Bubble-breaking spill-proof device and cooking utensil
By designing a combined structure of the mixing chamber and the exhaust channel, and utilizing the introduction of high-speed jet flow and external air, the problem of easy juice overflow in the existing technology is solved, efficient bubble breaking and overflow prevention effects are achieved, and the reliability and user experience of the cooking appliance are improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422305873.5
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-09
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-09-20
AI Technical Summary
When existing cooking utensils use a jet flow to break bubbles, the jet flow rate is fast and is directly sprayed toward the steam outlet, causing juice to easily spray out from the steam outlet channel, resulting in limited anti-overflow effect.
A bubble breaking and overflow prevention device is designed, which includes a mixing chamber and a steam exhaust channel of a valve body. A high-speed jet flow is formed through the combination of a front channel, a contraction channel and a rear channel. External air is introduced into the rear channel to change the relative motion state of bubbles and steam, thereby promoting bubble breakage and dispersion.
It effectively reduces the accumulation and overflow of bubbles at the exhaust port, improves the bubble breaking effect, ensures that the cooking appliance does not overflow under high heating power, and improves the user experience.
Smart Images

Figure CN223311039U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application belongs to the technical field of kitchen appliances, and in particular relates to a bubble breaking and overflow prevention device and a cooking utensil. Background Art
[0002] Currently, in the field of cooking appliances, particularly in heating and cooking devices like rice cookers and stew pots, the steam generated during cooking is often accompanied by a large number of bubbles. If these bubbles are not promptly collapsed, they can cause the food to spill, affecting the user experience and even posing a safety hazard. Therefore, as a crucial component of cooking appliances, the performance of bubble breakers is directly related to the reliability and safety of the appliance.
[0003] For example, a jet-type bubble breaker and cooking utensil disclosed in Chinese patent CN202010739378.9 forms a jet flow through a conical steam inlet channel to form a negative pressure at the negative pressure gap, and automatically introduces the cold air entering the intermediate storage cavity through the cold air inlet channel into the steam outlet channel, where it meets the high-temperature steam in the jet flow, thereby achieving the effect of condensation and bubble breaking; although the above scheme can enable cold air to be introduced into the steam outlet channel through the negative pressure gap to assist in condensation and bubble breaking, the anti-overflow effect is very limited. Since the flow rate of the jet flow is very fast and it is directly sprayed toward the steam outlet, and the length of the steam outlet channel is limited, it is difficult for the juice to flow back to the intermediate storage cavity and be stored. Instead, it is directly sprayed out from the steam outlet channel, causing juice overflow. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The present application provides a bubble breaking and overflow prevention device and a cooking utensil to solve the technical problem in the prior art of using a jet flow to break bubbles. Due to the very fast flow rate of the jet flow and the fact that it is directly sprayed toward the steam outlet, and the limited length of the steam outlet channel, juice is easily entrained and sprayed directly from the steam outlet channel during the outward spraying process.
[0005] On the one hand, the technical solution adopted in one embodiment of the present application is:
[0006] A bubble breaking and overflow prevention device includes a valve body, the valve body having a mixing chamber, the mixing chamber being provided with a steam exhaust port connected to the outside, the mixing chamber being provided with a steam exhaust channel, the steam exhaust channel having a front channel for air intake and a rear channel connecting the front channel and the mixing chamber, a contraction channel with a contracted cross-section between the front channel and the rear channel, and the air outlet end of the rear channel being located in the mixing chamber.
[0007] As a preferred implementation of this embodiment, the rear channel forms a first mixing space, and the volume ratio of the mixing chamber to the first mixing space is 95-120.
[0008] As a preferred implementation of this embodiment, the ratio of the minimum cross-sectional area of the contraction channel to the cross-sectional area of the rear channel is 0.05-0.69.
[0009] As a preferred implementation of this embodiment, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the front channel to the rear channel is 1-2.
[0010] As a preferred implementation manner of this embodiment, it also includes an inlet provided, and the negative pressure generated by the contraction channel causes the gas outside the exhaust channel to be introduced into the exhaust channel through the inlet.
[0011] As a preferred implementation of this embodiment, it includes an inlet pipe with one end connected to the inlet and the other end located in the external atmosphere, and the cross-sectional area of the inlet pipe is between the minimum cross-sectional area and the maximum cross-sectional area of the contraction channel.
[0012] As a preferred implementation manner of this embodiment, it includes an exhaust pipe forming the exhaust passage, the inlet is opened on the exhaust pipe, one end of the inlet is connected to the mixing chamber, and the other end is connected to the exhaust passage.
[0013] As a preferred implementation manner of this embodiment, it includes a contraction section forming the contraction channel, the steam outlet of the contraction section extends into the rear channel, the inlet is connected to the rear channel, the rear channel has an upstream side and a downstream side bounded by the position of the air outlet of the contraction section, the inlet is located on the upstream side of the rear channel, and the cross-sectional area of the upstream side is greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the inlet.
