Cooking utensil
By combining fixed and floating heating elements in the cooking appliance, and utilizing elastic elements and limiting structures, the problem of poor contact of the floating heating element when the lid is open or the contents are small is solved, achieving efficient and uniform heat transfer and safe cooking results.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-07
AI Technical Summary
When cooking with the lid off or when the contents are small, the floating heating element of existing cooking appliances cannot fit tightly against the bottom of the inner pot, resulting in incomplete heat transfer, which affects the heating effect, cooking time, energy consumption, and even the quality of food.
Design a cooking appliance that uses a heating assembly combining a fixed heating element and a floating heating element. The floating heating element can be adaptively adjusted in height through a first elastic element to ensure that it can fit tightly against the inner pot in different states. The floating connection of the thermostat and the second elastic element limits the movement range of the floating heating element and prevents safety hazards.
This design ensures that the floating heating element can maintain stable contact with the inner pot when cooking with the lid open or when the contents are small, ensuring efficient and even heat transfer, improving cooking efficiency and safety, and avoiding increased energy consumption and decreased food quality due to poor contact.
Smart Images
Figure CN224085073U_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The utility model relates to domestic appliance technical field, especially cooking utensil. BACKGROUND
[0002] In the design and development of cooking utensils, in order to improve heating efficiency and uniformity, the combination of floating heating parts and fixed heating parts is often used. The floating heating parts can float up and down according to the weight or volume of the contents in the inner pot to adapt to different cooking needs. When there are more contents, the floating heating parts will be effectively pressed down and tightly contact the bottom of the inner pot, and the fixed heating parts also heat the inner pot from below, thereby realizing omnidirectional and efficient heat transfer. However, with the diversification of cooking methods, open-cooking has become a common cooking method. When the user chooses open-cooking or there are fewer contents in the inner pot, the floating heating parts may not be able to get enough downward pressure, resulting in their inability to tightly adhere to the bottom of the inner pot. In this case, the inner pot can only contact the floating heating parts, and cannot form an effective heat transfer path with the fixed heating parts below. This incomplete contact state can seriously affect the heating effect of the heat source, leading to longer cooking time, increased energy consumption, and even affecting the cooking quality and taste of the food. SUMMARY
[0003] The present application aims to at least solve one of the technical problems in the related art. To this end, the present application provides a cooking utensil.
[0004] The cooking utensil according to the embodiments of the present application comprises:
[0005] An outer pot is provided with a mounting cavity;
[0006] An inner pot is movably assembled in the mounting cavity;
[0007] A heating assembly is arranged between the outer pot and the inner pot, and the heating assembly comprises a fixed heating part, a floating heating part and a first elastic part. The fixed heating part is fixedly connected to the outer pot, and the fixed heating part has a first heating surface. The floating heating part is floatingly connected to the outer pot through the first elastic part, and the floating heating part has a second heating surface,
[0008] When the inner pot is assembled in the mounting cavity by its own weight, the floating heating part is in a first position, and in the first position, the first heating surface and the second heating surface both abut against the inner pot,
[0009] When the inner pot is disassembled from the mounting cavity, the floating heating part is in a second position.
[0010] According to the cooking utensil provided in the embodiments of the present application, when the user selects to open the cover to cook or the content in the inner pot is less, the floating heating element can be self-adaptively adjusted in height, and the requirement of simultaneously heating the inner pot by the fixed heating element and the floating heating element can be met. The floating heating element is in the first position under the action of the first elastic element. In the first position, the first heating surface and the second heating surface are in close abutment with the inner pot, and it is ensured that the heat can be efficiently and uniformly transmitted to the inner pot.
[0011] According to an embodiment of the present application, the longitudinal stiffness k of the first elastic element satisfies: k(L-H)K > m1g;
[0012] Wherein, k is the longitudinal stiffness of the first elastic element, L is the original length of the first elastic element, H is the length of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the second position, K is the number of the first elastic element, m1 is the mass of the floating heating element, and g is the acceleration of gravity.
[0013] According to an embodiment of the present application, the longitudinal stiffness k of the first elastic element satisfies: k(L-H+h1)K < (m1+m2)g;
[0014] Wherein, k is the longitudinal stiffness of the first elastic element, L is the original length of the first elastic element, H is the length of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the second position, h1 is the length difference of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the first position and the second position, K is the number of the first elastic element, m1 is the mass of the floating heating element, m2 is the mass of the inner pot, and g is the acceleration of gravity.
[0015] According to an embodiment of the present application, the heating assembly further comprises a temperature controller and a second elastic element, the temperature controller is floatingly connected to the outer pot through the second elastic element, and in the first position, the first heating surface, the second heating surface and the temperature controller are in abutment with the inner pot.
[0016] According to an embodiment of the present application, the longitudinal stiffness k of the first elastic element satisfies: k(L-H+h1)K < (m1+m2)g-f;
[0017] Wherein, k is the longitudinal stiffness of the first elastic element, L is the original length of the first elastic element, H is the length of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the second position, h1 is the length difference of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the first position and the second position, K is the number of the first elastic element, m1 is the mass of the floating heating element, m2 is the mass of the inner pot, g is the acceleration of gravity, and f is the elastic force of the second elastic element when the floating heating element is in the first position.
[0018] According to one embodiment of this application, when the inner pot is assembled into the mounting cavity by external constraints, the floating heating element is in a third position, in which both the first heating surface and the second heating surface abut against the inner pot, and the third position is at the same height as the first position.
[0019] According to one embodiment of this application, the fixed heating element is provided with a first limiting structure, and the floating heating element is provided with a second limiting structure. The first limiting structure is provided in the moving direction of the floating heating element. When the floating heating element floats, the first limiting structure is provided below the second limiting structure. When the second limiting structure abuts against the first limiting structure, the floating heating element stops moving.
