A rice cooker with a metal inner lid

Abstract

This application discloses an electric rice cooker with a metal inner lid, including a pot body, an inner pot, and a lid. The lid includes a plastic lid assembly and a metal inner lid. The metal inner lid is mounted on the plastic lid assembly and has a sealing surface that mates with the inner pot. The metal inner lid directly covers the inner pot to form a cooking cavity. A cooling device is provided inside the plastic lid assembly. The plastic lid assembly has an air inlet on the side facing the external environment. The air inlet of the cooling device is connected to the air inlet. An air duct is provided in the lid, and the air duct has an air outlet located at the rear of the rice cooker in the front-to-back direction. The cooling device generates airflow that is guided through the air duct to cool the metal inner lid, causing condensation to form on the lower surface of the metal inner lid. At least part of the condensation flows into the sealing surface to form a water seal. This improves the steam leakage problem that may occur at this joint in existing rice cookers, reduces the impact of hot airflow on the user, and enhances the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of kitchen appliances, and more specifically, to a rice cooker with a metal inner lid. Background Technology

[0002] Existing rice cookers typically have silicone sealing rings on their inner lids to ensure a seal between the lid and the inner pot. Chinese patent CN207532306U proposes a silicone-free inner lid solution. This solution achieves the elimination of the silicone sealing ring by rigidly fitting the outer edge of the inner lid to the outer surface of the inner pot, thus reducing the impact of the silicone seal. However, relying solely on the rigid fit between the inner lid and the inner pot for sealing can lead to significant steam leakage at the joint during cooking, a problem that urgently needs improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this application is to provide a rice cooker with a metal inner lid, which improves the steam leakage problem during cooking of existing rice cookers with inner lids without silicone sealing rings.

[0004] The embodiments of this application are implemented as follows:

[0005] This invention provides an electric hot pot with a metal inner lid, comprising a pot body, an inner pot, and a lid. The lid includes a plastic lid assembly and a metal inner lid, the metal inner lid being mounted on the plastic lid assembly. The metal inner lid has a sealing surface that mates with the inner pot. The metal inner lid directly covers the inner pot to form a cooking cavity. A cooling device is provided within the plastic lid assembly, and an air duct is provided in the lid. The cooling device generates airflow that is guided through the air duct to cool the metal inner lid, causing condensation to form on the lower surface of the metal inner lid. At least a portion of the condensation flows into the sealing surface to form a water seal.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the plastic cover assembly and the metal inner cover cooperate to form the air duct. The lower surface of the plastic cover assembly has ventilation holes that are connected to the air outlet of the cooling device. In the height direction, the projection area of ​​the air duct at least partially coincides with the projection area of ​​the sealing surface, so that at least part of the airflow is guided by the air duct and blown toward the sealing surface.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the air duct includes a first guide groove on the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly, and the inner sidewall of the first guide groove is a baffle protruding from the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly, or the first guide groove is formed in an upwardly recessed groove structure of the plastic cover assembly.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the first guide groove is a circumferentially continuous annular groove.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the ventilation hole is formed within the first guide groove.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the sealing surface is formed on the top surface of an annular boss that protrudes downward from the outer periphery of the metal inner cover, and a second guide groove that is recessed downward is formed on the upper surface of the metal inner cover at the annular boss, and the air duct includes the second guide groove.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the air duct has an air outlet located at the rear of the rice cooker in the front-rear direction.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly is recessed upwards, the inner metal cover is installed in the recess, and the air outlet is formed between the outer edge of the inner metal cover and the sidewall of the recess.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, there is at least one cooling device, the air duct is circumferentially continuous around the center of the metal inner cover, and the ventilation hole corresponding to at least one cooling device is located on the side of the rice cooker in the front-back direction, the air outlet direction of the cooling device is biased towards the front of the rice cooker in the front-back direction, or the ventilation hole is located in front of the rice cooker in the front-back direction.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the plastic cover assembly has an air inlet on the side facing the external environment, the air inlet of the cooling device is connected to the air inlet, the air inlet is provided with a baffle assembly, the baffle assembly includes a blocking part, and in the direction of the shortest line connecting the center of the air inlet and the cooling device, the projection area of ​​the blocking part covers the projection area of ​​the air inlet.

[0015] The advantages of this application compared to the prior art are:

[0016] This application improves the steam leakage problem during cooking in existing rice cookers with inner lids that lack silicone sealing rings. The airflow generated by the cooling device in this application flows more directly to the metal inner lid after being guided by the air duct, reducing airflow loss and ensuring a stable airflow to the metal inner lid, thereby cooling it. Because the air duct allows for more stable cooling of the metal inner lid, the amount of condensation formed on the lower surface of the metal inner lid is further reduced, ensuring that at least part of the condensate flows into the sealing surface. This makes the water seal at the joint between the sealing surface and the inner pot more stable and reliable, enhancing the sealing effect at the joint between the metal inner lid and the inner pot, and improving the steam leakage problem that may occur at this joint in existing rice cookers. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of a rice cooker according to one embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a rice cooker according to one embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of a plastic cover assembly according to one embodiment of this application (see lower surface);

[0021] Figure 4 This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lid of a rice cooker according to one embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the lid of a rice cooker according to one embodiment of this application (see metal inner lid 302);

[0023] Figure 6 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a cooling device disposed in a plastic cover assembly according to one embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 7 To Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of point A in the middle.

