A cooking appliance

Abstract

The application discloses a cooking utensil, which comprises an outer pot and a ceramic inner liner arranged in the outer pot. The ceramic inner liner comprises a bottom wall and a circumferential side wall extending upward from the bottom wall. A plurality of adjacent anti-overflow electrodes are arranged on the ceramic inner liner. The circumferential side wall is provided with through holes matched with the anti-overflow electrodes. Each anti-overflow electrode comprises an electrode probe arranged in the ceramic inner liner and an electrode rod connected with the electrode probe and penetrating through the through hole. The electrode probe forms an electrode cap relative to the electrode rod. The electrode rod is sleeved with a sealing ring. The electrode cap covers the outer circumferential wall of the through hole. The sealing ring is clamped between the electrode cap and the outer circumferential wall of the through hole. Each electrode probe is directed to the geometric center of the section of the ceramic inner liner intersected by the horizontal plane on which the electrode probe is located. The centripetal arrangement of the electrode probes forms a ring-shaped detection array, which realizes multi-angle coverage. The centripetal arrangement of the anti-overflow electrodes makes the distance between the electrode probes and the circumferential side wall symmetrical and consistent along the central axis of the electrode probes, so that the force acting on the sealing ring is symmetrical in all directions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of household appliance technology, specifically relating to a cooking appliance. Background Technology

[0002] As consumers pursue a healthier lifestyle, they often need cooking utensils that can stew for long periods of time to perform functions such as making soup and decocting medicine.

[0003] To ensure a gentle and even temperature during cooking (especially simmering), prevent boiling and bubbling, and maximize the preservation of the broth's clarity and nutrients, these types of cooking utensils often use ceramic inner pots. Specifically, ceramic conducts heat slowly, and its heat absorption and dissipation are relatively mild, allowing it to maintain a more stable temperature after heat is input from the heating plate, preventing localized overheating of the food or boiling and loss of flavor.

[0004] However, ceramics are brittle materials and are sensitive to stress concentration. Therefore, the sidewalls of ceramic liners are generally designed in an arc shape. The arc-shaped sidewalls of ceramic liners can evenly distribute internal and external thermal or mechanical stresses, reducing the risk of cracks caused by localized stress concentration. Compared to right angles or zigzag shapes, arc-shaped structures are more resistant to temperature shocks and mechanical impacts.

[0005] Existing cooking appliances prevent overflow by controlling temperature. Taking electric hot pots with ceramic inner pots as an example, existing electric hot pots generally use a temperature sensor on the outer pot facing the bottom of the ceramic inner pot to detect the temperature at the bottom of the ceramic inner pot. However, because the thermal conductivity of the ceramic inner pot is low, this method has the problems of untimely and inaccurate detection of overflow.

[0006] Patent document CN201810749058.4 discloses a cooking utensil, including a ceramic pot assembly and a temperature sensing device. The ceramic pot assembly includes a ceramic pot and a heat-conducting device. The heat-conducting device has an inserted end and an exposed end. The inserted end is located inside the ceramic pot to obtain the temperature information inside the ceramic pot during cooking, while the exposed end is located outside the ceramic pot. The temperature sensing device is installed on the cooking utensil and is used to detect the temperature of the exposed end of the heat-conducting device. In this technical solution, the heat-conducting device needs to transfer the temperature inside the ceramic pot to the exposed end through the inserted end, and then the temperature sensing device detects the temperature of the exposed end to achieve the final temperature acquisition. This indirect heat conduction method leads to a lag in temperature detection, especially during high-power cooking, where this lag can still easily cause the pot to overflow. Moreover, the technology measures the steam temperature inside the earthenware pot by inserting the probe. The steam temperature often differs from the actual temperature of the food. The measurement value of the probe cannot accurately reflect the actual temperature of the food inside the earthenware pot. For example, when cooking porridge, the steam temperature may be high, but the actual temperature of the food may not have reached the critical value for overflowing. This may lead to misjudgment, prematurely stopping heating, and affecting the cooking effect.

[0007] To improve the accuracy of detection, existing technology discloses an electric slow cooker, which includes a ceramic inner pot and an anti-overflow electrode. The side wall of the ceramic inner pot is provided with a through hole for the anti-overflow electrode to pass through. The detection end of the anti-overflow electrode extends into the interior of the ceramic inner pot, while the output end of the anti-overflow electrode is exposed outside the ceramic inner pot. When the food in the ceramic inner pot boils, it forms water vapor and foam. The detection end of the anti-overflow electrode can contact the rising liquid or foam. Once liquid or foam is detected, a signal can be sent immediately, and the control unit controls the heating device to stop heating, thereby quickly responding to the risk of overflow and effectively preventing liquid from spilling. To prevent liquid from overflowing from the ceramic inner pot through the through-hole, a sealing ring is installed between the anti-overflow electrode and the side wall of the ceramic inner pot. However, the ceramic inner pot has a relatively thick wall, and current manufacturing processes make it difficult to machine countersunk holes or steps to accommodate the sealing ring. Therefore, the sealing ring in this electric slow cooker is sandwiched between the detection end of the anti-overflow electrode and the inner wall of the ceramic inner pot. When using only one anti-overflow electrode, a tight fit between the sealing ring and the side wall of the ceramic inner pot can be achieved by perpendicularly inserting the anti-overflow electrode into the plane of the through-hole, ensuring uniform force distribution. However, a single anti-overflow electrode can only detect a localized liquid level and is less adaptable to complex liquid level changes. Furthermore, to ensure detection accuracy, the installation position of the single anti-overflow electrode is critical, requiring precise installation in areas where the liquid level is likely to rise. Additionally, a single anti-overflow electrode is susceptible to liquid level fluctuations, which may lead to misjudgments.