[0020] According to one embodiment of this application, the first elastic element is a helical compression spring, and the maximum working stroke of the floating heating element satisfies: H-L1>dN;
[0021] Where H is the length of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the second position, L1 is the distance between the first limiting structure and the second limiting structure when the floating heating element is in the second position, d is the spring wire diameter, and N is the number of spring coils.
[0022] According to one embodiment of this application, the floating heating element includes a heating element body and a mounting post. The mounting post is connected to the heating element body. The outer pot is provided with a mounting hole. The mounting post is installed in the mounting hole by a fastener. The first elastic member is sleeved on the mounting post. The first end of the first elastic member abuts against the heating element body, and the second end of the first elastic member abuts against the outer pot.
[0023] The opening diameter of the mounting hole is greater than the outer diameter of the mounting post, and the opening diameter of the mounting hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the first elastic element.
[0024] According to one embodiment of this application, both the fixed heating element and the floating heating element are disposed at the bottom of the mounting cavity, with the floating heating element surrounding the fixed heating element.
[0025] or,
[0026] Both the fixed heating element and the floating heating element are located at the bottom of the mounting cavity, with the fixed heating element surrounding the floating heating element.
[0027] And / or, the fixed heating element and the floating heating element are two parts obtained by splitting the heat plate.
[0028] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description
[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or related technologies of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cooking appliance provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0031] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the cooking appliance provided in this application embodiment, with the floating heating element in the inner pot removed and positioned in the second position.
[0032] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A partially enlarged structural diagram of section A of the cooking appliance provided in the embodiment.
[0033] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the original length dimensions of the first elastic element of the cooking appliance provided in the embodiment when the floating heating element is in the second position.
[0034] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the cooking appliance provided in this application embodiment, with the floating heating element in the inner pot removed and positioned in the first position.
[0035] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A partially enlarged structural diagram of section B of the cooking appliance provided in the embodiment.
[0036] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the length of the first elastic element of the cooking appliance provided in the embodiment when the floating heating element is in the first position.
[0037] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the cooking appliance provided in this application embodiment, with the floating heating element in the inner pot removed and positioned in the fourth position.
[0038] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 A partially enlarged structural diagram of section C of the cooking appliance provided in the embodiment.
[0039] Figure 10 yes Figure 8 A schematic diagram showing the dimensions of the travel distance L1 of the floating heating element of the cooking appliance provided in the embodiment when it is in the fourth position.
[0040] Figure 11This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the floating heating element in the fourth position according to an embodiment of this application.
[0041] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the floating heating element in the fourth position according to another embodiment of this application.
[0042] Figure label:
[0043] 100. Outer pot; 101. Mounting cavity;
[0044] 200. Inner pot;
[0045] 300. Heating assembly; 310. Fixed heating element; 311. First heating surface; 312. First limiting structure; 313. First chamfer; 314. First stepped surface; 315. First limiting surface; 320. Floating heating element; 321. Second heating surface; 322. Second limiting structure; 323. Heating element body; 324. Mounting post; 325. Second chamfer; 326. Second stepped surface; 330. First elastic element;
[0046] 400. Thermostat;
[0047] 500. Second elastic element. Detailed Implementation
[0048] The embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate this application, but should not be used to limit the scope of this application.
[0049] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application. In addition, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
[0050] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections or detachable connections, wherein a fixed connection can include an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application based on the specific circumstances.
[0051] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
[0052] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiments of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.
[0053] The following is combined with Figures 1 to 12 Describes the cooking appliance of this application.
[0054] Please refer to the cooking utensils proposed in the embodiments of this application. Figures 1 to 7 The cooking appliance includes an outer pot 100, an inner pot 200, and a heating component 300. The outer pot 100 has a mounting cavity 101. The inner pot 200 is movably assembled into the mounting cavity 101. The heating component 300 is located between the outer pot 100 and the inner pot 200. The heating component 300 includes a fixed heating element 310, a floating heating element 320, and a first elastic element 330. The fixed heating element 310 is fixedly connected to the outer pot 100 and has a first heating surface 311. The floating heating element 320 is floatingly connected to the outer pot 100 through the first elastic element 330 and has a second heating surface 321. When the inner pot 200 is assembled into the mounting cavity 101 by its own weight, the floating heating element 320 is in a first position. In the first position, both the first heating surface 311 and the second heating surface 321 abut against the inner pot 200. When the inner pot 200 is disassembled from the mounting cavity 101, the floating heating element 320 is in a second position.
[0055] According to the cooking appliance of this application embodiment, when the user chooses to cook with the lid off or when the contents of the inner pot 200 are small, the floating heating element 320 can adaptively adjust its height to meet the need for simultaneous heating of the inner pot 200 by the fixed heating element 310 and the floating heating element 320. The floating heating element 320 is in a first position under the action of the first elastic element 330. In the first position, both the first heating surface 311 and the second heating surface 321 are in close contact with the inner pot 200, ensuring that heat can be efficiently and evenly transferred to the inner pot 200. When the inner pot 200 is removed from the mounting cavity 101, the floating heating element 320 automatically rises to a second position under the action of the first elastic element 330.
[0056] In some embodiments, the fixed heating element 310 may be fixedly connected to the bottom or side wall of the outer pot 100, or it may be fixedly connected to the transition wall surface between the bottom and side wall of the outer pot 100. Similarly, the floating heating element 320 may be fixedly connected to the bottom or side wall of the outer pot 100, or it may be fixedly connected to the transition wall surface between the bottom and side wall of the outer pot 100.