[0025] Figure label:

[0026] 001, First gap; 002, Second gap; 003, Annular cavity;

[0027] 100-Rice cooker; 1-Pot body; 2-Inner pot; 201-Sealing surface; 202-Cooking cavity; 203-Support part; 3-Pot lid; 301-Plastic lid assembly; 3011-Ventilation hole; 3012-Ribbed rib; 3013-Recess; 3014-Air inlet; 3015-Elastic element; 302-Metal inner lid; 3021-Sealing surface; 3021a-Projected area of ​​sealing surface; 3022 - Annular boss; 30221-Inner sidewall; 30222-Water storage tank; 303-Air duct; 303a-Projection area of ​​air duct; 3031-First guide channel; 3032-Second guide channel; 3033-Air outlet; 4-Cooling device; 401-Air outlet; 402-Air outlet structure; 5-Baffle assembly; 501-Shielding part; 502-Mounting bracket; 5021-Channel; 6-Steamer. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full 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.

[0030] Furthermore, it should be understood in the description of this application that the terms "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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 "implementation," "example," "a particular embodiment," "example," or "specific example" indicate that the 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. The technical solutions of this application will now be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Unlike pressure cookers, rice cookers generate a large amount of steam in the inner pot during cooking. This steam flows upwards from the bottom of the inner pot. Because the steam valve of a rice cooker is always open to the outside atmosphere, the steam initially flows towards the valve to escape into the environment. However, due to the excessive amount of steam, some steam that cannot escape in time flows circumferentially towards the inner pot, towards the joint between the inner pot and the inner lid. Current technology, without a silicone sealing ring, uses a rigid fit between the outer edge of the inner lid and the outer edge of the inner pot for sealing. However, this rigid fit alone may not effectively prevent hot steam from escaping from this joint, causing hot steam to leak into the rice cooker or from the inside to an inappropriate location on the outside. Pressure cookers, on the other hand, require a high-pressure environment within the inner pot. Therefore, at certain stages of the cooking process, it is necessary to prevent steam from escaping to increase the pressure within the cooking cavity. Thus, pressure cookers cannot have a constantly open steam valve, nor can the silicone sealing ring on the outer circumference of the inner lid be removed, as an absolute seal is required at the joint between the inner lid and the inner pot; otherwise, the pressure increase within the cooking cavity cannot be achieved during the cooking process.

[0034] To solve the above problem, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This invention proposes a rice cooker 100 with a metal inner lid that can reduce the overflow of hot steam. It includes a pot body 1, an inner pot 2, and a lid 3. The lid 3 includes a plastic lid assembly 301 and a metal inner lid 302. The metal inner lid 302 is installed on the plastic lid assembly 301. The metal inner lid 302 has a sealing surface 3021 that mates with the mating part 201 of the inner pot 2, so that the metal inner lid 302 directly covers the inner pot 2 to form a cooking cavity 202. A cooling device 4 is provided in the plastic lid assembly 301. An air duct 303 is provided in the lid 3. The cooling device 4 generates airflow that is guided through the air duct 303 to cool the metal inner lid 302 so that condensation water is formed on the lower surface of the metal inner lid 302. At least part of the condensation water flows into the sealing surface 3021 to form a water seal. Unlike rice cookers with inner lids featuring silicone sealing rings, this invention eliminates the silicone sealing ring and utilizes a metal inner lid 302 and an inner pot 2 to directly cover and form a cooking cavity 202. In other words, the metal inner lid 302 has a part that directly contacts and engages with the inner pot 2, reducing the inconvenience caused by silicone sealing rings. Furthermore, the airflow generated by the cooling device 4 flows more directly to the metal inner lid 302 after being guided by the air duct 303, reducing airflow loss and enabling the airflow to flow stably to the metal inner lid 302, thereby cooling the metal inner lid 302.

[0035] Understandably, during the cooking process of the rice cooker 100, by cooling the metal inner lid 302, the lower surface of the metal inner lid 302 forms a cold end with a temperature lower than that of the lower surface of the inner lid in existing rice cookers during cooking. As hot steam rises to the lower surface of the metal inner lid 302 and comes into contact with the cold end, it will condense into condensate. As the steam flows continuously, when the steam flows towards the sealing surface 3021, it can ensure that at least some of the condensate flows to the sealing surface 3021, or some of the steam directly condenses into condensate at the sealing surface 3021. Furthermore, since the joint between the metal inner lid 302 and the inner pot 2 is rigidly sealed, the condensate flowing into the sealing surface 3021 is difficult to be pushed out of the cooking cavity 202. Thus, at least some of the condensate can form a water seal at the sealing surface 3021. This water seal can prevent steam from overflowing from the sealing surface 3021 into the cooking cavity 202, thereby improving the steam leakage problem that may occur in existing rice cookers without silicone sealing rings. The present invention provides a solution for guiding the airflow generated by the cooling device 4 through the air duct 303 to cool the metal inner cover 302. Because the air duct 303 allows the cooling device 4 to cool the metal inner cover 302 more stably, the amount of condensate formed on the lower surface of the metal inner cover 302 is further reduced. This ensures that at least a portion of the condensate flows into the sealing surface 3021, making the water seal at the joint between the sealing surface 3021 and the inner pot 2 more stable and reliable. This enhances the sealing effect at the joint between the metal inner cover 302 and the inner pot 2, improving the steam leakage problem that may occur at this joint in existing rice cookers. Furthermore, the operation of the cooling device 4 allows the steam generated in the cooking cavity 202 to continuously condense on the lower surface of the metal inner cover 302. Even if some of the flowing steam does not condense, the high humidity created at the sealing surface 3021 slows down moisture evaporation and ensures the stable formation of the water seal.

