Floating ball assembly for electric cooker
By designing float components in the rice cooker, using water vapor flow and gravity to provide overflow space, and treating steam through the gathering channel and hollow structure, the problems of water vapor overflow and aerosol formation in the rice cooker are solved, and cooking efficiency and insulation effect are improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202421015214.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-11
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-14
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-05-11
AI Technical Summary
The existing rice cooker lacks effective anti-spill function design, which leads to water vapor overflow and aerosol formation, affecting the cooking effect and insulation performance.
A floating ball assembly for rice cooker is designed to provide overflow space through water vapor flow and float gravity, and add a gathering channel to collect steam to avoid water vapor condensation and aerosol formation. Combined with an expanded conical channel and hollow structure, ensuring airflow diversion and sealing.
Effectively prevent water vapor overflow, reduce aerosol formation, improve cooking efficiency and insulation effect, and ensure the normal use and sealing of float components.
Smart Images
Figure CN222341038U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of float ball pressure regulation of electric rice cookers in cooking appliances, in particular to a float ball assembly used for the electric rice cooker. Background Art
[0002] In existing electric rice cookers, most of them use a float to measure the entire water level and control the smoothness or blockage of water flow, specifically based on the principle of a magnetic float and a reed switch, or the principle of whether floats of different diameters can pass through. However, there are few applications in terms of water vapor overflow during cooking, and thus there is a lack of a float assembly designed for overflow prevention. Utility Model Content
[0003] The utility model aims to provide a float assembly for an electric rice cooker, which, through the flow of water vapor and the gravity of the float, squeezes the float into an extension cavity when overflowing, providing space for the flow of water vapor, and after the overflowing is finished, the gravity of the float resets the float; and in order to achieve a better anti-overflow effect, a gathering channel is added to collect the steam entering the anti-overflow area, so as to avoid condensation of water vapor on the side wall of the inner cover, etc., reduce the formation of aerosol, and avoid the generation of excessive bubbles to cause overflow.
[0004] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the utility model is implemented through the following technical solutions.
[0005] A float assembly for an electric rice cooker, comprising an assembly space formed between an inner cover and a panel in a head cover, and a float assembly located in the assembly space, wherein the float assembly comprises an air outlet channel carrying a float, a gathering channel located outside the air outlet channel, and a float located at the top of the air outlet channel;
[0006] An anti-overflow area communicating with the cooking cavity of the rice cooker is formed on the inner cover, and the anti-overflow area is communicated with both the air outlet channel and the gathering channel;
[0007] The panel partially extends upward to form an extension cavity, and the extension cavity is used for bearing when the floating ball is lifted up.
[0008] This technical solution uses the flow of water vapor and the gravity of the float to squeeze the float into the extension cavity when overflowing, providing space for the flow of water vapor. After the overflow ends, the gravity of the float resets it. In order to achieve a better anti-overflow effect, a gathering channel is added to collect the steam entering the anti-overflow area, avoid condensation of water vapor on the side walls of the inner cover, etc., reduce the formation of aerosol, and avoid overflow caused by excessive bubbles.
[0009] At the same time, due to the existence of the gathering channel, the accumulation of water vapor below the air outlet channel is avoided, ensuring the normal use of the air outlet channel without being blocked by accumulated water bubbles, and the overall float control effect is guaranteed.
[0010] Furthermore, the top of the air outlet channel forms an oblique section tangent to the float or an arc surface that fits the float. The arc surface or the oblique section makes the sealing between the float and the air outlet channel better, and at a constant temperature or low temperature in the later stage, there are fewer water bubbles and less overflow, thereby achieving a better heat preservation effect.
[0011] Furthermore, the cooking pressure of the cooking chamber of the rice cooker is less than or equal to 4kpa, so that in the cooking state, the float always blocks the outlet of the gas outlet. When the heating in the pot stops, and the high-temperature and high-pressure gas in the pot no longer increases and does not exceed the set value of less than 4kpa, the pressure float is affected by gravity to block the steam outlet, so that the pressure in the pot is constant, thereby shortening the cooking time of the food. The food is more delicious. During normal heating, due to the different amount of water in the pot, the overall pressure will also be adjusted, but the maximum instantaneous pressure in the pot is 2-4Kpa. Within this pressure range, the float can also ensure that the pressure is constant in the set cavity, thereby improving the use efficiency.
