Cooking utensil

Abstract

The cooking utensil comprises a pot body with a cooking cavity and a pot cover, and the pot cover comprises a cover body and a pressure-bearing inner cover; the cooking utensil further comprises a pressure conversion assembly arranged on the pot cover, the pressure conversion assembly comprises a driving unit and a ventilation pipe penetrating through the mounting opening, a sealing part is arranged at the lower end of the ventilation pipe, and an air inlet is formed in the upper portion of the sealing part. The breather pipe can float up and down so as to have a first position where the air inlet is communicated with the cooking cavity and a second position where the air inlet is hermetically isolated from the cooking cavity; a triggering part is arranged on the outer wall of the ventilation pipe in a protruding mode, and the driving unit is provided with a driving part which can drive the ventilation pipe to move. The driving part of the driving unit is matched with the triggering part of the ventilation pipe, and the ventilation pipe can be driven to be switched between the first position and the second position, so that the number of parts of the driving unit is reduced, the driving part realizes integration of the function of driving the ventilation pipe to move in two directions, and the reliability of the driving unit is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of kitchen appliance technology, specifically relating to a cooking utensil. Background Technology

[0002] Pressure cookers (such as electric pressure cookers) are common cooking appliances in household kitchens. However, electric pressure cookers can usually only perform pressure cooking, not atmospheric pressure cooking. Even during simple cooking programs like steaming rice or making porridge, the pressure cooker still applies pressure to complete the cooking process. This constant pressure application and release during each cooking cycle increases the overall cooking time. Users who wish to use atmospheric pressure cooking must purchase a separate appliance such as an atmospheric pressure rice cooker.

[0003] In recent years, a multi-functional cooking appliance has emerged that can perform both pressure cooking (used as an electric pressure cooker) and atmospheric pressure cooking (used as a regular rice cooker), integrating both functions into one machine and greatly improving the user experience. The working principle of this multi-functional cooking appliance is as follows: a vent pipe is installed on the lid, and a portion of the vent pipe can be moved up and down by a drive device, thus connecting the internal environment of the pot to the outside environment. During cooking in this state, the inside and outside of the pot remain connected, achieving atmospheric pressure cooking; alternatively, at least part of the vent pipe can be moved to isolate the internal environment of the pot from the outside environment, allowing pressure to build up normally during cooking, achieving pressure cooking.

[0004] In existing technologies, the venting of the vent tube often involves the coordinated operation of multiple components, such as a drive device and an elastic element. For example, the drive device unidirectionally drives the vent tube (e.g., downward pressure), while the elastic element drives the vent tube to return to its original position (e.g., upward movement). This not only results in a large number of components in the vent tube's drive mechanism, making the structure complex, but also introduces numerous inter-component relationships, leading to low reliability. Furthermore, during the unidirectional movement of the vent tube driven by the drive structure, the elastic element is compressed or stretched, constantly creating resistance in the opposite direction. This makes it difficult for the vent tube to remain in a fixed position, easily returning to its original position under the elastic force of the element. Consequently, it is difficult to maintain the cooking appliance in a pressureless or pressurized state for extended periods, resulting in poor reliability of state maintenance. Once the vent tube's position changes, the pressureless or pressurized environment created at the vent tube is disrupted. On the other hand, when the drive device drives the vent pipe into position, the resistance applied by the elastic element reaches its maximum. If the vent pipe is to be maintained in this position, the drive device needs to continuously apply a large driving force to the vent pipe. Therefore, for motor-driven methods, there are high requirements for motor power, which not only increases the cost but also increases the power consumption of the cooking appliance. Furthermore, if the elastic element is kept under pressure or tension for a long time, it will also reduce the service life of the elastic element and affect its driving efficiency of the vent pipe. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a cooking appliance to solve the technical problems of the large number of components and complex mating structure of the drive mechanism for the vent pipe on the pot lid, resulting in low reliability, poor positional reliability of the vent pipe, and the need for the drive device to continuously drive the vent pipe with high power, which leads to increased cost and power consumption of the cooking appliance.

[0006] The technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:

[0007] A cooking appliance includes a pot body having a cooking cavity and a pot lid for covering the cooking cavity. The pot lid includes a lid body and a pressure-bearing inner lid. The pressure-bearing inner lid is provided with an installation port. The cooking appliance also includes a pressure conversion assembly disposed on the pot lid. The pressure conversion assembly includes a drive unit and a vent pipe passing through the installation port. The lower end of the vent pipe is provided with a sealing part. The vent pipe has an air inlet above the sealing part. The vent pipe can float up and down within the installation port to have a first position where the air inlet communicates with the cooking cavity, and a second position where the sealing part seals and isolates the air inlet from the cooking cavity. The outer wall of the vent pipe has a protruding trigger part. The drive unit has a drive part that can press the trigger part to drive the vent pipe to move to the first position and lift the trigger part to drive the vent pipe to move to the second position.

[0008] The cooking appliance of this application also has the following additional technical features:

[0009] The air inlet is located on the side wall of the ventilation pipe. Inside the ventilation pipe, there is also a guide slope. The projection of the guide slope toward the air inlet covers the air inlet, and the lower edge of the guide slope extends to the air inlet.

[0010] The vent pipe has an exhaust channel extending vertically inside, and an exhaust port facing upwards is opened at the top of the vent pipe.

[0011] The pressure-bearing inner cover is also equipped with an exhaust pipe, which has an air outlet channel inside. The upper end of the exhaust pipe is equipped with a counterweight for blocking the air outlet channel. The flow diameter of the exhaust channel is larger than that of the air outlet channel.

[0012] The drive unit includes a transmission component, which is provided with a connecting part that is rotatably connected to the cover. The drive part is located on one side of the connecting part and can swing up and down around the connecting part to drive the vent tube to move up and down.