[0014] As a preferred implementation manner of this embodiment, it includes a front exhaust pipe forming the front channel, the front exhaust pipe has a first air outlet section and a second air outlet section, and the airflow directions of the first air outlet section and the second air outlet section are different.
[0015] On the other hand, the technical solution adopted in one embodiment of the present application is:
[0016] A cooking utensil comprises: a pot body provided with a heating device and a receiving cavity; an inner pot, the inner pot being arranged in the receiving cavity and capable of heating the inner pot by the heating device; and a cover body covering the pot body or the inner pot; the cover body being provided with the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device as described above.
[0017] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects achieved by this application are as follows:
[0018] In this application, when steam mixed with cooking liquid rapidly ejects from the constricted channel, it forms a high-speed jet flow in the rear channel, simultaneously reducing the pressure. This reduced pressure makes the steam more likely to condense. More importantly, the high-speed jet flow in the rear channel changes the relative motion between the bubbles and the steam. Due to the increased steam flow rate, the bubbles are subjected to a greater drag force, which causes some bubbles to break and transform into liquid, thereby reducing the bubble content in the steam flow and causing the bubbles or liquid to move in the direction of the steam flow, that is, along the rear channel toward the mixing chamber and the exhaust port. Therefore, if the cooking material is discharged directly to the exhaust port through the rear channel, there is a risk of it overflowing directly from the exhaust port. Furthermore, after entering the mixing chamber, the steam flow rate gradually decreases and the pressure gradually increases, which facilitates the stabilization and redistribution of the bubbles, allowing them to be effectively dispersed and broken up in the mixing chamber, thereby preventing the bubbles from gathering and overflowing at the exhaust port.
[0019] In some preferred embodiments, the small volume design of the back channel can ensure that the fluid and bubbles entering the mixing chamber are in a highly turbulent and dispersed state, thereby improving the efficiency of bubble crushing in the mixing chamber. Since the volume of the back channel is relatively small, the jet flow has a faster flow rate when entering the mixing chamber through the back channel, and at the same time generates stronger turbulence. This turbulence is very beneficial for the crushing of bubbles because it provides sufficient shear force and pressure fluctuations to destroy the stability of the bubbles and break them into smaller bubbles. The small volume of the back channel makes the fluid highly turbulent before entering the mixing chamber, which helps the bubbles to be more evenly dispersed and mixed with the fluid in the mixing chamber. The uniformity of mixing is crucial to preventing bubble aggregation and overflow. A larger volume mixing chamber is conducive to the dispersion of small bubbles and high turbulence, thereby achieving a good anti-overflow effect.
[0020] In some preferred embodiments, an appropriate cross-sectional area of the rear channel can ensure that the fluid maintains a certain velocity and pressure gradient after flowing out, which helps to further break or disperse the bubbles. Within this size range, it can meet the bubble breaking and overflow prevention requirements of most cooking utensils in normal cooking scenarios, that is, the jet flow generated by the contraction channel can have sufficient drag force, thereby reducing the bubble content ejected from the rear channel and converting the bubbles into liquid juice. In this way, fewer bubbles enter the mixing chamber, so that the mixing chamber will not be filled with a large number of bubbles, thereby reducing the risk of overflow from the exhaust port.
[0021] In some preferred embodiments, first, the same cross-sectional area means that the two parts can be easily processed, thereby simplifying the production process and reducing manufacturing costs; second, setting the cross-sectional area of the rear channel to be the same as that of the front channel can maintain the continuity of the fluid flow to a certain extent, thereby improving the stability of the fluid flow; in addition, the cross-sectional area of the rear channel can be larger than the cross-sectional area of the front channel, which is conducive to changing the state of relative movement between bubbles and steam and improving the bubble breaking effect.
[0022] In some preferred embodiments, after the jet stream enters the rear channel, the gas sucked in through the inlet will change the flow state and velocity distribution of the fluid in the exhaust channel. When external air mixes with steam containing bubbles, shear force and turbulence will be generated due to the difference in flow rate and direction. These forces will act on the surface of the bubbles, making them easier to break. In addition, the introduction of external air may also increase the turbulence intensity in the fluid, thereby further improving the efficiency of bubble crushing. The introduction of external air helps to disperse the bubbles in the fluid entering the mixing chamber into a wider fluid area. When bubbles mix with external air, they will be affected by fluid forces from different directions, which helps to break the aggregation state between the bubbles and make them more evenly distributed in the fluid. This dispersion effect helps to reduce the risk of bubble aggregation and overflow in subsequent processes.
[0023] In some preferred embodiments, the introduction tube is configured to draw in external air. The significant temperature difference between the external air and the steam has a certain condensing effect on the steam, thereby diluting the viscous juice and reducing the surface tension of the bubbles formed, making them easier to break. By controlling the speed and flow rate of the introduced external air, the pressure, flow rate, and condensation rate of the fluid in the exhaust channel can be indirectly adjusted. Therefore, by adjusting the fluid state through the introduction of external air, the conditions for bubble breakage can be optimized. The cross-sectional area of the introduction tube is between the minimum and maximum cross-sectional areas of the contraction channel, thereby achieving a better bubble breaking and condensation effect.