[0012] Furthermore, the gathering channel is a conical channel with an expanding diameter, and the radius of the conical channel gradually increases from top to bottom. The expanding diameter structure forms an upward guiding slope along the inner wall, so that the bubbles coming out of the overflow prevention area enter the conical channel along the guiding slope to avoid being accumulated in the air outlet channel.
[0013] Furthermore, transition gaps are formed between the tapered channel and the inner cover, and between the air outlet channel and the inner cover, and the transition gap between the tapered channel and the inner cover is larger than the transition gap between the air outlet channel and the inner cover. The tapered channel is set higher and will not interfere with the air intake in the air outlet channel. Since the outer side of the air outlet channel is a large area space, most of the bubbles will be diverted to this area, and the fewer bubbles will enter the air outlet channel, thereby driving the float to move upward.
[0014] Furthermore, the top of the air outlet channel extends outward to form an extension portion connected to the gathering channel. The added extension portion forms a certain blocking surface or impact surface, so that the airflow moving into the conical gathering channel cannot continue to move upward, and then contacts the extension portion and moves downward under the impact, and then returns to a position close to the overflow prevention area.
[0015] Furthermore, an obtuse angle of 100°-130° is formed between the tapered channel and the extension, so that the inner wall of the tapered channel forms a convergence path for guiding the airflow toward the extension. If the obtuse angle is less than 100°, the tapered channel is too close to the air outlet channel, and the airflow flows slowly. If the obtuse angle is greater than 130°, although a large circulation area is formed, the space inside the pot is limited. Moreover, when the angle is too large, the strength requirement is high, and the relative strength inside the head cover is limited, so it is not easy to make the obtuse angle too large.
[0016] Furthermore, the extension part and the outer wall of the air outlet channel form a recoil path, so that the airflow upward along the convergence path forms a recoil path downward into the air inlet at the bottom of the air outlet channel after flowing through the extension part. By using three paths, the entire airflow can be first upward, then horizontal, and then downward, the movement path is increased, the energy of the airflow is greatly consumed, and the bubbles may be broken, thereby forming normal water or airflow backflow into the rice cooker instead of forming overflowing bubbles.
[0017] Furthermore, the overflow prevention area includes a hollow circle center corresponding to the air outlet channel, and a plurality of hollow structures arranged radially along the hollow circle center toward the outer periphery of the inner cover. The addition of the hollow circle center and the hollow structure allows multiple discharge outlets to be provided above the overflow prevention area, and the discharge path includes a central path and an outward radial path, so that the airflow is discharged quickly.
[0018] Furthermore, the hollow structure is an expanding structure whose width gradually increases from the hollow center toward the inner cover opening. The hollow structure is also getting bigger and bigger. At this time, the outer end of the hollow structure is connected to the gathering channel, and the space is large, so the exhaust port here can be larger and the exhaust is faster. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a float assembly for an electric rice cooker provided by the utility model;
[0020] Figure 2 An assembly diagram of a float assembly for an electric rice cooker provided by the utility model;
[0021] In the figure:
[0022] 100. Head cover; 110. Inner cover; 111. Anti-overflow area; 112. Hollow center; 113. Hollow structure; 120. Panel; 130. Extension cavity; 200. Float assembly; 210. Float; 220. Air outlet channel; 230. Gathering channel; 240. Extension part; 300. Rice cooker cooking cavity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The present invention is described in detail below in conjunction with the various embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, but it should be noted that these embodiments are not limitations of the present invention, and any equivalent transformations or substitutions in functions, methods, or structures made by ordinary technicians in the field based on these embodiments are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0024] See attached Figure 1-2As shown, the float assembly for the rice cooker in this embodiment includes an assembly space formed between the inner cover 110 and the panel 120 in the head cover 100. In order to make full use of the assembly space, the float assembly 200 is arranged in the space. An air outlet channel 220 is arranged at the bottom of the float 210 in the float assembly 200. Under normal circumstances, the float 210 is carried on the air outlet channel 220. A gathering channel 230 is added in the entire assembly space. At this time, the gathering channel 230 is located on the outside of the air outlet channel 220 to form a local enclosure cavity, which has a good protective effect on the air outlet channel 220. When impacted by external forces, the gathering channel 230 will be acted on first.
