Cooking appliance

Abstract

The application discloses a cooking utensil, which comprises a pot liner and a base. The pot liner is provided with a through hole communicating with a cooking cavity on a side wall surface close to a pot opening. The base is provided with a steam passage communicating with the through hole, and the steam passage is located on one side of the pot liner. When the pot liner is arranged on the base, the steam passage is used for flowing steam or hot water generated by a heater into the cooking cavity from the side of the pot liner. The technical scheme of the application aims to optimize the steam adding mode into the pot.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of household appliances technology, and in particular to a cooking appliance. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, there are usually two ways to add steam into the pot during the cooking process: from the bottom of the inner pot or from the top of the inner pot. Figure 1 This method of adding steam from the bottom of the inner pot requires the steam generator to be located inside the pot body. This not only increases the volume of the pot body, but also creates a protruding steam channel structure on the inner surface of the inner pot. The protrusion of the steam channel structure not only affects the experience of serving rice or stir-frying, but also causes food residue to clog the steam outlet. Figure 2 The method of adding steam from the top of the inner pot results in a steam generator located on the lid, which not only makes the lid bulky and heavy, but also disconnects the steam passage from the inner pot when the lid is open, making it inconvenient to continue adding hot steam or hot water. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to provide a cooking appliance that optimizes the way steam is introduced into the pot.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a cooking utensil comprising: The inner pot has a through hole on its side wall near the rim, connecting to the cooking cavity; and The base is provided with a steam passage communicating with the through hole, and the steam passage is located on one side of the pot. When the inner pot is located on the base, the steam passage is used to allow steam or hot water generated by the heater to flow from the side of the inner pot into the cooking cavity.

[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base includes: The base, wherein the inner pot is detachably disposed on the base; and A water storage tank is provided on the base and located on one side of the pot. The steam channel is formed inside the water storage tank, and the outlet of the steam channel is connected to the through hole. A water outlet is also provided at the bottom of the water storage tank. The heater heats the water flowing out of the outlet to form steam or hot water, which is then sent into the steam channel.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the inner pot includes: The inner pot body has the aforementioned through holes on its side wall surface; and A steam inlet seat is connected to the outer wall of the boiler body. A flow channel is formed inside the steam inlet seat. The inlet of the flow channel is connected to the outlet of the steam channel, and the outlet of the flow channel is connected to the through hole.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, a sealing component is further provided at the connection between the steam inlet seat and the water storage tank, the sealing component being used to seal the connection between the steam passage and the flow passage.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the outlet of the steam passage protrudes from the surface of the water storage tank, the inlet of the flow passage and the outlet of the steam passage extend in the same direction along their central axes, and the sealing assembly includes: A sealing fastener is fixed to the water storage tank, and the sealing fastener is provided with a clearance hole; and The first sealing ring includes a fixed part and a sealing part connected to each other. The fixed part is sleeved on the outer periphery of the steam channel outlet. The sealing fastener fixes the fixed part on the water storage tank. The sealing part passes through the clearance hole and extends towards the inlet of the flow channel.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the inlet of the flow channel is flared, and the outer diameter of the sealing part gradually decreases from the direction of the fixing part toward the steam inlet seat.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the sealing part is further provided with at least one ring of sealing ribs.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sealing fastener includes: A plate-shaped main body, detachably mounted on the water storage tank; and A cylindrical body protrudes from the surface of the plate-shaped main body away from the water storage tank, and the clearance hole is provided through the cylindrical body and the plate-shaped main body; The cylinder body abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the sealing part, or a portion of the steam inlet seat is inserted into the cylinder body.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the steam inlet seat includes: The main body has a first end and a second end disposed opposite to each other. The first end is detachably connected to the outer wall of the pot body, and the second end extends in a direction away from the pot body. The outlet of the flow channel passes through the first end. A protrusion is connected to the second end and extends toward the surface of the water storage tank. The inlet of the flow channel penetrates the surface of the protrusion, and the sealing part extends into the protrusion. A stepped portion is also formed between the fixing portion and the sealing portion of the first sealing ring, and the end face of the protrusion abuts against the surface of the stepped portion.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, a second sealing ring is further provided between the inner pot body and the steam inlet seat.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pot body further includes a steam guide nozzle, one end of which is inserted into the outlet of the flow channel, and the other end extends into the inner side of the pot body. The steam guide nozzle is shaped to have multiple steam outlet holes on the inner side of the pot body.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of steam outlet holes are respectively distributed on the end face and side wall of the steam guide nozzle.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of steam outlet holes on the side wall of the steam guide nozzle are evenly distributed below the horizontal plane where the central axis of the steam guide nozzle is located.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the water storage tank includes: The housing has a water outlet located at its bottom, a steam passage extending from its bottom to its top, and a water inlet at its top. A cover is provided to cover the top of the tank body and to cover the water inlet. The tank body also forms a clearance notch, and one end of the steam inlet seat extends into the clearance notch.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing, the lower housing is fixedly connected to the base, the water outlet is located at the bottom of the lower housing, and the bottom of the upper housing is fixed to the top of the lower housing; The steam passage includes a first section located in the lower housing and a second section located in the upper housing. The bottom of the second section extends into the lower housing and is connected to the first section. The top of the second section protrudes from the top surface of the upper housing. The water inlet is located on the outer periphery of the second section.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, a third sealing ring is provided between the first segment and the second segment; Alternatively, the first segment and the second segment can be connected by a sealing tube.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the first segment is further provided with reinforcing ribs.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, the heater is disposed inside the base, and the heater is also used to heat the bottom of the inner pot; The heater is connected to the water outlet and the inlet of the steam passage via a piping structure; A pump body is also provided between the inlet and outlet ends of the pipeline structure.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, a water flow channel is formed inside the heater, and the water flow channel is arranged in a ring shape; The pipeline structure includes a first pipeline and a second pipeline, with the inlet end located in the first pipeline and the outlet end located in the second pipeline; The two ends of the first pipeline are respectively connected to the water outlet and the inlet of the water flow channel; The two ends of the second pipeline are respectively connected to the inlet of the steam channel and the outlet of the water channel; The pump body is located on the first pipeline.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base includes: The lower housing forms an installation space, within which the piping structure and the heater are both located; and The cover is detachably fitted over the lower housing. The cover also has a first mounting area and a second mounting area. The first mounting area is located at the center of the cover, and the second mounting area is located outside the first mounting area. Part of the structure of the heater is exposed in the first mounting area. The inner pot is detachably disposed in the first mounting area, and the water storage tank is installed in the second mounting area.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base further includes a heat insulation member, and the heater is fixed to the cover by the heat insulation member.