[0013] The triggering part includes a transmission protrusion disposed on the outer wall of the ventilator, and the driving part includes a first driving section located above the transmission protrusion and a second driving section located below the transmission protrusion. The first driving section is used to press the transmission protrusion downward to make the ventilator move downward, and the second driving section is used to lift the transmission protrusion upward to make the ventilator move upward.

[0014] The triggering part includes a trigger groove disposed on the outer wall of the ventilator, and the driving part includes a driving protrusion extending into the trigger groove. The driving protrusion can abut against the bottom wall of the trigger groove to press the ventilator downward and abut against the top wall of the trigger groove to push the ventilator upward.

[0015] The drive unit includes a drive component and a transmission component. The drive component is electrically connected to the control unit of the cooking appliance. The drive component is provided with a power output part. The drive part is located on the transmission component. The transmission component is also provided with a mating part. The drive component drives the transmission component to move by electrically controlling the power output part and the mating part to drive the vent pipe to move up and down.

[0016] The drive unit includes a transmission component that is movable relative to the lid to have a third position in which the vent pipe is driven upward and a fourth position in which the vent pipe is driven downward. The lid is also provided with a first detection component and a second detection component. In the third position, the transmission component triggers the first detection component, and in the fourth position, the transmission component triggers the second detection component.

[0017] The drive unit also includes a drive motor, which has an operating state and a paused state. The first and second detection elements are both electrically connected to the drive motor. When the drive motor drives the transmission element to the third and fourth positions, the first or second detection element controls the drive motor to switch to the paused state to maintain the transmission element at the current position.

[0018] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects achieved by this application are as follows:

[0019] 1. In this application, the vent pipe on the lid can float up and down relative to the lid, thus enabling the cooking appliance to have both a pressureless mode and a pressure mode. In the pressureless mode, the cooking chamber is connected to the outside atmosphere through a pressure conversion device, and the inside of the pot is at normal pressure. In the pressure mode, the cooking chamber is isolated from the pressure conversion device, allowing the cooking appliance to normally pressurize and perform pressurized cooking. This achieves multi-functional integration of pressurized and normal pressure cooking in a single cooking appliance, improving the user experience.

[0020] Furthermore, the drive unit's drive section cooperates with the protruding trigger section on the outer wall of the vent pipe to drive the vent pipe to switch between a first position and a second position. That is, the movement of the vent pipe in both vertical and horizontal directions is driven by the drive section. This not only significantly reduces the number of components in the drive unit, integrating the function of driving the vent pipe in both directions, simplifying the structure of the drive unit, but also improves its reliability. Moreover, during the drive section's operation, the vent pipe is not subjected to forces from other components, only the driving force of the drive section. This results in higher positional stability of the vent pipe, making it easier for the drive section to maintain the vent pipe in a certain position, thus keeping the cooking appliance in either pressureless or pressurized mode, ensuring stable operation. On the other hand, during the drive section's operation, there is no resistance from other components on the vent pipe, making the drive section less strenuous. When manually operating the vent pipe, the user experiences smoother and less effort. Furthermore, when driven by a drive device, the power consumption of the drive device is reduced, thus saving costs. Furthermore, the protruding trigger part is located on the outer wall of the ventilator, which ensures the integrity of the overall internal structure of the ventilator. This eliminates the need for other structures, steps, or segmented designs inside the ventilator, thereby improving the strength of the ventilator and ensuring smooth airflow from top to bottom while preventing blockages.

[0021] 2. In a preferred embodiment of this application, the air inlet is located on the side wall of the vent pipe, and a guide slope is also provided inside the vent pipe. The projection of the guide slope toward the air inlet covers the air inlet, and the lower edge of the guide slope extends to the air inlet. When the vent pipe is in the first position, the air inlet is connected to the cooking cavity, and an upwardly extending exhaust channel is formed inside the vent pipe. The gas in the cooking cavity enters the vent pipe laterally from the air inlet, and flows upward along the exhaust channel under the guidance of the guide slope. Finally, the gas inside the vent pipe is discharged from the vent pipe in an upward flow direction. The guide slope can guide the gas entering from the air inlet, making the gas flow from horizontal to vertical upward more smoothly, thereby improving the gas discharge efficiency and reducing the noise caused by the airflow colliding with the inner wall of the vent pipe. In addition, the condensate and residual liquid inside the vent pipe can be guided by the guide slope to flow to the air inlet, and then flow back from the air inlet to the cooking cavity, thereby ensuring the cleanliness of the vent pipe, reducing the probability of blockage, and ensuring reliable exhaust.

[0022] 3. In a preferred embodiment of this application, the pressure-bearing inner cover is further provided with an exhaust pipe. The exhaust pipe has an internal air outlet channel, and a counterweight for blocking the air outlet channel is provided at the upper end of the exhaust pipe. The flow diameter of the exhaust channel is larger than the flow diameter of the air outlet channel. When the vent pipe is in the first position, the air inlet of the vent pipe connects the cooking cavity to the outside atmosphere. Cooking in this state allows the gas inside the pot to be discharged outside the pot in a timely manner, ensuring that the pot is in a normal pressure environment. The flow diameter of the exhaust channel is larger than the flow diameter of the air outlet channel, thus allowing most of the gas in the cooking cavity to be discharged through the vent pipe. This ensures that even if the exhaust pipe is blocked by the counterweight, the gas inside the pot can still be discharged through the vent pipe in a timely manner. This makes the vent pipe and the exhaust pipe relatively independent, each using an independent channel for exhaust, thereby avoiding the problem of difficulty in designing the inner diameter of the pipe due to the need to consider both functions simultaneously. It also avoids the problem of difficulty in balancing the design and poor adaptability caused by sharing a single channel and having to consider both the working pressure (requiring a smaller vent pipe diameter) and the sufficient air output (requiring a larger vent pipe diameter). In addition, the use of a vent pipe allows the gas in the cooking cavity to be released in a timely manner. Therefore, in the pressureless mode, the weight does not need to be operated to block the vent pipe, thereby reducing the difficulty of operating the cooking appliance when switching modes. When the cooking appliance switches between pressureless and pressurized modes, as few parts as possible move or change positions, thereby improving reliability and reducing the difficulty of operation.