[0008] Therefore, adding multiple anti-overflow electrodes can solve some of the defects of a single anti-overflow electrode. However, how to install and arrange multiple anti-overflow electrodes becomes a problem that needs to be solved. Especially when the side wall of the ceramic liner has a ring-shaped structure, if the conventional method of perpendicularly inserting each anti-overflow electrode into the cross-section at the installation position is still used, it will result in an irregular shape where the distance between the anti-overflow electrode and the side wall of the ceramic liner is larger on one side and smaller on the other. In addition, the sealing ring cannot be built into the side wall of the ceramic liner. As a result, after installing the anti-overflow electrode with the existing assembly angle, the sealing ring is subjected to greater force on one side and less force on the other, resulting in uneven sealing. Liquid in the ceramic liner can easily overflow to the outside of the ceramic liner through the through hole. Moreover, this uneven force will cause the sealing ring to wear prematurely in high-pressure areas and fail to seal effectively in low-pressure areas, which will not only affect the service life of the sealing ring itself, but also affect the sealing performance. Utility Model Content

[0009] This application provides a cooking appliance to solve the installation problems caused by the increased number of anti-overflow electrodes and their adjacent placement when using multiple anti-overflow electrodes to detect whether the pot is overflowing in a cooking appliance with a ceramic inner pot. By changing the installation method of multiple anti-overflow electrodes, the sealing ring can still maintain a tight fit with the side wall of the ceramic inner pot, so as to both prevent liquid from overflowing from the installation holes of the anti-overflow electrodes and make the sealing ring evenly stressed.

[0010] The technical solution adopted in this application is as follows:

[0011] A cooking appliance includes an outer pot and a ceramic inner pot built into the outer pot. The ceramic inner pot includes a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall extending upward around the bottom wall. It also includes a plurality of adjacent anti-overflow electrodes. The peripheral side wall has through holes adapted to the anti-overflow electrodes. Each anti-overflow electrode includes an electrode probe located inside the ceramic inner pot and an electrode rod connected to the electrode probe and passing through the through hole. The electrode probe forms an electrode cap relative to the electrode rod. The electrode rod is fitted with a sealing ring. The electrode cap covers the outer peripheral wall of the through hole. The sealing ring is sandwiched between the electrode cap and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole. Each electrode probe is oriented toward the geometric center of the cross-section of the inner pot cut by its horizontal plane.

[0012] In order to obtain the "average" temperature of food or beverage inside the inner pot, the existing technology often requires multiple and dispersed temperature measuring electrodes when installing electrodes, such as the existing technology of setting them opposite each other on the side wall of the inner pot.

[0013] However, for foam and overflow detection, due to the setting of cold and hot zones of the heating element and the wall adhesion effect of foam, foam tends to rise and overflow towards one side of the inner liner. If the overflow prevention electrode is set on opposite sides of the inner liner, the foam may not be able to connect to the overflow prevention electrode, thus making it impossible to detect foam overflow.

[0014] Furthermore, differences in the density, volume, and water absorption of ingredients, as well as the arrangement of heating elements in cooking appliances (e.g., the distribution of heating elements), can lead to regional variations in the rate at which liquid rises within the ceramic inner pot during cooking. For example, unevenly distributed heating elements may cause strong thermal convection in localized areas of the ceramic inner pot, resulting in faster liquid rise in those areas and slower rise in others. If the circumferential spacing between multiple anti-overflow electrodes along the sidewalls is large, it cannot adequately accommodate these regional variations, leading to reduced detection accuracy. This application arranges the anti-overflow electrodes adjacent to each other, enabling more comprehensive detection of liquid level changes inside the ceramic inner pot. This ensures timely detection of overflow risks when the liquid level fluctuates, improving the reliability of anti-overflow detection. Moreover, adjacent anti-overflow electrodes can mutually verify detection results, reducing misjudgments caused by localized liquid level fluctuations and improving detection accuracy.

[0015] When installing adjacent electrode probes, those skilled in the art often install them in parallel for ease of installation. This results in uneven deformation of the electrode probes and the inner wall in the horizontal direction, as well as uneven pressure on the sealing structure.

[0016] The anti-overflow electrodes in this application are arranged in multiples on the peripheral wall of the ceramic inner liner. Compared with a single anti-overflow electrode, multiple anti-overflow electrodes can provide more comprehensive anti-overflow detection, more accurately determine whether an overflow is imminent, and simultaneously detect liquid level changes, resulting in faster response and stronger reliability of anti-overflow detection. Furthermore, the multiple anti-overflow electrodes serve as backups for each other; even if one anti-overflow electrode fails, the others can still function normally, ensuring the reliability of anti-overflow detection. Because ceramic is a brittle material, machining a countersunk platform on the ceramic inner liner to accommodate the sealing ring can easily lead to stress concentration and cracks in the ceramic inner liner, increasing the processing difficulty and reducing the product yield. This application sandwiches the sealing ring between the electrode cap and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole, avoiding the need to machine a countersunk platform on the peripheral wall of the ceramic inner liner to accommodate the sealing ring, thus reducing the processing difficulty of the ceramic inner liner. Each electrode probe is oriented towards the geometric center of the cross-section of the inner liner cut by its horizontal plane. The centripetal arrangement of the electrode probes forms a detection array, achieving multi-angle coverage, eliminating blind spots in liquid level detection, and accurately capturing changes in liquid level at different locations. This makes overflow detection more timely and accurate. Moreover, the centripetal arrangement of the overflow electrodes on the peripheral sidewall ensures that the distance between the electrode probe and the peripheral sidewall is symmetrical and consistent in the horizontal direction along the central axis of the electrode probe. This ensures that the sealing ring is subjected to symmetrical forces in all directions, guaranteeing the sealing performance of the sealing ring for the through hole and extending the service life of the sealing ring.