[0025] The cooking appliance of this invention includes a pot inner and a base. The pot inner has a through hole on its side wall near the rim, connecting to the cooking chamber. The base has a steam passage communicating with the through hole. When the pot inner is mounted on the base, the steam passage allows steam or hot water generated by the heater to flow into the cooking chamber from the side of the pot inner. Because the steam passage is located on the side of the pot inner, the position of the steam-generating components is more flexible. Furthermore, since steam or hot water flows in from the side wall of the pot inner, hot steam or hot water can be added to the cooking chamber even when the lid is open. This eliminates the restriction that the lid must be closed on the pot inner, improving the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure in the related technology that introduces steam from the bottom of the inner liner; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of a structure in the related technology that introduces steam from the top of the inner liner; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the cooking utensil of the present invention; Figure 4 for Figure 3 A structural diagram of a Chinese cooking utensil from another perspective; Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the structure of an embodiment of the cooking utensil of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an embodiment of the cooking utensil of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the inner pot and the base of an embodiment of the cooking appliance of the present invention in a separated state. Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the structure of the cooking utensil of the present invention in a disassembled state. Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the flow of steam after it is added into the inner pot of the cooking appliance of the present invention. Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first sealing ring in the cooking appliance of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing and fixing component in the cooking appliance of the present invention.

[0028] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0029] 100. Cooking utensil; 10. Base; 11. Lower shell; 13. Top cover; 131. First mounting area; 133. Second mounting area; 20. Pot body; 21. Pot body body; 211. Through hole; 23. Steam inlet seat; 231. Main body; 2311. First end; 2313. Second end; 233. Protrusion; 235. Flow channel; 25. Steam nozzle; 251. Steam outlet; 26. Second sealing ring; 27. Pot lid; 30. Water tank; 31. Box body; 311. Lower box body; 3111. Water outlet; 313. Upper box body; 3131. Water inlet; 315. 3151. Steam passage; 3153. First section; 3155. Reinforcing rib; 3156. Second section; 317. Sealing pipe; 33. Cover; 331. Clearance notch; 50. Sealing assembly; 51. Sealing fastener; 511. Plate-shaped body; 513. Cylinder; 515. Clearance hole; 53. First sealing ring; 531. Fixing part; 533. Sealing part; 5331. Sealing rib; 535. Stepped part; 60. Heater; 61. Water flow passage; 63. Connector; 70. Heat insulation; 80. Piping structure; 81. First pipeline; 83. Second pipeline; 85. Pump body; The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0032] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] Furthermore, in this invention, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the word "and / or" throughout the text means including three parallel solutions; taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes solution A, solution B, or a solution that simultaneously satisfies A and B. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0034] The present invention proposes a cooking utensil 100.

[0035] Reference Figures 3 to 6 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the cooking utensil 100 of the present invention; Figure 4 for Figure 3 A structural schematic diagram of a Chinese cooking utensil 100 from another perspective; Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the structure of an embodiment of the cooking utensil 100 of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an embodiment of the cooking utensil 100 of the present invention.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the cooking appliance includes a pot liner 20 and a base. The side wall of the pot liner 20 near the pot opening is provided with a through hole 211 communicating with the cooking cavity. The base is provided with a steam channel 315 communicating with the through hole 211. The steam channel 315 is located on one side of the pot liner 20. When the pot liner 20 is located on the base, the steam channel 315 is used to allow steam or hot water generated by the heater 60 to flow from the side of the pot liner 20 into the cooking cavity.

