A cooking device comprising a sealing member
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cooking devices with a cooking chamber in contact with water, such as ovens with washable or steam cooking features, water and steam often leak into the motor and fan region, causing customer dissatisfaction, increased service errors, and damaging the sealing components during the mounting process.
Innovation Solution
A sealing member with a central hole and radially arranged slits is placed on the motor shaft, allowing for easy passage and maintaining effective sealing, preventing water or steam leakage and minimizing the risk of sealing member displacement during motor mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical disk is placed in the water return member to prevent water leakage, then water leakage is avoided, but the disk is ripped or displaced during the mounting process because the mounting channel diameter is smaller than the disk diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into multiple functional parts: a flexible sealing element that can pass through the narrow channel, a retaining structure that secures it in position, and a support structure that provides stability. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be achieved without requiring the entire sealing component to pass through the constrained mounting channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is designed with flexible properties that allow it to deform dynamically during the mounting process. It can compress or flex to pass through the narrow channel and then expand or lock into its final sealing position, adapting to the mounting constraints while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Reliability
If a gasket is disposed onto the motor shaft to prevent steam leakage, then steam leakage is prevented, but the gasket may displace or fail during operation due to rotational forces and temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is nested within the water return member structure, with the sealing element positioned inside a protective housing or channel. This nested arrangement protects the sealing element from direct exposure to rotational forces and temperature variations while maintaining its sealing function at the critical interface.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary structure (the water return member or retaining channel) is introduced between the sealing element and the harsh operating environment. This intermediary protects the sealing element from direct contact with steam, heat, and mechanical forces while still allowing it to perform its sealing function effectively.
3Ease of operation
If the motor is inserted through perforated channels on the casing during mounting, then the motor is installed in position, but the sealing member is ripped or displaced because the channel diameter is smaller than the sealing member diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into a small-profile sealing element that can pass through the narrow mounting channel and a separate retaining structure that provides the necessary sealing coverage. This allows the motor to be mounted through the constrained channel without compromising sealing member integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is pre-positioned or pre-installed in the water return member before the motor mounting process begins. This preliminary action ensures the sealing element is already in its correct position and protected when the motor is subsequently installed through the channel, preventing any ripping or displacement during the mounting operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cooking device (1) comprising a casing (2); a fan (4) which is disposed in front of the casing (2); a motor (3) which is disposed behind the casing (2); a shaft (5) which transfers the movement of the motor (3) to the fan (4) and which is connected to the motor (3) at one end and to the fan (4) at the other end; a return member (6) which is disposed between the casing (2) and the motor (3) onto the shaft (5) so as to be coaxial with the shaft (5) and which has an opening (7) thereon through which the shaft (5) is inserted; and a sealing member (8) which is placed onto the shaft (5) so as to be coaxial with the shaft (5) and which has a cover (9) which covers the opening (7) and a skirt (10) which surrounds the return member (6) when placed onto the return member (6).