[0017] Furthermore, the electrode cap design and its arrangement covering the outer peripheral wall of the through hole, along with the sealing ring sandwiched between the electrode cap and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole, effectively prevent liquid from seeping out of the inner liner along the gap between the electrode rod and the through hole, ensuring sealing performance. Moreover, the tight fit between the electrode cap and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole, along with the sealing ring, makes the electrode rod more securely installed in the through hole, helping to prevent the anti-overflow electrode from loosening or shifting due to vibration, liquid flow, or other factors during use, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the anti-overflow detection.

[0018] The electrode probe has a groove with an opening facing the peripheral sidewall on the side facing the peripheral sidewall, and a portion of the sealing ring is placed inside the groove.

[0019] Since the sealing ring is sandwiched between the electrode probe and the inner wall of the peripheral sidewall, the installation process of the sealing ring requires more precise operation and higher skills. Improper installation will cause the sealing ring to twist or shift during the installation process, thereby affecting its sealing performance and fixing effect. In this technical solution, the electrode probe has a groove with an opening facing the peripheral wall on the side facing the peripheral wall. A portion of the sealing ring is placed in the groove. The groove design guides the accurate embedding of the sealing ring. During the installation of the electrode probe and the peripheral wall, the presence of the groove provides guidance and constraint for the sealing ring, significantly reducing the probability of displacement or twisting of the sealing ring during installation, ensuring accurate assembly into the correct installation position. After assembly, the sealing ring is clamped between the groove and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole. The stress on the sealing ring is relatively uniform, thereby improving the sealing performance of the sealing ring. Moreover, clamping the sealing ring between the groove and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole reduces the interference of the sealing ring, ensuring a tight fit between the sealing ring and the ceramic inner liner, helping to maintain the elasticity of the sealing ring and extend its service life, and preventing uneven sealing or leakage due to excessive compression, as well as premature aging or deformation.

[0020] The connection between the electrode probe and the electrode rod is arc-shaped and forms the groove. The sealing ring has an end face sealing part that is pressed and fixed between the electrode probe and the inner wall of the peripheral sidewall, and a radial sealing part that is pressed and fixed between the electrode rod and the inner wall of the through hole.

[0021] In this technical solution, the arc-shaped transition design at the connection point between the electrode probe and the electrode rod allows the sealing ring to have an end-face sealing portion that is pressed and fixed between the electrode probe and the inner wall of the peripheral side wall, and a radial sealing portion that is pressed and fixed between the electrode rod and the inner wall of the through hole after assembly. The end-face sealing portion and the radial sealing portion enable the sealing ring to achieve sealing in multiple directions. Even if the end-face sealing portion fails, the presence of the radial sealing portion can prevent liquid in the ceramic inner liner from overflowing through the through hole, thereby greatly improving the reliability of the seal. In addition, the arc-shaped transition design at the connection point between the electrode probe and the electrode rod also provides the sealing ring with a certain amount of elasticity, allowing it to better adapt to temperature changes. When it expands or contracts due to temperature changes during cooking, it can still maintain a good sealing effect.

[0022] Each of the anti-overflow electrodes is located at the same height position in the ceramic inner liner.

[0023] This technical solution places all anti-overflow electrodes at the same height position in the ceramic inner liner, enabling detection of different areas within the ceramic inner liner. This allows for a more comprehensive perception of liquid level changes and improves adaptability to complex liquid level variations. Furthermore, multiple anti-overflow electrodes can work together. When one anti-overflow electrode detects a liquid level fluctuation, the signal of that fluctuation can be verified based on the detection results of the other anti-overflow electrodes, thereby reducing misjudgments caused by liquid level fluctuations.

[0024] The included angle between the electrode probes of two adjacent overflow prevention electrodes is an acute angle.

[0025] In this technical solution, the electrode probes of two adjacent anti-overflow electrodes are arranged at an acute angle, which makes the distribution of electrode probes on the peripheral wall of the ceramic liner more compact and detailed. When the liquid tends to overflow in the ceramic liner, the slight changes in the liquid surface are more easily detected by the adjacent electrode probes, which can more accurately determine the position and trend of the liquid surface, further reduce the detection blind zone, and improve the sensitivity of anti-overflow detection.

[0026] The cooking appliance also includes a protective box located outside the ceramic inner pot, and the ends of the electrode rods of each of the anti-overflow electrodes are located within the same protective box.

[0027] The tip of the anti-overflow electrode needs to contact a conductive component on the outer pot, and then connect to the control unit inside the outer pot via the conductive component to form a detection circuit. If the anti-overflow electrodes are too dispersed circumferentially on the sidewalls, and the tips of the electrode rods are far apart, the conductive components on the outer pot also need to be arranged in a matching dispersed manner. The connection wires between the conductive components and the control unit will also be scattered inside the outer pot, making the wiring and outer pot design extremely complex. This technical solution uses a protective box on the outside of the ceramic inner liner, with the tips of all electrode rods located within the same protective box. On the one hand, the protective box prevents the tips of the electrode rods from being exposed, providing excellent protection against deformation or damage from external impacts or corrosion from external liquids. On the other hand, it makes the entire anti-overflow system more compact, saving space and facilitating the design and layout of the outer pot.

