Spill-proof cooking utensil

Abstract

The anti-overflow cooking utensil comprises a pot body with a cooking cavity and a pot cover used for opening or covering the cooking cavity, the pot cover is provided with a steam valve assembly and a cold air inlet communicated with the outside, the steam valve assembly is provided with a mixing cavity, the mixing cavity is provided with a steam exhaust port communicated with the outside, and the steam valve assembly comprises a steam exhaust pipe communicated with the cooking cavity. The steam exhaust pipe is provided with a contraction section with the inner diameter contracted, cold air introduced by the cold air inlet is guided into the contraction section, and the steam outlet end of the steam exhaust pipe is located in the mixing cavity, so that steam introduced by the steam exhaust pipe and the cold air introduced by the cold air inlet are mixed in the steam exhaust pipe and then discharged into the mixing cavity through the steam outlet end. External cold air can be introduced into the steam exhaust channel through the cold air inlet by means of low pressure formed when fluid flows through the contraction section, so that the condensation bubble breaking effect is achieved, and the probability that bubbles are continuously exhausted from the steam exhaust port is greatly reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of kitchen utensil technology, specifically relating to an anti-overflow cooking utensil. Background Technology

[0002] When a rice cooker is cooking, heat is generated inside the cooking cavity, and the resulting steam is released through the steam valve on the lid. When cooking rice porridge or similar dishes, a lot of bubbles are produced. If the heat is too high or continuous high is used, these bubbles, mixed with rice water, will overflow from the steam valve. This not only makes cleaning difficult but also, if the steam valve isn't cleaned promptly, the rice water at the steam valve will solidify, making cleaning even more difficult and potentially causing blockages and preventing steam from escaping. Using low heat and reducing the heating power will result in longer cooking times, negatively impacting the user experience.

[0003] Existing technology discloses a rice cooker including a pot body and a lid. The lid covers the pot body to define a cooking cavity. The lid has a steam channel and a negative pressure generator is provided on the lid. The negative pressure generator is used to generate a defoaming area in at least one of the cooking cavity and the steam channel. The lid also has a driver for driving the negative pressure generator to rotate. This rice cooker uses a negative pressure generator to generate local negative pressure in at least one of the cooking cavity and the steam channel to promote foam breakdown and reduce foam overflow. However, this rice cooker requires a complex negative pressure generator and driver, which is not only costly but also occupies a large space, hindering the miniaturization of the rice cooker. In addition, the driver is located on the lid. To ensure the normal operation and service life of the driver, the lid needs to have more complex sealing measures to ensure that the driver's operating environment is not affected by high-temperature steam. At the same time, the position of the driver also needs to be rationally configured to prevent oil generated during its operation from dripping into the cooking cavity.

[0004] The prior art also discloses a jet-type bubble breaker for use in cooking appliances, including a housing and a steam inlet, a steam outlet, and a cold air inlet channel connected to the housing. The housing has an intermediate storage chamber, which is connected to the external space through the cold air inlet channel. The steam outlet of the steam inlet and the steam inlet of the steam outlet are both connected to the intermediate storage chamber. The cross-sectional dimension of the steam inlet channel of the steam inlet gradually decreases along the steam flow direction to form a jet stream in the steam inlet channel. The steam inlet of the steam outlet channel in the steam outlet is close to the steam outlet of the steam inlet channel to receive at least a portion of the jet stream ejected from the steam inlet channel. A negative pressure gap is maintained between the outlet of the steam inlet and the inlet of the steam outlet. This negative pressure gap is used to automatically introduce the cold air that has entered the intermediate storage chamber through the near-cold air inlet channel into the steam outlet channel by means of the relatively low pressure formed by the jet stream to assist in bubble breaking. Although this jet-type bubble breaker can achieve a certain degree of bubble breaking, its steam inlet and steam outlet are arranged coaxially, and the axial dimension of the steam outlet is relatively short. This causes the high-speed jet from the steam inlet to be ejected directly from the steam outlet before it can break bubbles, resulting in overflow. If the axial dimension of the steam outlet is lengthened to solve this problem, the internal pressure of the steam outlet will be greater than the pressure at the negative pressure gap due to the size of the steam outlet and the steam inside. This causes more of the cold air introduced from the cold air inlet channel to escape from the local low-pressure position at the steam outlet of the steam inlet and the intermediate storage cavity, thereby reducing its auxiliary bubble breaking performance and significantly reducing the overflow prevention effect. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides an anti-overflow cooking appliance to solve the technical problem that existing cooking appliances have poor anti-overflow performance, and that bubbles carrying soup overflow from the steam valve vent, causing vent blockage and increased cleaning difficulty.

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

[0007] An anti-overflow cooking appliance includes a pot body with a cooking cavity and a lid for opening or closing the cooking cavity. The lid is provided with a steam valve assembly and a cold air inlet communicating with the outside. The steam valve assembly has a mixing chamber and a steam vent communicating with the outside. The steam valve assembly includes a steam vent pipe communicating with the cooking cavity. The steam vent pipe has a constriction section with a narrowed inner diameter. Cold air introduced by the cold air inlet is directed to the constriction section. The steam outlet of the steam vent pipe is located inside the mixing chamber, so that the steam introduced by the steam vent pipe and the cold air introduced by the cold air inlet are mixed in the steam vent pipe and then discharged into the mixing chamber through the steam outlet.