[0023] 4. In a preferred embodiment of this application, the triggering part includes a transmission protrusion disposed on the outer wall of the ventilator, and the driving part includes a first driving section located above the transmission protrusion and a second driving section located below the transmission protrusion. The first driving section is used to press the transmission protrusion downward to move the ventilator downward, and the second driving section is used to lift the transmission protrusion upward to move the ventilator upward. The transmission protrusion protrudes from the outer wall of the ventilator. The first driving section of the driving part is located above the transmission protrusion, and the second driving section is located below the transmission protrusion. When driving the ventilator downward, the first driving section contacts the upper surface of the transmission protrusion and exerts downward pressure on it to press the ventilator downward. When driving the ventilator in the opposite direction, the second driving section contacts the lower surface of the transmission protrusion and exerts upward lifting force on it, thereby driving the ventilator upward.

[0024] 5. In a preferred embodiment of this application, the drive unit includes a transmission member capable of moving relative to the lid to a third position where the vent pipe is driven upward and a fourth position where the vent pipe is driven downward. The lid is also provided with a first detection member and a second detection member. In the third position, the transmission member triggers the first detection member, and in the fourth position, the transmission member triggers the second detection member. The transmission member triggers the vent pipe through movement, ensuring that the transmission member moves to a specific position in both the first and second positions. Therefore, the position detection of the vent pipe can be achieved by detecting the position of the transmission member. Specifically, when the transmission member moves to the third position, it drives the vent pipe to the second position. At this time, the transmission member triggers the first detection member, and the cooking appliance receives a signal that the vent pipe has moved into position and the device is in pressurized mode. At this time, the user can perform pressure cooking. When the transmission component moves to the fourth position, it drives the vent pipe to the first position. At this time, the transmission component triggers the second detection component, and the cooking appliance receives a signal that the vent pipe has moved into place and the device is in pressureless mode. At this time, the user can perform normal pressure cooking operations. However, in order to ensure safety, the cooking system restricts the user from performing pressure cooking operations. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a cooking appliance according to one embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a pressure-bearing inner cover according to one embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 3 for Figure 2Schematic diagram of the structure of the pressure-bearing inner cover;

[0029] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Exploded view of the structure of the pressure-bearing inner cover;

[0030] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of a pressure-bearing inner cover according to one embodiment of this application, wherein the vent pipe is in the first position;

[0031] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Cross-sectional view of the pressure-bearing inner cover when the central vent pipe is in the second position;

[0032] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the vent pipe according to one embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the central vent tube;

[0034] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission component according to one embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cooperation between the drive unit and the vent pipe according to one embodiment of this application, wherein the vent pipe is in the first position;

[0036] Figure 11 for Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the cooperation between the drive unit and the ventilator from another perspective;

[0037] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the cooperation between the drive unit and the vent pipe according to one embodiment of this application, wherein the vent pipe is in the second position;

[0038] Figure 13 for Figure 12 A schematic diagram of the cooperation between the drive unit and the ventilator from another perspective;

[0039] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the driving unit according to one embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the cooperation between the transmission component and the vent pipe in another embodiment of this application.

[0041] in:

[0042] 1. Pot body; 11. Cooking chambers;

[0043] 2. Pot lid; 21. Lid body; 22. Pressure-bearing inner lid; 221. Exhaust pipe; 222. Float valve; 223. Exhaust chamber; 224. Mounting port;

[0044] 3 Vent pipe; 31 Exhaust passage; 32 Sealing part; 321 Sealing lip; 33 Air inlet; 34 Exhaust port; 35 Trigger part; 351 Transmission protrusion; 352 Trigger groove; 36 Guide slope; 37 Mounting end;

[0045] 4. Drive unit; 41. Drive section; 411. First drive segment; 412. Second drive segment; 413. Drive protrusion; 42. Transmission component; 421. Second meshing tooth; 422. Connecting part; 43. Drive component; 431. First meshing tooth;

[0046] 5. First inspection piece;

[0047] 6. Second inspection item;

[0048] 7. Fixing base; 71. Sealing ring. Detailed Implementation

[0049] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of this application, a detailed explanation is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0050] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of this application. However, this application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0051] Furthermore, it should be understood in the description of this application that the terms "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0052] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0053] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the "above" or "below" of the second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "implementation," "example," "a particular embodiment," "example," or "specific example," etc., indicate that the specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0054] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, a cooking appliance includes a pot body 1 with a cooking cavity 11 and a pot lid 2 for covering the cooking cavity 11. The pot lid 2 includes a lid body 21 and a pressure-bearing inner lid 22. The pressure-bearing inner lid 22 is provided with an installation port 224. The cooking appliance also includes a pressure conversion assembly disposed on the pot lid 2. The pressure conversion assembly includes a drive unit 4 and a vent pipe 3 passing through the installation port 224. The lower end of the vent pipe 3 is provided with a sealing part 32. The vent pipe 3 has an air inlet 33 above the sealing part 32. The vent pipe 3 can float up and down within the installation port 224 to have a first position where the air inlet 33 is connected to the cooking cavity 11, and a second position where the sealing part 32 seals and isolates the air inlet 33 from the cooking cavity 11. The outer wall of the vent pipe 3 is provided with a trigger part 35. The drive unit 4 has a drive part 41. The drive part 41 can press the trigger part 35 to drive the vent pipe 3 to move to the first position, and lift the trigger part 35 to drive the vent pipe 3 to move to the second position.