[0036] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 3 and Figure 4The plastic cover assembly 301 and the metal inner cover 302 cooperate to form an air duct 303. The lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301 is provided with a ventilation hole 3011, which is connected to the air outlet 401 of the cooling device 4. In the height direction, the projection area 303a of the air duct at least partially coincides with the projection area 3021a of the sealing surface, so that at least part of the airflow is guided by the air duct 303 and blown toward the sealing surface 3021. Specifically, since most of the airflow generated by the cooling device 4 flows from above the metal inner cover 302 to the upper surface of the metal inner cover 302, at least part of the airflow is guided to blow toward the position of the sealing surface 3021 corresponding to the upper surface of the metal inner cover 302, and the sealing surface 3021 is cooled from above. The advantages of this approach are as follows: First, the formation of the air duct 303 does not require a costly pipe solution. The air duct 303 is naturally formed by the structure of the plastic cover assembly 301 and the metal inner cover 302. The air duct structure is simple and does not occupy additional space. In addition, this approach utilizes the path of the air duct 303 to at least partially cover the sealing surface 3021, which can ensure that the airflow entering the air duct 303 can at least partially blow directly to the location of the sealing surface 3021. This enables the cooling device 4 to precisely cool the sealing surface 3021, ensuring that the condensate flowing into the sealing surface 3021 can be well retained and not evaporated. Furthermore, the steam flowing to the sealing surface 3021 can be condensed and retained in the sealing surface 3021, stabilizing the water seal on the sealing surface 3021. This greatly ensures the formation and maintenance of the water seal, making it difficult for steam to pass through the water seal and overflow from the sealing surface 3021 into the interior of the rice cooker 100.

[0037] Furthermore, the advantages of housing the cooling device 4 in the plastic cover assembly 301 and the air duct 303 in the pot lid 3 are as follows: Since the plastic cover assembly 301 itself has a cavity for installing electronic components, the air duct 303 is easier to install. With both the air duct 303 and the cooling device 4 located on the pot lid 3, modifications to the rice cooker 100 only require modifications to the pot lid 3, thus reducing manufacturing costs. This also prevents the cooling device 4 from being exposed on the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 3 and allowing water to enter during the disassembly and cleaning of the metal inner cover 302, thereby extending the service life of the cooling device 4. Similarly, since the side of the plastic cover assembly 301 facing away from the metal inner cover 302 has a cavity for installing electronic components, the cooling device 4 can be housed within the cavity without requiring additional space, further reducing the modification cost of the plastic cover assembly 301. Additionally, it allows airflow to descend from the plastic cover assembly 3. The airflow, with its downward sinking, provides better cooling for the metal inner lid 302. Furthermore, the airflow originates from above the sealing surface 3021. Since the lower surface of the metal inner lid 302 is inherently cooler than the inner pot 2, the cold end of the sealing surface 3021 forms a more stable and effective cooling effect. The airflow blowing downwards from the plastic lid assembly 301, flowing between the metal inner lid 302 and the plastic lid assembly 301, also dries any excess steam. Therefore, even if a small amount of steam escapes from the sealing surface 3021, it will not affect electronic components or leak into the external environment. Finally, the cooling device 4 is located on the plastic lid assembly, and its air inlet side is more easily positioned away from the heat source of the rice cooker 100 (the heating device located around and / or below the inner pot 2). This ensures that the temperature of the air drawn in by the cooling device 4 from the external environment is not too high, thereby improving the cooling effect on the metal inner lid 302.

[0038] In some embodiments, see Figure 3The air duct 303 includes a first guide groove 3031 on the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301. Since the ventilation hole 3011 is located on the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301, in some examples, when the airflow generated by the cooling device 4 enters the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301 through the ventilation hole 3011, it flows and diffuses along the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301 and naturally enters the first guide groove 3031, thereby guiding at least part of the airflow towards the sealing surface 3021, or through a guiding structure (not shown in the figure), such as a baffle, groove, or pipe, into the first guide groove 3031. The specific structure is easy to implement and will not be described in detail here. In other examples, the ventilation hole 3011 is located on the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301. The bottom of the flow channel 3031 is such that, since at least part of the projection area of ​​the first flow channel 3011 in the height direction falls into the projection area of ​​the sealing surface 3021, the airflow generated by the cooling device 4 can flow from the ventilation hole 3011 into the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 3011 and directly enter the first flow channel 3031. This ensures that at least part of the airflow can be quickly guided and blown towards the sealing surface 3021, reducing the flow loss of the airflow and allowing it to carry away more heat from the metal inner cover 302 per unit time, ensuring the condensation effect of the lower surface of the metal inner cover 302 on the steam and improving the strength of the water seal.

[0039] Specifically, in some examples, the first flow channel 3031 is formed on the protruding baffle 3012 on the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301. The first flow channel 3031 can be formed between the sidewalls of at least two baffles 3012, or between the sidewall of one baffle 3012 and the sidewall of the groove formed on the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301 for accommodating the metal inner cover 302, or between the sidewall of one baffle 3012 and the protruding rib on the upper surface of the metal inner cover 302. The choice can be made according to actual needs and is not limited here. In some examples, the first flow channel 3031 is formed in the upwardly recessed groove structure of the plastic cover assembly 3011. The structure of the first guide groove 3031 described above can also be other groove-shaped structures commonly used by those skilled in the art. It is understood that when the structure is arranged as described above, the airflow flowing in the first guide groove 3031 is less likely to flow to other areas on the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301, reducing airflow loss and impact on other parts, thereby reducing noise problems caused by airflow. In some examples, the bottom surface of the baffle 3012 abuts against the upper surface of the metal inner cover 302, thereby maximizing the retention of airflow into the first guide groove 3031 and improving the cooling effect of the airflow on the metal inner cover 302. In other examples, the bottom surface of the baffle 3012 may also have a certain gap with the upper surface of the metal inner cover 302. This allows some of the airflow flowing through the first guide channel 3031 to be released into the gap between the plastic cover assembly 301 and the metal inner cover 302. This dries the small amount of steam that flows into the gap, so that even if a small amount of steam leaks from the sealing surface 3021 into the gap, it can be dried or blown away by the airflow released from the first guide channel 3031. This prevents the steam from flowing further into the interior of the plastic cover assembly 301 and damaging the internal electronic components. It also makes the upper surface of the metal inner cover 302 drier, so that when the user removes the metal inner cover 302 after cooking, there will be no water droplets on its upper surface, improving the user experience.