[0028] The cooking appliance also includes a locking member for securing the anti-overflow electrode to the ceramic inner liner, and the protective box has a positioning wall near the peripheral side wall, the positioning wall being clamped and fixed between the peripheral side wall and the locking member.

[0029] This technical solution can simultaneously install and fix the anti-overflow electrode and the protective box using locking components. This not only reduces the steps and time required to install the anti-overflow electrode and the protective box separately, significantly improving assembly efficiency, but also allows the installation of the protective box to be completed in one step by installing the anti-overflow electrode, reducing the complexity of the design and manufacturing of the ceramic liner and the protective box.

[0030] The ceramic inner liner includes an outwardly folded edge located at the top of the peripheral sidewall. The protective box is located below the outwardly folded edge and includes a box body and a cover plate. The downward projection of the outwardly folded edge covers the joint between the box body and the cover plate.

[0031] In this technical solution, the outward-flared edge at the top of the ceramic inner pot provides a gripping area for users to place and remove it, and also increases the structural strength of the top of the inner pot's sidewalls, improving its overall durability. The downward projection of the outward-flared edge shields the junction between the protective box and the cover, preventing liquids or foreign objects from entering the protective box through the gap. This protects the electrode rod's end within the protective box, reducing the risk of short circuits or malfunctions due to liquid infiltration, and enhancing the stability and reliability of the cooking appliance.

[0032] The outer pot is provided with a recessed groove adapted to the protective box. The protective box is provided with an electrical connector connected to the anti-overflow electrode. The recessed groove is provided with a liftable conductive component. The conductive component is electrically connected to the control unit inside the outer pot. The protective box is also provided with a clearance notch for the conductive component to extend in and out to abut or disengage from the electrical connector.

[0033] In this technical solution, the compatibility design of the upper groove of the outer pot and the protective box on the ceramic inner pot can provide explicit guidance on the placement position of the ceramic inner pot on the outer pot, so that the ceramic inner pot can be placed quickly and accurately in the target position to achieve accurate contact between the anti-overflow electrode and the conductive parts, ensuring the reliability of the electrical connection, avoiding signal transmission problems caused by poor contact, and improving the stability of the system.

[0034] The cooking appliance also includes multiple protective boxes located outside the ceramic inner pot. Each protective box has a through hole for the electrode rod to pass through. Each of the multiple protective boxes corresponds to a multiple of the anti-overflow electrodes, and the output end of the anti-overflow electrode is located inside the protective box.

[0035] In this technical solution, one protective box is set for each anti-overflow electrode, and each protective box independently protects one anti-overflow electrode, avoiding mutual interference and fault propagation that may be caused by multiple anti-overflow electrodes sharing one protective box. In particular, it can prevent detection failure caused by the electrode rods of each anti-overflow electrode becoming electrically connected through the water ingress when water enters the protective box, thus improving the stability and reliability of anti-overflow detection. Attached Figure Description

[0036] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0037] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the ceramic inner liner and the anti-overflow electrodes on the plane of the anti-overflow electrodes after assembly, when multiple anti-overflow electrodes are installed on the ceramic inner liner using the traditional method.

[0038] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of part A;

[0039] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a cooking appliance according to one embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the ceramic inner liner, anti-overflow electrode, and protective box assembled according to one embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of part B;

[0042] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the anti-overflow electrode according to one embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 7 This is a side view of the ceramic inner liner and protective box assembled according to one embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the ceramic inner pot and the outer pot according to one embodiment of this application;

[0045] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the anti-overflow electrode and the protective box according to one embodiment of this application.

[0046] in,

[0047] 1. Anti-overflow electrode; 11. Electrode probe; 111. Groove; 12. Electrode rod; 121. External thread;

[0048] 2. Ceramic inner liner; 21. Bottom wall; 22. Peripheral side wall; 23. Outward flange;

[0049] 3. Outer pot; 31. Settling tank;

[0050] 4. Electrical connectors;

[0051] 5. Protective box; 51. Box body; 511. Through hole; 512. Positioning wall; 513. Positioning post; 514. Clearance notch; 52. Cover plate;

[0052] 6. Sealing ring; 61. End face sealing part; 62. Radial sealing part;

[0053] 7. Locking components. Detailed Implementation

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

[0055] Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments of this application and the features thereof can be combined with each other.

[0056] Furthermore, it should be understood in the description of this application that the terms "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0057] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a communication connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0058] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the "above" or "below" of the second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0059] like Figures 3 to 5As shown, a cooking appliance includes an outer pot 3 and a ceramic inner pot 2 built into the outer pot 3. The ceramic inner pot 2 includes a bottom wall 21 and a peripheral side wall 22 that surrounds the bottom wall 21 and extends upward. It also includes a plurality of adjacent anti-overflow electrodes 1. The peripheral side wall 22 is provided with a through hole adapted to the anti-overflow electrode 1. The anti-overflow electrode 1 includes an electrode probe 11 located inside the ceramic inner pot 2 and an electrode rod 12 connected to the electrode probe 11 and passing through the through hole. The electrode probe 11 forms an electrode cap relative to the electrode rod 12. The electrode rod 12 is fitted with a sealing ring 6. The electrode cap covers the outer peripheral wall of the through hole. The sealing ring 6 is sandwiched between the electrode cap and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole. Each electrode probe 11 is oriented toward the geometric center of the cross section of the inner pot cut by its horizontal plane.