[0008] The spill-proof cooking appliance described in this application includes the following additional technical features:

[0009] The steam valve assembly further includes a cold air inlet pipe, the exhaust pipe having an inlet steam passage communicating with the cooking chamber and an exhaust steam passage communicating with the inlet steam passage and the mixing chamber, the cold air inlet pipe having a turbulence section extending into the exhaust steam passage, the turbulence section having a turbulence portion facing the steam inlet end of the exhaust steam passage.

[0010] The turbulence section also has an outlet notch facing the steam outlet end of the exhaust passage.

[0011] The distance between the bottom wall of the turbulence section and the bottom wall of the exhaust passage is less than or equal to 1 / 2 of the inner diameter of the exhaust passage, so as to form the contraction section between the bottom wall of the turbulence section and the bottom wall of the exhaust passage.

[0012] The exhaust pipe is provided with a connecting port, which is connected to the upstream side, midstream side or downstream side of the contraction section.

[0013] The exhaust pipe has an inlet steam channel communicating with the cooking chamber and an exhaust steam channel communicating with the inlet steam channel and the mixing chamber. The constriction section is located in the exhaust steam channel along the steam flow direction. The exhaust steam channel also has a cluster section located upstream of the constriction section. The inner diameter of the cluster section is larger than the inner diameter of the constriction section, and the inner diameter of the cluster section is smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet steam channel.

[0014] The exhaust pipe has an inlet steam channel communicating with the cooking chamber and an exhaust steam channel communicating with the inlet steam channel and the mixing chamber. The constriction section is located in the exhaust steam channel along the steam flow direction. The exhaust steam channel also has an expansion section located downstream of the constriction section. The inner diameter of the expansion section is larger than the inner diameter of the constriction section. The gas-liquid mixture is injected into the mixing chamber through the expansion section.

[0015] The exhaust pipe has an inlet channel communicating with the cooking chamber, an exhaust channel communicating with the inlet channel and the mixing chamber, and a bend communicating with the inlet channel and the exhaust channel.

[0016] The horizontal projection of the steam outlet end of the exhaust pipe is offset from the horizontal projection of the exhaust port.

[0017] The steam valve assembly also includes a cold air inlet pipe, the inlet end of which extends to the outside of the mixing chamber, and the projection of the inlet end of the cold air inlet pipe on the horizontal plane is offset from the projection of the exhaust end of the exhaust port on the horizontal plane.

[0018] Alternatively, the pot lid is provided with an extension pipe that communicates with the cold air inlet and extends to the outside of the pot lid, and the projection of the air inlet end of the extension pipe on the horizontal plane is staggered with the projection of the exhaust end of the exhaust port on the horizontal plane.

[0019] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects achieved by this application are as follows:

[0020] 1. The exhaust pipe of this application has a contraction section with a narrowing inner diameter within its exhaust channel. This allows steam to accelerate as it flows through the contraction section before reaching the cooking chamber, resulting in a pressure drop. This pressure and flow rate change causes a sudden change in the surface tension of the bubbles, leading to bubble breakage or the reduction of large bubbles into smaller ones. Furthermore, cold air introduced from the cold air inlet is introduced into the contraction section. According to the Venturi principle, the cold air from the outside is introduced into this low-pressure area, further impacting the bubbles. This not only defoams the bubbles but also cools them, causing them to condense into liquid, further enhancing the defoaming effect. Even during high-power cooking, there will be no continuous bubble overflow from the exhaust port of the steam valve assembly, significantly improving the anti-overflow effect of the cooking appliance.

[0021] In this application, the steam outlet of the exhaust channel is connected to the mixing chamber. When the fluid flowing from the exhaust channel enters the mixing chamber, it undergoes a pressure release process. This pressure change helps to break bubbles, further eliminating any unbroken bubbles. After the foam breaks, it is buffered within the mixing chamber by its own weight, preventing blockage of the exhaust port. Furthermore, the pressure change between the exhaust channel and the mixing chamber causes foam to break at the connection point, reducing the resistance of the exhaust channel and allowing steam and foam to be discharged more smoothly, thus improving exhaust efficiency.

[0022] Furthermore, if the foam cannot be broken in time during the steam discharge process, the presence of the foam will generate local disturbances and resistance in the steam flow. These disturbances and resistances can easily lead to turbulence in the steam flow process, thereby increasing noise. This application can break the foam before the steam flows into the mixing chamber by cooperating with the contraction section and the cold air inlet pipe. After the foam breaks, these local disturbances and resistances are reduced, the steam flow is smoother, and the fluid interface becomes more continuous, thereby reducing the generation of turbulence and significantly reducing the exhaust noise.

