COOKING DEVICE WITH A DRIVE DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cooking device for cooking food according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Ovens are known from the prior art. An oven can have a cooking chamber, a grill, and a baking tray. Food can be placed on the baking tray, which can be positioned at a desired distance from the grill within the cooking chamber. Ovens are generally designed and intended to reach operating temperatures of up to 300 °C.

[0003] DE 20 2015 104 184 U1 relates to a high-temperature grill. DE 10 2004 026 882 A1 relates to a cooking appliance with a height-adjustable cooking rack. DE 20 2013 003 911 U1 relates to a high-temperature gas grill. US 2012 / 0097146 A1 relates to a gas oven. JP H05-87412, JP S54-140669 A, JP S54-142156 U, JP H02-247421 A and US 5,796,082 A relate to microwave ovens.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a cooking device that enables simple and quick cooking of food.

[0005] This problem is solved according to a first aspect of the proposed solution by a cooking device having the features of claim 1. Accordingly, a cooking device for cooking (edible) food is provided, comprising a cooking chamber having a first and a second section. The food may contain evaporable water. It may include, for example, foodstuffs such as fruit, vegetables, pasta, sausages, dairy products, meat and / or fish.

[0006] The cooking device further comprises a heat source for heating the cooking chamber, wherein the first section of the cooking chamber is located further away from the heat source than the second section. The first and second sections of the cooking chamber can be defined by spaces that have different temperatures during operation of the cooking device. The first section can be colder than the second section due to its greater distance from the heat source. The cooking device also includes a receiving device that is adjustable between the first and second sections and on which the food to be cooked can be placed. The heat source of the cooking device is designed and intended to heat the second section to a temperature above 800 °C.

[0007] A key principle of the proposed solution is to cook at a temperature far exceeding those typically used for cooking food. At high temperatures, there is a risk of burning or at least charring the food, rendering it inedible. Therefore, preparation always takes place at low temperatures. However, a high temperature allows for faster cooking, enabling the cooking device to be quickly ready to cook a second batch of food after the first batch has finished.

[0008] In principle, it is conceivable and possible to provide a holding device located in a section of the cooking chamber with the desired cooking temperature above 500 °C, particularly above 800 °C, and to position the food on the holding device for the desired cooking time. The proposed solution is based on the idea of ​​positioning the food on the holding device when the device is located in the first section of the cooking chamber. For cooking, the holding device, together with the food attached to it, can be moved (preferably along an adjustment axis) into the second section of the cooking chamber. Moving the holding device allows for more precise control over the cooking time than if the food were placed in and removed from the second section.

[0009] The cooking device may have a housing that at least partially encloses the cooking chamber. However, a housing to delimit the cooking chamber is not strictly necessary. The housing may have at least one wall that separates the cooking chamber from the outside along a circumferential direction around an axis between the heat source and the receiving device. This at least one wall may be thermally insulated to retain heat within the cooking chamber. Insulation of this wall may also reduce the heating of an outer surface of the cooking device, thereby minimizing the risk of accidental burns to a user. This wall may be transparent, allowing the cooking process to be safely observed from outside the device.In particular, two housing walls can be provided that thermally insulate the cooking device on opposite sides, and one housing wall can be transparent. The three housing walls can enclose the cooking chamber in such a way that an access opening is formed for placing food on and removing it from the receiving device. The access opening can optionally be closed by a (possibly transparent) closing element such as a door or flap.

[0010] The recording device is adjustable between a first position in the first section and a second position in the second section.

[0011] In principle, the receiving device can assume any position along a path between the first and second positions. The receiving device can therefore be continuously adjustable relative to the heat source. The cooking chamber can be defined by the space between the heat source and a side of the receiving device facing away from the heat source in the first position.

[0012] The first position is suitable, for example, for positioning the food on the receiving device. In this position, the receiving device can be located more than 300 mm from the heat source. In the second position, the receiving device can be located less than 60 mm, particularly 40 to 60 mm, from the heat source. The food can generally be positioned on the receiving device by placing it on a part of the device. The food can then be held in place by gravity. It is also conceivable and possible to suspend or clamp the food to the receiving device.

[0013] When placing and removing food from the cooking device, it may be necessary to slightly lift the food, for example, to remove or insert a removal aid, such as a scoop, from a space between the food and the receiving device. If the receiving device is located in the second section during the placement or removal of the food, the food may burn on the heat source, which is undesirable. It is advantageous to remove the food from the receiving device in the first section because this section is further away from the heat source than the second section.