[0060] Existing ceramic inner pots come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as spherical, square, and oval. By designing different shapes, they can be matched with different cooking appliances to meet various needs. The installation method of the electrode probe 11 in this application can be applied to various inner pots, especially spherical and oval inner pots with curved sidewalls.

[0061] Those skilled in the art will understand that: "each electrode probe 11 is oriented toward the geometric center of the cross-section of the inner liner cut by its horizontal plane". Taking a spherical inner liner as an example, the "geometric center" is the "center" of the cross-section of the spherical inner liner cut by the horizontal plane where the electrode probe 11 is located.

[0062] In this application, multiple anti-overflow electrodes 1 are provided on the peripheral sidewall 22 of the ceramic inner pot 2. Compared to a single anti-overflow electrode, multiple anti-overflow electrodes 1 can provide more comprehensive anti-overflow detection and more accurately determine whether an overflow is imminent. Differences in the density, volume, and water absorption of food ingredients, as well as the arrangement of the heating elements in the cooking appliance (e.g., the distribution of heating elements), can cause regional differences in the rate of liquid rise within the ceramic inner pot 2 during cooking. For example, unevenly distributed heating elements may lead to strong heat convection in localized areas of the ceramic inner pot 2, causing the liquid to rise faster in those areas and slower in others. If the circumferential spacing between the multiple anti-overflow electrodes 1 along the peripheral sidewall 22 is large, it cannot adequately adapt to these regional variations, resulting in reduced detection accuracy. Therefore, if... Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the anti-overflow electrodes 1 in this application are arranged adjacently, which enables more comprehensive detection of liquid level changes inside the ceramic inner liner 2. This ensures timely detection of overflow risks when the liquid level fluctuates, improving the reliability of the anti-overflow detection. Furthermore, the adjacent anti-overflow electrodes 1 can mutually verify the detection results, reducing misjudgments caused by localized liquid level fluctuations and improving detection accuracy. In addition, the multiple anti-overflow electrodes 1 serve as backups for each other; even if one anti-overflow electrode 1 fails, the remaining anti-overflow electrodes 1 can still operate normally, ensuring the reliability of the anti-overflow detection.

[0063] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, especially for the ceramic inner liner 2 whose peripheral sidewall 22 on the horizontal plane where the electrode probe 11 is located extends in an arc shape, if the traditional method of installing the anti-overflow electrodes parallel to each other is still used when installing the electrode probe 11, the distance between the anti-overflow electrode 1 and the sidewall of the ceramic inner liner 2 will be irregular, with one side larger than the other. This will result in the sealing ring 6 being subjected to greater force on one side and less force on the other, causing uneven sealing. Liquid in the ceramic inner liner 2 will easily overflow to the outside of the ceramic inner liner 2 through the through hole. Moreover, this uneven force will affect the service life of the sealing ring 6 itself, thus affecting the sealing performance.

[0064] This application arranges each electrode probe 11 towards the geometric center of the cross-section of the inner liner cut by its horizontal plane, forming a detection array. This centripetal arrangement of the electrode probes 11 achieves multi-angle coverage, eliminates blind spots in liquid level detection, and can accurately capture changes in liquid level at different locations, making overflow detection more timely and accurate. Furthermore, the centripetal arrangement of the overflow electrodes 1 on the peripheral sidewall 22 ensures that the distance between the electrode probe 11 and the peripheral sidewall 22 is symmetrical and consistent in the horizontal direction along the central axis of the electrode probe 11. This results in symmetrical force distribution on the sealing ring 6, guaranteeing the sealing performance of the sealing ring 6 for the through-hole and extending the service life of the sealing ring 6. Furthermore, since ceramic is a brittle material, when a countersunk platform is machined on the ceramic inner liner 2 to accommodate the sealing ring, stress concentration can easily cause cracks in the ceramic inner liner 2, thereby increasing the processing difficulty of the ceramic inner liner 2 and reducing the product qualification rate. In this application, the sealing ring 6 is sandwiched between the electrode cap and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole, avoiding the need to machine a countersunk platform on the peripheral side wall 22 of the ceramic inner liner 2 to accommodate the sealing ring 6, thus reducing the processing difficulty of the ceramic inner liner 2.

[0065] The phrase “each electrode probe 11 is oriented toward the geometric center of the cross-section of the inner liner cut by its horizontal plane” can be understood by those skilled in the art as “horizontal plane” can be the horizontal cross-section of the through hole on the inner wall.

[0066] The electrode probe in this application can adopt any of the following embodiments:

[0067] Implementation Method 1: This implementation method is not illustrated. In this implementation method, the side of the electrode cap facing the peripheral sidewall is a plane, and the sealing ring is sandwiched between the electrode cap and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole.