[0024] In some preferred embodiments, the inlet is directly opened on the exhaust pipe, which has a simple structure. During operation, the gas in the mixing chamber can be sucked into the exhaust channel, which can intensify the turbulence in the mixing chamber, thereby improving the bubble crushing effect in the rear channel as well as the bubble crushing effect in the mixing chamber.
[0025] In some preferred embodiments, the steam outlet of the contracting section extends into the rear channel, thereby dividing the rear channel into an upstream side and a downstream side. The upstream side is connected to the inlet, and the introduced air enters the upstream side, then enters the downstream side after passing through the upstream side. Because the inlet is located on the upstream side of the rear channel and the cross-sectional area of the upstream side is greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the inlet, this helps to more evenly disperse the external air into the fluid upon entering the rear channel. The thorough mixing of the external air and the fluid not only promotes the dispersion of bubbles, but also increases the contact area between the bubbles and the fluid, thereby improving the efficiency of bubble fragmentation.
[0026] In some preferred embodiments, the first air outlet section and the second air outlet section have different air flow directions, so that the jet flow ejected from the contraction channel and the rear channel connected to the front channel changes direction, thereby changing the mixing effect in the mixing chamber; and the air outlet end of the rear channel can be arranged horizontally in the mixing chamber, so as to facilitate the juice ejected from the rear channel to sink under the action of gravity, while the gas floats up, and can further increase the turbulence of the air flow, accelerating the dispersion and breakage of bubbles in the mixing chamber.
[0027] In some preferred embodiments, after using the above-mentioned bubble breaking and overflow prevention device proposed in this application, the cooking appliance can increase the heating power of the heating device without overflowing, has a good bubble breaking effect, and can complete cooking well and quickly, thereby improving the user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present application and constitute a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present application. In the drawings:
[0029] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device provided in Example 1 of the present application;
[0030] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the exhaust passage provided in Example 1 of the present application;
[0031] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the exhaust passage in the direction of the inlet provided in Example 1 of the present application;
[0032] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device provided in Example 2 of the present application;
[0033] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the exhaust passage provided in Example 2 of the present application;
[0034] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of an electric rice cooker using the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device provided in Example 1 of the present application;
[0035] Figure 7A cross-sectional view of an electric rice cooker using the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device provided in Example 2 of the present application;
[0036] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of an electric stew pot using the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device provided in Example 2 of the present application;
[0037] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of an electric stew pot using the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device provided in Example 1 of the present application.
[0038] in,
[0039] Valve body 10; valve cover 11; mixing chamber 12; exhaust port 13; exhaust channel 14; lower sealing ring 15; inlet pipe 16; drain valve 17; drain hole 18; front channel 141; contraction channel 142; rear channel 143; inlet 144; contraction section 145; upstream side 146; downstream side 147; first outlet section 1411; second outlet section 1412;
[0040] Pot body 1; inner pot 2; cover body 3; bubble breaking and overflow prevention device 4; heating device 5; lining cover 31; inner cover 32; DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] In order to more clearly illustrate the overall concept of the present application, a detailed description is given below in an illustrative manner in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0042] In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the present application. However, the present application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.
[0043] In addition, in the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on the present application.
[0044] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, terms such as "installed," "connected," "connect," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection, electrical connection, or communication; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and internal communication between two components or interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.
[0045] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, a first feature "above" or "below" a second feature may be that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in an appropriate manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.
[0046] In order to prevent the cooking food from overflowing during the cooking process of the cooking utensils, affecting the user experience and even posing a safety hazard, most existing cooking utensils are equipped with a bubble breaking and overflow prevention device at the exhaust point; the specific implementation method of the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device of the present application is described in detail below.
[0047] The present application proposes a bubble-breaking and overflow-prevention device that can be used to discharge steam during cooking in cooking appliances such as rice cookers and stew pots. The bubble-breaking and overflow-prevention device comprises a valve body having a mixing chamber, a mixing chamber provided with an exhaust port connected to the outside world, and an exhaust channel within the mixing chamber. During cooking, steam generated within the cooking chamber passes through the exhaust channel, the mixing chamber, and the exhaust port in sequence, thereby discharging the steam from the cooking chamber to the outside world. The exhaust channel comprises a front channel for air intake and a rear channel connecting the front channel and the mixing chamber. A contraction channel with a narrowed cross section is provided between the front and rear channels, and the exhaust end of the rear channel is located within the mixing chamber. When steam enters the exhaust channel, it first passes through the front channel, then flows through the contraction channel, and then flows through the rear channel, and enters the mixing chamber from the rear channel. As the steam flows through the contraction channel, the steam's flow rate rapidly increases due to the contraction of its cross section, causing it to be ejected at high speed into the rear channel and the mixing chamber.