[0014] Cooking at temperatures above 500 °C, especially above 800 °C, can cause water contained in the food to evaporate. The heat source can emit infrared radiation, which is absorbed by the water vapor. This is because water absorbs infrared radiation with a wavelength of 1450 nm. Due to this absorption, less heat radiation reaches the food. The water vapor can thus form a barrier to heat radiation between the heat source and the food. The evaporation of water contained in the food can therefore protect its surface from burning, as long as the food, and especially a layer adjacent to its surface, contains evaporable water. The food then has sufficient time to absorb heat from the heated cooking device.If the water vapor barrier no longer absorbs sufficient heat radiation, the food can brown to a desired degree (within seconds) before being removed from the cooking device.

[0015] In one embodiment, the heat source is configured and designed to heat the second section to a temperature between 800 °C and 900 °C. Within such a cooking temperature, cooking occurs at a high rate, yet slowly enough that the food can be placed on and removed from the cooking device without burning during removal. A particularly preferred temperature range for fast and reliable operation of the cooking device is between 820 °C and 860 °C.

[0016] In one embodiment, the heat source is positioned above the receiving device, following the Earth's gravity. This ensures that the food is cooked primarily or exclusively using heat radiation, especially infrared radiation, emitted by the heat source.

[0017] In one embodiment, the heat source comprises at least one gas burner. In principle, a heat source that generates heat from the combustion of a fuel is suitable for operating the cooking device. The at least one gas burner can, for example, be operated with propane or natural gas. If, during normal use of the device, the heat source is positioned above the receiving device along the Earth's gravity, gases produced during the combustion of the fuel can rise upwards, thus preventing contact with the food being cooked. This ensures a higher degree of food purity. The at least one gas burner can generate a heat output between 0.5 and 2.0 kW, particularly 1.1 kW. The heat source can, for example, have four gas burners, one or more of which are operated simultaneously to heat the cooking chamber.If the heat source has a large number of gas burners, their power can be individually controlled.

[0018] In one embodiment, the receiving device comprises a metal body. The metal can be, for example, stainless steel, chromium-nickel steel, or a material with the material number 1.4301. Metal generally has high thermal conductivity, allowing the body to heat up particularly quickly. Furthermore, this high thermal conductivity enables the food to be heated very quickly by the warm metal. A suitable body has a mass of, for example, over 1 kg, particularly between 2 and 15 kg, so that it can store sufficient heat. Optionally, the body has a flat, planar surface facing the heat source for arranging the food.A flat, planar surface of the body allows the food to be positioned flat relative to the heat source, thus ensuring a constant heat input per unit area. This prevents, for example, areas that protrude from the receiving device due to their position from heating up faster than others and potentially burning. A suitable body is, for example, plate-shaped or disc-shaped. A suitable heat source can be one that enables a constant heat output per unit area via a radiating surface. The heat source can, for example, consist of a planar metal element and / or the distance between individual combustion points where fuel burns at the heat source can be less than 5% of the diameter of the radiating surface.

[0019] The receiving device is rotatably mounted around a rotational axis. This rotatable mounting allows the receiving device to rotate during cooking. As the food rotates relative to the heat source during cooking, any differences in heat transfer per unit area to the food or an uneven radiating surface of the heat source can be compensated for. This ensures particularly even cooking. The rotational axis is perpendicular to the heat source. Preferably, the rotational axis forms a central axis for the heat source, the body of the receiving device, and / or the food.

[0020] A drive device is provided that can be actuated to rotate the receiving device around its axis of rotation. The drive device comprises a drive element such as an electric motor. This drive element can, for example, be actuated by a user of the cooking device via a control unit. Manual actuation of the drive device is also conceivable and possible. The drive device can exert a driving force on the body of the receiving device, causing it to rotate around its axis of rotation.

[0021] An adjustment device is provided, which can be operated to adjust the receiving device between the first and second sections. The adjustment device can, for example, provide height adjustment of the receiving device (relative to gravity). The drive device can be height-adjustable together with the receiving device via the adjustment device. This allows for a particularly compact design of the cooking device, in which the receiving device and the drive device can be arranged close together in a compact manner. Manual operation of the adjustment device is conceivable and possible. The adjustment device can have a hydraulic or pneumatic drive, for example, for adjusting a telescopic arm. The receiving device can be coupled to the telescopic arm.