[0055] In this application, the vent pipe 3 on the lid 2 can float up and down relative to the lid 2, thus enabling the cooking appliance to have both a pressureless mode and a pressurized mode. In the pressureless mode, the cooking chamber 11 is connected to the outside atmosphere through a pressure conversion component, and the inside of the pot is at normal pressure. In the pressurized mode, the cooking chamber 11 is isolated from the pressure conversion component, allowing the cooking appliance to normally pressurize and perform pressurized cooking. This achieves multi-functional integration of pressurized and normal pressure cooking in a single cooking appliance, improving the user experience.

[0056] Preferably, the pressure-bearing inner cover 22 is also equipped with a float valve 222 and an exhaust pipe 221. It should be noted that in this application, the "pressurized mode" and "unpressurized mode" of the cooking appliance do not refer to the gas pressure state inside the pot. Rather, they are prerequisites for the cooking appliance to perform pressurized or atmospheric pressure cooking. Specifically, when the cooking appliance is in pressurized mode, the air inlet 33 of the vent pipe 3 is sealed and isolated from the cooking chamber 11, preventing gas from escaping through the vent pipe 3. At this time, the cooking appliance operates in the same way as a conventional pressure cooker. As the temperature inside the pot rises, the amount of gas inside increases, gradually pushing the float valve 222 upwards to seal it, and the exhaust pipe 221 is also blocked by a weight. This completely isolates the environment inside the pot from the outside atmosphere, allowing for pressure cooking.

[0057] When the cooking appliance is in a depressurized state, the air inlet 33 of the vent pipe 3 connects the cooking chamber 11 to the outside atmosphere. Cooking in this state allows the gas inside the pot to be promptly expelled, ensuring a normal pressure environment inside the pot. Specifically, when the cooking appliance is in depressurized mode, the gas inside the pot can be expelled solely through the vent pipe 3, or it can be expelled through the vent pipe 3, the float valve 222, and the exhaust pipe 221 together.

[0058] The driving part 41 of the driving unit 4 cooperates with the trigger part 35 protruding from the outer wall of the vent pipe 3, enabling the vent pipe 3 to switch between a first position and a second position. That is, the movement of the vent pipe 3 in both the up and down directions is driven by the driving part 41. This not only greatly reduces the number of components in the driving unit 4 and integrates the function of driving the vent pipe 3 in both directions, simplifying the structure of the driving unit 4 and improving its reliability, but also ensures that during the driving process of the driving part 41, the vent pipe 3 is not subjected to the force applied by other components, but only to the driving force of the driving part 41. Therefore, on the one hand, the positional stability of the vent pipe 3 is higher, and the driving part 41 can more easily maintain the vent pipe 3 in a certain position, thereby keeping the cooking appliance in either a pressureless or pressurized mode and ensuring the stability of the cooking appliance. On the other hand, during the process of the drive unit 41 driving the air pipe 3 to move, it will not be subject to the resistance applied to the air pipe 3 by other components, making the drive unit 41 drive the air pipe 3 more effortless. When the user operates manually, the operation is smoother and less strenuous. When driven by the drive device, the power consumption of the drive device can be reduced, thereby saving costs.

[0059] Preferably, the vent pipe 3 is made of metal to provide better anti-fouling effect, and the dimensions are more stable after machining, making the fit more reliable.

[0060] It should be noted that this application does not limit the positional state corresponding to the up-and-down movement of the ventilation tube 3. In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 5 , Figure 6As shown, the sealing part 32 is located below the pressure-bearing inner cover 22. When the vent pipe 3 moves upward until the sealing part 32 abuts against the lower surface of the pressure-bearing inner cover 22, the vent pipe 3 is in the second position. At this time, the sealing part 32 isolates the air inlet 33 from the cooking cavity 11, and the cooking appliance is in a pressurized mode. When the vent pipe 3 moves downward and causes the sealing part 32 to disengage from the lower surface of the pressure-bearing inner cover 22, the vent pipe 3 is in the first position. At this time, the air inlet 33 is located inside the cooking cavity 11, connecting the cooking cavity 11 with the outside atmosphere, and the cooking appliance is in a depressurized mode.

[0061] Of course, the vent pipe 3 can also be moved upward to switch to the first position, so that the air inlet 33 is connected to the cooking cavity 11, or moved downward to switch to the second position, so that the air inlet 33 is isolated from the cooking cavity 11. This is not limited here.

[0062] In other embodiments, the sealing part can also be set at the edge of the mounting port 224. When the vent pipe 3 moves downward to below the sealing part, it communicates with the cooking cavity 11. When the vent pipe 3 floats up to the inside of the sealing part, it is isolated from the cooking cavity 11.

[0063] As a preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figure 7 As shown, the air inlet 33 is located on the side wall of the ventilation pipe 3. The ventilation pipe 3 is also provided with a guide slope 36. The projection of the guide slope 36 toward the air inlet 33 covers the air inlet 33, and the lower edge of the guide slope 36 extends to the air inlet 33.

[0064] When the vent pipe 3 is in the first position, the air inlet 33 is connected to the cooking chamber 11, and an upward-extending exhaust channel 31 is formed inside the vent pipe 3. Gas in the cooking chamber 11 enters the vent pipe 3 laterally from the air inlet 33 and flows upward along the exhaust channel 31 under the guidance of the guide slope 36. Ultimately, the gas inside the vent pipe 3 is discharged from the vent pipe 3 in an upward flow direction. The guide slope 36 can guide the gas entering from the air inlet 33, making the gas flow from horizontal to vertical upward more smoothly, thereby improving the gas discharge efficiency and reducing the noise generated by the airflow colliding with the inner wall of the vent pipe 3. In addition, condensate and residual liquid inside the vent pipe 3 can flow to the air inlet 33 under the guidance of the guide slope 36, and then flow back into the cooking chamber 11 from the air inlet 33, thereby ensuring the cleanliness of the vent pipe 3, reducing the probability of blockage, and ensuring reliable exhaust.