[0037] The cooking appliance 100 in one embodiment of the present invention includes a pot liner 20 and a base (not shown). The pot liner 20 has a through hole 211 on its side wall near the rim, communicating with the cooking cavity. The base has a steam channel 315 communicating with the through hole 211. When the pot liner 20 is placed on the base, the steam channel 315 allows steam or hot water generated by the heater 60 to flow into the cooking cavity from the side of the pot liner 20. Because the steam channel 315 is located on the side of the pot liner 20, the position of the steam-generating component is more flexible. Furthermore, since steam or hot water flows in from the side wall of the pot liner 20, hot steam or hot water can be added to the cooking cavity even when the lid is open. This eliminates the restriction that the lid 27 must be closed on the pot liner 20 when adding hot water or steam to the cooking cavity, improving the user experience.

[0038] Understandably, the inner pot 20 has a cavity for holding cooked food, and the lid 27 can be detachably placed over the pot opening. The base is used to fix components such as the inner pot 20 and the heater 60. The base can be a sealed structure that fully encloses the inner pot 20, a semi-open structure that partially encloses the inner pot 20, or a fully open structure that does not enclose the inner pot 20.

[0039] The heater 60 can also be called a steam generator. In one embodiment, the steam channel 315 can be integrated with the steam generator, and the steam generator is also located on the side of the pot liner 20. In another embodiment, the steam channel 315 can be separated from the steam generator, and the steam channel 315 is located on the side of the pot liner 20. The steam generator can be flexibly set according to the structure of the cooking appliance 100.

[0040] Please follow Figures 3 to 6In one embodiment of the present invention, the base includes a base 10 and a water storage tank 30. The inner pot 20 is detachably disposed on the base 10. The water storage tank 30 is disposed on the base 10 and located on one side of the inner pot 20. The steam channel 315 is formed inside the water storage tank 30. The outlet of the steam channel 315 is connected to the through hole 211. The bottom of the water storage tank 30 is also provided with a water outlet. The heater 60 heats the water flowing out of the water outlet to form steam or hot water and sends it into the steam channel 315.

[0041] In this embodiment, the base 10 is flat, and the inner pot 20 is placed on the base 10 in an open manner. The base 10 no longer has a cavity structure to accommodate the inner pot 20, reducing its own volume. The inner pot 20 can be connected to the base 10 simply by placing it on top of the base 10. The side wall of the inner pot 20 has a through hole 211 connecting to the cooking cavity, and the relatively large water tank 30 is placed on the side of the inner pot 20 to avoid increasing the volume of the base 10 or the lid 27 by placing the water tank 30 inside the base 10 or on the lid 27. Simultaneously, the steam channel 315 is integrated into the interior of the water tank 30, further reducing the space required for its placement. The piping structure 80 and the heater 60 are located inside the base 10, keeping the surface of the base 10 clean. Since the water tank 30 is not inside the base 10, the interior of the base 10 only contains small components such as the heater 60 and the piping structure 80, making the overall structure of the base 10 compact. During cooking, when hot steam or hot water needs to be added to the cooking cavity, the pump body 85 drives the water in the water storage tank 30 to flow into the pipe structure 80. The heater 60 can then heat the bottom of the inner pot 20. At the same time, the heater 60 can also heat the water in the pipe structure 80, so that the cold water in the pipe structure 80 is heated by the heater 60 to form hot water or hot steam, which then flows sequentially through the steam channel 315 and the through hole 211 into the cooking cavity inside the inner pot 20. The cooking appliance 100 of this application is small in size, and hot water or hot steam can still be added to the cooking cavity even when the lid 27 is open, no longer restricted by the lid 27 needing to be closed on the inner pot 20, thus improving the convenience of use.

[0042] In this embodiment, the base 10 also includes an operation area (not shown), which contains function buttons and a display screen, allowing for the operation of the cooking appliance 100 according to its functions. Understandably, the operation area is located on the front side of the base 10, facing the user, while the water tank 30 is located on the rear side of the base 10, away from the user. This design prevents the water tank 30 from obstructing the user's operation, resulting in a rational structural layout of the entire cooking appliance 100 and convenient user operation.

[0043] It should be noted that the water tank 30 is arranged in an arc shape on the side facing the inner pot 20. This makes the gap between the water tank 30 and the inner pot 20 uniform, increases the volume of the water tank 30, and makes the cooking utensil 100 more aesthetically pleasing.

[0044] Please refer to Figures 5 to 9 In one embodiment of the present invention, the pot liner 20 includes a pot liner body 21 and a steam inlet seat 23. The through hole 211 is provided on the side wall of the pot liner body 21. The steam inlet seat 23 is connected to the outer side wall of the pot liner body 21 and extends to the top of the water storage tank 30. A flow channel 235 is formed inside the steam inlet seat 23. The inlet of the flow channel 235 is connected to the outlet of the steam channel 315, and the outlet of the flow channel 235 is connected to the through hole 211.