[0022] In one embodiment, the adjusting device comprises a spindle drive with a rotatably mounted spindle and a spindle nut mounted on the spindle. The spindle nut is longitudinally adjustable by a rotational movement of the spindle and is coupled to the receiving device for adjusting the receiving device between the first and second sections. The coupling of the receiving device to the spindle nut can be particularly space-saving. For coupling the spindle nut to the receiving device, the adjusting device can, for example, have an adjusting arm. The adjusting arm can extend from the spindle nut into a space below the heat source, in particular the cooking chamber. The length of the adjusting arm can be at least half the diameter of the heat source. The adjusting arm can, for example, be longer than 0.2 m.In this way, the adjustment device can be better protected from the heat emitted by the heat source during operation of the cooking device.

[0023] The spindle's rotational movement can be driven, for example, by an electric motor. The electric motor can be operated by a user of the cooking device via the control unit. The spindle can be arranged perpendicular to the heat source, particularly parallel to the axis of rotation of the receiving device. This ensures that the heat input per unit area into the food is uniformly varied when the receiving device is adjusted, even as it rotates around its axis. The control unit can include, for example, a control panel for the cooking device, a remote control, and / or a computer. The computer can be controlled via a global data network and / or a satellite network.

[0024] In one embodiment, a generator device is provided, which is arranged at the heat source to generate electricity from the waste heat of the heat source. The generator device can, for example, comprise at least one thermoelectric generator. The at least one thermoelectric generator can be arranged along the Earth's gravity above the heat source, so that rising heat from the heat source can be utilized by the generator device. Alternatively, the at least one thermoelectric generator can also be arranged in or below the cooking chamber. The generator device can include a cooling device for cooling a cold side of the at least one thermoelectric generator. The cooling device can, for example, be configured to cool the at least one thermoelectric generator with water circulated by an electric pump.The use of a cooking device with a generator and a heat source that produces heat from a fuel can allow the cooking device to operate without an interface for drawing electrical power from a power grid. Therefore, a further aspect of the proposed solution is a motor vehicle equipped with a cooking device as described in the first aspect.

[0025] In one embodiment, the generator device is configured and designed to provide electrical current for the electrical operation of the drive device and / or the adjustment device. Electrical operation of the drive device and / or the adjustment device may include the operation of an electric motor for the drive device and / or the adjustment device. The generator device may have an interface for connecting at least one external device (for example, a refrigerator, a heater, and / or a lighting system) that can be operated with the generated current.

[0026] In one embodiment, a storage device is provided, which is designed and intended to store the electrical current from the generator. The storage device can thus provide a buffer in which electrical current generated by the generator can be temporarily stored. The storage device can, for example, comprise at least one electric accumulator. The generator can further comprise a charging control device for the storage device, which converts an electrical current generated by the generator into a charging current for the storage device. The electrical current provided by the storage device, in turn, can be an operating current suitable for the operation of the drive device and / or adjustment device, for example, 12 V.

[0027] According to the invention, a drive device is arranged within the cooking chamber. This drive device comprises a drive element for generating a driving force and a drive shaft with a force application section coupled to the drive element for applying the driving force, and a force transmission section designed and intended to transmit the driving force from the drive shaft to an output element of a receiving device of the cooking appliance, on which the food being cooked can be placed, in order to cause rotation of the receiving device. The force application section of the drive shaft is coupled to the drive element via a flexible shaft. Furthermore, the force transmission section is designed as a point, dash, or line.

[0028] Since the proposed solution involves cooking at temperatures far exceeding those typically used for cooking food, it is desirable to provide a drive device capable of withstanding the temperature. Preferably, the drive element should be protected from excessively high temperatures, as otherwise its function may be impaired. Typically, heat can propagate within the cooking device from the heat source to the receiving device and from the receiving device to the drive device. The drive shaft of the drive device can be a significant conduit for heat transfer to the drive element, particularly because it may be made of metal. Therefore, it is desirable to minimize heat conduction at the drive shaft.

[0029] Providing a flexible shaft to couple the force application section of the drive shaft to the drive element reduces heat transfer from the force application section to the drive element. The flexible shaft has a ribbed cross-section, at least in some sections, allowing a cooling medium, such as air, to flow along the ribs. For this purpose, the flexible shaft can, for example, be cylindrical. It can have a cylinder wall and a central through-hole. The cylinder wall can have a spiral cut, at least in some sections. For example, the flexible shaft can have a first cylinder wall section coupled to the drive element, a second cylinder wall section with a spiral cut, and a third cylinder wall section coupled to the drive shaft. The spiral cut can be slot-shaped.The cutout allows the outer surface of the cylinder wall to be connected to the passage. The cutouts in the cylinder wall reduce the volume of material available for heat transfer along the flexible shaft, so that, in addition to any cooling effect mentioned above, the special design of the flexible shaft can also reduce the heat transfer efficiency.