[0065] Specifically, such as Figure 7 As shown, the air inlet 33 is located on one side of the ventilation pipe 3, the lower end of the guide slope 36 forms the lower edge of the air inlet 33, and the upper end of the guide slope 36 extends to the other side opposite to the air inlet 33.

[0066] Furthermore, such as Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown, the vent pipe 3 has an exhaust channel 31 extending vertically inside, and an exhaust port 34 facing upward is opened at the top of the vent pipe 3.

[0067] The inner wall of the exhaust channel 31 is vertical, making it difficult for dirt to accumulate. Furthermore, the exhaust port 34 is located on the top wall of the vent pipe 3, and the exhaust channel 31 also extends vertically. This allows the user to flush the exhaust channel 31 from top to bottom when it or the exhaust port 34 is blocked, effectively cleaning the interior and improving ease of cleaning. The water flows sequentially through the exhaust channel 31 and the air inlet 33 to the bottom of the lid 2, without accumulating inside the vent pipe 3.

[0068] Preferably, such as Figure 7 As shown, the lower end of the vent pipe 3 is the mounting end 37, and the sealing part 32 is installed on the mounting end 37. The width of the mounting end 37 is A, where 9mm < A < 15mm, to ensure that after the sealing part 32 is installed, it can reliably abut against the pressure-bearing inner cover 22 to form a seal on the air inlet 33. If the width of the mounting end 37 is too small, it will reduce the air output of the exhaust channel 31 in the pressureless mode, resulting in the gas in the cooking cavity 11 not being discharged in time, which can easily accumulate in the cooking cavity 11 and cause the pressure to rise. If the width of the mounting end 37 is too large, in the pressurized mode, when the pressure in the cooking cavity 11 rises, the contact force between the sealing part 32 and the pressure-bearing inner cover 22 will be too great, causing the sealing part 32 to be unable to withstand the pressure and become damaged.

[0069] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 As shown, the pressure-bearing inner cover 22 is also provided with an exhaust pipe 221. The exhaust pipe 221 has an air outlet channel inside. The upper end of the exhaust pipe 221 is provided with a counterweight for blocking the air outlet channel. The flow diameter of the exhaust channel 31 is larger than the flow diameter of the air outlet channel.

[0070] When the vent pipe 3 is in the first position, the air inlet 33 of the vent pipe 3 connects the cooking chamber 11 to the outside atmosphere. Cooking in this state allows the gas inside the pot to be promptly discharged, ensuring a normal pressure environment inside the pot. The flow diameter of the exhaust channel 31 allows most of the gas inside the cooking chamber 11 to be discharged through the vent pipe 3. This ensures that even if the exhaust pipe 221 is blocked by a heavy hammer, the gas inside the pot can still be discharged promptly through the vent pipe 3. This makes the vent pipe 3 and the exhaust pipe 221 relatively independent, each using a separate channel for exhaust, thus avoiding the problem of difficult pipe inner diameter design caused by simultaneously needing to consider both functions. It also avoids the problem of poor compatibility caused by sharing a single channel and having to consider both working pressure (requiring a smaller exhaust pipe diameter) and sufficient gas output (requiring a larger exhaust pipe diameter) in a balanced design.

[0071] In addition, the use of the vent pipe 3 allows the gas in the cooking chamber 11 to be discharged in a timely manner. Therefore, in the pressureless mode, the counterweight does not need to be operated to block the exhaust pipe 221, thereby reducing the difficulty of operation when the cooking appliance switches modes. When the cooking appliance switches between pressureless and pressurized modes, as few parts as possible move or switch positions, thereby improving reliability and reducing the difficulty of operation.

[0072] Preferably, such as Figure 7 As shown, the inner diameter of the exhaust channel 31 is B, where B > 7 mm, so that the cooking cavity 11 can boil normally in the pressureless mode and the gas can be discharged in time to avoid the pressure inside the pot from rising.

[0073] As a preferred embodiment of this application, as shown in Figure 2, Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the drive unit 4 includes a transmission member 42, and a drive unit 41 is disposed on the transmission member 42. The transmission member 42 is movable to drive the vent pipe 3. However, this embodiment does not limit the movement mode of the transmission member 42, and includes, but is not limited to, the situations listed in the following embodiments:

[0074] Example 1: In this example, as Figure 10 , Figure 12 As shown, the transmission component 42 is provided with a connecting part 422 that is rotatably connected to the cover 21. The driving part 41 is located on one side of the connecting part 422. The driving part 41 can swing up and down around the connecting part 422 to drive the vent pipe 3 to move up and down.

[0075] The connecting part 422 in the middle section of the transmission component 42 is rotatably connected to the pot lid 2 so that the transmission component 42 constitutes a lever mechanism. The driving part 41 is located at one end and the other end is used to sense the triggering force. When one end of the transmission component 42 is raised, the other end is lowered, thereby forming a downward pressing force on the vent pipe 3, causing it to move downward. When one end of the transmission component 42 is lowered, the other end is raised, thereby forming an upward lifting force on the vent pipe 3, causing it to move upward.

[0076] Example 2: In this example, the transmission member 42 can move horizontally and move towards or away from the ventilator 33. The drive unit 41 has an inclined surface for engaging with the trigger part 35 of the ventilator 3. When the transmission member 42 moves towards the ventilator 3, the inclined surface contacts the trigger part 35 and decomposes the horizontal thrust into vertical components, causing the drive unit 41 to drive the ventilator 3 to move up and down. When the transmission member 42 moves away from the ventilator 3, the inclined surface gradually loses its pushing force on the trigger part 35, and the ventilator 3 can fall under gravity. Alternatively, another inclined surface can be provided in the drive unit 41 to engage with the ventilator 3 and drive it to move up and down.

