3 shows the fireplace in the countertop version in a front view;

• Figure 4 shows the fireplace in the countertop version according to the central and transverse section C-C of Figure 7;

• Figure 5a shows the sectional view according to B-B of Figure 3 of the fireplace;

• Figure 5b illustrates the sectional perspective view of the fireplace according to B-B of Figure 3;

• Figure 6 shows the formwork and the fireplace in the embedded version in the exploded view; • Figure 7 illustrates the fireplace seen from above with in particular the means for adjusting the door;

• Figure 8 illustrates in a perspective view the enlarged detail B of Figure 7;

• Figure 9 is a sectional view of the enlarged detail B of Figure 7;

• Figures lOa, lOb and lOc show the door in three views, frontal, from above and in section;

• Figures l la and l lb illustrate the air regulation valve in the two positions allowed;

• Figure l2a illustrates the enlarged detail of the fire-protection panel according to this invention;

• Figure l2b shows the enlarged detail F of Figure l2a of the fire-protection panel according to this invention;

• Figure l2c shows the enlarged detail E of Figure l2a of the fire-protection panel according to this invention;

• Figures l3a and l3b illustrate the elements of the interactive electronic control system of the oven according to this invention;

Figure 14 illustrates a perspective view of the fireplace according to this invention.

The oven, according to this invention, comprises a fireplace 2 which can be rested on a support 3, or embedded in a suitable housing made in a building with a flue gas chimney.

The fireplace comprises a supporting structure 4 shaped like a vault or a calotte which rests on a base 5.

On this base, a refractory slab 51 is placed, on which the food to be baked is placed, superimposed on a thermally insulating layer 52. The structure 4 and the base 5 delimit a baking and combustion chamber distinct from that which houses the air supply duct (combustive).

The supporting structure 4 shaped in a vault or calotte, simply resting on the base 5, is maintained in this position by fixing elements, for example, screws, to said base 5, leaving freedom of expansion without modifying the position of said base 5.

Thanks to this arrangement, the baking surface is not affected by thermal deformations that would negatively affect the flatness, which is a necessary condition for baking semi-liquid foods.

On the top of this supporting structure 4, a duct 6 or a fumes expulsion opening is provided which connects the internal chamber to a chimney while, in the lower area of the supporting structure, at least one air suction duct 7 is formed to bring air from the outside to the inside of the oven. In the front part of the structure, there is a door 8, substantially shaped like the vault of the structure itself, through which it is possible to load wood or introduce the food to be baked.

The supporting structure 4 is formed by an external sheet 41. The combustion chamber is covered by a thermal insulation layer I held in position by a double sheet, 42 and 42'. Between said sheet 42 and said external sheet 41 is a hollow space 9 in which the air circulates, thus ensuring natural ventilation. For this purpose, multiple ventilation holes 43, preferably arranged along the entire thickness of the calotte itself, are made at the lower ends of the calotte and at its top.

The supporting structure 4 and the base 5 can be made of various materials including ceramic (majolica). The supporting structure 4 shaped in a vault or a calotte, in the version of the oven made for being built into building structures, has the external sheet 41 without such holes. Moreover, it is separated from the internal one 42 which is integral with the supporting structure, while the external one is provided with a base 44, so as to form a formwork. In this way, the oven is built-in by first inserting and fixing the formwork in the housing of the building structure and then by inserting the fireplace into the formwork itself. The oven assembled in this way has, in any case, the shell structure formed by a double wall with hollow space.

On the front of the oven there are slots 100 which allow the hollow space to be ventilated (see Figure 14).

On one side of the refractory slab 51, a combustion zone is provided which advantageously has a removable support 10 for supporting and holding the wood.

In this zone, below the slab 51, the aforesaid air suction duct 7 is provided, equipped with a suction valve 71 for adjusting the intake of air from the outside with a knob 75.

Said refractory slab 51 has suction holes 53 which bring the combustion chamber into communication with said duct 7 which, kept free by the aforesaid removable support 10, allows the passage of air and, therefore, the occurrence of an effective forging effect underneath the wood.

The duct 7, moreover, passing through, allows selectively the intake of air from one side or the other, depending on how the air suction regulation valve 71, equipped with a knob 75, is mounted, which comprises, on the one hand, means for adjusting the suction 72 and, on the other hand, a plug 73 joined together by means of a rotating rod 74. It is therefore possible to selectively close one of the two openings of the duct, adjusting the inlet flow of the air from one or the other opening depending on the need.

There is also the possibility of ducting the air outside by fixing a ducting pipe in a special fixing collar (not shown) in the rear part of the oven, such as, for example, in case of installation in closed environments.

In the internal area of the shell, in correspondence with the support for the wood 10 and, therefore, in the area of the refractory slab 51 on which the wood is positioned, there is a fire-protection panel 12 which overlaps the inner sheet 42' of the supporting structure 4. This panel is removably positioned thanks to a handle 13, which allows its release from a double bayonet joint 14, provided in the lower part and in the upper part of the panel itself. Its removability allows an easy replacement in case of damage or wear due to the fact that it is in the area where the flame is naked. In this way, said fire-protection panel 12 is particularly useful being able to adequately protect the plates of the shell, thus allowing a longer life of the oven itself.

Below the refractory slab 51 there is a drawer 1 1 for collecting the ashes which can be easily extracted from the fireplace to remove the ashes.

The door 8 is also made of a double sheet, so as to form inside a similar interspace 81, like that of the supporting structure 4. A plurality of ventilation holes 82 are made both on the curved part and on the door base 8, guaranteeing the flow of air in and out of this interspace.

The door is also equipped with a conventional transparent portion made of double glass to allow inspection of the oven. Still according to this invention, the door 8 is provided with a constraint hinge 83 provided with means for adjusting the inclination of the door itself, so as to be able to keep the door 8 in a vertical axis in any condition.

Such means comprise a rotation pivot 84 of the door, kept in position by a support 85. The axis of rotation of this pivot 84 is adjusted by means of a dowel screw 86 which is inserted into a support 85'.

Thanks to the particular forced air circulation path and to the presence of a rotating baking surface, the oven, according to this invention, can be equipped with an interactive electronic control system.

This system includes a smartphone/touch panel 91 as a command interface also equipped with voice activator.

The rotating baking top includes a circular stratified revolving base like the baking surface of the combustion chamber, therefore refractory in the upper part, insulation, support plate in the lower part. A shaft placed centrally on the lower side of the sheet is made with an insulating part and rests on a bearing that acts as a support and constraint.

A suitable motor 92 rotates the rotating baking surface and is controlled by a button (in a semiautomatic version) or by the control unit of the integrated touch panel 91 (in the automatic version).

To manage the functions, optionally it is possible to control the oven functions via smartphone with the relevant app or through the combination of touch panel/PC/dedicated electronics integrated in the bodywork.

The control elements that communicate with the control unit are a first probe 93 of the combustion chamber temperature, a second refractory temperature probe 94, a light sensor 95 (for flame detection), a first rotary actuator 96 on the“air” inlet valve, a second rotary actuator 97 placed on the fumes outlet valve, a micro-switch 98 to detect the door opening and possibly a voice activation module integrated in the hardware of the smartphone, the PC or dedicated card, driven by relative software, thanks to which the oven can be fully automated and the baking activity assisted by a virtual assistant.