A sous vide appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sous vide appliances are prone to damage during transit due to pressure changes, which existing designs fail to adequately address, leading to potential damage from liquid ingress and pressure-related stress.
Innovation Solution
A sous vide appliance design featuring a power cord with metallic conductors coated in polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) for reduced adhesion, an air path to equalize internal and external pressure, and guide structures to maintain a minimum bend radius, along with a pressure release valve to regulate air pressure and prevent liquid ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing is sealingly enclosed to prevent liquid ingress, then protection against liquid damage is improved, but pressure changes during transit cause damage to the appliance
Solution Approach 1:
The power cord with flexible polymer coatings (Teflon and PVC) acts as a flexible seal that allows pressure equalization while maintaining liquid protection. The flexible nature of the polymer-coated power cord enables it to accommodate pressure changes without compromising the sealed environment, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining a seal and allowing pressure equalization.
Solution Approach 2:
The power cord with polymer coatings serves as an intermediary element that mediates between the need for a sealed housing and the need for pressure equalization. It provides a controlled path for pressure equalization while maintaining the liquid barrier, thus resolving the contradiction.
2Reliability
If the power cord is sealed to the housing to maintain liquid protection, then liquid ingress prevention is improved, but pressure equalization is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible polymer coatings on the power cord create a seal that can deform to allow pressure equalization. The flexibility of these polymer films enables them to maintain the liquid barrier while accommodating pressure changes, thus resolving the contradiction between sealing and pressure equalization.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the power cord is rigidly fixed in the housing, then structural stability is improved, but damage from pressure changes and bending occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The power cord is designed with flexibility to dynamically adapt to pressure changes and bending during transit. Rather than being rigidly fixed, the flexible power cord can move and deform without damage, thus resolving the contradiction between structural stability and resistance to mechanical damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer-coated power cord uses flexible materials that can withstand bending and pressure changes without damage. The flexible nature of the polymer coatings protects the conductors while allowing the cord to adapt to various positions during transit.
4Stability of the object's composition
If polymer coatings with poor adhesion are used on metallic conductors, then flexibility and pressure equalization are improved, but electrical connection reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The power cord uses composite material structure with multiple polymer coatings (Teflon and PVC) on metallic conductors. This composite structure provides both flexibility for pressure equalization and maintained electrical connection reliability through the layered protection and support system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design effectively prevents damage from pressure changes and liquid ingress, ensuring the appliance remains functional and sealed during transit and operation, while maintaining efficient heating and circulation of liquids for cooking.
Implementation Method 1
at least one air path to vent the interior space to ambient air pressure
Implementation Method 2
the polymer coating includes polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) and the polymer coatings extruded about each of the metallic conductors has poor adhesion to the metallic conductors
Implementation Method 3
the outer polymer is a polyvinylchloride (PVC) and the plug is an over-molding of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A device including a housing (12) sealingly enclosing an interior space (14), the housing including (12) a screen (20) having an internal surface (11) subject to air pressure in the interior space (14). Electronic components (22) disposed in the interior space and connected to the screen (20) to operate the device. A power cord (13) having one end terminating within the internal space (14) and another end connectable to an external power source. The power cord (13) has metallic conductors, and at least one air path to vent the interior space (14) to ambient air pressure.