[0077] Of course, the transmission component 42 can also drive the ventilator 3 through other means of movement, such as rotation in the horizontal plane, etc., which is not limited here. Alternatively, the transmission component 42 can also be an electromagnet, which can directly push the ventilator 3 to drive its movement.

[0078] This application does not limit the structure of the driving part 41 and the triggering part 35, and includes, but is not limited to, the cases listed in the following embodiments:

[0079] Implementation Method 1: In this implementation method, as follows Figures 7 to 13 As shown, the triggering part 35 includes a transmission protrusion 351 disposed on the outer wall of the ventilator 3, and the driving part 41 includes a first driving section 411 located above the transmission protrusion 351 and a second driving section 412 located below the transmission protrusion 351. The first driving section 411 is used to press the transmission protrusion 351 downward to make the ventilator 3 move downward, and the second driving section 412 is used to lift the transmission protrusion 351 upward to make the ventilator 3 move upward.

[0080] The transmission protrusion 351 protrudes from the outer wall of the vent pipe 3. The first driving section 411 of the driving part 41 is located above the transmission protrusion 351, and the second driving section 412 is located below the transmission protrusion 351. When the vent pipe 3 is driven downward, the first driving section 411 contacts the upper surface of the transmission protrusion 351 and exerts downward pressure on it, thereby pressing the vent pipe 3 downward. When the vent pipe 3 is driven in the opposite direction, the second driving section 412 contacts the lower surface of the transmission protrusion 351 and exerts an upward lifting force on it, thereby driving the vent pipe 3 upward.

[0081] Specifically, such as Figure 9 , Figure 10 , Figure 12 As shown, the transmission component 42 is a lever structure, and the driving part 41 is located at one end of the transmission component 42 so that it can swing up and down. The first driving section 411 and the second driving section 412 are both arc-shaped structures facing the transmission protrusion 351, so as to ensure stable contact with the transmission protrusion 351 when the driving part 41 swings, and reduce the frictional resistance between the two, making the movement smoother.

[0082] In another embodiment, the transmission member 42 is a horizontally movable structure. Both the first drive section 411 and the second drive section 412 have inclined transmission surfaces facing the transmission protrusion 351. When the transmission member 42 moves toward the vent pipe 3, the inclined transmission surface of the first drive section 411 decomposes the horizontal thrust into a downward component, thereby pressing the transmission protrusion 351 downward. When the transmission member 42 moves in the opposite direction, the inclined transmission surface of the second drive section 412 contacts the transmission protrusion 351 and decomposes the horizontal thrust into an upward lifting force, driving the vent pipe 3 upward.

[0083] Specifically, such as Figure 8As shown, the transmission protrusion 351 is a rib that is disposed on the side wall of the vent pipe 3 and extends circumferentially. Preferably, as shown... Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, the pressure-bearing inner cover 22 is provided with a fixing seat 7 at the mounting port 224. The fixing seat 7 has an installation channel inside, and the vent pipe 3 is located in the installation channel. A sealing ring 71 is provided between the transmission protrusion 351 and the fixing seat 7 to seal the gap between the installation channel and the vent pipe 3, so that the gas in the pot can only be discharged from the inside of the vent pipe 3.

[0084] Implementation Method Two: In this implementation method, as follows Figure 15 As shown, the triggering part 35 includes a trigger groove 352 disposed on the outer side wall of the ventilator 3, and the driving part 41 includes a driving protrusion 413 extending into the trigger groove 352. The driving protrusion 413 can abut against the bottom wall of the trigger groove 352 to press the ventilator 3 to move downward, and abut against the top wall of the trigger groove 352 to push the ventilator 3 to move upward.

[0085] The drive protrusion 413 extends into the trigger groove 352, allowing the trigger groove 352 to limit the movement of the drive protrusion 413, thus enabling effective actuation of the ventilator 3. Specifically, the drive protrusion 413 contacts the top wall of the trigger groove 352 and exerts an upward thrust on it, pushing the ventilator 3 upward. The drive protrusion 413 contacts the bottom wall of the trigger groove 352 and exerts a downward pressure on it, thereby driving the ventilator 3 downward.

[0086] In this embodiment, the movement mode of the transmission component 42 is not limited, and it can drive the ventilator 3 by rotation, movement or other means.

[0087] Preferably, such as Figure 9 , Figure 15 As shown, in Embodiment 1, the first driving section 411 and the second driving section 412, as well as in Embodiment 2, the driving protrusions 413 are both two in number and symmetrically arranged on both sides of the vent pipe 3, forming a space to accommodate the vent pipe 3. The trigger grooves 352 are correspondingly arranged on both sides of the vent pipe 3. This ensures that the driving force of the driving part 41 on both sides of the vent pipe 3 is uniform and stable, preventing the vent pipe 3 from tilting.

[0088] It should be noted that in the above-described implementation methods one and two, as follows: Figure 11 , Figure 13 As shown, a clearance is reserved between the transmission protrusion 351 and the first drive section 411 and the second drive section 412, and between the drive protrusion 413 and the top and bottom walls of the trigger groove 352, so as to leave floating space for the inner cover 22 to float and drive the vent pipe 3 to float after the pressure inside the pot is increased, and to avoid the vent pipe 3 exerting a reverse force on the drive part 41.

[0089] Specifically, taking the above-described implementation method one as an example, such as... Figure 11 , Figure 13 As shown, when the first drive section 411 contacts the upper surface of the transmission protrusion 351, the gap between the transmission protrusion 351 and the second drive section 412 is C, where C > 4 mm. When the second drive section 412 contacts the lower surface of the transmission protrusion 351, the gap between the transmission protrusion 351 and the first drive section 411 is D, where D > 4 mm. After the cooking cavity 11 is pressed up, the pressure-bearing inner cover 22 will slowly float up under pressure. The vent pipe 3, which is fixed on the pressure-bearing inner cover 22, will float up along with it. Dimensions C and D are to compensate for the upward movement of the vent pipe 3 and prevent it from interfering with the drive section 41 during its upward movement.