[0048] In the existing technical solutions for breaking bubbles using a jet flow, the jet flow has a very fast flow rate and is directly sprayed toward the exhaust port. In addition, the length of the steam outlet channel is limited. As a result, during the outward spraying process, juice is easily entrained and sprayed directly from the steam outlet channel, resulting in limited overflow prevention effect.
[0049] To this end, in the above-mentioned specific embodiment of the present application, when steam mixed with cooking liquid rapidly ejects from the contracting channel, it forms a high-speed jet flow in the rear channel, simultaneously reducing the pressure. This reduced pressure makes the steam more likely to condense. More importantly, the high-speed jet flow in the rear channel changes the relative motion between the bubbles and the steam. Due to the increased steam flow rate, the bubbles are subjected to a greater drag force, which causes some bubbles to break and transform into liquid, thereby reducing the bubble content in the steam flow and encouraging the bubbles or liquid to move in the direction of the steam flow, that is, along the rear channel toward the mixing chamber and the exhaust port. Therefore, if the cooking material is discharged directly to the exhaust port through the rear channel, there is a risk of overflowing directly from the exhaust port. Furthermore, after entering the mixing chamber, the steam flow rate gradually decreases and the pressure gradually increases, which facilitates the stabilization and redistribution of the bubbles, allowing them to be effectively dispersed and broken up in the mixing chamber, thereby preventing bubble aggregation and overflow at the exhaust port.
[0050] The following are several specific implementations of the above-mentioned bubble breaking and overflow prevention device, which are now described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0051] like Figure 1-3 In the first embodiment shown, the valve body 10 includes a valve cover 11 and a valve seat. The valve cover 11 is provided with a steam exhaust port 13. A mixing chamber 12 is formed between the valve seat and the valve cover 11. A steam exhaust pipe is provided in the mixing chamber 12, and a steam exhaust channel 14 is formed in the steam exhaust pipe. During operation, one end of the steam exhaust pipe is connected to the cooking chamber, and the other end is connected to the mixing chamber 12. Steam can enter from the steam exhaust pipe, then be mixed in the mixing chamber 12, and finally be discharged from the steam exhaust port 13 on the valve cover 11.
[0052] like Figure 4-5 In the second embodiment shown, a steam exhaust port 13 is provided on the valve body 10. A lower sealing ring 15 is provided on the underside of the valve body 10. The lower sealing ring 15 is used to abut the lid 3 of the cooking appliance to achieve a seal between the valve body 10 and the lid 3. A mixing chamber 12 is formed between the valve body 10 and the lid 3. A steam exhaust pipe is disposed within the valve body 10. A steam exhaust passage 14 is provided within the steam exhaust pipe. One end of the steam exhaust passage 14 communicates with the cooking chamber of the cooking appliance and the other end communicates with the mixing chamber 12. An inlet pipe 16 is also provided. One end of the inlet pipe 16 is exposed to the outside atmosphere and the other end communicates with the steam exhaust passage 14. During operation, steam can enter through the steam exhaust pipe, pass through the mixing chamber 12, and be discharged from the steam exhaust port 13.
[0053] The exhaust pipes of Examples 1 and 2 form an exhaust passage 14, which includes a front passage 141 for air intake and a rear passage 143 connecting front passage 141 and mixing chamber 12. A contraction passage 142 with a narrower cross-section is located between front passage 141 and rear passage 143. The cross-section of contraction passage 142 is smaller than that of front passage 141 and rear passage 143. As a result, steam flowing through contraction passage 142 accelerates and experiences a pressure drop, forming a jet flow. The steam inlet and outlet directions of the front, contraction, and rear passages of the exhaust pipe of Example 1 are consistent, while those of Example 2 are inconsistent.
[0054] In Example 1, the diameter d1 of the front channel 141 and the diameter d3 of the rear channel 143 are 12 mm, and the minimum diameter d2 of the contraction channel 142 is 4.5 mm, so the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the rear channel 143 to the minimum cross-sectional area of the contraction channel 142 is 7.1, and the inverse ratio is about 0.14; in Example 2, the diameter d1 of the front channel 141 and the diameter d3 of the rear channel 143 are 12 mm, and the minimum diameter d2 of the contraction channel 142 is 6 mm, so the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the rear channel 143 to the minimum cross-sectional area of the contraction channel 142 is 4, and the inverse ratio is 0.25. An appropriate cross-sectional area of the rear channel can ensure that the fluid maintains a certain velocity and pressure gradient after flowing out, which helps to further break or disperse the bubbles. Within this size range, it can meet the bubble breaking and overflow prevention requirements of most cooking utensils in normal cooking scenarios, that is, the jet flow generated by the contraction channel can have sufficient drag force, thereby reducing the bubble content ejected from the rear channel and converting the bubbles into liquid juice. In this way, fewer bubbles enter the mixing chamber, so that the mixing chamber will not be filled with a large number of bubbles, thereby reducing the risk of overflow from the exhaust port.