[0040] In some embodiments, the first guide groove 3031 is a circumferentially continuous annular groove. For better sealing, the sealing surface 3021 of the metal inner cover 302 is also a circumferentially continuous annular sealing surface around the center of the inner pot 2. Thus, the mating part of the sealing surface 3021 and the inner pot 2 forms a circumferentially rigid sealing area. In order to further improve the cooling effect of the cooling device 4 on the sealing surface 3021, the first guide groove 3031 is arranged in annular shape to form cooling of the annular sealing surface in the circumferential direction. This results in an annular or near-annular (i.e., discontinuous) water seal on the sealing surface 3021, which makes the water seal better and the structural strength higher, and it is not easy to be washed away.

[0041] In some embodiments, the sealing surface 3021 is formed on the top surface of the annular boss that protrudes downward from the outer periphery of the metal inner cover 302. The annular boss can enhance the structural strength of the metal inner cover 302 and can, to a certain extent, ensure the mating fit between the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part on the inner pot 2. In addition, when the interior of the annular boss is a hollow structure and the back side of the annular boss relative to the top surface is an open structure, that is, the upper surface of the metal inner cover 302 forms a downwardly recessed second guide groove 3032 at the annular boss, and the air duct 303 includes the second guide groove. 3032. In this way, since the bottom surface of the second guide groove 3032 is opposite to the top surface of the annular boss, that is, the bottom surface of the second guide groove 3032 is opposite to the sealing surface 3021, the airflow flowing into the second guide groove 3032 can be more directly guided to the sealing surface 3021 and blown towards the sealing surface 3021. This allows the airflow to better remove the heat from the metal inner cover 302, especially the heat located on the sealing surface 3032, making the water seal on the sealing surface 3021 more stable and improving the water seal effect.

[0042] In some embodiments, see Figure 5 The air duct 303 has an air outlet 3033, which is located at the rear of the rice cooker 100 in the front-to-back direction. After the airflow passes through the cooling metal inner lid 302, its temperature rises. Most of the heated airflow flows out from the rear of the rice cooker 100. This reduces the amount of hot air flowing towards the user, minimizing its impact. It also increases the distance between the airflow outlet of the rice cooker 100 and the user's ear, reducing noise and improving the user experience. For more details, see... Figure 2The metal inner cover 302 is detachably connected to the plastic cover assembly 301. Specifically, the plastic cover assembly 301 has a slot near the side that is hinged to the pot body 1, and a buckle on the side away from the side that is hinged to the pot body 1. When assembling the metal inner cover 302 and the plastic cover assembly 301, one end of the metal inner cover 302 is first inserted into the slot, and then the other end of the metal inner cover 302 is pressed towards the plastic cover assembly 301 to engage with the buckle. This detachable connection is existing technology and will not be described in detail here. The aforementioned detachable connection method causes the metal inner cover 302 to float slightly up and down relative to the plastic cover assembly 301, thus forming a floating installation of the metal inner cover 302 on the plastic cover assembly 301. When the metal inner cover 302 and the plastic cover assembly 301 are assembled and covered on the pot body 1, a first gap 001 is formed between the inner surfaces of the metal inner cover 302 and the plastic cover assembly 301. After the pot lid 3 is covered on the pot body 1, the plastic cover assembly 301 and the pot body 1 form an annular cavity 003 surrounding the outer side of the metal inner cover 302 and the outer side of the inner pot 2. A second gap 002 exists between the pot lid 3 and the pot body 1, and the second gap 002 communicates with the annular cavity 003.

[0043] See in some examples Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5The lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301 is recessed upwards with a recess 3013. The metal inner cover 302 is installed in the recess 3013. An air outlet 3033 is formed between the outer edge of the metal inner cover 302 and the side wall of the recess 3013. That is, the air outlet 3033 connects the first gap 001 and the annular cavity 003. In this way, the air outlet 3033 can be naturally formed by the structure of the plastic cover assembly 301 and the metal inner cover 302 themselves, without the need for additional manufacturing. The structure is simple and the manufacturing cost is reduced. It can be understood that the air outlet 3033 can exist in the circumference of the outer edge of the metal inner cover 302. In this way, a small amount of airflow can be allowed to escape from the air outlet 303 before flowing in the air duct 303, thereby drying a small amount of steam that escapes from the sealing surface 3021. At the same time, it is necessary to realize the air outlet 303 3. The air outlet 3033 is located at the rear of the rice cooker 100. Simply increasing the gap size of the rear air outlet 3033, such as through the slot in the plastic cover assembly 301, allows more airflow in the air duct 303 to be guided through the duct before exiting through the air outlet 303. This ensures the cooling effect of the airflow generated by the cooling device 4 on the metal inner cover 302 and guarantees the formation of a water seal. Alternatively, protruding ribs can be added to the outer edge of the metal inner cover 302 and / or the side wall of the recess 3013 to reduce the distance between them, thus placing the main air outlet of the air outlet 3033 at the rear of the rice cooker 100, thereby controlling the airflow position of the cooling device 4 entering the rice cooker 100. The structure of the air outlet 3033 can also be implemented using other conventional methods in the art, which will not be elaborated here.