[0090] Similarly, in the second embodiment described above, after the driving protrusion 413 contacts one of the top wall and the bottom wall of the trigger groove 352, the gap between it and the other is not less than 4mm.

[0091] It should be noted that this application does not limit the driving method of the drive unit 41. It can be manually operated by the user. For example, an operating handle can be set on the pot lid 2 so that the drive unit 41 is linked with the operating handle. The user can drive the drive unit 41 by operating the operating handle (including but not limited to pressing, lifting, rotating, etc.), thereby driving the vent pipe 3.

[0092] In a preferred embodiment, the drive unit 4 includes a drive member 43 and a transmission member 42. The drive member 43 is electrically connected to the control unit of the cooking appliance. The drive member 43 is provided with a power output part. The drive part 41 is provided on the transmission member 42. The transmission member 42 is also provided with a mating part. The drive member 43 drives the transmission member 42 to move by electrically controlling the power output part and the mating part to cooperate, so that the drive part 41 drives the vent pipe 3 to move up and down.

[0093] In this embodiment, the drive unit 43 drives the transmission unit 42 via electrical control, thereby associating it with the cooking program of the cooking appliance. When the cooking appliance reaches a preset cooking stage, it automatically switches the position of the vent pipe 3, thus switching the cooking mode of the cooking appliance. Alternatively, the user can simply press a button to automatically control the movement of the drive unit 41 with the motor, eliminating the need for complex operations, reducing the difficulty of operation for the user, and improving the user experience.

[0094] It should be noted that this embodiment does not limit the cooperation method between the power output part and the mating part. In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 10 , Figure 12As shown, the power output section includes a first meshing tooth 431 disposed on the drive member 43, and the mating section includes a second meshing tooth 421 disposed on one end of the transmission member 42. The middle section of the transmission member 42 is rotatably connected to the pot lid 2 to form a lever structure. As the drive member 43 rotates, the first meshing tooth 431 and the second meshing tooth 421 engage to drive one end of the transmission member 42 to rotate, thereby causing the drive part 41 at the other end to rise or fall accordingly, so as to drive the vent pipe 3.

[0095] In other embodiments, the power output unit and the mating unit can also be driven by other mechanisms, such as a gear and rack mechanism, a worm gear mechanism, an electromagnet drive, etc. Furthermore, the movement of the transmission component 42 is not limited to lever oscillation; it can also be horizontal movement or other types of movement, which are not limited here.

[0096] As a preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figure 4 , Figure 14 As shown, the drive unit 4 includes a transmission member 42, which is movable relative to the lid 21 to have a third position in which the vent pipe 3 is driven to move upward and to a fourth position in which the vent pipe 3 is driven to move downward. The lid 2 is also provided with a first detection member 5 and a second detection member 6. In the third position, the transmission member 42 triggers the first detection member 5, and in the fourth position, the transmission member 42 triggers the second detection member 6.

[0097] The transmission component 42 triggers the vent pipe 3 through movement, ensuring that the transmission component 42 moves to a specific position when the vent pipe 3 is in the first and second positions. Therefore, the positioning of the vent pipe 3 can be detected by position detection of the transmission component 42. Specifically, when the transmission component 42 moves to the third position, it drives the vent pipe 3 to the second position. At this time, the transmission component 42 triggers the first detection component 5, and the cooking appliance receives a signal that the vent pipe 3 has reached its position and the device is in pressurized mode, allowing the user to perform pressure cooking. When the transmission component 42 moves to the fourth position, it drives the vent pipe 3 to the first position. At this time, the transmission component 42 triggers the second detection component 6, and the cooking appliance receives a signal that the vent pipe 3 has reached its position and the device is in depressurized mode, allowing the user to perform atmospheric pressure cooking. However, for safety reasons, the cooking system restricts the user from performing pressure cooking operations.

[0098] This embodiment does not limit the type of the first detection element 5 and the second detection element 6. They can be structures that achieve triggering through contact, such as microswitches, or structures that achieve triggering through non-contact, such as Hall elements. Alternatively, the first detection element 5 and the second detection element 6 can be of different types.

[0099] Furthermore, the drive unit 4 also includes a drive motor, which has an operating state and a paused state. The first detection element 5 and the second detection element 6 are both electrically connected to the drive motor. When the drive motor drives the transmission element 42 to move to the third position and the fourth position, the first detection element 5 or the second detection element 6 controls the drive motor to switch to the paused state so as to maintain the transmission element 42 at the current position.

[0100] Specifically, taking the example where both the first detection element 5 and the second detection element 6 are microswitches, when the transmission element 42 moves to the third position, it contacts the sensing plate of the first detection element 5, triggering it. The first detection element 5 then transmits a signal to the control unit, causing the drive motor to stop running, thus maintaining the transmission element 42 and the vent pipe 3 in their current positions. When the transmission element 42 moves to the fourth position, it contacts the sensing plate of the second detection element 6, triggering it. The second detection element 6 then transmits a signal to the control unit, causing the drive motor to stop running, thus maintaining the transmission element 42 and the vent pipe 3 in their current positions.

[0101] For example, when both the first detection element 5 and the second detection element 6 are Hall elements, the transmission element 42 is correspondingly equipped with a magnetic element. When the transmission element 42 moves to the third position, the magnetic element enters the sensing range of the first detection element 5, triggering the first detection element 5 under the action of the magnetic field. The first detection element 5 then transmits a signal to the control unit, causing the drive motor to stop running. When the transmission element 42 moves to the fourth position, the magnetic element enters the sensing range of the second detection element 6, triggering the second detection element 6 under the action of the magnetic field. The second detection element 6 then transmits a signal to the control unit, causing the drive motor to stop running.