[0030] Furthermore, the flexible shaft can enable the receiving device to be better and more stably mounted on the drive device even under temperature changes, because material expansion / shrinkage can be compensated.

[0031] The power input section can be located at one end of the drive shaft, and the power transmission section can be located at the other end. This allows for a drive shaft of any length.

[0032] The drive shaft can be solely intended for transmitting the drive force from the drive element to the driven element. In particular, it is not necessary for the drive shaft to perform a holding function for the receiving device.

[0033] The power transmission section can be a section on the drive shaft designed to bear against the output element. Thus, the power transmission section allows the driving force to exit the drive shaft and enter the output element. The power transmission section is not designed as a flat surface, although a flat contact with the output element would ensure better power flow. For example, providing a spherical head with a polygonal circumference, particularly a spherical hexagon, at one end of the drive shaft can enable the driving force to be transmitted via wedge-shaped protruding edges of the head. An output element suitable for interacting with such a power transmission section is, for example, a polygonal hollow cylinder, particularly an internal hexagon.The surfaces of the hollow cylinder can only contact the circumference of the ball head, so the contact between the hollow cylinder and the ball head is point-like, dash-like, or line-like. The heat flow through such a force transmission section can be particularly low.

[0034] In one embodiment, the flexible shaft features an output bearing for the drive shaft, which comprises a sintered material. The sintered material can be designed and configured to reduce heat transfer between the drive shaft and the flexible shaft. This is because sintered materials can exhibit particularly low thermal conductivity compared to other metal forms, such as cast components, due to their porous structure. The sintered material could, for example, be sintered bronze. A main body of the flexible shaft could be made of aluminum.

[0035] In one embodiment, a separating element for thermal insulation is provided between the receiving device and the drive element. The separating element can comprise a non-metallic separating body, which in particular includes one or more of the following materials: resin, an epoxy resin composite, glass fiber, carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CF / PEEK), perfluoroalkoxy (PFA), and / or aluminum oxide. The separating element can serve to reduce heat transfer from the receiving device to the drive element, in addition to the heat transfer through the drive shaft. The separating element can reduce the operating temperature of the drive element to below 65 °C to ensure reliable operation. For example, the separating element can be arranged on the drive element on the side facing the receiving device.On the side of the separating element facing away from the receiving device, the drive shaft, the drive element, and other components of the drive device can be arranged. The separating element can have a passage for the drive shaft and / or the driven element. Furthermore, the separating element can have a plurality of first spacers, for example, spacer discs, which are arranged on the separating body and on which the receiving device is arranged, so that the separating body is spaced apart from the receiving device. The first spacers prevent heat from being transferred from the receiving device to the separating body through direct contact. The first spacers can also create a first ventilation space with a height of, for example, less than 1 mm between the receiving device and the separating body, in which cooling air can circulate.The first spacers can be made of the same materials as the separator or be metallic.

[0036] In one embodiment, the drive device has a bearing ring with at least one bearing ball spaced apart from the drive shaft. Providing a bearing ring can also enable particularly stable mounting of the receiving device. The bearing ring can serve to mount the receiving device to the drive device. The greater the radial distance between the at least one bearing ball and the drive shaft, the more stable the mounting of the receiving device to the drive device can be. In particular, by providing a bearing ring, the drive shaft can perform solely a drive function, without the need for the drive shaft to additionally assume a holding and / or bearing function for the receiving device.

[0037] In principle, the bearing ring can have a plurality of bearing balls arranged in a ring around the drive shaft, allowing the receiving device to rotate stably on the drive device. The bearing ring can have two limiting elements between which the at least one bearing ball is arranged. The limiting elements can ensure stable support of the at least one bearing ball even under high temperature fluctuations. At least one of the limiting elements can have at least one groove for supporting the at least one bearing ball, defining a bearing track on the at least one limiting element in which the at least one bearing ball is supported. The separating element can be supported on one of the limiting elements by a plurality of second spacers arranged on the limiting element, thus spacing the separating element away from the limiting element.The second set of spacers prevents heat transfer through direct contact between the separator and the boundary element. These spacers can also create a secondary ventilation gap, for example less than 1 mm high, between the separator and the boundary element, allowing cooling air to circulate. They can be made of the same materials as the first set of spacers.