[0044] In other examples, see Figure 1The cooling device 4 is a single unit. The air duct 303 is continuously circumferentially surrounding the center of the metal inner cover 302. The ventilation hole 3011 corresponding to the cooling device 4 is located on the side of the rice cooker 100 in the front-rear direction. The air outlet direction of the cooling device 4 is biased towards the front of the rice cooker 100, and the air outlet 3033 of the air duct 303 is located at the rear of the rice cooker 100. Thus, the airflow generated by the cooling device 4 flows from the ventilation hole 3011 into the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 3011. Most of the airflow then flows towards the front of the rice cooker 100 along the air duct 303, while a small portion of the airflow, due to diffusion and a change in airflow direction, flows towards the rear of the rice cooker 100. The airflow flowing towards the rear of the rice cooker 100 has a lower airflow velocity compared to the airflow flowing towards the front due to deflection losses. The airflow at the front is slower. Therefore, although the path of the airflow flowing towards the front of the rice cooker 100 is longer, due to the difference in airflow speed, this solution can balance the flow resistance of the airflow entering from the vent 3011 in the two flow paths of the air duct 303. This reduces the airflow difference between the two sides of the air duct 303 above the metal inner cover 302 along the front and back direction of the rice cooker 100, thereby balancing the flow of air in the air duct 303. This not only reduces noise but also reduces the possibility of some airflow being attracted away prematurely by the low-pressure area of ​​the vent 3033. Otherwise, the front of the metal inner cover 302 near the rice cooker 100 will not be cooled well, resulting in poor water sealing.

[0045] To make the air outlet direction of the cooling device 4 biased towards the front of the rice cooker 100, the air outlet 401 of the cooling device 4 can be set to face the front of the rice cooker 100, and / or the air outlet direction of the cooling device 4 can be changed by the air outlet structure 402, so that the airflow from the air outlet 401 of the cooling device 4 is biased towards the front of the rice cooker 100 when it enters the area below the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301; in other examples, there can be multiple cooling devices 4, which can be a fan assembly, an air pump assembly, or a combination of both, depending on the actual needs.

[0046] In other examples, the cooling device 4 is also located on the side of the rice cooker 100 in the front-rear direction. This position is set so as to at least partially avoid the space in front of the plastic cover assembly 301, thereby facilitating the installation of the display panel in front of the plastic cover assembly 301.

[0047] In other examples, the vent 3011 is located at the front of the rice cooker 100. In this way, the path difference of the airflow from the vent 3011 into the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly 301 and then through the air duct 303 to the air outlet 303 located at the rear of the rice cooker 100 can be balanced. This balances the cooling effect of the airflow on the metal inner cover 302 after being guided by the air duct 303, making the amount of condensate formed on the lower surface of the metal inner cover 302 and the amount of condensate flowing into the sealing surface 3021 more uniform, the water film more stable, and the water seal more reliable.

[0048] In other examples, it can be seen that the ventilation hole 3011 and the air outlet 3033 can be set according to actual needs, and there are no restrictions here.

[0049] In some embodiments, see Figure 1 The plastic cover assembly 301 has an air inlet 3014 on the side facing the external environment. The air inlet of the cooling device 4 is connected to the air inlet 3014. The air inlet 3014 is provided with a baffle assembly 5, which includes a shielding part 501. In the direction of the shortest line connecting the center of the air inlet 3014 and the cooling device 4, the projection area of ​​the shielding part 501 covers the projection area of ​​the air inlet 3014. In this way, since both the cooling device 4 and the air outlet structure 402 are located inside the plastic cover assembly 301, the cooling device 4 can be shielded and hidden by the shielding part 501 to avoid the cooling device 4 being exposed and affecting the appearance of the pot lid 3, and to prevent water from entering due to exposure. The shielding component 5 in this embodiment includes a shielding part 501 and a mounting bracket 502. The shielding part 501 is disposed in the air inlet 3014 via the mounting bracket 502 and protrudes upward from the air inlet 3014 to shield the air inlet 3014. In some examples, the air inlet 3014 is formed on the outer shell of the plastic cover component 301, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the mounting bracket 502 passes through the air inlet 3014, and the shielding part 501 is located on the outer shell of the plastic cover assembly 301 and fixed on the mounting bracket 502. The mounting bracket 502 is provided with a channel 5021, which connects the air inlet gap formed by the lower surface of the shielding part 501 and the outer surface of the outer shell of the plastic cover assembly 301 with the air inlet of the cooling device 4. The baffle assembly 5 can effectively prevent foreign objects from entering the cooling device 4, and also improves the aesthetics of the pot lid 3.

[0050] In some embodiments, the cooling device 4 can also be installed in other locations, such as in the pot body 1. Specifically, it can be set between the heat preservation cover and the outer shell of the rice cooker 100. Typically, an air inlet is provided on the outer shell so that the cooling device 4 can draw in air from the outside environment. By providing ventilation holes on the heat preservation cover, the airflow generated by the cooling device 4 can pass to the metal inner cover 302 to cool the metal inner cover 302 and cause condensation to form on its lower surface. In this way, the cooling device 4 can be set below the user's ears, thereby reducing the impact of noise. It is understood that regardless of whether the cooling device 4 is installed in the plastic cover assembly 301 or the pot body 1, the airflow generated by it can be directed towards the metal inner cover 302 through the guiding structure. Specifically, when the cooling device 4 is installed on the plastic cover assembly 301, the airflow generated by the cooling device 4 is directed from above the metal inner cover 302 to the metal inner cover 302 and / or from the circumference of the metal inner cover 302 to the metal inner cover 302. When the cooling device 4 is installed in the pot body 1, the airflow generated by the cooling device 4 is directed from below the metal inner cover 302 to the metal inner cover 302 and / or from the circumference of the metal inner cover 302 to the metal inner cover 302. Preferably, the airflow introduced into the rice cooker 100 by the cooling device 4 can be directed towards the mating joint of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 by setting an air duct structure, so that the water sealing effect is better. The above scheme can be selected according to actual needs and is not limited here.