[0102] Preferably, the drive motor can be a rotary motor, stepper motor, or other type that can pause and remain in the current position.

[0103] As a preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the pressure-bearing inner cover 22 is also equipped with an exhaust pipe 221 and a float valve 222, and the cover body 21 is equipped with an exhaust chamber 223. The vent pipe 3, float valve 222, and exhaust pipe 221 are staggered and all communicate with the exhaust chamber 223, thereby making the exhaust area of ​​the pot lid 2 more concentrated. Preferably, the pot lid 2 is also equipped with an exhaust cover, which covers the exhaust chamber 223 from the upper surface of the cover body 21 to serve a decorative purpose and improve the appearance quality of the pot lid 2.

[0104] Preferably, such as Figure 1 As shown, the bottom wall of the exhaust chamber 223 is provided with a mating interface that connects with the vent pipe 3. A sealing element is provided at the mating interface. The sealing element has a through port. The upper end of the vent pipe 3 is inserted and fixed to the through port. The sealing element also has a pleated layer on the outer periphery of the through port.

[0105] The upper end of the vent pipe 3 is inserted and fixed to the port of the sealing element, achieving a sealed connection between the inside of the vent pipe 3 and the interface. The gas inside the vent pipe 3 enters the exhaust chamber 223 through the interface and will not escape inside the pot lid 2. At the same time, since the vent pipe 3 can move downwards, the sealing element is provided with a pleated layer, which can stack or unfold with the movement of the vent pipe 3. Thus, when the vent pipe 3 moves, the pleated layer moves accordingly, thereby ensuring the connection stability and sealing stability between the vent pipe 3 and the sealing element.

[0106] Preferably, such as Figure 7 As shown, the lower end of the vent pipe 3 is the mounting end 37, and the sealing part 32 is fixed to the mounting end 37. The mounting end 37 is provided with a snap-fit ​​groove, and the sealing part 32 is provided with a snap-fit ​​protrusion to cooperate with the snap-fit ​​groove for fixation. The sealing part 32 has a sealing lip 321 extending upward. When the vent pipe 3 moves to the second position, the sealing lip 321 abuts against the pressure-bearing inner cover 22 to achieve a seal.

[0107] Furthermore, the sealing part 32 wraps around the end of the mounting end 37 to improve the connection stability between the sealing part 32 and the vent pipe 3 and reduce the probability of the sealing part 32 falling off.

[0108] For any parts not mentioned in this application, existing technologies may be used or referenced.

[0109] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments.

[0110] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance comprising a pot body having a cooking cavity and a lid for covering the cooking cavity, characterized in that, The pot lid includes a lid body and a pressure-bearing inner lid; the pressure-bearing inner lid is provided with an installation port, and the cooking appliance also includes a pressure conversion component disposed on the pot lid. The pressure conversion component includes a drive unit and a vent pipe passing through the installation port. The lower end of the vent pipe is provided with a sealing part, and the vent pipe has an air inlet above the sealing part. The vent pipe can float up and down within the installation port to have a first position in which the air inlet communicates with the cooking cavity, and a second position in which the sealing part seals and isolates the air inlet from the cooking cavity. The outer wall of the ventilation tube is provided with a protruding trigger part, and the driving unit has a driving part. The driving part can press the trigger part to drive the ventilation tube to move to the first position, and lift the trigger part to drive the ventilation tube to move to the second position.

2. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet is located on the side wall of the vent pipe. The vent pipe also has a guide slope inside. The projection of the guide slope toward the air inlet covers the air inlet, and the lower edge of the guide slope extends to the air inlet.

3. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vent pipe has an exhaust channel extending vertically inside, and an exhaust port facing upward is opened at the top of the vent pipe.

4. The cooking utensil according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pressure-bearing inner cover is also provided with an exhaust pipe, which has an air outlet channel inside. A counterweight for blocking the air outlet channel is provided at the upper end of the exhaust pipe. The flow diameter of the exhaust channel is larger than the flow diameter of the air outlet channel.

5. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive unit includes a transmission component, which is provided with a connecting part that is rotatably connected to the cover. The drive part is located on one side of the connecting part and can swing up and down around the connecting part to drive the vent pipe to move up and down.

6. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The triggering part includes a transmission protrusion disposed on the outer wall of the ventilator, and the driving part includes a first driving section located above the transmission protrusion and a second driving section located below the transmission protrusion. The first driving section is used to press the transmission protrusion downward to make the ventilator move downward, and the second driving section is used to lift the transmission protrusion upward to make the ventilator move upward.

7. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The triggering part includes a trigger groove disposed on the outer side wall of the ventilator, and the driving part includes a driving protrusion extending into the trigger groove. The driving protrusion can abut against the bottom wall of the trigger groove to press the ventilator downward and abut against the top wall of the trigger groove to push the ventilator upward.

8. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive unit includes a drive component and a transmission component. The drive component is electrically connected to the control unit of the cooking appliance. The drive component is provided with a power output part. The drive part is disposed on the transmission component. The transmission component is also provided with a mating part. The drive component drives the transmission component to move by electrically controlling the power output part and the mating part to cooperate, so that the drive part drives the vent pipe to move up and down.

9. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driving unit includes a transmission component that is movable relative to the lid to have a third position in which the vent pipe is driven upward and a fourth position in which the vent pipe is driven downward. The lid is also provided with a first detection component and a second detection component. In the third position, the transmission component triggers the first detection component, and in the fourth position, the transmission component triggers the second detection component.

10. The cooking utensil according to claim 9, characterized in that, The drive unit further includes a drive motor, which has an operating state and a paused state. The first detection element and the second detection element are both electrically connected to the drive motor. When the drive motor drives the transmission element to move to the third position and the fourth position, the first detection element or the second detection element controls the drive motor to switch to the paused state so as to maintain the transmission element at the current position.

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