[0023] Furthermore, the inclusion of a contraction section on the exhaust pipe in this application, along with the placement of the exhaust pipe's outlet within the mixing chamber, allows for multiple mixing processes between the steam and the low-temperature gas. Specifically, as the steam passes through the contraction section, the steam introduced through the exhaust pipe mixes with the cold gas introduced through the cold gas inlet within the exhaust pipe, resulting in a slight reduction in the temperature of the high-temperature steam. After this first mixing, the steam exits through the outlet into the mixing chamber. Because the mixing chamber has a larger space than the exhaust pipe, a second, more thorough mixing occurs, further reducing the temperature of the high-temperature steam. Consequently, some of the high-temperature steam can liquefy to form condensate, reducing the water content in the steam and ultimately minimizing the discharge of high-temperature steam from the exhaust port. The presence of the mixing chamber also provides space for condensate collection.

[0024] 2. In a preferred embodiment of this application, the steam valve assembly further includes a cold air inlet pipe connected to the exhaust pipe, allowing external cold air to directly reach the exhaust pipe via the cold air inlet pipe. This improves the utilization rate of the cold air, reduces the impact of the mixed gas in the mixing chamber on the cold air, and enhances the mixing efficiency of the cold air and steam at the contraction section. The cold air inlet pipe has a turbulence section extending into the exhaust channel. The turbulence section has a turbulence portion facing the steam inlet end of the exhaust channel. The turbulence section can disturb the fluid flowing from the steam inlet end of the steam inlet channel to the contraction section, thereby increasing the contact time and contact area between the cold air and the fluid in the contraction section, further improving the defoaming effect, reducing the accumulation of foam in the exhaust channel, and thus facilitating the smooth discharge of steam and improving the exhaust efficiency.

[0025] Moreover, the turbulence section extends into the exhaust channel, which can further reduce the cross-sectional area of ​​the exhaust channel at that location, thereby causing a change in the fluid velocity at that location in the exhaust channel, which in turn causes a change in pressure. Combined with the setting of the contraction section, the pressure changes in the exhaust channel are diversified, which greatly improves the defoaming efficiency.

[0026] Furthermore, the turbulence section also has an exhaust vent facing the exhaust channel. The exhaust vent can break the laminar flow of the cold air, causing the cold air to generate turbulence at that location, increasing the contact area and contact time between the cold air and the fluid, and further improving the defoaming effect.

[0027] 3. In a preferred embodiment of this application, along the steam flow direction, the exhaust channel further includes a clustering section located upstream of the contraction section with an inner diameter larger than that of the contraction section but smaller than that of the inlet channel. The clustering section allows the fluid to undergo a gradual pressure reduction process before entering the contraction section, avoiding pressure pulsation noise and vibration caused by sudden pressure changes. Furthermore, the larger inner diameter of the clustering section compared to the contraction section helps reduce foam accumulation before entering the contraction section, further increasing the fluid velocity as it flows through the contraction section. This contributes to the pressure drop at the contraction section, thereby improving the smoothness of the entry of external cold air into the contraction section through the cold air inlet pipe, resulting in better foam breaking performance.

[0028] 4. In a preferred embodiment of this application, along the steam flow direction, the exhaust channel further includes an expansion section located downstream of the contraction section with an inner diameter larger than that of the contraction section. The design of the expansion section allows the fluid in the exhaust channel to undergo another pressure release process as it flows from the contraction section to the expansion section; this pressure change helps to break bubbles. Furthermore, the larger inner diameter of the expansion section provides more space for the gas-liquid mixture, thereby facilitating the separation of steam and liquid and improving exhaust efficiency.

[0029] 5. In a preferred embodiment of this application, the exhaust pipe has an inlet channel and an outlet channel, with a bend between them. During cooking, steam in the cooking chamber enters the exhaust pipe through the inlet channel. Before entering the outlet channel, the steam flows through the bend. The bend obstructs and redirects the steam, breaking bubbles and increasing fluid dynamics, thus aiding in steam liquefaction and condensation. Especially when cooking rice porridge or similar foods, the boiling in the cooking chamber pushes some rice grains or small food particles upwards into the inlet channel. The bend obstructs and impacts these solid particles, causing them to fall back into the cooking chamber through the inlet, significantly reducing the probability of the exhaust pipe becoming blocked and ensuring smooth steam discharge.

[0030] 6. In a preferred embodiment of this application, the axis of the steam outlet of the exhaust channel is arranged at an angle to the axis of the exhaust port. This angle extends the flow path of the fluid from the steam outlet of the exhaust channel to the exhaust port, thereby increasing the friction loss of the fluid, which helps to break bubbles and reduce noise. Furthermore, the angle ensures that the steam outlet of the exhaust channel and the exhaust port are at least partially misaligned, preventing the fluid from directly ejecting from the exhaust port.

[0031] 7. In a preferred embodiment of this application, the inlet end of the cold air inlet pipe extends to the outside of the buffer member, and the inlet end of the cold air inlet pipe is staggered with the exhaust end of the exhaust port, thereby reducing the probability of hot steam discharged from the exhaust port being introduced from the cold air inlet pipe, so that the air temperature introduced from the cold air inlet pipe into the contraction section is lower, thus improving the bubble breaking effect. Attached Figure Description

[0032] 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:

[0033] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the structure of a cooking utensil according to one embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the pot lid portion structure according to one embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a specific example of an exhaust pipe according to an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust pipe in Embodiment 2 of this application in Example 1;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust pipe in Embodiment 2 of this application;

[0038] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust pipe in Embodiment 2 of this application in Example 3;

[0039] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust pipe in Embodiment 2 of this application, as shown in Example 4.