[0051] In some embodiments, the mating part 201 is formed on the inner wall of the inner pot 2 located inside the flange. At this position, the mating part 201 can extend the sealing distance of the rigid fit between the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201, further increasing the difficulty of steam overflowing from the inner pot 2 along the mating joint between the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201, thus improving the sealing effect. Regardless of the structure used for the mating of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201, since the inner pot 2 is typically made of metal and the metal inner lid 302 is also made of metal, and since the surface of the metal material is hydrophilic, the adhesion force between water molecules and the mating surfaces of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 is greater than the cohesive force between water molecules. Water will spontaneously spread and adsorb onto the mating surfaces, forming a stable water film. Therefore, the water seal on the sealing surface 3021 is more stable, and the water seal effect is better. Meanwhile, when the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 are mated, their mating surfaces form a clamping structure. When there is no gap between the clamping structures, condensate and steam cannot pass through the clamping structure and overflow the outer edge of the metal inner cover 302. At least some of the condensate will accumulate outside the mating area between the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201, forming a stable water seal and effectively preventing steam from overflowing through the water seal. When there is a certain gap between the clamping structures, the mating surfaces of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 can meet the capillary action conditions. The capillary force will draw at least some of the condensate into the gap, forming an upward or horizontal water film. A stable water seal is formed, further increasing the difficulty for steam to overflow through the water seal and escape from the outer edge of the metal inner cover 302, thus improving the sealing effect. Furthermore, even when slight deformation occurs between the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 due to long-term use of the rice cooker 100, or when excessively high temperatures during cooking cause incomplete contact between the mating surfaces, creating a gap, condensate can still form a water seal on the sealing surface 3021. This makes the sealing effect of the rice cooker 100 of this invention more reliable, thereby ensuring the service life of the equipment and reducing the risk of steam overflowing from unsuitable locations, scalding users, or damaging objects, thus improving the user experience. Furthermore, the mating surfaces of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 are arranged parallel to each other, ensuring that the water film formed between the mating surfaces of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 has a uniform thickness, is not easily broken, and provides a stable water seal.

[0052] In some embodiments, the sealing surface 3021 of the metal inner cover 302 may be integrally formed on the metal inner cover 302, thereby making the sealing surface 3021 more stable on the metal inner cover 302 and its mating with the mating part 201 of the inner pot 2 more stable; in other embodiments, the sealing surface 3021 may be detachably connected to the metal inner cover 302, thereby making the sealing surface 3021 replaceable, ensuring its function, and thus extending the service life of the metal inner cover 302.

[0053] In some embodiments, at least one of the mating surfaces of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 is provided with a water-retaining groove (not shown in the figure). In this way, when the cooling device 4 cools the metal inner lid 302 during the cooking process of the rice cooker 100, the steam generated in the cooking cavity 202 rises and contacts the lower surface of the metal inner lid 302, forming condensate (some steam also overflows from the steam valve of the rice cooker 100; the steam valve position is set according to design requirements and is reasonable). At least some of the condensate can flow to the sealing surface 3021, or some steam can directly condense at the sealing surface 3021 to form a water seal. At this time, at least one of the mating surfaces of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 is provided with a water-retaining groove. Since the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 are mated, providing a water-retaining groove on either mating surface allows the condensate located on the sealing surface 3021 to flow into the water-retaining groove. The water in the water-retaining groove can be stably retained and is not easily lost. A water seal is formed in a specific area based on the shape and position of the groove. Therefore, a stable water seal is formed at the location of the water-storing groove. When steam flows to the water seal of the water-storing groove, the steam has difficulty pushing the water in the water-storing groove. The steam cannot break the water seal and cannot pass through the water seal to overflow from the sealing surface 3021 into the cooking cavity 202, resulting in a good sealing effect. Furthermore, the water-storing groove is arranged in a ring, that is, it is arranged in a ring around the center of the inner pot 2. Since the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 need to be mated together so that the metal inner cover 302 directly covers the inner pot 2 to form the cooking cavity 202, the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 are also arranged in a ring around the center of the inner pot 2. Therefore, the ring-shaped water-storing groove can fully cover the outer edge of the metal inner cover 302 and the inner pot 2. When there is enough steam condensation, a stable ring-shaped water seal can be formed in the water-storing groove around the center of the inner pot 2, which fully seals the mating part 201 and the sealing surface 3021, further improving the sealing effect.

[0054] In some embodiments, at least one of the mating surfaces of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 is a rough surface. The texture on the rough surface can increase the liquid retention sites, thereby adsorbing a water film on at least one of the mating surfaces and improving the stability of the water seal. Furthermore, since both the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 are made of metal, in order to form a stable water film on the surface of the metal material, the roughness should not be insufficient to form a water film, nor too rough to cause uneven water film thickness or easy breakage. The preferred roughness range of the rough surface is Ra 0.2-5 μm. This range can cope with most metal materials, so that when the mating surfaces of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 are set as rough surfaces, a water film can be stably adsorbed, thereby increasing the stability of the water seal. Furthermore, when the surface material of the roughened surface is stainless steel, the preferred range of roughness is Ra0.2-1μm; when the surface material of the roughened surface is copper and copper alloys, the preferred range of roughness is Ra0.3-2μm; when the surface material of the roughened surface is aluminum and aluminum alloys, the preferred range of roughness is Ra0.5-3μm; and when the surface material of the roughened surface is carbon steel, the preferred range of roughness is Ra0.8-5μm. Since the surface of carbon steel is relatively easy to be contaminated or corroded, a moderately high roughness can, to some extent, compensate for the influence of changes in surface properties on the formation of water film and ensure the stability of water film.