[0038] Another, unclaimed aspect concerns a cooking method for cooking food.

[0039] The cooking method comprises the following steps: providing a cooking chamber and a heat source, providing a receiving device in a first section of the cooking chamber, heating the first and a second section of the cooking chamber with the heat source, wherein the first section of the cooking chamber is further away from the heat source than the second section, arranging the food to be cooked on the heated receiving device in the first section, moving the receiving device from the first section to the second section and cooking the food on the receiving device in the second section at a temperature above 500 °C, in particular above 800 °C.

[0040] In one embodiment, the receiving device is moved from the second section back to the first section after less than 60 seconds, particularly less than 20 seconds, in order to remove the food. The cooking time (residence time) of the food in the second section can therefore be very short due to the high temperature. Suitable cooking times are, for example, 5 to 60 seconds, particularly 10 to 30 seconds, and most especially 10 to 20 seconds.

[0041] In one embodiment, the receiving device is continuously rotated about a rotational axis before and / or after the food to be cooked has been placed on it. The rotation of the receiving device can be interrupted to allow for the quick and secure placement of the food. Rotating the receiving device before placing the food can ensure uniform temperature distribution across the device by the heat source. Similarly, rotating the receiving device after placing the food can ensure a uniform distribution of heat per unit area across the food, resulting in even cooking.

[0042] In one embodiment, the receiving device is moved from the first to the second section to preheat a body of the receiving device before the food is placed on it. Such preheating of the body before placing the food can allow heat to be transferred to the food from the heat source (from above) and additionally from the body to which the food is attached (from below), so that the food is heated from two sides. The temperature of the preheated body can be between 300 °C and 500 °C, particularly between 380 °C and 470 °C, and most especially between 430 °C and 470 °C. The preheating time can be between 10 and 20 minutes, particularly between 12 and 14 minutes.

[0043] For example, the food can be cooked as follows: First, the holding device can be moved from a first position in the first section to a second position in the second section of the cooking chamber. The movement can be directed towards the heat source located above the holding device. In the second position, the holding device can remain rotating for a preheating period until a suitable preheating temperature of the body of the holding device is reached. The preheating time can depend on the external temperature of the cooking device. If the external temperature is lower, the preheating time can be longer than if the external temperature is higher. Once the desired preheating temperature is reached, the holding device can be moved from the second position back to the first position. In the first position, the holding device can remain stationary, allowing the food to be placed on it.From the first position, the holding device, with the food attached to it, can then be moved to the second position. The movement of the holding device from the first to the second position can take between 5 and 15 seconds, particularly 10 seconds. The holding device can rotate during this movement. In the second position, the holding device can remain for 5 to 20 seconds, particularly 15 seconds, during which time it may optionally rotate. Afterward, the holding device can be moved back from the second to the first position. The holding device can also rotate during these movements. The movement from the second to the first position can take between 5 and 15 seconds, particularly 10 seconds. The holding device can rotate continuously during the movement between the first and second positions.In the first position, the rotation of the holding device can be stopped, allowing the food to be removed. The total time of the process, from placing the food on the holding device to removing it, can be between 15 and 50 seconds, particularly 35 seconds.

[0044] After cooking, the body of the holding device can be preheated again. Generally, preheating can be achieved by moving the holding device from the first position to the second position and leaving it there. For example, the holding device can remain in the second position for 5 seconds without any food, where it is exposed to a temperature of, say, 800 °C. Alternatively, the holding device can remain in the first position for at least 15 seconds. In the first position, the holding device can be maintained at a minimum temperature of approximately 350 °C.

[0045] The underlying concept of the invention will be explained below with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1A and Fig. 1 are sectional views of a cooking device with a receiving device; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a receiving device on a drive device.

[0046] Fig. 1A and Fig. 1BFigures 1 and 2 show a sectional view of a cooking device for cooking food, including a receiving device 1. The cooking device has a cooking chamber O with a first and a second section C, H. A heat source 2, comprising a gas burner 21, is provided for heating the cooking chamber O. The first section C of the cooking chamber O is located further away from the heat source 2 than the second section H. Therefore, the second section H is warmer than the first section C during operation. The receiving device 1 is located in the first section C. The heat source 2 is positioned above the receiving device 1 along the Earth's gravity G, so that heat emitted by the heat source 2 is directed primarily towards the receiving device 1 in the form of thermal radiation. Gases heated by the heat source 2, however, can rise primarily without coming into contact with the receiving device 1.