[0040] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust pipe in Embodiment 2 of this application, as shown in another example in Embodiment 4.

[0041] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the exhaust pipe in Embodiment 2 of this application in Example 5;

[0042] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of a specific example of a lower exhaust pipe according to Embodiment 3 of this application;

[0043] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of the pot lid portion structure according to another embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 12 This is a cross-sectional view of the pot lid structure according to another embodiment of this application.

[0045] in:

[0046] 1. Liner;

[0047] 2. Inner cover;

[0048] 3. Sealing components;

[0049] 4. Mixing chamber; 41. Exhaust port;

[0050] 5. Exhaust pipe; 51. Steam inlet passage; 52. Exhaust passage; 53. Bundling section; 54. Contraction section; 55. Expansion section; 56. Sleeve; 57. Inlet gap; 58. Connecting port;

[0051] 6. Cold air inlet pipe; 61. Baffle section; 62. Air outlet notch;

[0052] 7. Reflux valve;

[0053] 8. Cold air inlet. Detailed Implementation

[0054] To more clearly illustrate the overall concept of this application, a detailed explanation is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0055] Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough 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. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments of this application and the features thereof can be combined with each other.

[0056] 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 do not 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 this application.

[0057] 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 application according to the specific circumstances.

[0058] 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 "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a 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.

[0059] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, an anti-overflow cooking appliance includes a pot body with a cooking cavity and a lid for opening or closing the cooking cavity. The lid is provided with a steam valve assembly and a cold air inlet 8 communicating with the outside. The steam valve assembly has a mixing chamber 4, and the mixing chamber 4 has a steam vent 41 communicating with the outside. The steam valve assembly includes a steam vent pipe 5 communicating with the cooking cavity. The steam vent pipe has a constriction section 54 with a narrowed inner diameter. The cold air introduced by the cold air inlet 8 is directed to the constriction section 54. The steam outlet of the steam vent pipe is located inside the mixing chamber 4, so that the steam introduced by the steam vent pipe and the cold air introduced by the cold air inlet 8 are mixed in the steam vent pipe and then discharged into the mixing chamber 4 through the steam outlet.

[0060] After generating high-temperature steam in the cooking chamber, the steam flows within the exhaust pipe 5. The exhaust pipe 5 of this application features a contraction section 54 with a narrowing inner diameter. This contraction section 54 accelerates the steam flow, causing a pressure drop at that point. This pressure and flow rate change leads to a sudden change in the surface tension of the steam bubbles, resulting in bubble breakage or the reduction of large bubbles into smaller ones. Cold air introduced through the cold air inlet 8 is then introduced into the contraction section 54. According to the Venturi principle, this cold air further impacts the bubbles, not only defoaming but also cooling them and causing them to condense into liquid, further enhancing the defoaming effect. This ensures that even during high-power cooking, no continuous bubbles overflow from the steam valve assembly's exhaust port 41, significantly improving the anti-overflow effect of the cooking appliance. When the cold air is introduced into the contraction section 54, the steam introduced by the exhaust pipe 5 and the cold air introduced by the cold air inlet 8 are mixed for the first time in the exhaust pipe 5, which reduces the temperature of the high-temperature steam to a certain extent. After the first mixing, the steam will be discharged into the mixing chamber 4 through the steam outlet. Because the space of the mixing chamber 4 is relatively larger than that of the exhaust pipe, a second more thorough mixing can be achieved, which further reduces the temperature of the high-temperature steam. As a result, some of the high-temperature steam can be liquefied to form condensate, which ultimately reduces the amount of high-temperature steam discharged from the exhaust port 41.

[0061] Specifically, the method of introducing cold air can be as follows: Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a cold air inlet pipe 6 is provided. The air inlet end of the cold air inlet pipe 6 is connected to the cold air inlet 8 or extends to the outside, and the air outlet end is connected to the constriction section 54. Of course, it can also be, as... Figure 11 As shown, instead of a separate cooling inlet pipe, a connecting port 58 is provided at the contraction section 54, which connects to the cold air inlet 8 via the mixing chamber 4. Alternatively, the cold air inlet pipe may only have a short section, with its inlet end connected to the mixing chamber, thus enabling the transfer of cold air through the mixing chamber. Figure 12 As shown, the short section of the cold air inlet pipe can be connected to the cold air inlet 8 and extend toward the connection port 58 of the exhaust pipe, or the short section of the cold air inlet pipe can be located at the connection port 58 of the exhaust pipe and extend toward the cold air inlet 8.