[0055] In some embodiments, the gap between the mating surfaces of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 ranges from 1 μm to 0.8 mm. The mating surfaces of the two form a clamping structure. When there is a certain gap between the clamping structures, capillary force will draw at least part of the condensate into the gap, forming an upward or horizontal water film. The water film forms a stable water seal. When the gap is too large, the gravity of the water will be greater than the adsorption force, resulting in the loss of the water film and weakening the water seal. When the gap is too small, there will be contact points between the mating surfaces, which will cause the water film to rupture and also weaken the water seal. Therefore, the gap between the mating surfaces of the two is maintained within the above range. Under the conventional dimensions of the metal inner cover 302 and the inner pot 2, the existence of the water film in the clamping structure can be well guaranteed, and the water seal can be stabilized.

[0056] In some embodiments, see Figure 1The inner pot 2 is also provided with a support part 203 for supporting the flange of the steamer 6. The mating part 201 is located outside the support part 203. In this way, the support part 203 can avoid the location of the mating part 201, reducing the interference of the steamer 6 on the sealing surface 3021 of the metal inner cover 302 after the rice cooker 100 is placed on it. Furthermore, with the presence of the annular boss of the mating part 201, the lower surface of the metal inner cover 302 is lifted a certain distance after the top surface of the annular boss mates with the mating part 201. Since the mating part 201 is located outside the support part 203, the problem of the steamer 6 lifting the metal inner cover 302, causing the sealing surface 3021 to fail to mate with the mating part 201, can be completely solved. This prevents the metal inner lid 302 from directly sealing onto the inner pot 2, allowing a large amount of steam in the cooking cavity 202 to overflow from the flange of the inner pot 2. This addresses the issue of the rice cooker 100 retaining its steaming function using the steamer basket 6, achieving a multi-functional rice cooker that maintains the sealing effect at the joint where the metal inner lid 302 and the inner pot 2 are directly sealed while retaining the steaming function. In some examples, the support part 203 can be located on the flange of the inner pot 2; in other examples, the support part 203 can be located on the transition section from the inside of the inner pot 2 to the flange. The key is to ensure that the steamer basket 6 can be supported on the support part 203 and that the steamer basket 6 does not interfere with the sealing failure caused by the metal inner lid 302. No restrictions are imposed here.

[0057] In some embodiments, the cooling device 4 is typically composed of a fan assembly or an air pump assembly. In this case, both the fan assembly and the air pump assembly may be damaged due to external forces, causing them to malfunction. Although the metal inner lid 302 and the inner pot 2 still have a sealing surface 3021 and a mating portion 201 that can rigidly seal, both may deform due to long-term use, leading to partial or complete failure of the rigid seal. To further ensure the normal operation of the rice cooker 100, this application also proposes an auxiliary sealing scheme. An elastic sealing ring (not shown in the figure) is provided on the lower surface of the plastic lid assembly 301 and / or on the metal inner lid 302. This elastic sealing ring presses against the outer side of the mating joint between the sealing surface 3021 and the mating portion 201 on the inner pot 2. In some examples, the lower surface of the plastic cover 301 assembly is provided with an elastic sealing ring (not shown in the figure). This elastic sealing ring is used to seal the outer edge of the metal inner cover. That is, the elastic sealing ring presses against the outer edge of the metal inner cover 302. When the metal inner cover 302 is directly covered on the inner pot 2, the elastic sealing ring is also pressed against the edge of the inner pot 2 to prevent steam from the inner pot 2 from overflowing from the outer edge of the metal inner cover 302 into the space between the plastic cover assembly 301 and the metal inner cover 302 or into the interior of the plastic cover 301, thus affecting the normal operation of the rice cooker 100. The elastic sealing ring provided at this position can give the metal inner cover 302 a pressure against the inner pot 2, so that the sealing surface 3021 of the metal inner cover 302 and the mating part 201 of the inner pot 2 fit more closely, ensuring the rigid fit sealing effect.

[0058] Similarly, in other examples, the elastic sealing ring is disposed on the metal inner cover 302, specifically on the outer side of the sealing surface 3021. After the sealing surface 3021 of the metal inner cover 302 is mated with the mating part 201 of the inner pot 2, the elastic sealing ring abuts against the inner pot 2 on the outer side of the mating part 201. The external auxiliary seal of the elastic sealing ring further improves the situation where steam in the cooking cavity 202 escapes from the sealing surface 3021 to the outside. Thus, the water seal at the sealing surface 3021, the rigid fit seal between the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201, and the auxiliary seal at the outer edge of the metal inner cover 302 form a triple seal, resulting in excellent sealing performance.