[0025] To prevent overflow, in the present embodiment, an anti-overflow area 111 which is communicated with the cooking cavity 300 of the rice cooker is formed on the inner cover 110, and the anti-overflow area 111 is communicated with both the air outlet channel 220 and the gathering channel 230; the anti-overflow area 111 can discharge the water vapor overflowing from the cooking cavity 300 of the rice cooker, allowing it to enter the assembly space, and then be diverted to the air outlet channel and the gathering channel. At this time, the float 210 will be lifted up and move upward. In order to protect the float, the panel 120 is partially extended upward to form an extension cavity 130, and the extension cavity 130 is used to support the float 210 when it is lifted up.
[0026] In this embodiment, through the flow of water vapor and the gravity of the float, the float is squeezed into the extension cavity when overflowing, providing space for the flow of water vapor. After the overflow is over, the gravity of the float resets it. In order to achieve a better anti-overflow effect, a gathering channel is added to collect the steam entering the anti-overflow area to avoid condensation of water vapor on the side walls of the inner cover, etc., reduce the formation of aerosol, and avoid excessive bubbles causing overflow.
[0027] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the extension cavity 130 of the float forms a cavity with a high outside and a low inside, especially the lowest part near the outlet of the air outlet channel 220, so that after the heating stops, the float automatically returns to the outlet channel 220 of the anti-overflow sealed area to achieve sealing.
[0028] See attached Figure 1-2 As shown, compared with a single air outlet channel, in this embodiment, due to the existence of the gathering channel, the accumulation of water vapor below the air outlet channel is avoided, ensuring the normal use of the air outlet channel without being blocked by accumulated water bubbles, and the overall float control effect is guaranteed.
[0029] The operating principle of the utility model is as follows:
[0030] Under normal conditions, the rice cooker is not working, and thus is not heating, etc. At this time, gravity causes the float to be in the air outlet channel, and thus the air outlet channel is blocked;
[0031] When in use, the rice cooker starts to heat up. At this time, not much water vapor is generated, and the air outlet channel is still blocked, with good sealing effect and fast heating. As water vapor is continuously generated, at a certain stage, excessive water vapor will be discharged outward. At this time, it enters the air outlet channel. When there is enough water vapor, pressure is generated to cause the float 210 to be lifted up and enter the extension cavity 130, so that excess water vapor can enter the extension cavity and the air outlet channel. At this time, the extension cavity 130 forms a larger cavity, which accommodates the float and has a certain space to accommodate the overflowing airflow; at the same time, due to the existence of the gathering channel 230, the overflowing airflow can also enter the gathering channel, thereby achieving a better anti-overflow effect.
[0032] In this embodiment, after heating stops, the water vapor decreases, and the force on the float decreases. The float moves downward due to gravity, but the outlet of the air outlet channel is at the center of the entire assembly space and is the lowest. Then the float returns to its original position and is carried by the air outlet channel.
[0033] See attached Figure 1-2 As shown, in order to achieve better load-bearing, in this embodiment, the top of the air outlet channel 220 forms an oblique section tangent to the float 210 or an arc surface that fits the float. The arc surface or the oblique section makes the sealing between the float and the air outlet channel better. In the later stage at a constant temperature or low temperature, there are fewer water bubbles and less overflow, thereby achieving a better heat preservation effect. If it is just an ordinary surface, the effect of the float bearing and fitting is poor, and it is easy to cause air leakage in the early stage of heating or the heat preservation period, thereby reducing the cooking effect.