[0055] As mentioned above, the contraction channel is the key to forming the jet flow, and the rear channel is a key link in changing the relative motion state of bubbles and steam. Therefore, the design of the rear channel is also critical. In Example 1, the rear channel 143 extends 5mm from the contraction channel 142 to the air outlet end, that is, d4 is equal to 5mm, and the diameter is 12mm; in Example 2, the rear channel 143 extends 7mm from the contraction channel 142 to the air outlet end, that is, d4 is equal to 7mm, and the diameter is 12mm. In this way, the pressure in the rear channel increases and the flow rate decreases, but because it extends to a certain size, the diameter is also limited to a certain size. In this way, the airflow in the rear channel can still maintain a high speed, the flow rate will not drop excessively, and sufficient drag can be generated to change the relative motion state of bubbles and steam. The maximum dimension of the distance d4 that the rear channel extends from the contraction channel to the air outlet end cannot exceed the size range of the mixing chamber to ensure that the air outlet end of the rear channel is located within the mixing chamber.
[0056] In Example 1 and Example 2, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the front channel 141 to that of the rear channel 143 is 1. First, the same cross-sectional area means that the two parts can be easily processed, thereby simplifying the production process and reducing manufacturing costs; second, setting the cross-sectional area of the rear channel to be the same as that of the front channel can maintain the continuity of the fluid flow to a certain extent, thereby improving the stability of the fluid flow.
[0057] In Example 1, the rear channel 143 forms a first mixing space, and the volume ratio of the mixing chamber 12 to the first mixing space is 100. In Example 2, the volume ratio of the mixing chamber 12 to the first mixing space is 108.75. The small volume design of the rear channel ensures that the fluid and bubbles entering the mixing chamber are in a highly turbulent and dispersed state, thereby improving the efficiency of bubble breakage in the mixing chamber. Because the volume of the rear channel is relatively small, the jet flow has a relatively high flow rate when entering the mixing chamber through the rear channel, and at the same time generates strong turbulence. This turbulence is very beneficial for bubble breakage because it provides sufficient shear force and pressure fluctuations to disrupt the stability of the bubbles and break them into smaller bubbles. The small volume of the rear channel ensures that the fluid is highly turbulent before entering the mixing chamber, which helps the bubbles to be more evenly dispersed and mixed with the fluid in the mixing chamber. The uniformity of mixing is crucial to preventing bubble aggregation and overflow. A larger volume mixing chamber is conducive to the dispersion of small bubbles and high turbulence, thus achieving a good anti-overflow effect.
[0058] In a specific embodiment of the present application, the volume ratio of the mixing chamber 12 to the first mixing space is 95-120. In addition to the volume ratios proposed in Example 1 and Example 2, other embodiments of the present application may also be other volume ratios, such as 95, 98, 110, 115, etc., preferably greater than 100. The ratio of the minimum cross-sectional area of the contraction channel 142 to the cross-sectional area of the rear channel 143 is 0.05-0.69. In addition to the ratios proposed in Example 1 and Example 2, it may also be other values, such as 0.05, 0.2, 0.45, 0.5, etc., with 0.25 being preferred. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the front channel 141 to the rear channel 143 is 1-2. In addition to the ratios proposed in Example 1 and Example 2, it may also be 1.1, 1.5, 2, etc., with 1 being preferred. The cross-sectional area of the rear channel may be larger than that of the front channel, which is beneficial to changing the state of relative motion between bubbles and steam and improving the bubble breaking effect.
[0059] In some embodiments of the present application, Figure 3 、 5 As shown, the exhaust passage 14 also includes an inlet 144. The negative pressure generated by the contraction channel 142 allows the gas outside the exhaust passage 14 to be introduced into the exhaust passage 14 through the inlet 144. It should be noted that in other embodiments of the present application, the inlet may not be provided, and in this case, the exhaust passage will not inhale external gas.
[0060] As attached Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment 1, an exhaust pipe is included to form the exhaust passage 14. An inlet 144 is provided on the sidewall of the exhaust pipe. One end of the inlet 144 communicates with the mixing chamber 12 and the other end communicates with the exhaust passage 14. During operation, the inlet 144 draws gas from the mixing chamber 12 into the exhaust passage 14 under the negative pressure generated by the constriction passage 142.
[0061] There are two inlets 144, which are respectively set to penetrate the side wall of the exhaust pipe. In some other alternative embodiments, the number of inlets is not limited.
[0062] After the jet enters the rear channel, the gas drawn in through the inlet changes the flow pattern and velocity distribution of the fluid in the exhaust channel. When external air mixes with the steam containing bubbles, the differences in flow velocity and direction generate shear forces and turbulence. These forces act on the bubble surface, making it easier to break. Furthermore, the introduction of external air can increase the intensity of turbulence in the fluid, further improving the efficiency of bubble breakage.