[0045] In this embodiment, the through hole 211 is positioned close to the rim of the inner pot body 21. This allows the water tank 30 to extend to a height close to the rim, thereby increasing its volume. Furthermore, the height of the water tank 30 is no higher than the rim, ensuring the inner pot 20 completely conceals it. This prevents the water tank 30 from protruding obtrusively from the base 10, enhancing the aesthetics of the cooking appliance 100 and preventing users from bumping into it during cooking, thus improving the user experience. The steam inlet seat 23 is connected to the outer wall of the inner pot body 21. This facilitates connection to the steam channel 315 and also allows the steam inlet seat 23 to function as a handle for the inner pot 20, providing a comfortable grip. The connection between the steam inlet seat 23 and the inner pot body 21 is detachable, achieved using screws.

[0046] Please refer to Figures 5 to 8 In one embodiment of the present invention, a sealing component 50 is further provided at the connection between the steam inlet seat 23 and the water storage tank 30, the sealing component 50 being used to seal the connection between the steam passage 315 and the flow passage 235.

[0047] In the technical solution of this embodiment, the sealing component 50 can improve the sealing performance of the connection between the steam channel 315 and the flow channel 235, and prevent steam or water leakage.

[0048] Understandably, the connection between the steam passage 315 and the flow passage 235 is vertically arranged. For example, in one embodiment, the steam passage 315 extends from the bottom to the top of the water tank 30 and forms a protruding structure on the top surface of the water tank 30. The inlet and outlet of the flow passage 235 of the steam inlet seat 23 both penetrate the surface of the steam inlet seat 23. The inlet of the flow passage 235 is also arranged towards the water tank 30, so that the central axis of the inlet of the flow passage 235 and the outlet of the steam passage 315 are both arranged vertically. This not only facilitates the connection between the steam passage 315 and the flow passage 235, but also facilitates the fixing of the sealing assembly 50.

[0049] For example, in one embodiment, the sealing assembly 50 includes a sealing fastener 51 and a first sealing ring 53. The sealing fastener 51 is fixed to the water storage tank 30 and has a clearance hole 515. The first sealing ring 53 includes a fixed part 531 and a sealing part 533 connected to each other. The fixed part 531 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the outlet of the steam channel 315. The sealing fastener 51 fixes the fixed part 531 to the water storage tank 30. The sealing part 533 passes through the clearance hole 515 and extends towards the inlet of the flow channel 235. When the pot liner 20 is placed on the base 10 and aligned, the weight of the pot liner 20 can be used to press the first sealing ring 53 downward, thereby sealing the connection between the steam channel 315 and the flow channel 235. It should be noted that when the first sealing ring 53 is fitted onto the outer periphery of the steam channel 315 outlet, and is not compressed, the top of the sealing part 533 is located above the steam channel 315 outlet, so that the sealing part 533 can be axially compressed after the boiler liner 20 and the base 10 cooperate to achieve a seal. The sealing fastener 51 fixes the fixing part 531 of the first sealing ring 53 to the water storage tank 30 to prevent the first sealing ring 53 from shifting position and affecting the sealing performance. The sealing fastener 51 and the water storage tank 30 can be fixed with screws to improve the reliability of the fixation between the sealing fastener 51 and the water storage tank 30; of course, the sealing fastener 51 and the water storage tank 30 can also be fixed with snaps to improve the efficiency of fixing or replacing the first sealing ring 53 during assembly or maintenance.

[0050] Of course, in an embodiment not shown, the connection between the steam channel 315 and the flow channel 235 can also be horizontal. In this case, the central axis of the inlet of the flow channel 235 extends horizontally, and the central axis of the outlet of the steam channel 315 also extends horizontally. Of course, the extension direction of the steam channel 315 turns at the top of the water storage tank 30, which increases the design difficulty of the water storage tank 30.

[0051] Please refer to Figures 5 to 8In one embodiment of the present invention, the inlet of the flow channel 235 is flared, and the outer diameter of the sealing part 533 gradually decreases from the direction of the fixing part 531 toward the steam inlet seat 23. In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the inlet of the flow channel 235 gradually increases from the surface away from the water tank 30 toward the surface of the water tank 30, i.e., it is formed into a trumpet shape; correspondingly, the outer diameter of the sealing part 533 of the first sealing ring 53 also gradually decreases from the direction of the fixing part 531 toward the steam inlet seat 23; thus, on the one hand, it is convenient for the sealing part 533 to be inserted into the inlet of the flow channel 235, and on the other hand, it allows the outer peripheral surface of the sealing part 533 to better fit the inner wall surface of the inlet of the flow channel 235, thereby improving the sealing reliability of the first sealing ring 53.

[0052] Please refer to Figures 5 to 8 ,as well as Figure 10 In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the sealing portion 533 is further provided with at least one sealing rib 5331. Understandably, the sealing rib 5331 is arranged around the outer peripheral surface of the sealing portion 533. The number of sealing ribs 5331 can be one ring or multiple rings spaced apart along the axial direction of the sealing portion 533. The sealing ribs 5331 can increase the contact area between the first sealing ring 53 and the steam inlet seat 23, further improving the reliability of the seal.