[0068] Implementation Method Two: (e.g.) Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the electrode probe 11 has a groove 111 with an opening facing the peripheral wall 22 on the side facing the peripheral wall 22, and a portion of the sealing ring 6 is placed inside the groove 111. Since the sealing ring 6 is sandwiched between the electrode cap and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole, the installation process of the sealing ring 6 requires more precise operation and higher skills. Improper installation will cause the sealing ring 6 to twist or shift during installation, thereby affecting its sealing performance and fixing effect. In this second embodiment, the electrode probe 11 has a groove 111 with an opening facing the peripheral wall 22 on the side facing the peripheral wall 22. A portion of the sealing ring 6 is placed in the groove 111. The design of the groove 111 can guide the accurate embedding of the sealing ring 6. During the installation of the electrode probe 11 and the peripheral wall 22, the presence of the groove 111 can provide certain guidance and restriction for the sealing ring 6, greatly reducing the probability of displacement or twisting of the sealing ring 6 during installation, and ensuring that it is accurately assembled to the correct installation position. After assembly, the sealing ring 6 is clamped between the groove 111 and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole. The stress on the sealing ring 6 is relatively uniform, thereby improving the sealing performance of the sealing ring 6. Moreover, clamping the sealing ring 6 between the groove 111 and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole can reduce the interference of the sealing ring 6, which can ensure the tight fit between the sealing ring 6 and the ceramic inner liner 2, help maintain the elasticity of the sealing ring 6, extend its service life, and avoid uneven sealing or leakage, premature aging or deformation of the sealing ring 6 due to excessive compression.

[0069] In this second embodiment, the specific location of the groove 111 on the electrode probe 11 can be any one of the following embodiments:

[0070] Example 1: As Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the connection between the electrode probe 11 and the electrode rod 12 has an arc-shaped transition and forms part of the groove 111. The sealing ring 6 has an end face sealing part 61 that is pressed and fixed between the electrode probe 11 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral sidewall 22, and a radial sealing part 62 that is pressed and fixed between the electrode rod 12 and the inner wall surface of the through hole.

[0071] In this embodiment 1, the arc-shaped transition design at the connection point between the electrode probe 11 and the electrode rod 12 allows the sealing ring 6 to have an end-face sealing portion 61 that is pressed and fixed between the electrode probe 11 and the inner wall surface of the peripheral sidewall 22, and a radial sealing portion 62 that is pressed and fixed between the electrode rod 12 and the inner wall surface of the through hole after assembly. The end-face sealing portion 61 and the radial sealing portion 62 enable the sealing ring 6 to achieve sealing in multiple directions. Even if the end-face sealing portion 61 fails, the presence of the radial sealing portion 62 can prevent liquid in the ceramic inner liner 2 from overflowing through the through hole, thereby greatly improving the reliability of the seal. In addition, the arc-shaped transition design at the connection point between the electrode probe 11 and the electrode rod 12 also provides a certain amount of elastic space for the sealing ring 6, allowing it to better adapt to temperature changes. When it expands or contracts due to temperature changes during cooking, it can still maintain a good sealing effect.

[0072] Example 2: This example 2 is not illustrated. In this example 2, there is a certain distance between the groove on the electrode probe and the electrode rod. The inner diameter of the sealing ring is larger than the outer diameter of the electrode rod. When the sealing ring and the anti-overflow electrode are installed on the peripheral wall, the sealing ring is squeezed and fixed between the electrode probe and the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall to form an end face seal.

[0073] In this application, the position height of the anti-overflow electrode 1 on the ceramic inner liner 2 can be any of the following embodiments:

[0074] Implementation Method 3: This implementation method 3 is not illustrated. In this implementation method 3, at least some of the multiple anti-overflow electrodes are located at different height positions of the ceramic inner liner.

[0075] This third embodiment arranges anti-overflow electrodes at different heights, enabling stratified detection of the liquid within the ceramic liner and thus more accurately determining the actual liquid level. This multi-height arrangement avoids misjudgments caused by interference factors such as liquid surface fluctuations. For example, when the liquid surface fluctuates due to convection during heating, multiple anti-overflow electrodes at different heights can more accurately determine the true position of the liquid surface by comparing signals from different locations. Moreover, this arrangement is also effective for situations with varying rates of liquid level change. If the liquid is rising slowly, the lower anti-overflow electrodes can provide an early warning, giving the control unit sufficient time to react, such as reducing heating power. For rapidly rising liquid levels, the higher anti-overflow electrodes can promptly detect danger signals and immediately trigger anti-overflow measures, such as cutting off the heating power. Furthermore, since at least some of the multiple anti-overflow electrodes are at different heights, the control unit can flexibly adjust anti-overflow measures based on the triggering status of different electrodes. For example, when a lower-height anti-overflow electrode detects that the liquid level has reached its peak, it can first issue an alarm to remind the user and reduce the heating power; while when a higher-height anti-overflow electrode is also triggered, the control unit can immediately cut off the power to prevent liquid overflow. This phased spill prevention strategy can be implemented based on the signal combination of spill prevention electrodes at different heights, thereby improving the intelligence level of the spill prevention system.

[0076] Implementation Method Four: (e.g.) Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, each anti-overflow electrode 1 is located at the same height on the ceramic inner liner 2. This arrangement allows for the detection of different areas within the ceramic inner liner 2, thus providing a more comprehensive perception of liquid level changes and improving adaptability to complex liquid level variations. Furthermore, the multiple anti-overflow electrodes 1 can work together; when one anti-overflow electrode 1 detects a liquid level fluctuation, the signal of that fluctuation can be verified based on the detection results of the other anti-overflow electrodes 1, thereby reducing misjudgments caused by liquid level fluctuations.

[0077] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, it provides a specific example of two anti-overflow electrodes 1 on the ceramic inner liner 2, with an acute angle between the two anti-overflow electrodes 1. By arranging the two anti-overflow electrodes 1 adjacent to each other, the layout of the anti-overflow system can be made more compact, and the changes in the liquid level inside the ceramic inner liner 2 can be detected more comprehensively, thereby improving the reliability of the anti-overflow detection.