[0062] When a cold air inlet pipe 6 introduces cold air into an exhaust pipe 5, the connection method between the exhaust pipe 5 and the cold air inlet pipe 6 is not limited. In one embodiment, the exhaust pipe 5 and the cold air inlet pipe 6 are integrally formed, for example, they can be integrally formed from silicone material to facilitate manufacturing and molding. In another embodiment, the exhaust pipe 5 and the cold air inlet pipe 6 are detachably connected and assembled together, for example, by means of threaded connection.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the exhaust pipe includes an inlet channel 51 communicating with the cooking chamber and an exhaust channel 52 communicating with the inlet channel 51 and the mixing chamber 4. Furthermore, as... Figure 3 As shown, the cold air inlet pipe 6 is set perpendicular to the exhaust channel 52. When the steam in the cooking cavity is discharged through the exhaust channel 52, it has a certain flow speed and inertia. Since the cold air inlet pipe 6 is set perpendicular to the exhaust channel 52, the steam will hardly be discharged from the cold air inlet pipe 6. Instead, due to the flow of steam, the pressure at the contraction section 54 is reduced, which allows the cold air inlet pipe 6 to introduce cold air from the outside, thereby achieving the purpose of defoaming.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the exhaust pipe includes an inlet passage 51 and an exhaust passage 52. The inlet passage 51 and the exhaust passage 52 can be composed of two detachable exhaust pipe sections or a single integrally formed exhaust pipe. When it is a single integrally formed exhaust pipe, along the steam flow direction, the front part of the exhaust pipe corresponds to the inlet passage 51, and the rear part of the exhaust pipe corresponds to the exhaust passage 52.

[0065] For a better option, please refer to Figure 3 The steam inlet channel 51 and the steam outlet channel 52 have a bend. This design allows the steam generated in the cooking chamber to be blocked and redirected when entering the steam outlet pipe 5, enabling liquefaction and condensation of the steam during the redirection process. Especially during the cooking of rice or soup, rice water, starch, or small ingredients may enter the steam inlet channel 51 as the cooking chamber boils. The bend prevents these ingredients from entering the cooking chamber and causes them to fall back into the steam outlet pipe 5, reducing the chance of the steam outlet pipe 5 becoming blocked.

[0066] In this application, the steam outlet of the exhaust passage 52 is connected to the mixing chamber 4. When the fluid flowing from the steam outlet of the exhaust passage 52 enters the mixing chamber 4, it undergoes a pressure release process. This pressure change helps to break bubbles, thereby further eliminating any unbroken bubbles. After the foam breaks, it is buffered within the mixing chamber 4 under its own weight to avoid clogging the exhaust port 41. Furthermore, the pressure change between the steam outlet of the exhaust passage 52 and the mixing chamber 4 causes the foam to break at the connection point, reducing the resistance of the exhaust passage 52 and allowing steam and foam to be discharged more smoothly, thus improving exhaust efficiency.

[0067] Furthermore, if the foam cannot be broken in time during the steam discharge process, the presence of the foam will generate local disturbances and resistance in the steam flow. These disturbances and resistances can easily lead to turbulence in the steam flow process, thereby increasing the noise. This application can break the foam before the steam flows into the mixing chamber 4 by cooperating with the contraction section 54 and the cold air inlet pipe 6. After the foam breaks, these local disturbances and resistances are reduced, the steam flow is smoother, and the fluid interface becomes more continuous, thereby reducing the generation of turbulence and significantly reducing the exhaust noise.

[0068] As a preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figure 2 As shown, the pot lid includes a liner 1 and an inner cover 2 detachably mounted on the liner 1. The steam valve assembly includes a steam valve cover mounted on the liner 1. The steam valve cover may also be integrally formed on the liner. The liner 1 and / or the steam valve cover are provided with a sealing element 3, which has a lower sealing lip capable of sealing against the upper surface of the inner cover 2. The steam valve cover, the sealing element 3, and the inner cover 2 cooperate to form a mixing chamber 4. A steam vent pipe 5 is installed on the inner cover 2 so that it can be removed from the liner 1 along with the inner cover 2, facilitating thorough cleaning of the inner cover 2 and the steam vent pipe 5 by the user. After the inner cover 2 is removed, the mixing chamber 4 can be directly exposed to the user's view, allowing for thorough cleaning of the inner wall of the mixing chamber 4 and preventing the accumulation of dirt and grime in the steam valve assembly, which could lead to bacterial growth. Furthermore, the steam vent pipe 5 is detachably mounted on the inner cover 2 so that it can be disassembled for cleaning. Specifically, the inner cover 2 has a steam outlet, and the steam vent pipe 5 is connected to the steam outlet. The exhaust pipe 5 has a mounting section at its lower part, which is used to connect and install it to the steam outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the exhaust pipe 5 is a silicone tube with a groove at its lower part, and the inner cover 2 is a metal inner cover, which is connected and installed to the steam outlet by deformation of the groove. In other embodiments, the exhaust pipe 5 can also be connected and installed to the steam outlet by means of threads or snaps.

[0069] Preferably, such as Figure 2 As shown, the inner cover 2 is provided with a reflux hole and a reflux valve 7 that is floating on the inner cover 2 to open or close the reflux hole. When the pressure in the cooking chamber rises to a certain threshold, it can push the reflux valve 7 to float up to close the reflux hole and prevent steam from flowing back into the mixing chamber 4. When the pressure in the cooking chamber drops to a certain threshold, the reflux valve 7 falls down under its own weight and the weight of the liquid in the mixing chamber 4 to open the reflux hole, and the liquid accumulated in the mixing chamber 4 falls back into the cooking chamber through the reflux hole. Furthermore, a part of the inner cover 2 is sunken to form a liquid collection tank communicating with the mixing chamber 4, so that the mixing chamber 4 can collect condensate and soup that falls back after the bubbles are broken. The reflux hole is located on the bottom wall of the liquid collection tank to facilitate liquid reflux.