[0053] Please refer to Figures 5 to 8 ,as well as Figure 11 In one embodiment of the present invention, the sealing fastener 51 includes a plate-shaped main body 511 and a cylindrical body 513. The plate-shaped main body 511 is detachably disposed on the water storage tank 30. The cylindrical body 513 protrudes from the surface of the plate-shaped main body 511 away from the water storage tank 30. The clearance hole 515 is disposed through the cylindrical body 513 and the plate-shaped main body 511. The cylindrical body 513 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the sealing part 533, or a portion of the steam inlet seat 23 is inserted into the cylindrical body 513.

[0054] In one embodiment, the outer diameter of the fixing part 531 of the first sealing ring 53 is larger than the outer diameter of the sealing part 533. The sealing fixing member 51 includes a plate-shaped body 511 and a cylindrical body 513 connected to each other. The plate-shaped body 511 presses the fixing part 531 of the first sealing ring 53 against the surface of the water storage tank 30 to prevent the first sealing ring 53 from moving relative to the water storage tank 30. The inner wall surface of the cylindrical body 513 abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the sealing part 533 (not shown) to prevent the sealing part 533 from being excessively deformed when squeezed, thereby further improving the sealing reliability of the first sealing ring 53.

[0055] In one embodiment, the outer diameter of the fixing portion 531 of the first sealing ring 53 is larger than the outer diameter of the sealing portion 533. The sealing fixing member 51 includes a plate-shaped body 511 and a cylindrical body 513 connected to each other. The plate-shaped body 511 presses the fixing portion 531 of the first sealing ring 53 against the surface of the water storage tank 30 to prevent the first sealing ring 53 from moving relative to the water storage tank 30. (Refer to...) Figure 6 The inner diameter of the cylinder 513 is larger than the outer diameter of the protrusion 233 of the steam inlet seat 23. In this case, the sealing part 533 of the first sealing ring 53 is directly inserted into the inlet of the flow channel 235, while the protrusion 233 is inserted inside the cylinder 513. That is, the cylinder 513 is configured to provide guidance and positioning for the cooperation between the steam inlet seat 23 and the water storage tank 30, improving the cooperation efficiency between them. At this time, a guiding slope (not shown) is also formed along the edge of the clearance hole 515 at the top of the cylinder 513, which further improves the cooperation efficiency between the steam inlet seat 23 and the water storage tank 30.

[0056] Please refer to Figures 5 to 8 In one embodiment of the present invention, the steam inlet seat 23 includes a main body 231 and a protrusion 233. The main body 231 has a first end 2311 and a second end 2313 disposed opposite to each other. The first end 2311 is detachably connected to the outer wall surface of the pot body 21, and the second end 2313 extends in a direction away from the pot body 21. The outlet of the flow channel 235 passes through the first end 2311. The protrusion 233 is connected to the second end 2313 and extends toward the surface of the water tank 30. The inlet of the flow channel 235 passes through the surface of the protrusion 233. The sealing part 533 extends into the protrusion 233. A step 535 is also formed between the fixing part 531 and the sealing part 533 of the first sealing ring 53, and the end face of the protrusion 233 abuts against the surface of the step 535.

[0057] In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the fixing portion 531 of the first sealing ring 53 is larger than the outer diameter of the stepped portion 535, and the outer diameter of the stepped portion 535 is larger than the outer diameter of the sealing portion 533. The main body portion 231 and the protrusion portion 233 are an integral structure. The two ends of the flow channel 235 respectively penetrate the surfaces of the first end 2311 and the protrusion portion 233. This arrangement allows the inlet of the flow channel 235 to have a longer dimension in the vertical direction. On the one hand, it facilitates setting the inlet of the flow channel 235 as a flared structure, thereby increasing the wall thickness of the outer periphery of the inlet of the flow channel 235 and increasing its strength. On the other hand, it increases the length of the sealing portion 533 of the first sealing ring 53 extending into the inlet of the flow channel 235, thereby increasing the contact area with the steam inlet seat 23 and improving the reliability of the seal.

[0058] Please refer to Figures 5 to 8In one embodiment of the present invention, a second sealing ring 26 is further provided between the inner pot body 21 and the steam inlet seat 23. In the technical solution of this embodiment, the second sealing ring 26 is sandwiched between the outer wall surface of the inner pot body 21 and the steam inlet seat 23, and is used to seal the gap between the steam inlet seat 23 and the inner pot body 21 to prevent hot water or hot steam from leaking from the gap between the steam inlet seat 23 and the inner pot body 21.

[0059] Please refer to Figure 5 , Figure 8 as well as Figure 9 In one embodiment of the present invention, the pot body 20 further includes a steam guide nozzle 25, one end of which is inserted into the outlet of the flow channel 235, and the other end extends into the inner side of the pot body 21. The steam guide nozzle 25 is formed on the inner side of the pot body 21 and has a plurality of steam outlet holes 251.