[0034] In actual use, the cooking pressure of the cooking cavity 300 of the rice cooker is less than or equal to 4kpa, so that in the cooking state, the float 210 always blocks the outlet of the gas outlet channel 220. When the heating in the pot stops, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas in the pot no longer increases and does not exceed the set value of less than 4kpa, the pressure float is affected by gravity and blocks the steam outlet, so that the pressure in the pot is constant, thereby shortening the cooking time of the food. In this embodiment, during normal heating, due to the different amount of water in the pot, its overall pressure will also be adjusted, but the highest instantaneous pressure in the pot is 2-4Kpa. Within this pressure range, the float can also ensure that the pressure is constant in the set cavity, thereby improving the use efficiency. In this embodiment, the electric rice cooker adopts a closed design as a whole, so that the pressure in the pot is increased, so that the rice can be heated and cooked faster. In this embodiment, the movement of the float is used to control the insulation or heating, and because the float can enter the extension cavity, the heating speed is fast and the cooking time is greatly shortened. Using the electric rice cooker in the utility model can effectively preserve the moisture and nutrition in the food, which is not only delicious but also more nutritious.
[0035] In order to form a better gathering, the gathering channel 230 is a conical channel with an expanding diameter, and the radius of the conical channel gradually increases from top to bottom. The expanding diameter structure forms an upward guiding slope along the inner wall, so that the bubbles coming out of the overflow prevention area enter the conical channel along the guiding slope to avoid being accumulated in the air outlet channel.
[0036] It can be seen from the attached drawings that transition gaps are formed between the tapered channel and the inner cover 110, and between the air outlet channel 220 and the inner cover 110, and the transition gap between the tapered channel and the inner cover 110 is larger than the transition gap between the air outlet channel 220 and the inner cover 110. In this embodiment, the height difference formed between the two transition gaps will generate a certain suction and pressure, so that the float returns to the anti-overflow sealing position quickly and accurately; at the same time, due to the height difference, the water entering the two transition gaps flows, and it is not easy to accumulate water in the extension cavity.
[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the conical channel is set higher and will not interfere with the air intake in the air outlet channel. Since the outside of the air outlet channel is a large area space, most of the bubbles will be diverted into this area, and the remaining bubbles will enter the air outlet channel, thereby driving the float to move upward.
[0038] In order to prevent the airflow from entering the inner cover 110, the top of the air outlet channel 220 extends outward to form an extension portion 240 connected to the gathering channel 210. The added extension portion forms a certain blocking surface or impact surface, so that the airflow moving into the conical gathering channel cannot continue to move upward, and then moves downward after contacting the extension portion and receives the impact, and then returns to a position close to the overflow prevention area. In this embodiment, a conical accommodating cavity is formed between the air outlet channel 220, the gathering channel 230 and the extension portion 240, and the airflow moves in multiple directions along the accommodating cavity. In this process, the energy of the airflow is continuously consumed, thereby reducing the formation of water vapor and aerosol, avoiding the generation of excessive bubbles, and having a certain bubble breaking effect.
[0039] In order to fully ensure the strength, an obtuse angle of 100°-130° is formed between the tapered channel and the extension 240, so that the inner wall of the tapered channel forms a gathering path to guide the airflow toward the extension. If the obtuse angle is less than 100°, the tapered channel is too close to the air outlet channel, and the airflow flows slowly. If it is greater than 130°, although the formed circulation area is large, the space inside the pot is limited. When the angle is too large, the strength requirement is high, and the relative strength inside the head cover is limited, so it is not easy to make the obtuse angle too large.
[0040] After the overflow airflow flows out, it flows in the gathering channel 230. At this time, since the extension part 240 and the outer wall of the air outlet channel 220 form a recoil path, the airflow that flows upward along the gathering path 230 forms a recoil path that flows downward into the air inlet at the bottom of the air outlet channel 220 after flowing through the extension part 240. By using three paths, the entire airflow can be first upward, then horizontal, and then downward. The movement path is increased, the energy of the airflow is greatly consumed, and bubbles may be broken, thereby forming normal water or airflow to flow back into the rice cooker instead of forming overflow bubbles.