[0070] When cold air is guided by a cold air inlet pipe and connected to the exhaust pipe 5 (i.e., the cold air inlet pipe can be a short section connected to the exhaust pipe 5, with its inlet end connected to the mixing chamber 4, through which cold air is transmitted; the cold air inlet pipe can also be connected at one end to the exhaust pipe and at the other end to the cold air inlet 8, or extend to the outside through the cold air inlet 8), the exhaust pipe is provided with a connecting port 58. This application does not limit the connection position and connection method of the cold air inlet pipe in the contraction section 54, and it can adopt any of the following embodiments:

[0071] Implementation method one: such as Figure 3 As shown, the outlet end of the cold air inlet pipe 6 is connected to the connecting port 58, which is connected to the middle side of the contraction section 54. This arrangement allows the cold air inlet pipe 6 to be connected to the position of lowest pressure in the exhaust channel 52, facilitating the introduction of external cold air and improving the bubble breaking effect.

[0072] Implementation Method 2: The outlet end of the cold air inlet pipe 6 passes through the connecting port 58 to enter the interior of the exhaust passage 52. The cold air inlet pipe 6 has a turbulence section extending into the exhaust passage 52, and the turbulence section has a turbulence portion 61 facing the steam inlet end of the exhaust passage 52. The turbulence section can turbulently move the fluid flowing from the steam inlet end of the steam inlet passage 51 to the contraction section 54, thereby increasing the contact time and contact area between the cold air and the fluid in the contraction section 54, further improving the defoaming effect, reducing the accumulation of foam in the exhaust passage 52, and thus facilitating the smooth discharge of steam and improving exhaust efficiency. Moreover, the turbulence section extending into the exhaust passage 52 can further reduce the cross-sectional area of ​​the exhaust passage 52 at that location, thereby causing a change in the fluid velocity at that location in the exhaust passage 52, which in turn causes a pressure change. Combined with the configuration of the contraction section 54, this results in diverse pressure changes within the exhaust passage 52, significantly improving the defoaming efficiency.

[0073] As a preferred embodiment of this second implementation method, such as Figures 4 to 8 As shown, the turbulence section also has an outlet gap 62 facing the steam outlet end of the exhaust channel 52. The outlet gap 62 can break the laminar flow state of the cold air, causing the cold air to generate turbulence at this location, increasing the contact area and contact time between the cold air and the fluid, and further improving the defoaming effect.

[0074] In this second embodiment, the connection position between the cold air inlet pipe 6 and the contraction section 54 can be any one of the following embodiments:

[0075] Example 1: As Figure 4As shown, along the steam flow direction, the connecting port 58 is connected to the upstream side of the contraction section 54, so that the outlet end of the cold air inlet pipe 6 is connected to the upstream side of the contraction section 54. By introducing cold air into the upstream side of the contraction section 54, the cold air can partially fill the contraction section 54, thereby reducing the steam velocity and pressure drop to a certain extent, reducing the pressure loss of steam when passing through the contraction section 54, thus ensuring the steam velocity when discharged through the exhaust channel 52, and ensuring exhaust efficiency.

[0076] Example 2: Figure 5 As shown, along the steam flow direction, the connecting port 58 is connected to the downstream side of the contraction section 54, so that the outlet end of the cold air inlet pipe 6 is connected to the downstream side of the contraction section 54. By introducing cold air into the downstream side of the contraction section 54, the steam temperature can be reduced, the thermal shock to the mixing chamber 4 when the steam is discharged from the exhaust channel 52 can be reduced, which helps the steam to condense into water in the mixing chamber 4, reduces the amount of steam emitted, and protects the storage environment where the cooking utensils are located.

[0077] Example 3: As Figure 6 As shown, along the steam flow direction, the connecting port 58 is connected to the midstream side of the contraction section 54, so that the outlet end of the cold air inlet pipe 6 is connected to the midstream side of the contraction section 54. The fluid velocity on the midstream side of the contraction section 54 is relatively high. By introducing cold air, the velocity can be reduced to a certain extent, thereby achieving noise reduction.

[0078] In this second embodiment, the contraction segment 54 can be formed in any of the following embodiments:

[0079] Example 4: Figure 7 As shown, the distance between the bottom wall of the turbulence section 61 and the bottom wall of the exhaust passage 52 is less than or equal to half the inner diameter of the exhaust passage 52, so as to form a contraction section 54 between the bottom wall of the turbulence section 61 and the bottom wall of the exhaust passage 52. Furthermore, in a preferred example, as... Figure 8 As shown, along the steam flow direction, the exhaust passage 52 also has a cluster section 53 located upstream of the contraction section 54. The inner diameter of the cluster section 53 gradually decreases from the side away from the contraction section 54 to the side closer to the contraction section 54, so as to further optimize the flow velocity of the fluid at the contraction section 54, so as to form a relatively low pressure and facilitate the introduction of cold air from the outside.