[0060] In this embodiment, the steam nozzle 25 and the steam inlet seat 23 can be connected by a threaded structure. The steam nozzle 25 can extend into the cooking cavity and protrude from the inner surface of the cooking cavity. This allows for adjustment and control of the direction of hot water or steam being added. For example, by providing multiple steam outlet holes 251 on the steam nozzle 25, the direction of steam flow can be adjusted, ensuring that the hot steam flowing into the cooking cavity is evenly distributed throughout the cavity, thereby improving heating uniformity.

[0061] Please refer to Figure 5 , Figure 8 as well as Figure 9 In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of steam outlet holes 251 are respectively distributed on the end face and side wall of the steam guide nozzle 25. In the technical solution of this embodiment, by providing steam outlet holes on both the end face and side wall of the steam guide nozzle 25, the outflow direction of hot steam can be adjusted in multiple directions, further improving the uniformity of hot steam flowing into the cooking cavity, thereby further improving the uniformity of heating.

[0062] Please refer to Figure 5 , Figure 8 as well as Figure 9 In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of steam outlet holes 251 on the side wall of the steam guide nozzle 25 are evenly distributed below the horizontal plane containing the central axis of the steam guide nozzle 25. In this embodiment, by evenly distributing the steam outlet holes 251 below the horizontal plane containing the central axis of the steam guide nozzle 25, hot steam can be prevented from spraying directly upwards, thus preventing steam from spraying directly onto the user's face when the lid is opened. It can be understood that the fan-shaped area extending from the plurality of steam outlet holes 251 on the side wall of the steam guide nozzle 25 can reach 180 degrees to maximize the uniformity of steam output.

[0063] Please refer to Figures 3 to 8In one embodiment of the present invention, the water storage tank 30 includes a tank body 31 and a tank cover 33. The water outlet 3111 is located at the bottom of the tank body 31. The steam passage 315 extends from the bottom of the tank body 31 to the top surface of the tank body 31. The top of the tank body 31 is also provided with a water inlet 3131. The tank cover 33 covers the top of the tank body 31 and covers the water inlet 3131. The tank body 31 also forms an avoidance notch 331. One end of the steam inlet seat 23 extends into the avoidance notch 331.

[0064] In this embodiment, the water outlet 3111 is located at the bottom of the tank 31 to ensure that all the water in the water tank 30 can flow into the pipeline structure 80. The water inlet 3131 is located at the top of the tank 31 to facilitate adding water to the water tank 30. The tank cover 33 is placed on the top of the tank 31 and covers the water inlet 3131 to prevent dust or cooking food from falling into the water tank 30, thus keeping the water in the water tank 30 clean. The tank cover 33 is also provided with a clearance notch 331, which facilitates the mating of the steam inlet seat 23 and the steam passage 315. Understandably, the outlet of the steam passage 315 is exposed within the clearance notch 331.

[0065] It should be noted that the clearance notch 331 can also limit the steam inlet seat 23, thereby preventing the inner pot 20 from rotating relative to the base 10 during cooking and improving the ease of use.

[0066] Please refer to Figures 3 to 8 In one embodiment of the present invention, the housing 31 includes an upper housing 313 and a lower housing 311. The lower housing 311 is fixedly connected to the base 10. The water outlet 3111 is located at the bottom of the lower housing 311. The bottom of the upper housing 313 is fixed to the top of the lower housing 311. The steam channel 315 includes a first segment 3151 located in the lower housing 311 and a second segment 3155 located in the upper housing 313. The bottom of the second segment 3155 extends into the lower housing 311 and is connected to the first segment 3151. The top of the second segment 3155 protrudes from the top surface of the upper housing 313. The water inlet 3131 is located on the outer periphery of the second segment 3155.

[0067] In this embodiment, by setting the housing 31 as a separate upper housing 313 and lower housing 311, the design difficulty of the housing 31 and the molding difficulty of the mold can be reduced; at the same time, the problem of reduced strength caused by excessive length of steam channel 315 can also be avoided. The upper housing 313 and lower housing 311 can be ultrasonically fused together into a single structure to prevent water leakage of housing 31.

[0068] Of course, the upper housing 313 and the lower housing 311 can also be fixedly connected by snap-fit, as long as the upper housing 313 and the lower housing 311 can be fixed and there is no water leakage and the steam passage 315 does not leak air. The connection method between the upper housing 313 and the lower housing 311 is not limited here. Since the housing 31 is a split upper housing 313 and lower housing 311, the steam passage 315 is also forced to be formed into a first segment 3151 and a second segment 3155. When the upper housing 313 and the lower housing 311 are assembled, a third sealing ring (unmarked) can be provided between the first segment 3151 and the second segment 3155 to improve the sealing performance between the first segment 3151 and the second segment 3155.

[0069] In another embodiment, the first segment 3151 and the second segment 3155 can also be connected by a sealing tube 317. The sealing tube 317 can shorten the length of the first segment 3151 and the second segment 3155, improve the sealing between the first segment 3151 and the second segment 3155, and reduce the difficulty of fitting the first segment 3151 and the second segment 3155 together.

[0070] Understandably, when the first segment 3151 and the second segment 3155 are connected by the sealing tube 317, the outer peripheral surfaces of the first segment 3151 and the second segment 3155 are also provided with limiting protrusions (not marked) to restrict the sealing tube 317 from disengaging from the first segment 3151 and the second segment 3155, thereby improving the reliability of the connection between the sealing tube 317 and the first segment 3151 and the second segment 3155.