[0041] In this embodiment, the anti-overflow area 111 includes a hollow center 112 corresponding to the air outlet channel 220, and a plurality of hollow structures 113 radially arranged along the hollow center 112 toward the outer periphery of the inner cover 110. The addition of the hollow center and the hollow structure allows multiple discharge ports to be provided above the anti-overflow area, and the discharge path includes a central path and an outwardly expanding radial path, so that the airflow is discharged quickly.
[0042] Specifically, the hollow structure 113 is an expanding structure whose width gradually increases from the hollow center toward the inner cover opening. The hollow structure is also getting bigger and bigger. At this time, the outer end of the hollow structure is connected to the gathering channel, and the space is large, so the exhaust port here can be larger and the exhaust is faster.
[0043] The float assembly in the utility model utilizes the principle that the float moves upward under force, so that when the electric rice cooker is in different cooking states, the float is controlled to enter different positions, thereby driving the overflowing airflow to be well diverted, reducing the generation of bubbles, and the cooperation of the gathering channel enables the overflowing airflow to be well diverted, ensuring the anti-overflow effect.
[0044] The series of detailed descriptions listed above are only specific descriptions of feasible implementation methods of the utility model. They are not intended to limit the protection scope of the utility model. Any equivalent implementation methods or changes that do not deviate from the technical spirit of the utility model should be included in the protection scope of the utility model.
[0045] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-restrictive from any point of view, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the above description, and it is intended that all changes falling within the meaning and scope of the equivalent elements of the claims be included in the present invention. Any reference numeral in a claim should not be regarded as limiting the claim to which it relates.
[0046] In addition, it should be understood that although the present specification is described according to implementation modes, not every implementation mode contains only one independent technical solution. This description of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment may also be appropriately combined to form other implementation modes that can be understood by those skilled in the art.
Claims
1. A float assembly for an electric rice cooker, comprising an assembly space formed between an inner cover and a panel in a head cover, characterized in that: Also included is a float assembly located in the assembly space, the float assembly including an air outlet channel carrying a float, a gathering channel located outside the air outlet channel, and a float located at the top of the air outlet channel; An anti-overflow area communicating with the cooking cavity of the rice cooker is formed on the inner cover, and the anti-overflow area is communicated with both the air outlet channel and the gathering channel; The panel partially extends upward to form an extension cavity, and the extension cavity is used for bearing when the floating ball is lifted up.
2. The float assembly for an electric rice cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the air outlet channel forms an oblique section tangent to the float or an arc surface fitted to the float.
3. The float assembly for an electric rice cooker according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cooking pressure of the cooking cavity of the rice cooker is less than or equal to 4 kPa, so that in the cooking state, the float always blocks the outlet of the air outlet channel.
4. The float assembly for an electric rice cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gathering channel is a tapered channel with an expanding diameter, and the radius of the tapered channel gradually increases from top to bottom.
5. The float assembly for an electric rice cooker according to claim 4, characterized in that: A transition gap is formed between the tapered channel and the inner cover, and between the air outlet channel and the inner cover, and the transition gap between the tapered channel and the inner cover is larger than the transition gap between the air outlet channel and the inner cover.
6. The float assembly for an electric rice cooker according to claim 4, characterized in that: The top of the air outlet channel extends outward to form an extension portion connected to the gathering channel.
7. The float assembly for an electric rice cooker according to claim 6, characterized in that: An obtuse angle of 100°-130° is formed between the tapered channel and the extension portion, so that the inner wall of the tapered channel forms a converging path for guiding the airflow toward the extension portion.
8. The float assembly for an electric rice cooker according to claim 7, characterized in that: The extension portion and the outer wall of the air outlet channel form a recoil path, so that the airflow upward along the convergence path forms a recoil path downward into the air inlet at the bottom of the air outlet channel after extending and flowing.
9. The float assembly for an electric rice cooker according to claim 1, characterized in that: The anti-overflow area includes a hollow circle center corresponding to the air outlet channel, and a plurality of hollow structures radially arranged along the hollow circle center toward the outer periphery of the inner cover.
10. The float assembly for an electric rice cooker according to claim 9, characterized in that: The hollow structure is an expanding structure whose width gradually increases from the hollow circle center toward the inner cover opening.