[0057] Specifically, in some embodiments, reference is made to Figure 2 and Figure 3 When both the fixed heating element 310 and the floating heating element 320 are located at the bottom of the outer pot 100, the second heating surface 321 is higher than the first heating surface 311 when the floating heating element 320 is in the second position.
[0058] Of course, in addition to the embodiments mentioned above, when the fixed heating element 310 and the floating heating element 320 are located in other positions of the outer pot 100, it is also possible to achieve that when the floating heating element 320 is in the second position, the second heating surface 321 is higher than the first heating surface 311. This will not be elaborated on here.
[0059] According to one embodiment of this application, the longitudinal stiffness k of the first elastic element 330 satisfies: k(LH)K>m1g; where k represents the longitudinal stiffness of the first elastic element 330, L is the original length of the first elastic element 330, H is the length of the first elastic element 330 when the floating heating element 320 is in the second position, K is the number of the first elastic elements 330, indicating how many elastic elements jointly support the floating heating element 320, m1 is the mass of the floating heating element 320, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. When the inner pot is disassembled from the mounting cavity, the first elastic element can support and hold the floating heating element in the second position.
[0060] According to one embodiment of this application, the longitudinal stiffness k of the first elastic element 330 satisfies: k(L-H+h1)K<(m1+m2)g. This formula indicates that the self-weight of the inner pot 200 is sufficient to overcome the elastic force of the first elastic element 330, causing the floating heating element 320 to move to the first position, ensuring that both the floating heating element 320 and the fixed heating element 310 are in close contact with the inner pot 200. Wherein, k is the longitudinal stiffness of the first elastic element 330, L is the original length of the first elastic element 330, H is the length of the first elastic element 330 when the floating heating element 320 is in the second position, h1 is the length difference between the first elastic element and the second position when the floating heating element is in the first position, H-h1 is the length of the first elastic element 330 when the floating heating element 320 is in the first position (i.e., the length of the first elastic element 330 after being compressed by the inner pot 200), K is the number of first elastic elements 330, m1 is the mass of the floating heating element 320, m2 is the mass of the inner pot 200, and g is the gravitational acceleration.
[0061] According to one embodiment of this application, the heating assembly 300 includes a thermostat 400 and a second elastic element 500. The thermostat 400 is floatingly connected to the outer pot 100 through the second elastic element 500. In a first position, the first heating surface 311, the second heating surface 321 and the thermostat 400 all abut against the inner pot 200.
[0062] The thermostat 400 can be used to monitor temperature changes during the heating process of the inner pot 200 and cut off the power when the preset temperature is reached to prevent safety hazards caused by overheating. In this embodiment, the thermostat 400 is floatingly connected to the outer pot 100 via a second elastic element 500. The thermostat 400 maintains a certain degree of floating during the assembly of the inner pot 200 into the receiving cavity, thereby better conforming to the inner pot 200 and ensuring measurement accuracy. The second elastic element 500 provides the necessary support force and also allows the thermostat 400 a certain amount of displacement space during heating, further improving the stability and reliability of the measurement.
[0063] In the first position, when the inner pot 200 is assembled into the mounting cavity 101 by its own weight, the first heating surface 311 and the second heating surface 321 of the floating heating element 320 are both in close contact with the bottom and side wall (or designated heating area) of the inner pot 200. Simultaneously, the thermostat 400 is also in contact with the inner pot 200 through the action of the second elastic element 500. The thermostat 400 can accurately monitor the temperature changes of the inner pot 200 and promptly cut off the power to prevent overheating.
[0064] According to one embodiment of this application, the longitudinal stiffness k of the first elastic member 330 satisfies: k(L-H+h1)K<(m1+m2)gf, to ensure that the floating heating member 320 can stably descend to the first position under the combined action of the inner pot 200 and the second elastic member 500, and make close contact with the inner pot 200; wherein, k is the longitudinal stiffness of the first elastic member 330, L is the original length of the first elastic member 330, H is the length of the first elastic member 330 when the floating heating member 320 is in the second position, h1 is the length difference of the first elastic member when the floating heating member is in the first position and the second position, H-h1 is the length of the first elastic member 330 when the floating heating member 320 is in the first position, K is the number of the first elastic members 330, m1 is the mass of the floating heating member 320, m2 is the mass of the inner pot 200, g is the gravitational acceleration, and f is the elastic force of the second elastic member 500 when the floating heating member 320 is in the first position.
[0065] According to one embodiment of this application, when the inner pot 200 is assembled into the mounting cavity by external constraints, the floating heating element 320 is in a third position. In the third position, both the first heating surface 311 and the second heating surface 321 abut against the inner pot, and the third position and the first position are at the same height.
[0066] It is understandable that the external constraint can be the squeezing force of the lid on the inner pot 200 when the lid of the cooking appliance is closed on the pot body of the cooking appliance, so that the inner pot 200 can be lowered to the third position, ensuring that the first heating surface 311 and the second heating surface 321 are both in contact with the inner pot 200.
[0067] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the fixed heating element 310 is provided with a first limiting structure 312, and the floating heating element 320 is provided with a second limiting structure 322. When the floating heating element 320 floats, the first limiting structure 312 is located on the side of the second limiting structure 322 facing away from the inner pot 200. When the second limiting structure 322 abuts against the first limiting structure 312, the floating heating element 320 stops moving. This is equivalent to the first limiting structure 312 restricting the movement limit position of the second limiting structure 322.
[0068] According to one embodiment of this application, the first elastic element is a helical compression spring, and the maximum working stroke of the floating heating element 320 satisfies: H-L1>dN; where H is the length of the first elastic element 330 when the floating heating element 320 is in the second position, L1 is the distance between the first limiting structure 312 and the second limiting structure 322 when the floating heating element 320 is in the second position, d is the spring wire diameter, and N is the number of spring coils.