[0071] Reference Figure 8 In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the first segment 3151 is further provided with reinforcing ribs 3153. In the technical solution of this embodiment, there may be a plurality of reinforcing ribs 3153 arranged at intervals. The arrangement of reinforcing ribs 3153 can improve the strength of the first segment 3151 and improve the reliability of the first segment 3151.

[0072] Reference Figures 3 to 8In one embodiment of the present invention, the base 10 includes a lower housing 11 and a cover 13. An installation space (not shown) is formed inside the lower housing 11. The pipeline structure 80 and the heater 60 are both disposed in the installation space. The cover 13 is detachably covered above the lower housing 11. A first installation area 131 and a second installation area 133 are also formed on the cover 13. The first installation area 131 is located at the center of the cover 13, and the second installation area 133 is located outside the first installation area 131. Part of the structure of the heater 60 is exposed in the first installation area 131. The inner pot 20 is detachably disposed in the first installation area 131, and the water storage tank 30 is installed in the second installation area 133.

[0073] In this embodiment, the lower housing 11 and the cover 13 are connected by screws. The shape of the first mounting area 131 is adapted to the bottom of the inner pot 20, and the second mounting area 133 is adapted to the bottom of the water tank. The first mounting area 131 has a perforated mounting hole; the second mounting area 133 can be a perforated mounting hole or a region. For example, in one embodiment, the housing 31 and the cover 13 are an integral structure, in which case the second mounting area 133 is a single region. This method reduces the number of parts, simplifies assembly processes, and also prevents water leakage at the bottom of the housing 31. In another embodiment, the housing 31 and the cover 13 are separate structures, in which case the second mounting area 133 is a perforated mounting hole, and the housing 31 can be fixed to the second mounting area 133 by clips or screws.

[0074] Reference Figures 3 to 8 In one embodiment of the present invention, the base 10 further includes a heat insulation member 70, and the heater 60 is fixed to the cover 13 via the heat insulation member 70. In the technical solution of this embodiment, by providing the heat insulation member 70, the user is prevented from accidentally touching the heat insulation member 70, and the heat insulation member 70 can also protect the heater 60.

[0075] Reference Figures 3 to 8 In one embodiment of the present invention, a water flow channel 61 is formed inside the heater 60, and the water flow channel 61 is arranged in a ring shape; the pipeline structure 80 includes a first pipeline 81 and a second pipeline 83, the inlet end is provided in the first pipeline 81, and the outlet end is provided in the second pipeline 83; the two ends of the first pipeline 81 are respectively connected to the water outlet 3111 and the inlet of the water flow channel 61; the two ends of the second pipeline 83 are respectively connected to the inlet of the steam channel 315 and the outlet of the water flow channel 61; the pump body 85 is provided on the first pipeline 81.

[0076] In this embodiment, the heater is a heating plate. Besides heating the bottom of the inner pot 20, the heater also heats the water flow within the pipe structure 80. A water flow channel 61 is formed inside the heating plate. The water flow channel 61 can be arranged one or two times around the heater. Both the inlet and outlet of the water flow channel 61 are equipped with connectors 63. The first pipe 81 and the second pipe 83 of the pipe structure 80 are connected to the water flow channel 61 inside the heater 60 through connectors 63, so that the water in the water storage tank 30 is connected to the steam channel 315. Figure 6 As shown in the diagram, the black arrows indicate the direction of water flow. Understandably, hot water or steam can be added to the cooking cavity by controlling the heating power of the heater.

[0077] In another embodiment, the water flow channel 61 may not be provided in the heater. Instead, part of the pipe structure 80 may be replaced with a material that conducts heat quickly and is heat-resistant, so that this part of the material can directly contact the heater 60 to heat the water in the pipe structure 80.

[0078] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cooking utensil, characterized in that, include: The inner pot has a through hole on the side wall near the pot opening that connects to the cooking cavity; and The base is provided with a steam passage communicating with the through hole, and the steam passage is located on one side of the pot. When the inner pot is located on the base, the steam passage is used to allow steam or hot water generated by the heater to flow from the side of the inner pot into the cooking cavity.

2. The cooking appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The inner pot includes: The inner pot body has the aforementioned through holes on its side wall surface; and A steam inlet seat is connected to the outer wall of the boiler body. A flow channel is formed inside the steam inlet seat. The inlet of the flow channel is connected to the outlet of the steam channel, and the outlet of the flow channel is connected to the through hole.

3. The cooking utensil as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The base includes: The base, wherein the inner pot is detachably disposed on the base; and A water storage tank is provided on the base and located on one side of the pot. The steam channel is formed inside the water storage tank, and the outlet of the steam channel is connected to the through hole. A water outlet is also provided at the bottom of the water storage tank. The heater heats the water flowing out of the outlet to form steam or hot water, which is then sent into the steam channel.