[0047] The receiving device 1 is arranged on a drive device 4. The receiving device 1 is rotatably mounted on the drive device 4 about an axis of rotation R. The heat source 2 defines a flat surface facing the receiving device 1, through which heat is emitted in the direction of the receiving device 1. The axis of rotation R of the receiving device 1 is arranged perpendicular to the flat surface of the heat source 2. The drive device 4 is further configured and designed to be operable in order to rotate the receiving device 1 about the axis of rotation R.

[0048] The receiving device 1 and the drive device 4 are arranged on an adjusting device 3, which can be actuated to adjust the receiving device 1 between the first and the second section C, H along an adjusting axis V. Fig. 1A The recording device 1 is shown in the first section C and Fig. 1BFigure 1 shows the receiving device 1 in the second section H. When the receiving device 1 is located in the second section H, it is at a smaller distance from the heat source 2 than in the first section C, so that the receiving device 1 (and any food placed on it) is heated more intensely.

[0049] The adjusting device 3 has a spindle drive 31 with a rotatably mounted spindle 311 and a spindle nut 312 mounted on the spindle 311. The spindle drive also has an adjustment drive 313 for rotating the spindle 311. The adjustment drive 313 can, for example, comprise an electric motor. By actuating the adjustment drive 313, the adjusting device 3 can be used to adjust the receiving device 1. Due to the rotational movement of the spindle 311, the spindle nut 312 is adjustable along the spindle 311 longitudinally along the adjustment axis V, with one direction of adjustment along the adjustment axis V being determined by the direction of rotation of the spindle 311.

[0050] An adjusting arm 32 is arranged on the spindle nut 312, on which the receiving device 1 and the drive device 4 are in turn arranged. By adjusting the spindle nut 312, the receiving device 1 and the drive device 4 can therefore be adjusted longitudinally along the spindle 311.

[0051] Above the heat source 2, in the direction in which waste heat from the heat source 2 rises against the Earth's gravity G, a generator device 5 is provided. The generator device 5 is designed and intended to generate electricity from the waste heat of the heat source 2. For this purpose, the generator device 5 can have one or more thermoelectric generators. The generated electricity is stored in a storage device 6 and can be used, for example, to operate the adjustment drive 313 and / or the drive device 4.

[0052] The cooking device has a housing 7 that encloses a cooking chamber O in which the heat source 2 and the receiving device 1 are arranged. In principle, the cooking chamber O can be defined by the space between the heat source 2 and a side of a body 10 of the receiving device 1 facing away from the heat source 2 in the first position. Therefore, the housing 7 is not strictly necessary. The housing 7 has several insulated walls that thermally insulate the cooking chamber O, enabling energy-efficient operation of the cooking device. The adjusting arm 32 of the adjusting device 3 projects into the cooking chamber O through a through-hole in the housing 7. The spindle drive 31 is exposed to lower temperatures during operation than the drive device 4 because it is located outside the cooking chamber O, while the drive device 4 is located inside the cooking chamber O.

[0053] Fig. 2Figure 4 shows a sectional view through a drive device 4. A receiving device 1 is rotatably mounted on the drive device 4 about a rotational axis R. The drive device 4 is arranged on an adjustment arm 32 of an adjustment device 3, which is shown as an example. The drive device 4 can also be operated at high temperatures of the receiving device 1 because there is only a small heat flow from the receiving device 1 to the drive device 4, as will be explained below.

[0054] For the rotatable mounting of the receiving device 1, the drive device 4 has a bearing device 44. The bearing device 44 comprises a bearing ring with a plurality of bearing balls 441, two of which are shown by way of example. The bearing ring is centered on the axis of rotation R. The diameter of the bearing ring is 20% to 60% of the diameter of a body 10 of the receiving device 1, on which the food can be arranged, for example, 80 mm to 240 mm. The diameter of the body 10 can, for example, be 400 mm. This allows for a particularly stable mounting of the body 10.