[0069] By precisely calculating the maximum working stroke, this embodiment effectively prevents safety hazards caused by excessive compression or collision of the floating heating element 320 during movement. The reasonable stroke design ensures that the floating heating element 320 can stably contact the inner pot 200, thereby achieving efficient heat transfer and uniform cooking results. It is understood that even if the floating heating element 320 moves downwards to its extreme position (the position where the first limiting structure and the second limiting structure abut, which can be referred to...), it will still pose a safety hazard. Figure 10 The space left for the first elastic element is sufficient to accommodate it, and there will be no problem of the first elastic element being compressed.
[0070] According to one embodiment of this application, the floating heating element 320 includes a heating element body 323 and a mounting post 324. The mounting post 324 is connected to the heating element body 323. The outer pot 100 is provided with a mounting hole. The mounting post 324 is installed in the mounting hole by fasteners. A first elastic element 330 is sleeved on the mounting post 324. The first end of the first elastic element 330 abuts against the heating element body 323, and the second end of the first elastic element 330 abuts against the outer pot 100.
[0071] Understandably, the mounting post 324 is connected to the heating element body 323 and is used to fix the heating element body 323 to the outer pot 100. The mounting post 324 can be cylindrical, square, or other shapes. Fasteners are used to fix the mounting post 324 in the mounting holes of the outer pot 100. Common fasteners include bolts, nuts, screws, etc.
[0072] The first elastic element 330 is sleeved on the mounting post 324 and located between the heating element body 323 and the outer pot 100. The first elastic element 330 may be made of a spring (e.g., a coil spring), a rubber pad, or other elastic material.
[0073] The first end of the first elastic member 330 abuts against the heating element body 323, and the second end abuts against the outer pot 100. In this way, when the heating element body 323 floats due to thermal expansion or changes in the weight of the inner pot 200, the first elastic member 330 can provide the necessary elasticity and cushioning to prevent the heating element body 323 from colliding hard with the outer pot 100.
[0074] According to one embodiment of this application, the opening diameter of the mounting hole is greater than the outer diameter of the mounting post 324, and the opening diameter of the mounting hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the first elastic member 330.
[0075] In this embodiment, the opening diameter of the mounting hole is larger than the outer diameter of the mounting post 324. The mounting post 324 can be smoothly inserted into the mounting hole without causing installation difficulties or damage to components due to excessive tightness. The outer diameter of the first elastic member 330 is larger than the opening diameter of the mounting hole. During installation, the first elastic member 330 can be compressed and locked at the opening of the mounting hole, thereby providing the necessary elasticity and cushioning effect.
[0076] In one embodiment, the floating heating element 320 is designed with a bolt post for accommodating a helical spring (first elastic element 330) that provides elasticity. The inner diameter of the helical spring is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bolt post. When assembling the floating heating element 320 with the outer pot 100, the bottom of the outer pot 100 has a mounting hole with an opening size slightly larger than the outer diameter of the bolt post but smaller than the outer diameter of the helical spring. This confines the helical spring between the bottom surface of the flat bolt post and the inner side of the outer pot 100. When installing the floating heating element 320, slightly pressing it down allows the bolt post to extend out of the outer pot 100, serving both as a guide and positioning element for the floating heating element 320 and facilitating the insertion of the flat bolt. The maximum diameter of the head of this flat bolt should be larger than the opening diameter of the outer pot 100 to limit the upward movement of the movable plate. After installation, in its natural state, the bottom surface of the flat bolt head is at the same height as the bottom surface of the outer pot 100 and the bottom surface of the bolt post. The spring is in a compressed state, and its length in this state is denoted as H.
[0077] At this time, the floating heating element 320 is in the initial installation position. The floating heating element 320 is subjected to its own gravity and the pre-tightening force generated by the installation compression of the helical spring. In this state, the spring support force at the installation position should be greater than or equal to the weight of the floating heating element 320, so that the floating heating element 320 is high enough to ensure that the inner pot 200 contacts the floating heating element 320 first after being placed in, and then contacts the fixed plate after being fully pressed down.
[0078] The longitudinal stiffness of the spring should satisfy the following condition: k(LH)K>m1g. Wherein, k is the longitudinal stiffness of the first elastic element 330, L is the original length of the first elastic element, H is the length of the first elastic element 330 when the floating heating element 320 is in the second position, K is the number of the first elastic elements 330, m1 is the mass of the floating heating element 320, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
[0079] When the cooking appliance is in operation such as cooking rice, the lid restricts the inner pot 200. The downward pressure of the lid ensures that the inner pot 200 moves downward a sufficient distance. At this point, after the floating heating element 320 has moved downward a distance h1, the floating heating element 320 and the fixed plate simultaneously contact the bottom of the inner pot 200. Figure 4 , Figure 7 and Figure 10 As shown.
[0080] However, when the appliance is cooking with the lid off, if the pot is light and the contents are small, the inner pot 200 may not generate enough downward force to allow the floating heating element 320 to move sufficiently. Therefore, when the floating heating element 320 is in this position, the supporting force it experiences, that is, the spring supporting force of the floating structure, must be less than the additional downward pressure generated by the inner pot 200 in order for the floating heating element 320 to move sufficiently even when the inner pot 200 is empty. The longitudinal stiffness of the spring in the floating structure must also satisfy the following condition: k(L-H+h1)K<(m1+m2)gf; where k is the longitudinal stiffness of the first elastic element 330, L is the original length of the first elastic element 330, H is the length of the first elastic element 330 when the floating heating element 320 is in the second position, h1 is the length difference of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the first position and the second position, H-h1 is the length of the first elastic element 330 when the floating heating element 320 is in the first position, K is the number of the first elastic elements 330, m1 is the mass of the floating heating element 320, m2 is the mass of the inner pot 200, g is the gravitational acceleration, and f is the elastic force of the second elastic element 500 when the floating heating element 320 is in the first position.