[0078] The cooking appliance also includes a protective box 5 located outside the ceramic inner pot 2. Regarding the location and number of protective boxes 5, this application can adopt any of the following embodiments:

[0079] Implementation Method 5: (e.g.) Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, a protective box 5 is provided, and the ends of the electrode rods 12 of each anti-overflow electrode 1 are located within the same protective box 5. The ends of the electrode rods 12 of the anti-overflow electrode 1 need to contact the conductive parts provided on the outer pot 3, and be electrically connected to the control unit inside the outer pot 3 through the conductive parts, thereby forming a detection circuit. If the arrangement of each anti-overflow electrode 1 in the circumferential direction of the peripheral sidewall 22 is too dispersed, and the ends of each electrode rod 12 are far apart from each other, then the arrangement of the conductive parts on the outer pot 3 also needs to be matched and dispersed, and the connection leads between the conductive parts and the control unit will also be dispersed inside the outer pot 3, making the wiring and the design of the outer pot 3 extremely complicated. In this fifth embodiment, by setting a protective box 5 on the outside of the ceramic inner liner 2, and with the ends of each electrode rod 12 located within the same protective box 5, on the one hand, the protective box 5 can prevent the ends of the electrode rods 12 from being exposed, providing good protection for the electrode rods 12 and preventing them from being deformed or damaged by external impacts or corrosion from external liquids, etc. On the other hand, it can make the structure of the entire anti-overflow system more compact, save space, and facilitate the design and layout of the outer pot 3.

[0080] This fifth embodiment does not limit the fixing method of the protective box 5, and it can adopt any of the following embodiments:

[0081] Example 3: This example is not illustrated. In this example, the ceramic inner liner has mounting holes on its peripheral sidewall for installing a protective box. These mounting holes are offset from the through holes for installing the anti-overflow electrode. The protective box has positioning holes. The protective box is fixed to the peripheral sidewall by first fasteners passing through the mounting holes and positioning holes, and by second fasteners passing through the through holes. That is, in this example, the protective box and the anti-overflow electrode are fixed to the peripheral sidewall using different fasteners.

[0082] Example 4: This example 4 is not illustrated. In this example 4, the protective box is glued and fixed to the peripheral wall of the ceramic inner liner. The protective box has a through hole opposite to the position of the through hole. The electrode rod passes through the through hole and the through hole in sequence so that its end is located inside the protective box. The end of the electrode rod has an external thread. The anti-overflow electrode is fixed to the peripheral wall by a locking nut that is screwed to the external thread.

[0083] Example 5: Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the cooking appliance also includes a locking member 7 for securing the anti-overflow electrode 1 to the ceramic inner liner 2. The protective box 5 has a positioning wall 512 near the peripheral side wall 22, which is clamped and fixed between the peripheral side wall 22 and the locking member 7.

[0084] In this embodiment 5, the locking component 7 allows for the simultaneous installation and fixation of the anti-overflow electrode 1 and the protective box 5. This not only reduces the steps and time required for separately installing the anti-overflow electrode 1 and the protective box 5, significantly improving assembly efficiency, but also enables the installation of the protective box 5 in one step by installing the anti-overflow electrode 1, reducing the complexity of the design and manufacturing of the ceramic liner 2 and the protective box 5. Furthermore, compared to embodiment 3, this embodiment 5 reduces the number of openings on the ceramic liner 2, not only reducing processing complexity but also avoiding the reduction in structural strength of the ceramic liner 2 due to a large number of openings, and reducing the probability of increased scrap rate due to cracking of the peripheral sidewall 22 during processing.

[0085] As a specific implementation of embodiment 5, such as Figure 5 As shown, the protective box 5 has a through hole 511 opposite to the through hole. The electrode rod 12 passes through the through hole and the through hole 511 in sequence so that its end is located inside the protective box 5. The end of the electrode rod 12 has an external thread 121. The locking member 7 is a locking nut. The anti-overflow electrode 1 is fixed to the peripheral side wall 22 by the locking nut that is screwed into the external thread 121. In order to achieve the simultaneous installation and fixation of the protective box 5 during the tightening of the anti-overflow electrode 1, as follows: Figure 5 and Figure 9 As shown, a positioning post 513 protrudes from the side of the positioning wall 512 facing the peripheral sidewall 22 and extends toward the peripheral sidewall 22. The positioning post 513 has an abutting end face that abuts against the peripheral sidewall 22. Furthermore, when the peripheral sidewall 22 extends in an arc shape, in order to match the arc-shaped extension of the peripheral sidewall 22, the extension length of the positioning post 513 toward the peripheral sidewall 22 is not consistent along its own axis direction. This ensures that while a portion of the abutting end face abuts against the peripheral sidewall 22, a gap exists between the remaining portion and the peripheral sidewall 22, thereby avoiding interference problems during installation.

[0086] As a preferred embodiment of this fifth implementation method, such as Figure 7 As shown, the ceramic inner liner 2 includes an outwardly folded flange 23 located at the top of the peripheral sidewall 22. A protective box 5 is located below the flange 23. The protective box 5 includes a box body 51 and a cover plate 52. The downward projection of the flange 23 shields the joint between the box body 51 and the cover plate 52. In this embodiment, the flange at the top of the ceramic inner liner 2 provides a gripping area for the user to place and remove the ceramic inner liner 2, and also increases the structural strength of the top of the peripheral sidewall 22 of the ceramic inner liner 2, improving the overall durability of the ceramic inner liner 2. The downward projection of the flange 23 shields the joint between the box body 51 and the cover plate 52 of the protective box 5, preventing liquid or foreign objects from entering the interior of the protective box 5 through the joint gap. This protects the end portion of the electrode rod 12 inside the protective box 5, reduces short circuits or malfunctions caused by liquid infiltration, and improves the stability and reliability of the cooking appliance.