[0080] Example 5: Figure 9 As shown, a sleeve 56 is provided inside the exhaust passage 52. The sleeve 56 has a contraction section 54 with a narrowed inner diameter. The outlet end of the cold air inlet pipe 6 is connected to the contraction section 54.

[0081] Implementation Method 3: For example Figure 10As shown, a sleeve 56 is provided inside the exhaust passage 52. The sleeve 56 has a contraction section 54 with a narrowed inner diameter. The outer wall of the sleeve 56 and part of the inner wall of the exhaust passage 52 cooperate to form an air inlet gap 57 that communicates with the air outlet of the cold air inlet pipe 6. The air outlet of the cold air inlet pipe 6 is adjacent to the steam outlet of the sleeve 56.

[0082] In a preferred embodiment of this application, along the steam flow direction, the exhaust passage 52 further includes a cluster section 53 located upstream of the contraction section 54. The inner diameter of the cluster section 53 is larger than that of the contraction section 54, and smaller than that of the steam inlet passage 51. The cluster section 53 allows the fluid to undergo a gradual pressure reduction process before entering the contraction section 54, avoiding pressure pulsation noise and vibration caused by sudden changes in fluid pressure. Moreover, the larger inner diameter of the cluster section 53 compared to the contraction section 54 helps reduce foam accumulation before entering the contraction section 54, further increasing the fluid velocity as it flows through the contraction section 54. This contributes to the pressure drop at the contraction section 54, thereby improving the smoothness of the entry of external cold air into the contraction section 54 through the cold air inlet pipe 6, resulting in better foam breaking effect.

[0083] This embodiment does not limit the way the inner diameter of the cluster segment 53 changes: in one embodiment, such as Figure 3 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the inner diameter of the cluster segment 53 gradually decreases from the side away from the contraction segment 54 to the side closer to the contraction segment 54, thereby achieving a gradual change in the inner diameter of the cluster segment 53. In another embodiment, the inner diameter of the cluster segment 53 exhibits a step-like change, with the inner diameter being smallest on the side closer to the contraction segment 54 and largest on the side away from the contraction segment 54.

[0084] In a preferred embodiment of this application, along the steam flow direction, the exhaust passage 52 also has an expansion section 55 located downstream of the contraction section 54. The inner diameter of the expansion section 55 is larger than that of the contraction section 54, and the gas-liquid mixture is injected into the mixing chamber 4 through the expansion section 55. The design of the expansion section 55 causes the fluid in the exhaust passage 52 to undergo another pressure release process as it flows from the contraction section 54 to the expansion section 55. This pressure change helps to break bubbles. Moreover, the larger inner diameter of the expansion section 55 provides more space for the gas-liquid mixture, thereby facilitating the separation of steam and liquid and improving exhaust efficiency.

[0085] This embodiment does not limit the manner in which the inner diameter of the expansion section 55 changes: in one embodiment, such as Figures 3 to 6As shown, the inner diameter of the expansion section 55 gradually decreases from the side away from the contraction section 54 to the side closer to the contraction section 54, so as to achieve a gradual change in the inner diameter of the expansion section 55. In another embodiment, the inner diameter of the expansion section 55 exhibits a step-like change, with the inner diameter being the smallest on the side closer to the contraction section 54 and the largest on the side away from the contraction section 54.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the axis of the steam outlet of the exhaust pipe 5 is arranged at an angle to the axis of the exhaust port 41. This angle extends the flow path of the fluid from the steam outlet of the exhaust pipe 5 to the exhaust port 41, thereby increasing the friction loss and aiding in both bubble breaking and noise reduction. Furthermore, the angle ensures that the steam outlet of the exhaust pipe 5 is at least partially misaligned with the exhaust port 41, preventing the fluid from directly ejecting from the exhaust port 41.

[0087] As a preferred example of this implementation, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the horizontal projection of the steam outlet end of the exhaust pipe 5 is offset from the horizontal projection of the exhaust port 41. This arrangement extends the fluid flow path, achieving deceleration and noise reduction. Furthermore, the axis of the steam outlet end of the exhaust pipe 5 is perpendicular to the axis of the exhaust port 41. This perpendicularity ensures that the fluid, as it flows from the steam outlet end of the exhaust pipe 5 towards the exhaust port 41, experiences at least one bend. This bend forces the fluid to change its flow direction, increasing turbulence within the fluid, which helps to disrupt foam stability and promotes foam breakage. Moreover, at the bend, due to centrifugal force, steam and liquid are more easily separated, thus promoting gas-liquid separation and improving exhaust efficiency.

[0088] As a preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figure 2 As shown, the steam valve assembly includes a cold air inlet pipe 6, a steam outlet 41 of the mixing chamber 4, and an outlet end of the steam pipe 5, which are located on opposite sides of the cold air inlet pipe 6. On the one hand, this can further extend the flow path of the fluid from the steam outlet pipe 5 to the steam outlet 41, so as to further achieve bubble breaking. On the other hand, the steam will bypass the cold air inlet pipe 6 during the steam discharge process, thereby achieving heat exchange and reducing the steam discharge temperature.