[0081] Please refer to the cooking utensils proposed in the embodiments of this application. Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 12 The cooking appliance includes an outer pot 100, an inner pot 200, and a heating element 300. The outer pot 100 is provided with a mounting cavity 101; the inner pot 200 is movably assembled in the mounting cavity 101; the heating assembly 300 is disposed between the outer pot 100 and the inner pot 200, and the heating assembly 300 includes a fixed heating element 310, a floating heating element 320 and a first elastic element 330; the floating heating element 320 is buoyant relative to the fixed heating element 310 by means of the first elastic element 330, the first elastic element 330 is used to provide the floating heating element 320 with an elastic force toward the inner pot 200, and both the fixed heating element 310 and the floating heating element 320 are used to heat the inner pot 200; the fixed heating element 310 is provided with a first limiting structure 312, and the floating heating element 320 is provided with a second limiting structure 322. When the floating heating element 320 floats, the first limiting structure 312 is disposed on the side of the second limiting structure 322 facing away from the inner pot 200. When the second limiting structure 322 abuts against the first limiting structure 312, the floating heating element 320 stops moving.
[0082] According to the embodiments of this application, the movement range of the floating heating element 320 is effectively controlled through the cooperation of the first limiting structure 312 and the second limiting structure 322, avoiding abnormal situations such as detachment or misalignment caused by excessive floating of the floating heating element 320. This design effectively eliminates potential safety hazards that the floating heating element 320 may cause to other components of the cooking appliance, such as electrical short circuits, localized overheating, mechanical damage, or the risk of users coming into contact with high-temperature parts. At the same time, the stable operation of the floating heating element 320 also ensures heating uniformity, improving cooking results and equipment reliability.
[0083] Understandably, the outer pot 100 is the outer structure of the cooking utensil, and it has a mounting cavity 101 to accommodate the inner pot 200 and the heating element 300. The outer pot 100 can be made of a high-temperature resistant and corrosion-resistant metal. The inner pot 200 is movably fitted into the mounting cavity 101 of the outer pot 100, facilitating the user's loading and unloading of food. The inner pot 200 can also be made of a high-temperature resistant and corrosion-resistant metal, and its surface may have a non-stick coating to reduce friction between food and the inner pot 200, making it easier to clean.
[0084] A heating element 300 is positioned between the outer pot 100 and the inner pot 200, responsible for providing the heat required for cooking. The heating element 300 includes a fixed heating element 310, a floating heating element 320, and a first elastic element 330. The fixed heating element 310 is fixedly connected to the outer pot 100, providing a stable heat source. The floating heating element 320 is floatingly connected to the outer pot 100 via the first elastic element 330, and can float up and down according to the weight or volume of the contents in the inner pot 200. The first elastic element 330 serves as an elastic element connecting the floating heating element 320 and the outer pot 100. The first elastic element 330 can be a spring or elastic sheet, possessing characteristics such as good elasticity and high-temperature resistance. Through the elastic action of the first elastic element 330, the floating heating element 320 can flexibly float up and down, adapting to the cooking needs of different ingredients.
[0085] The first limiting structure 312 is disposed on the fixed heating element 310 to limit the movement range of the floating heating element 320. The first limiting structure 312 can be in the form of a protrusion, boss, or slot, and can reliably abut against the second limiting structure 322. The second limiting structure 322 is disposed on the floating heating element 320. When the floating heating element 320 floats to a certain position, it abuts against the first limiting structure 312, thereby stopping its movement. The second limiting structure 322 can also be in the form of a protrusion, boss, or slot, and matches the first limiting structure 312.
[0086] In the cooking appliance of this application embodiment, the first limiting structure 312 and the second limiting structure 322 ensure that the movement range of the floating heating element 320 is effectively controlled, reducing the possibility of safety hazards caused by the failure of the first elastic element 330 leading to the floating heating element 320 contacting other parts of the cooking appliance.
[0087] In practical use, if the first elastic element fails, the floating heating element 320 may lose contact with the fixed heating element 310. Simultaneously, without heat conduction from the inner pot, the temperature sensor on the fixed heating element 310 will be unable to detect the temperature of the floating heating element 320. In this situation, even if the floating heating element 320 is at a high temperature due to continuous heating, the temperature sensor will not be able to detect its temperature change, thus failing to trigger the overheat protection mechanism. This scenario poses significant safety hazards, such as the risk of fire caused by overheating of the floating heating element 320, or damage to internal components of the cooking appliance.
[0088] Therefore, the embodiments of this application, through the design of the first limiting structure 312 and the second limiting structure 322, not only limit the movement range of the floating heating element 320, but also indirectly ensure the contact stability between the floating heating element 320 and the fixed heating element 310, thereby ensuring that the temperature measuring element can accurately detect the temperature and avoid safety hazards caused by temperature detection failure. At the same time, this design further improves the overall safety and reliability of the cooking appliance.
[0089] According to one embodiment of this application, the fixed heating element 310 is fixedly connected to the outer pot 100, and the first elastic element 330 is connected between the floating heating element 320 and the outer pot 100.
[0090] The fixed heating element 310 is fixedly connected to the outer pot 100, providing a stable heat source. The floating heating element 320 is floatingly connected to the outer pot 100 via a first elastic element 330, and can float up and down according to the weight or volume of the contents in the inner pot 200. The first elastic element 330 serves as an elastic element connecting the floating heating element 320 and the outer pot 100. The first elastic element 330 can be a spring or elastic sheet, etc., and has the characteristics of good elasticity and high temperature resistance. Through the elastic action of the first elastic element 330, the floating heating element 320 can flexibly float up and down to adapt to the cooking needs of different ingredients.