[0087] As a preferred embodiment of this fifth implementation method, such as Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the outer pot 3 has a recess 31 adapted to the protective box 5. The protective box 5 contains an electrical connector 4 connected to the anti-overflow electrode 1. A retractable conductive element is located at the recess 31, and this conductive element is electrically connected to the control unit inside the outer pot 3. The protective box 5 also has a clearance notch 514 for the conductive element to extend and retract to engage or disengage with the electrical connector 4. This compatible design between the recess 31 on the outer pot 3 and the protective box 5 on the ceramic inner liner 2 provides a clear indication of the placement position of the ceramic inner liner 2 on the outer pot 3, enabling the ceramic inner liner 2 to be quickly and accurately placed in the target position. This ensures accurate contact between the anti-overflow electrode 1 and the conductive element, guaranteeing the reliability of the electrical connection, avoiding signal transmission problems caused by poor contact, and improving system stability.

[0088] When the ceramic inner pot 2 is placed on the outer pot 3, the conductive component passes through the clearance notch 514 into the interior of the protective box 5 and contacts the electrical connector 4. When the electrode probe 11 detects an overflow signal, it is transmitted to the control unit through the electrode rod 12, the electrical connector 4 and the conductive component. The control unit controls the operation of the heating device of the cooking appliance according to the detection result to achieve overflow prevention.

[0089] Implementation Method Six: This implementation method six is ​​not illustrated. In this implementation method six, multiple protective boxes are provided on the outside of the ceramic inner liner. Each protective box has a through hole for the electrode rod to pass through. Each protective box corresponds to a specific anti-overflow electrode, and the output end of the anti-overflow electrode is located inside the protective box. In this implementation method six, one protective box is provided for each anti-overflow electrode, and each protective box independently protects one anti-overflow electrode. This avoids mutual interference and fault propagation that may occur when multiple anti-overflow electrodes share a single protective box. In particular, it can prevent detection failure caused by the electrode rods of the various anti-overflow electrodes becoming electrically connected due to water entering the protective box, thus improving the stability and reliability of the anti-overflow detection.

[0090] For any parts not mentioned in this application, existing technologies may be used or referenced.

[0091] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other. Each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments.

[0092] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. The technical features or structures in the foregoing different embodiments can be arbitrarily combined to form other specific technical solutions as needed. For those skilled in the art, this application can have various modifications and variations. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principle of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance, comprising an outer pot and a ceramic inner pot built into the outer pot, characterized in that, The ceramic inner liner includes a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall surrounding the bottom wall and extending upward, and also includes a plurality of adjacent anti-overflow electrodes. The peripheral side wall has through holes adapted to the anti-overflow electrodes. Each anti-overflow electrode includes an electrode probe located inside the ceramic inner liner and an electrode rod connected to the electrode probe and passing through the through hole. The electrode probe forms an electrode cap relative to the electrode rod. The electrode rod is fitted with a sealing ring. The electrode cap covers the outer peripheral wall of the through hole. The sealing ring is sandwiched between the electrode cap and the outer peripheral wall of the through hole. Each electrode probe is oriented toward the geometric center of the cross-section of the inner liner cut by its horizontal plane.

2. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrode probe has a groove with an opening facing the peripheral sidewall on the side facing the peripheral sidewall, and a portion of the sealing ring is placed inside the groove.

3. A cooking utensil according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connection between the electrode probe and the electrode rod is arc-shaped and forms the groove. The sealing ring has an end face sealing part that is pressed and fixed between the electrode probe and the inner wall of the peripheral sidewall, and a radial sealing part that is pressed and fixed between the electrode rod and the inner wall of the through hole.

4. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the anti-overflow electrodes is located at the same height position in the ceramic inner liner.

5. A cooking utensil according to claim 4, characterized in that, The included angle between the electrode probes of two adjacent overflow prevention electrodes is an acute angle.

6. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooking appliance also includes a protective box located outside the ceramic inner pot, and the ends of the electrode rods of each of the anti-overflow electrodes are located within the same protective box.

7. A cooking utensil according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cooking appliance also includes a locking member for securing the anti-overflow electrode to the ceramic inner liner, and the protective box has a positioning wall near the peripheral side wall, the positioning wall being clamped and fixed between the peripheral side wall and the locking member.

8. A cooking utensil according to claim 6, characterized in that, The ceramic inner liner includes an outwardly folded edge located at the top of the peripheral sidewall. The protective box is located below the outwardly folded edge and includes a box body and a cover plate. The downward projection of the outwardly folded edge covers the joint between the box body and the cover plate.

9. A cooking utensil according to claim 6, characterized in that, The outer pot is provided with a recessed groove adapted to the protective box. The protective box is provided with an electrical connector connected to the anti-overflow electrode. The recessed groove is provided with a liftable conductive component. The conductive component is electrically connected to the control unit inside the outer pot. The protective box is also provided with a clearance notch for the conductive component to extend in and out to abut or disengage from the electrical connector.

10. A cooking utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooking appliance also includes multiple protective boxes located outside the ceramic inner pot. Each protective box has a through hole for the electrode rod to pass through. Each of the multiple protective boxes corresponds to a multiple of the anti-overflow electrodes, and the output end of the anti-overflow electrode is located inside the protective box.

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