4. The cooking utensil as described in claim 3, characterized in that, A sealing component is also provided at the connection between the steam inlet seat and the water storage tank. The sealing component is used to seal the connection between the steam passage and the flow passage.

5. The cooking appliance as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The outlet of the steam passage protrudes from the surface of the water storage tank, the inlet of the flow passage and the outlet of the steam passage extend in the same direction along their central axes, and the sealing assembly includes: A sealing fastener is fixed to the water storage tank, and the sealing fastener is provided with a clearance hole; and The first sealing ring includes a fixed part and a sealing part connected to each other. The fixed part is sleeved on the outer periphery of the steam channel outlet. The sealing fastener fixes the fixed part on the water storage tank. The sealing part passes through the clearance hole and extends towards the inlet of the flow channel.

6. The cooking utensil as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The inlet of the flow channel is flared, and the outer diameter of the sealing part gradually decreases from the direction of the fixing part toward the steam inlet seat.

7. The cooking utensil as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The outer circumferential surface of the sealing part is also provided with at least one ring of sealing ribs.

8. The cooking appliance as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The sealing fastener includes: A plate-shaped main body, detachably mounted on the water storage tank; and A cylindrical body protrudes from the surface of the plate-shaped main body away from the water storage tank, and the clearance hole is provided through the cylindrical body and the plate-shaped main body; The cylinder body abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the sealing part, or a portion of the steam inlet seat is inserted into the cylinder body.

9. The cooking utensil as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The steam inlet seat includes: The main body has a first end and a second end disposed opposite to each other. The first end is detachably connected to the outer wall of the pot body, and the second end extends in a direction away from the pot body. The outlet of the flow channel passes through the first end. A protrusion is connected to the second end and extends toward the surface of the water storage tank. The inlet of the flow channel penetrates the surface of the protrusion, and the sealing part extends into the protrusion. A stepped portion is also formed between the fixing portion and the sealing portion of the first sealing ring, and the end face of the protrusion abuts against the surface of the stepped portion.

10. The cooking appliance as described in claim 3, characterized in that, A second sealing ring is also provided between the inner pot body and the steam inlet seat.

11. The cooking utensil as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The pot body also includes a steam guide nozzle, one end of which is inserted into the outlet of the flow channel, and the other end extends into the inside of the pot body. The steam guide nozzle is shaped inside the pot body and has multiple steam outlet holes.

12. The cooking appliance as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The multiple steam outlet holes are respectively distributed on the end face and side wall of the steam guide nozzle.

13. The cooking appliance as described in claim 12, characterized in that, The multiple steam outlet holes on the side wall of the steam guide nozzle are evenly distributed below the horizontal plane where the central axis of the steam guide nozzle is located.

14. The cooking utensil as described in any one of claims 3 to 13, characterized in that, The water storage tank includes: The housing has a water outlet located at its bottom, a steam passage extending from its bottom to its top, and a water inlet at its top. A cover is provided to cover the top of the tank body and to cover the water inlet. The tank body also forms a clearance notch, and one end of the steam inlet seat extends into the clearance notch.

15. The cooking appliance as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing. The lower housing is fixedly connected to the base. The water outlet is located at the bottom of the lower housing. The bottom of the upper housing is fixed to the top of the lower housing. The steam passage includes a first section located in the lower housing and a second section located in the upper housing. The bottom of the second section extends into the lower housing and is connected to the first section. The top of the second section protrudes from the top surface of the upper housing. The water inlet is located on the outer periphery of the second section.

16. The cooking appliance as described in claim 15, characterized in that, A third sealing ring is provided between the first segment and the second segment; Alternatively, the first segment and the second segment can be connected by a sealing tube.

17. The cooking appliance as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The outer periphery of the first segment is also provided with reinforcing ribs.

18. The cooking utensil as described in any one of claims 3 to 13, characterized in that, The heater is located inside the base and is also used to heat the bottom of the inner pot. The heater is connected to the water outlet and the inlet of the steam passage via a piping structure; A pump body is also provided between the inlet and outlet ends of the pipeline structure.

19. The cooking appliance as described in claim 18, characterized in that, The heater has a water flow channel inside, and the water flow channel is arranged in a ring shape. The pipeline structure includes a first pipeline and a second pipeline, with the inlet end located in the first pipeline and the outlet end located in the second pipeline; The two ends of the first pipeline are respectively connected to the water outlet and the inlet of the water flow channel; The two ends of the second pipeline are respectively connected to the inlet of the steam channel and the outlet of the water channel; The pump body is located on the first pipeline.

20. The cooking appliance as described in claim 18, characterized in that, The base includes: The lower housing forms an installation space, within which the piping structure and the heater are both located; and The cover is detachably fitted over the lower housing. The cover also has a first mounting area and a second mounting area. The first mounting area is located at the center of the cover, and the second mounting area is located outside the first mounting area. Part of the structure of the heater is exposed in the first mounting area. The inner pot is detachably disposed in the first mounting area, and the water storage tank is installed in the second mounting area.

21. The cooking appliance as described in claim 20, characterized in that, The base also includes a heat insulation component, and the heater is fixed to the cover via the heat insulation component.

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