[0091] According to one embodiment of this application, the fixed heating element 310 is provided with a first heating surface 311, and the floating heating element 320 is provided with a second heating surface 321. When the inner pot 200 is assembled into the mounting cavity 101 by its own weight, the floating heating element 320 is in a first position. In the first position, both the first heating surface 311 and the second heating surface 321 abut against the inner pot 200. When the inner pot 200 is disassembled from the mounting cavity 101, the floating heating element 320 is in a second position. In the second position, the second heating surface 321 is higher than the first heating surface 311. When the second limiting structure 322 abuts against the first limiting structure 312, the floating heating element 320 is in a fourth position. The first limiting structure 312 of the fixed heating element 310 can prevent the floating heating element 320 from descending further, while ensuring that the floating heating element 320 and the fixed heating element 310 remain in contact. In the event of failure of the elastic element (which could lead to high temperatures), the first limiting structure 312 of the fixed heating element 310 can prevent the floating heating element 320 from descending further, ensuring that the floating heating element 320 remains in contact with the fixed heating element 310. This contact allows the heat from the floating heating element 320 to be transferred to the temperature control device through the fixed heating element 310, thereby achieving precise control of the heating process.
[0092] When the inner pot 200 is assembled into the mounting cavity 101, the first heating surface 311 is in close contact with the bottom of the inner pot 200, thereby achieving direct heating of the inner pot 200. The floating heating element 320 can automatically adjust its position according to the assembly and disassembly status of the inner pot 200. When the inner pot 200 is assembled, the second heating surface 321 is also in close contact with the bottom of the inner pot 200, working together with the first heating surface 311 to achieve comprehensive heating of the inner pot 200. In the event of failure of the first elastic element 330, the floating heating element 320 is in the fourth position, with the second heating surface 321 lower than the first heating surface 311, preventing the second heating surface 321 from heating the inner pot 200.
[0093] According to one embodiment of this application, the first limiting structure 312 extends outward relative to the fixed heating element 310, and the second limiting structure 322 extends outward relative to the floating heating element 320.
[0094] The first limiting structure 312 extends outward relative to the fixed heating element 310, forming a spatial "lug" structure. The second limiting structure 322 extends outward relative to the floating heating element 320, also forming a spatial "lug" structure. The first limiting structure 312 and the second limiting structure 322 are adapted to be staggered in the moving direction of the floating heating element 320.
[0095] According to one embodiment of this application, the first limiting structure 312 is provided with a first chamfer 313 at a position for abutting against the second limiting structure, and the second limiting structure 322 is adapted to abut against the first chamfer 313.
[0096] Specifically, the upper side of the fixed heating element 310 is provided with a first chamfer 313, and the second limiting structure 322 can accurately abut against the first chamfer 313 of the first limiting structure 312. When the first elastic element 330 fails and cannot support the floating heating element 320, it can limit the movement stroke of the floating heating element 320 and make the floating heating element 320 and the fixed plate come into contact in dangerous situations, so that heat can be transferred to the fixed heating element 310 and the temperature controller 400, preventing the risk from escalating.
[0097] According to one embodiment of this application, the fixed heating element 310 is provided with a first heating surface 311, and the surface used to form a first chamfer 313 and facing the second limiting structure is a first limiting surface 315. The included angle between the first limiting surface 315 and the first heating surface 311 is a preset included angle, which is 30°~60°.
[0098] Understandably, the preset included angle is precisely set to 30°~60° to ensure the strength of the supporting structure.
[0099] The preset included angle can be 30°, 40°, 45°, 50°, or 60°, and there are no specific restrictions here.
[0100] According to one embodiment of this application, a second chamfer 325 is provided on the second limiting structure 322 at the position for abutting against the first limiting structure. The second chamfer 325 is provided corresponding to the first chamfer 313, which ensures the stability and safety between the second limiting structure 322 and the first limiting structure 312.
[0101] In one embodiment, the upper side of the outer circle of the fixed heating element 310 is chamfered at approximately 45°, forming an upward-facing slope on the upper surface of the outer diameter of the fixed heating element 310. Similarly, the lower side of the inner circle of the floating heating element 320 is chamfered at approximately 45°, forming a downward-facing slope on the lower surface of the inner diameter of the floating heating element 320, opposite to the upper surface of the outer diameter of the fixed heating element 310. This ensures that the outer diameter of the working surface of the fixed heating element 310 is smaller than the inner diameter of the working surface of the floating heating element 320.
[0102] Meanwhile, the chamfer size of the inner diameter of the floating heating element 320 should be smaller than the chamfer size of the outer diameter of the fixed heating element 310, so that when the floating heating element 320 is at its lowest position, its working surface can be lower than the working surface of the fixed heating element 310. This ensures that when the floating heating element 320 is pressed down, the inner pot 200 can contact the floating heating element 320 and the fixed heating element 310 at the same time.
[0103] This structure also has a certain ability to prevent foreign objects from entering. In the natural state where the floating heating element 320 is not pressed down, there is a certain height difference between the two plates, and their opposing surfaces can form a certain gap to accommodate rice grains or similar foreign objects falling into the outer pot 100, thus preventing them from getting stuck in the gap between the two plates and affecting the contact between the double heating plates and the inner pot 200.
[0104] According to one embodiment of this application, the first limiting structure extends outward relative to the fixed heating element, and the second limiting structure extends outward relative to the floating heating element; the first limiting structure 312 has a first stepped surface 314 at a position for abutting against the second limiting structure, and the second limiting structure 322 has a second stepped surface 326 at a position for abutting against the first limiting structure, the second stepped surface 326 being adapted to abut against the first stepped surface 314.