[0055] The bearing balls 441 are guided in an annular groove 444 on the bearing device 44. To guide and hold the balls on the bearing device 44, the bearing device 44 has two limiting elements 442, 443, between which the bearing balls 441 are arranged. The limiting elements 442, 443 comprise disc-shaped sheet metal bodies that are arranged parallel to each other along the axis of rotation R, so that they define a bearing space between them in which the plurality of bearing balls 441 are arranged. The annular groove 444 is provided on a first (lower) of the limiting elements 442. It is also conceivable and possible that a groove 444 is provided on both limiting elements 442, 443, so that the bearing balls 441 are guided in grooves 444 opposite each other along the axis of rotation R of the receiving device 1.

[0056] The body 10 of the receiving device 1 rests against a second (upper) limiting element 443 of the bearing device 44. In principle, the body 10 can rest directly against the second limiting element 443. However, in this case, a separating element 45 is provided, which is arranged between the body 10 and the bearing device 44. The separating element 45 physically and thermally separates the body 10 from the second limiting element 443. It reduces the heat flow from the body 10, which can become very hot during operation of the cooking device, into the bearing device 44, so that the drive device 4 heats up less during operation of the cooking device. The drive device 4 has a drive element 40 to generate a driving force. The driving force is transmitted from the drive element 40 to the body 10 via an output element 11, so that the body 10 is rotated by the driving force.

[0057] A gearbox (not shown) may be provided between the drive element 40 and the body 10, if necessary.

[0058] The drive element 40 has a drive pin 41 which is coupled to the output element 11. The coupling is achieved via a flexible shaft 42 and a drive shaft 43. The flexible shaft 42 (shown enlarged) has a drive bearing 420 in which the drive pin 41 is mounted to prevent rotation, so that a rotation of the drive pin 41 is converted into a rotation of the flexible shaft 42. The flexible shaft 42 also has an output bearing 421 in which the drive shaft 43 is mounted to prevent rotation, so that a rotation of the flexible shaft 42 is converted into a rotation of the drive shaft 43.

[0059] The flexible shaft 42 has rib-like incisions 422 in cross-section along the axis of rotation R, which are arranged offset from one another on opposite sides of the cross-section. The incisions 422 form a spiral on a cylindrical wall of the flexible shaft 42. Preferably, the receiving device 1 is driven with a direction of rotation parallel to the winding direction of the spiral, so that the incisions 422 are forced apart by the action of the driving force. The flexible shaft 42 thus allows play in the drive shaft 43 transversely to the axis of rotation R and additionally reduces heat conduction from the drive shaft 43 to the drive element 40. Of course, an alternative, in particular direct, coupling of the drive shaft 43 to the drive element 40 is also conceivable and possible. Likewise, it is conceivable and possible to provide alternatively shaped incisions on the flexible shaft 42.

[0060] The drive shaft 43 has a force introduction section 430, which is coupled to the drive element 40 for introducing the drive force into the drive shaft 43. The force introduction section 430 is rotationally fixed to an output bearing 421 of the flexible shaft 42 for coupling with the drive element 40. The output bearing 421 is made of a sintered material. This reduces heat conduction from the drive shaft 43 to the flexible shaft 42.

[0061] The drive shaft 43 further comprises a power transmission section 431, which is coupled to the output element 11 of the receiving device 1. For coupling with the output element 11, the drive shaft 43 is preferably loosely inserted into a receiving chamber 110 of the output element 11. In particular, the weight of the receiving device 1 does not rest on the drive shaft 43. Instead, the receiving device 1 can be supported on the adjusting arm 32 via a holding device and the drive-side limiting element 442.

[0062] In the present embodiment, the output element 11 is a screw that is screwed into the body 10 of the receiving device 1 along the axis of rotation R and has an internal hexagon socket. The internal hexagon socket defines the receiving space 110 for inserting the drive shaft 43. In principle, the output element 11 can be designed in any way. A receiving space 110 for receiving the drive shaft 43 is a preferred, but not mandatory, means of transmitting the drive force to the receiving device 1. The drive force can be received by the power transmission section 431 via the walls of the receiving space 110.

[0063] The drive shaft 43 has a head at one end facing the body 10, which can be received into the receiving chamber 110 of the output element 11. The head has a spherical hexagon, so that its edges are suitable for interacting with the internal hexagon of the output element 11, i.e., with the walls of the receiving chamber 110, to transmit power. The edges of the head of the drive shaft 43 form a power transmission section 431, which is designed and intended to transmit the driving force from the drive shaft 43 to the output element 11. Because the power transmission section 431 is very narrow, the heat transfer between the output element 11 and the drive shaft 43 can be very low.Depending on the position of the drive shaft 43 relative to the output element 11, the power transmission section 431 is linear (entire circumference of the head), line-shaped, for example, if the drive shaft 43 is rotationally displaced relative to the output element 11, or, in the extreme case, point-shaped. In principle, it is of course conceivable and possible to provide alternative configurations of the drive shaft 43 and the output element 11 that, regardless of the specific drive situation, allow for a point-shaped, line-shaped, or linear power transmission section 431 on the drive shaft 43. In particular, with a point-shaped power transmission section 431, heat transfer can be significantly reduced compared to a planar, line-shaped, or linear power transmission section 431.