[0089] As a preferred embodiment of this application, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the steam valve assembly includes a cold air inlet pipe 6, the inlet end of which extends to the outside of the mixing chamber 4, and the inlet end of the cold air inlet pipe 6 is offset from the outlet end of the exhaust port 41. This arrangement reduces the probability of hot steam being introduced from the exhaust port 41 through the cold air inlet pipe 6, resulting in lower air temperature introduced into the contraction section 54 through the cold air inlet pipe 6, thus improving the defoaming effect. Furthermore, as... Figure 2As shown, the top surface of the cold air inlet pipe 6 is higher than the top surface of the exhaust port 41 to further reduce the probability of the cold air inlet pipe 6 drawing in and emitting hot steam. In another embodiment, the air inlet end of the cold air inlet pipe 6 is flush with the outer wall surface of the top wall constituting the mixing chamber 4.

[0090] In another embodiment of this application, the steam valve assembly does not have a cold air inlet pipe. In this embodiment, the pot lid is provided with an extension pipe that communicates with the cold air inlet 8 and extends to the outside of the pot lid. The projection of the air inlet end of the extension pipe on the horizontal plane is misaligned with the projection of the steam outlet end of the steam outlet 41 on the horizontal plane, so as to reduce the probability of hot steam being introduced from the extension pipe and discharged from the steam outlet 41.

[0091] For any parts not mentioned in this application, existing technologies may be used or referenced.

[0092] 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.

[0093] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit 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 principle of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. An anti-overflow cooking appliance, comprising a pot body having a cooking cavity and a pot lid for opening or closing the cooking cavity, characterized in that, The pot lid is equipped with a steam valve assembly and a cold air inlet connected to the outside. The steam valve assembly has a mixing chamber and a steam vent connected to the outside. The steam valve assembly includes a steam vent pipe connected to the cooking chamber. The steam vent pipe has a constriction section with a narrowed inner diameter. The cold air introduced by the cold air inlet is directed to the constriction section. The steam outlet of the steam vent pipe is located inside the mixing chamber, so that the steam introduced by the steam vent pipe and the cold air introduced by the cold air inlet are mixed in the steam vent pipe and then discharged into the mixing chamber through the steam outlet.

2. The anti-overflow cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steam valve assembly further includes a cold air inlet pipe, the exhaust pipe having an inlet steam passage communicating with the cooking chamber and an exhaust steam passage communicating with the inlet steam passage and the mixing chamber, the cold air inlet pipe having a turbulence section extending into the exhaust steam passage, the turbulence section having a turbulence portion facing the steam inlet end of the exhaust steam passage.

3. The spill-proof cooking appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that, The turbulence section also has an outlet notch facing the steam outlet end of the exhaust passage.

4. The anti-overflow cooking appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that, The distance between the bottom wall of the turbulence section and the bottom wall of the exhaust passage is less than or equal to 1 / 2 of the inner diameter of the exhaust passage, so as to form the contraction section between the bottom wall of the turbulence section and the bottom wall of the exhaust passage.

5. The anti-overflow cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The exhaust pipe is provided with a connecting port, which is connected to the upstream side, midstream side or downstream side of the contraction section.

6. The anti-overflow cooking appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that, The exhaust pipe has an inlet steam channel communicating with the cooking chamber and an exhaust steam channel communicating with the inlet steam channel and the mixing chamber. The constriction section is located in the exhaust steam channel along the steam flow direction. The exhaust steam channel also has a cluster section located upstream of the constriction section. The inner diameter of the cluster section is larger than the inner diameter of the constriction section, and the inner diameter of the cluster section is smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet steam channel.

7. A spill-proof cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The exhaust pipe has an inlet steam channel communicating with the cooking chamber and an exhaust steam channel communicating with the inlet steam channel and the mixing chamber. The constriction section is located in the exhaust steam channel along the steam flow direction. The exhaust steam channel also has an expansion section located downstream of the constriction section. The inner diameter of the expansion section is larger than the inner diameter of the constriction section. The gas-liquid mixture is injected into the mixing chamber through the expansion section.

8. A spill-proof cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The exhaust pipe has an inlet channel communicating with the cooking chamber, an exhaust channel communicating with the inlet channel and the mixing chamber, and a bend communicating with the inlet channel and the exhaust channel.

9. A spill-proof cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The horizontal projection of the steam outlet end of the exhaust pipe is offset from the horizontal projection of the exhaust port.

10. A spill-proof cooking appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The steam valve assembly also includes a cold air inlet pipe, the inlet end of which extends to the outside of the mixing chamber, and the projection of the inlet end of the cold air inlet pipe on the horizontal plane is offset from the projection of the exhaust end of the exhaust port on the horizontal plane. Alternatively, the pot lid is provided with an extension pipe that communicates with the cold air inlet and extends to the outside of the pot lid, and the projection of the air inlet end of the extension pipe on the horizontal plane is staggered with the projection of the exhaust end of the exhaust port on the horizontal plane.

Images