[0105] The first stepped surface 314 is provided on the first limiting structure 312, forming an effective contact surface with the second stepped surface 326, thereby enhancing the stability and reliability of the limiting structure. The second stepped surface 326 is provided on the second limiting structure 322, corresponding to the first stepped surface 314. The design of the second stepped surface 326 should ensure that after the failure of the first elastic element 330, the second stepped surface 326 can smoothly abut against the first stepped surface 314, thereby forming a stable limiting relationship.
[0106] According to one embodiment of this application, the first limiting structure 312 and the fixed heating element 310 are integrally formed. In this embodiment, the fixed heating element 310 and the first limiting structure 312 are processed by integral molding technology, ensuring a tight connection and overall strength between the two. This design improves the stability and safety of the heating assembly 300, enabling the first limiting structure 312 to better withstand the stress and impact generated by the second limiting structure 322 on the first limiting structure 312 after the floating heating element 320 fails in the first elastic element 330.
[0107] According to one embodiment of this application, the second limiting structure 322 and the floating heating element 320 are integrally formed. In this embodiment, the floating heating element 320 and the second limiting structure 322 are processed by integral molding technology, ensuring a tight connection and overall strength between the two. This design improves the stability and safety of the heating assembly 300, enabling the second limiting structure 322 to better withstand the stress and impact generated by the second limiting structure 322 on the first limiting structure 312 after the failure of the first elastic element 330.
[0108] In some embodiments, the fixed heating element and the floating heating element are two parts obtained by splitting a heat plate. Generally, the heat plate is disc-shaped, and the fixed heating element and the floating heating element can be distinguished by an inner and outer arrangement, that is, one of the fixed heating element and the floating heating element is arranged around the other. The fixed heating element and the floating heating element can also be distinguished by a fan-shaped arrangement, that is, divided by two radii passing through the center of the heat plate to form two heating zones, which are used as the fixed heating element and the floating heating element respectively.
[0109] According to one embodiment of this application, a fixed heating element 310 and a floating heating element 320 are disposed at the bottom of the mounting cavity 101, with the floating heating element 320 surrounding the fixed heating element 310. In this embodiment, the fixed heating element 310 is located at the center, while the floating heating element 320 is distributed around the periphery of the fixed heating element 310. Since the floating heating element 320 can cover a wider heating area, this design helps to improve heating efficiency and make the heat more evenly distributed on the bottom of the cooking appliance.
[0110] According to one embodiment of this application, a fixed heating element 310 and a floating heating element 320 are disposed at the bottom of the mounting cavity 101, with the fixed heating element 310 surrounding the floating heating element 320. In this embodiment, the floating heating element 320 is located at the center, while the fixed heating element 310 is distributed around the periphery of the floating heating element 320.
[0111] In one embodiment, the thermostat 400, the fixed heating element 310, and the floating heating element 320 are all located at the bottom of the mounting cavity 101. The fixed heating element 310 is arranged around the thermostat 400, and the floating heating element 320 is arranged around the fixed heating element 310.
[0112] In this embodiment, the thermostat 400 can be used to detect the temperature of the fixed heating element 310. When the first limiting structure 312 of the fixed heating element 310 abuts against the second limiting structure 322 of the floating heating element 320, the floating heating element 320 generates a new heat transfer path. In one embodiment, the thermostat 400, the fixed heating element 310, and the floating heating element 320 are all disposed at the bottom of the mounting cavity 101, with the fixed heating element 310 surrounding the thermostat 400 and the floating heating element 320 surrounding the fixed heating element 310.
[0113] In this embodiment, the thermostat 400 can be used to detect the temperature of the fixed heating element 310, which serves as a limiting device for the lower limit of the floating position of the floating heating element 320. If an unexpected situation such as high temperature causes the elasticity of the floating spring to decrease, the floating heating element 320 may fall and fail to contact the inner pot 200. The increased temperature of the floating heating element 320 further exacerbates the decrease in spring elasticity. At this point, the risk to the floating heating element 320 increases until it falls to contact the fixed heating element 310, creating a new heat transfer path. This transfers the heat from the floating heating element 320 to the fixed heating element 310 and the thermostat 400, controlling the heating process and preventing greater danger.
[0114] According to one embodiment of this application, there are multiple first elastic elements 330, which are evenly distributed between the floating heating element 320 and the outer pot 100.
[0115] In this embodiment, multiple first elastic elements 330 are used to support and buffer the floating heating element 320. These elastic elements are evenly distributed between the floating heating element 320 and the outer pot 100 to ensure that the floating heating element 320 can float smoothly and be subjected to uniform force in all directions.
[0116] According to one embodiment of this application, the cooking appliance further includes a thermostat 400, which is in contact with the fixed heating element 310 and is used to detect the temperature of the fixed heating element 310.
[0117] The function of the thermostat 400 is to ensure that the heating process is within a safe and controllable range by monitoring the temperature change of the fixed heating element 310 in real time. When the temperature of the fixed heating element 310 exceeds the preset threshold, the thermostat 400 will trigger a protection mechanism, such as cutting off the power or reducing the heating power, thereby avoiding safety hazards caused by overheating, such as equipment damage, fire risk, or user burns.
[0118] Furthermore, the design of the thermostat 400 further enhances the intelligent functions of the cooking appliance. Through precise temperature detection and control, the thermostat 400 optimizes heating efficiency, ensures even heating of food, and improves cooking results. Simultaneously, the direct contact design between the thermostat 400 and the fixed heating element 310 allows for rapid response to temperature changes, improving the accuracy and real-time nature of temperature detection, and providing greater safety and reliability for the cooking process.