[0063] The introduction of external air helps disperse bubbles in the fluid entering the mixing chamber over a wider area. As the bubbles mix with the external air, they are acted upon by fluid forces from different directions, which helps break up any clusters of bubbles and distribute them more evenly throughout the fluid. This dispersion helps reduce the risk of bubbles agglomerating and overflowing during subsequent processes.
[0064] The inlet is directly opened on the exhaust pipe, which has a simple structure. When working, the gas in the mixing chamber can be sucked into the exhaust channel, which can intensify the turbulence in the mixing chamber, thereby improving the bubble crushing effect in the rear channel as well as the bubble crushing effect in the mixing chamber.
[0065] As attached Figure 5 In the second embodiment shown, the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device includes an inlet pipe 16 connected to an inlet port 144 at one end and located in the external atmosphere at the other end. The cross-sectional area of the inlet pipe 16 is between the minimum and maximum cross-sectional areas of the contraction channel 142. During operation, the jet flow at the contraction channel 142 generates a negative pressure, thereby drawing the external atmosphere through the inlet pipe into the exhaust channel 14. After mixing, the air then enters the mixing chamber through the rear channel 143. Unlike the first embodiment, the air drawn in by the second embodiment is the external atmosphere. The temperature difference between the external atmosphere and the steam is large, which has a certain condensing effect on the steam, thereby diluting the viscous juice and reducing the surface tension of the bubbles formed, making the bubbles easier to break.
[0066] By controlling the speed and flow of the external air, the pressure, flow rate and condensation rate of the fluid in the exhaust channel can be indirectly adjusted. Therefore, by adjusting the fluid state by introducing external air, the conditions for bubble collapse can be optimized.
[0067] In the first and second embodiments, a contraction section 145 is included to form the contraction channel 142 , and a steam outlet of the contraction section 145 extends into the rear channel 143 .
[0068] In the first embodiment of the present application, Figure 3 As shown, inlet 144 communicates with rear channel 143. Rear channel 143 has an upstream side 146 and a downstream side 147, bounded by the location of the outlet of contraction section 145. Inlet 144 is located on upstream side 146 of rear channel 143, and the cross-sectional area of upstream side 146 is greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of inlet 144. The inlet has a cross-sectional area of 7*5 mm^2, for a total of 70 mm^2. The cross-sectional area of upstream side 146 is 3.14*(6^2-3.7^2), which is 70.05 mm^2. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of upstream side 146 is approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of inlet 144.
[0069] By extending the steam outlet of the contracting section into the rear channel, the rear channel is divided into an upstream side and a downstream side. The upstream side is connected to the inlet, allowing the introduced air to enter the upstream side before entering the downstream side. Because the inlet is located on the upstream side of the rear channel and its cross-sectional area is greater than or equal to that of the inlet, this helps ensure that the external air is more evenly dispersed into the fluid upon entering the rear channel. This thorough mixing of the external air and the fluid not only promotes the dispersion of bubbles but also increases the contact area between the bubbles and the fluid, thereby improving the efficiency of bubble collapse.
[0070] At the same time, in the second embodiment of the present application, the cross-sectional area of the introduction pipe 16 is between the minimum cross-sectional area and the maximum cross-sectional area of the contraction channel 142, thereby achieving a better bubble breaking and condensation effect.
[0071] In the second embodiment of the present application, Figure 5 As shown, the front steam exhaust pipe forms a front channel 141, and has a first outlet section 1411 and a second outlet section 1412. The airflow directions of the first and second outlet sections 1411, 1412 differ. Specifically, the first outlet section 1411 and the second outlet section 1412 are arranged at a 90-degree angle, thereby changing the direction of the jet flow ejected from the contraction channel and the rear channel connected to the front channel, thereby changing the mixing effect in the mixing chamber. The outlet end of the rear channel is arranged horizontally in the mixing chamber, so that the juice ejected from the rear channel sinks under the action of gravity, while the gas rises. This further increases the turbulence of the airflow and accelerates the dispersion and breakup of bubbles in the mixing chamber.
[0072] It should be understood that the so-called horizontal arrangement of the air outlet end of the rear channel in the mixing chamber 12 does not mean that the valve body must be vertically installed on the cover of the cooking utensil to ensure that the air outlet end of the rear channel is arranged horizontally. The valve body can also be installed at an angle so that the air outlet end of the rear channel is inclined relative to the cooking utensil. Here, the horizontal arrangement is not necessarily in the horizontal direction, but refers to the mixing chamber of the valve body.
[0073] Specifically, in the second embodiment, the axis of the outlet end of the rear channel 143 is arranged at an angle to the axis of the exhaust port 13. Moreover, the angle makes the outlet end of the rear channel at least partially misaligned with the exhaust port 13, preventing the fluid from being ejected directly from the exhaust port 13.