[0064] The bearing device 44 and the separating element 45 each have a passage 445, 450 through which the drive shaft 43 extends. Reference symbol list

[0065] 1 Receiving device 10 Body 11 Output element 110 Receiving chamber 2 Heat source 21 Gas burner 3 Adjusting device 31 Spindle drive 311 Spindle 312 Spindle nut 313 Adjusting drive 32 Adjusting arm 4 Drive device 40 Drive element 41 Drive pin 42 Flexible shaft 420 Drive bearing 421 Output bearing 422 Cutout 43 Drive shaft 430 Force introduction section 431 Power transmission section 44 Bearing device 441 Bearing ball 442, 443 Limiting element 444 Groove 445 Through hole 45 Separating element 450 Through hole 5 Generator device 6 Storage device 7 Housing First section G Ground weight H Second section O Cooking chamber R Rotation axis V Adjusting axis

Claims

1. Cooking device for cooking food, with - a cooking chamber (O) comprising a first and a second section (C, H), - a heat source (2) for heating the cooking chamber (O), wherein the first section (C) of the cooking chamber (O) is further spaced from the heat source (2) than the second section (H), - a receiving device (1) that is adjustable between the first and second sections (C, H) and on which the food can be placed, wherein the heat source (2) is designed and provided to heat the second section (H) to a temperature above 800 °C, wherein the receiving device (1) is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (R) which is arranged perpendicular to the heat source (2), - an adjustment device (3) that can be operated to adjust the receiving device (1) between the first and second sections (C, H), and - a drive device (4) with a drive element (40) for generating a drive force and a drive shaft (43) with a force introduction section (430) coupled to the drive element (40) for introducing the drive force, and a force transmission section (431) via which the driving force can be transmitted from the drive shaft (43) to an output element (11) of the receiving device (1) in order to cause the receiving device (1) to rotate about the axis of rotation (R), characterized in that the drive device (4) is arranged inside the cooking chamber (O) and can be adjusted together with the receiving device (1) via the adjustment device (3), wherein the force introduction section (430) is coupled to the drive element (40) via a flexible shaft (42), which has rib-shaped incisions (422) in cross-section along the axis of rotation (R), which are arranged offset from each other on opposite sides of the cross-section .

2. Cooking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat source (2) is designed and provided to heat the second section (H) to a temperature between 820 °C and 860 °C.

3. Cooking device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the heat source (2) has at least one gas burner (21).

4. Cooking device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the receiving device (1) comprises a metal body (10) which has a flat surface on the side of the heat source (2) for placing the food to be cooked, and / or the heat source (2) is arranged above the receiving device (1) along the direction of gravity (G) when the device is used as intended.

5. Cooking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjustment device (3) has a spindle drive (31) with a rotatably mounted spindle (311) and a spindle nut (312) mounted on the spindle (311), which can be adjusted longitudinally along the spindle (311) by a rotary movement of the spindle (311) along the spindle (311) and is coupled to the receiving device (1) for adjusting the receiving device (1) between the first and second sections (C, H).

6. Cooking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a generator device (5) arranged on the heat source (2) to generate electrical current from the waste heat of the heat source (2).

7. Cooking device according to claim 6, characterized in that the generator device (5) is designed and provided to supply the electrical power for electrical operation of the drive device (4) and / or the adjustment device (3), wherein a storage device (6) is optionally provided, which is designed and provided to store the electrical power from the generator device (5).

8. Cooking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible shaft (42) has an output bearing (421) for the drive shaft (43), which comprises a sintered material.

9. Cooking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a separating element (45) for thermal insulation between the receiving device (1) and the drive element (40), wherein the separating element (45) comprises in particular a non-metallic separating body.

10. Cooking device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a bearing ring with at least one bearing ball (441) spaced from the drive shaft (43).

11. Motor vehicle with a cooking device according to one of claims 1 to 10.