[0119] According to one embodiment of this application, the cooking appliance further includes a thermostat 400, wherein the fixed heating element 310 provides heat to the inner pot 200 by abutting against the inner pot 200, the temperature sensing part of the thermostat 400 is spaced apart from the fixed heating element 310, the thermostat 400 is used to detect the temperature of the inner pot 200, and the floating heating element 320 is spaced apart from the inner pot 200 when the second limiting part abuts against the first limiting part.
[0120] The temperature sensing part of the thermostat 400 is spaced apart from the fixed heating element 310. This design allows the thermostat 400 to directly detect the temperature of the inner pot 200, rather than the temperature of the fixed heating element 310, thus more accurately reflecting the actual temperature of the inner pot 200 and achieving precise control over the cooking process. When the second limiting part abuts against the first limiting part, the floating heating element 320 maintains a spaced arrangement with the inner pot 200. This design ensures that the floating heating element 320 does not directly contact the inner pot 200, avoiding uneven heating or safety hazards caused by excessive floating or misalignment of the floating heating element 320.
[0121] The thermostat 400 can monitor the cooking status in real time by detecting the temperature of the inner pot 200. When the temperature of the inner pot 200 is too high, the thermostat 400 can trigger a protection mechanism (such as cutting off the power or reducing the heating power) to prevent safety hazards caused by overheating, such as food burning, equipment damage, or fire risk.
[0122] When the second limiting part abuts against the first limiting part, the floating heating element 320 and the inner pot 200 are arranged at intervals to avoid the problem of local overheating that may be caused when the floating heating element 320 directly heats the inner pot 200.
[0123] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate this application and are not intended to limit this application. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various combinations, modifications, or equivalent substitutions of the technical solutions of this application do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this application and should be covered within the scope of the claims of this application.
Claims
1. A cooking utensil, characterized in that, include: The outer pot has an installation cavity; The inner pot is movably fitted into the mounting cavity; A heating assembly is disposed between the outer pot and the inner pot. The heating assembly includes a fixed heating element, a floating heating element, and a first elastic element. The fixed heating element is fixedly connected to the outer pot and has a first heating surface. The floating heating element is buoyantly connected to the outer pot via the first elastic element and has a second heating surface. When the inner pot is assembled into the mounting cavity by its own weight, the floating heating element is in a first position, in which both the first heating surface and the second heating surface abut against the inner pot. With the inner pot removed from the mounting cavity, the floating heating element is in the second position.
2. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The longitudinal stiffness k of the first elastic element satisfies: k(LH)K>m1g; Where k is the longitudinal stiffness of the first elastic element, L is the original length of the first elastic element, H is the length of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the second position, K is the number of the first elastic elements, m1 is the mass of the floating heating element, and g is the gravitational acceleration.
3. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The longitudinal stiffness k of the first elastic element satisfies: k(L-H+h1)K<(m1+m2)g; Where k is the longitudinal stiffness of the first elastic element, L is the original length of the first elastic element, H is the length of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the second position, h1 is the length difference of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the first position and the second position, K is the number of the first elastic elements, m1 is the mass of the floating heating element, m2 is the mass of the inner pot, and g is the gravitational acceleration.
4. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating assembly further includes a thermostat and a second elastic element. The thermostat is floatingly connected to the outer pot through the second elastic element. In the first position, the first heating surface, the second heating surface, and the thermostat all abut against the inner pot.
5. The cooking utensil according to claim 4, characterized in that, The longitudinal stiffness k of the first elastic element satisfies: k(L-H+h1)K<(m1+m2)gf; Where k is the longitudinal stiffness of the first elastic element, L is the original length of the first elastic element, H is the length of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the second position, h1 is the length difference of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the first position and the second position, K is the number of the first elastic elements, m1 is the mass of the floating heating element, m2 is the mass of the inner pot, g is the gravitational acceleration, and f is the elastic force of the second elastic element when the floating heating element is in the first position.
6. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the inner pot is assembled into the mounting cavity by external constraints, the floating heating element is in a third position, in which both the first heating surface and the second heating surface abut against the inner pot, and the third position is at the same height as the first position.
7. The cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed heating element is provided with a first limiting structure, and the floating heating element is provided with a second limiting structure. The first limiting structure is located on the side of the floating heating element facing away from the inner pot (200). When the second limiting structure abuts against the first limiting structure, the floating heating element stops moving.
8. The cooking utensil according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first elastic element is a helical compression spring, and the maximum working stroke of the floating heating element satisfies: H-L1>dN; Where H is the length of the first elastic element when the floating heating element is in the second position, L1 is the distance between the first limiting structure and the second limiting structure when the floating heating element is in the second position, d is the spring wire diameter, and N is the number of spring coils.
9. The cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The floating heating element includes a heating element body and a mounting post. The mounting post is connected to the heating element body. The outer pot has a mounting hole. The mounting post is installed in the mounting hole by fasteners. The first elastic element is sleeved on the mounting post. The first end of the first elastic element abuts against the heating element body, and the second end of the first elastic element abuts against the outer pot. The opening diameter of the mounting hole is larger than the outer diameter of the mounting post, and the opening diameter of the mounting hole is smaller than the outer diameter of the first elastic element.
10. The cooking utensil according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, Both the fixed heating element and the floating heating element are located at the bottom of the mounting cavity, with the floating heating element surrounding the fixed heating element. or, Both the fixed heating element and the floating heating element are located at the bottom of the mounting cavity, with the fixed heating element surrounding the floating heating element. And / or, the fixed heating element and the floating heating element are two parts obtained by splitting the heat plate.