[0074] like Figure 4 As shown, in the second embodiment, the projection of the gas outlet end of the rear channel 143 in the mixing chamber 12 is staggered with the projection of the steam exhaust port 13 in the mixing chamber 12. Furthermore, the axis of the steam outlet end of the rear channel 143 and the axis of the steam exhaust port 13 are perpendicular to each other. The two are perpendicular to each other, so that the fluid passes through at least one corner when flowing out of the steam exhaust channel and flowing toward the steam exhaust port. The corner can force the fluid to change its flow direction and increase the disturbance in the fluid, thereby helping to destroy the stability of the foam and promote the bursting of the foam. Moreover, at the corner, due to the action of centrifugal force, the steam and liquid are more easily separated, thereby promoting gas-liquid separation and improving the steam exhaust efficiency.
[0075] This application also proposes a cooking utensil, such as Figure 6-9 As shown, it includes a pot body 1, which is provided with a heating device 5 and a accommodating cavity; an inner pot 2, which is arranged in the accommodating cavity, and the heating device 5 can heat the inner pot 2; a cover body 3, which covers the pot body 1 or the inner pot 2; and the cover body 3 is provided with the above-mentioned bubble breaking and overflow prevention device 4.
[0076] When cooking food in the inner pot with the bubble-breaking and overflow-prevention device, the steam generated will generate a large number of bubbles within the inner pot's cooking cavity. These bubbles can easily fill the cooking cavity and overflow through the bubble-breaking and overflow-prevention device on the lid, affecting the user experience. To address the overflow problem, existing technologies generally reduce the heating power of the heating device, sacrificing cooking time to prevent overflow. This results in excessively long cooking times, which is unacceptable to users. Users urgently need a cooking appliance that can cook quickly and prevent overflow.
[0077] After using the above-mentioned bubble breaking and overflow prevention device proposed in this application, the heating power of the heating device can be increased without overflowing, the bubble breaking effect is good, and cooking can be completed well and quickly, thereby improving the user experience.
[0078] The cooking utensil of the present application can be an electric rice cooker, an electric stew pot, etc., and is particularly useful for cooking porridge.
[0079] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the cooking utensil is an electric rice cooker, such as Figure 6 As shown, the cover body 3 includes a lining cover 31 and an inner cover 32 removably mounted to the lining cover 31. The bubble breaking and overflow prevention device 4 includes a valve seat mounted to the lining cover 31. The valve seat can also be integrally formed on the lining cover 31. The lining cover 31 and / or the valve seat are provided with a lower sealing ring 15, which has a lower sealing lip that can abut and seal against the upper surface of the inner cover 32. The valve seat, lower sealing ring 15, and inner cover 32 cooperate to form a mixing chamber 12. The exhaust pipe is mounted to the inner cover 32 so that it can be removed from the lining cover 31 along with the inner cover 32, allowing the user to thoroughly clean the inner cover 32 and the exhaust pipe. After the inner cover 32 is removed, the mixing chamber is directly exposed to the user's field of vision, allowing the user to thoroughly clean the inner wall of the mixing chamber and prevent dirt and dirt from accumulating inside the steam valve assembly, which could lead to bacterial growth. Furthermore, the exhaust pipe is removably mounted to the inner cover 32 so that it can be removed and cleaned.
[0080] Preferably, if Figure 6 As shown, the inner lid 32 is provided with a drain hole 18 and a drain valve 17 that floats on the inner lid 32 to open or close the drain hole 18. When the pressure in the cooking chamber rises to a certain threshold, the drain valve 17 floats upward to close the drain hole 18, preventing steam from flowing back into the mixing chamber. When the pressure in the cooking chamber drops to a certain threshold, the drain valve 17 descends under the influence of its own weight and the weight of the liquid in the mixing chamber, opening the drain hole. The liquid accumulated in the mixing chamber 12 then falls back into the cooking chamber through the drain hole. Furthermore, a portion of the inner lid 32 is sunken to form a liquid collection trough connected to the mixing chamber 12, allowing the mixing chamber to collect condensed water and liquid that falls back after bubbles break. A drain hole is provided on the bottom wall of the trough to facilitate liquid backflow.
[0081] Figure 6 The bubble breaking and overflow prevention device is the solution of embodiment 1. Of course, if Figure 7 As shown, the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device provided in the second embodiment can also be adopted.
[0082] As a preferred embodiment of the present application, the cooking utensil is an electric stew pot, such as Figure 8 As shown, the inner pot 2 of the electric stew pot is a ceramic inner pot, which has a cooking cavity and is arranged in the accommodating cavity. The heating device 5 can heat the ceramic inner pot; the cover 3 covers the ceramic inner pot, and a sealing device (not shown) is provided between the edge of the cover 3 and the edge of the ceramic inner pot; the cover 3 is provided with a bubble breaking and overflow prevention device 4, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 、 5 As shown, the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device 4 includes a steam exhaust channel 14, which has a front channel 141 connected to the cooking cavity and a rear channel 143 connected to the front channel 141, and a contraction channel 142 with a contracted cross section is provided between the front channel 141 and the rear channel 143. Of course, the bubble breaking and overflow prevention device 4 can also be as follows Figure 9 The embodiment shown is a scheme.