[0059] In some embodiments, see Figure 4The plastic cover assembly 301 is provided with at least one elastic element 3015, which presses against the metal inner cover 302 to ensure the size of the gap between the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201. This invention, based on the rigid fit seal between the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201, uses the cooling device 4 to cool the metal inner cover 302 during the cooking process of the rice cooker 100. This allows at least a portion of the condensate generated on the lower surface of the metal inner cover 302 to flow into the sealing surface 3021 to form a water seal, thus creating a double seal and improving the problem of hot steam leakage from the sealing surface 3021. The addition of the elastic element 3015 to apply pressure to the metal inner cover 302 ensures that the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201 are tightly fitted or maintain a certain gap size, thereby ensuring the reliability of both the rigid fit seal and the water seal at the sealing surface 3021. Preferably, there are multiple elastic elements 3015, which are evenly spaced around the center of the metal inner cover 302. This makes the downward pressing force exerted by the elastic elements 3015 on the metal inner cover 302 more uniform, resulting in a better pressing effect and preventing excessive gaps between the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201. Preferably, when the sealing surface 3021 is formed on the top surface of the annular boss protruding downwards on the outer periphery of the metal inner cover 302, the elastic elements 3015 are pressed against the outer edge of the metal inner cover 302 located inside the annular boss. This shortens the distance between the elastic elements 3015 and the annular boss, thereby reducing the loss of pressing force when transmitted to the annular boss due to the leverage effect. This allows the top surface of the annular boss to be subjected to greater pressure, thereby improving the tightness of the fit between the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part.

[0060] In some embodiments, see Figure 7 , Figure 7 for Figure 2In the enlarged view at point A, the annular boss 3022 is inclined on the inner wall 30221 near the center of the inner pot 2. The top of the inner wall 30221 is closer to the center of the inner pot 2 than the bottom, meaning the angle between the inner wall 30221 and the horizontal direction near the center of the inner pot 2 is acute. This design allows condensate formed on the lower surface of the metal inner lid 302 to flow to the top of the inner wall 30221, where it is guided by the inclined wall to the bottom, flowing into the angle between the inner wall 30221 and the flange of the inner pot 2. The inclined inner wall 30221 and the flange of the inner pot 2 form a water reservoir 30222. Therefore, during the cooking process of the rice cooker 100, condensate generated by the cooling device 4 cooling the metal inner lid 302 can flow into the water reservoir 30222 to form a water seal. A water seal is formed before the sealing surface 3021. Since this water seal forms the flange of the inner pot 2, and in this embodiment, the flange of the inner pot 2 is used to mate with the sealing surface 3021, it can also be said that the water seal left in the water storage tank 30222 is formed at the sealing surface 3021, or in other words, a pre-water seal before the steam flows to the sealing surface 3021. As the steam or condensate increases, the water in the water storage tank 30222 will flow to the mating joint of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201, so that at least part of the condensate forms a water seal on the sealing surface 3021. This structure forms a water seal at the mating joint of the metal inner cover 302 and the inner pot 2 faster, and can quickly form a water seal in the early stage of large-scale steam generation. It forms a double sealing joint with the mating joint of the sealing surface 3021 and the mating part 201, and the sealing effect is better.

[0061] For any parts not mentioned in this application, existing technologies may be used or referenced.

[0062] 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.

[0063] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A rice cooker with a metal inner lid, comprising a pot body, an inner pot, and a lid, wherein the lid comprises a plastic lid assembly and a metal inner lid, the metal inner lid being mounted on the plastic lid assembly, characterized in that... The inner metal lid has a sealing surface that mates with the inner pot. The inner metal lid directly covers the inner pot to form a cooking cavity. The plastic lid assembly has a cooling device inside. The plastic lid assembly has an air inlet on the side facing the external environment. The air inlet of the cooling device is connected to the air inlet. The lid has an air duct with an air outlet located at the rear of the rice cooker. The cooling device generates airflow that is guided through the air duct to cool the inner metal lid, causing condensation to form on the lower surface of the inner metal lid. At least a portion of the condensation flows into the sealing surface to form a water seal.

2. The rice cooker with a metal inner lid according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plastic cover assembly and the metal inner cover cooperate to form the air duct. The lower surface of the plastic cover assembly has ventilation holes, which are connected to the air outlet of the cooling device. In the height direction, the projection area of ​​the air duct at least partially coincides with the projection area of ​​the sealing surface, so that at least part of the airflow is guided by the air duct and blown toward the sealing surface.

3. The rice cooker with a metal inner lid according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air duct includes a first guide groove on the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly, and, The inner wall of the first guide channel is a baffle rib protruding from the lower surface of the plastic cover assembly, or the first guide channel is formed in the upwardly recessed groove structure of the plastic cover assembly.

4. The rice cooker with a metal inner lid according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first guide channel is a circumferentially continuous annular channel.

5. The rice cooker with a metal inner lid according to claim 3, characterized in that, The ventilation hole is located inside the first guide groove.

6. The rice cooker with a metal inner lid according to claim 2, characterized in that, The sealing surface is formed on the top surface of the annular boss that protrudes downward on the outer periphery of the metal inner cover, and the upper surface of the metal inner cover forms a second guide groove that is recessed downward at the annular boss. The air duct includes the second guide groove.

7. The rice cooker with a metal inner lid according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plastic cover assembly is provided with at least one elastic element, which presses against the metal inner cover to ensure the size of the gap between the sealing surface and the mating part.

8. The rice cooker with a metal inner lid according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower surface of the plastic cover assembly is recessed upwards, the inner metal cover is installed in the recess, and the air outlet is formed between the outer edge of the inner metal cover and the side wall of the recess.

9. The rice cooker with a metal inner lid according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cooling device is at least one, the air duct is continuous circumferentially around the center of the inner metal cover, and... The ventilation hole corresponding to at least one cooling device is located on the side of the rice cooker in the front-back direction, and the air outlet direction of the cooling device is biased towards the front of the rice cooker in the front-back direction, or the ventilation hole is located in front of the rice cooker in the front-back direction.

10. The rice cooker with a metal inner lid according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet is provided with a baffle assembly, which includes a shielding part. In the direction of the shortest line connecting the center of the air inlet and the cooling device, the projection area of ​​the shielding part covers the projection area of ​​the air inlet.

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