Inventors, designers and engineers have worked hard to develop household appliances and other devices that facilitate the work of housewives. One of the most common items found in modern kitchens is the microwave. The history of its invention began in the middle of the last century.
The history of the creation of the microwave oven
In the early forties of the XX century, the American physicist-researcher P. Spencer discovered in the course of experiments that microwave radiation has a thermal effect. While working in an industrial laboratory, Spencer tested a microwave emitter. Once, due to his absent-mindedness, inherent in many scientists, he put a sandwich on the installation. His surprise was great when, after a few minutes, the sandwich turned out to be heated
Another version of the history of the discovery of the thermal effects of microwave waves says that the scientist carried a bar of chocolate in his pocket, which melted from the operation of the installation.
More than three years later, the scientist received a well-deserved patent for the use of microwave radiation for cooking. This happened in October 1945. And by the end of the forties, the first microwave ovens appeared in the canteens of the US Army. But the device was very bulky and weighed a lot. A wide field of activity was opened up for the inventors to improve the microwave oven.
Success came to Japanese designers, who worked hard to finalize Spencer's invention for a decade and a half. A more modern design of the furnace was developed, the device received a rotating plate inside. In 1979, the first microwave oven appeared with a built-in microprocessor control system.
How does a microwave oven work?
The design of a microwave oven is simple and complex at the same time. Inside the device is a transformer, a waveguide and a magnetron, which is a vacuum device that generates high frequency waves. To generate the required voltage, the furnace is equipped with a transformer.
The device is cooled through a fan that blows an air stream over the magnetron.
Microwaves go from the magnetron to the waveguide channel, which has metal walls that are capable of reflecting radiation. After passing through the mica filter, the waves enter the oven chamber. The interior of the oven is usually made of metal and is sometimes covered with enamel-like paint. More expensive models are equipped with a ceramic coating, which is relatively easy to clean from dirt and withstands thermal effects.
The modern microwave oven differs significantly from its prototype. It is compact, economical and versatile. Today, in a microwave oven, you can not only reheat food, but also defrost it using one of several programmable modes. Models with a built-in grill exist and are popular. It is possible that in the pursuit of consumer attention, inventors will add many more useful functions to the oven.