[0083] Figure 8 、 9 The bubble breaking and overflow prevention device shown also has a drain valve 17 and a drain hole 18 to meet the demand for liquid reflux.
[0084] The inner pot 2 of the electric stew pot is a ceramic inner pot. Compared with the metal inner pot of the electric rice cooker, it has a large thermal inertia and good heat storage. The power of the heating device can be very small, and the ceramic inner pot can also be kept at a high temperature for a long time, making the ingredients cooked in the electric stew pot softer, more fragrant and delicious, and suitable for cooking various soups. When cooking porridge in existing electric stew pots, a large number of bubbles are easily generated in the cooking cavity, which makes it easy to overflow. The existing solutions are to further reduce the firepower to avoid overflow. Electric stew pots already have the disadvantage of a long cooking time. Reducing the firepower further increases the cooking time, and it takes a lot of time to complete cooking, which is a poor user experience.
[0085] With the bubble-breaking and overflow prevention device installed, steam within the cooking chamber is discharged through the exhaust passage. The steam first passes through a front passage 141, which communicates with the cooking chamber, and then through a contraction passage 142, which has a narrowed cross section. Due to the narrowed cross section of contraction passage 142, under a certain pressure, the contraction passage accelerates the steam flow in the exhaust passage, forming a high-speed jet in the rear passage. This simultaneously reduces pressure, making the steam more likely to condense. More importantly, the high-speed jet in the rear passage changes the relative motion between the bubbles and the steam. Due to the increased steam velocity, the bubbles are subjected to a greater drag force, which causes some bubbles to break and transform into liquid, thereby preventing overflow. The lid of the electric stew pot relies on its own gravity to close over the ceramic inner pot. To enable the contraction passage to form an effective jet, a certain pressure must be generated within the cooking chamber. To this end, a sealing device is provided between the lid 3 and the edge of the ceramic inner pot to prevent air leakage between the lid 3 and the ceramic inner pot.
[0086] Anything not described in this application can be achieved by adopting or drawing on existing technologies.
[0087] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, and the same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments.
[0088] The foregoing is merely an embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application may have various changes and variations. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application should all be included within the scope of the claims of the present application.
Claims
1. A bubble breaking and overflow prevention device, comprising a valve body, characterized in that: The valve body has a mixing chamber, the mixing chamber is provided with a steam exhaust port connected to the outside, the mixing chamber is provided with a steam exhaust channel, the steam exhaust channel has a front channel for air intake and a rear channel connecting the front channel and the mixing chamber, a contraction channel with a contracted cross-section is provided between the front channel and the rear channel, and the air outlet end of the rear channel is located in the mixing chamber.
2. A bubble breaking and overflow prevention device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rear channel forms a first mixing space, and the volume ratio of the mixing chamber to the first mixing space is 95-120.
3. A bubble breaking and overflow prevention device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The ratio of the minimum cross-sectional area of the contraction channel to the cross-sectional area of the rear channel is 0.05-0.
69.
4. The bubble breaking and overflow prevention device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the front channel to that of the rear channel is 1-2.
5. The bubble breaking and overflow prevention device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an inlet, and the negative pressure generated by the contraction channel causes the gas outside the exhaust channel to be introduced into the exhaust channel through the inlet.
6. The bubble breaking and overflow prevention device according to claim 5, characterized in that: It comprises an introduction pipe with one end connected to the introduction port and the other end located in the external atmosphere, and the cross-sectional area of the introduction pipe is between the minimum cross-sectional area and the maximum cross-sectional area of the contraction channel.
7. The bubble breaking and overflow prevention device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The exhaust pipe forms the exhaust passage, the inlet is opened on the exhaust pipe, one end of the inlet is connected to the mixing chamber, and the other end is connected to the exhaust passage.
8. The bubble breaking and overflow prevention device according to claim 5, characterized in that: It includes a contraction section that forms the contraction channel, the steam outlet of the contraction section extends into the rear channel, the inlet is connected to the rear channel, the rear channel has an upstream side and a downstream side bounded by the position of the air outlet of the contraction section, the inlet is located on the upstream side of the rear channel, and the cross-sectional area of the upstream side is greater than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the inlet.
9. The bubble breaking and overflow prevention device according to claim 1, characterized in that: It comprises a front exhaust pipe forming the front channel, wherein the front exhaust pipe has a first air outlet section and a second air outlet section, and the air flow directions of the first air outlet section and the second air outlet section are different.
10. A cooking utensil, characterized in that: include: A pot body, wherein the pot body is provided with a heating device and a receiving cavity; An inner liner is arranged in the accommodating cavity, and the heating device can heat the inner liner; A cover body, the cover body covering the pot body or the inner pot; The cover body is provided with a bubble breaking and overflow prevention device as described in any one of claims 1-9.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Jet type bubble breaker and cooking utensil
CN113995319A