Adjustable Cooking Grate for Radiant and Convective Heat Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking grills lack the ability to adjust the ratio of convective to radiative heat, limiting their versatility in cooking methods such as slow cooking with smoke, which requires specific heat profiles.
Innovation Solution
A multi-part cooking grate system comprising upper and lower sub-grates with V-shaped cooking members and cross members that interfit to create different spacings, allowing for adjustable convective and radiative heating profiles by nesting and spacing configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single fixed cooking grate configuration is used, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to adjust heat distribution (radiant vs convective) is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking grate is divided into multiple independent sub-grates (first sub-grate, second sub-grate, third sub-grate) that can be selectively assembled. Each sub-grate has a different spacing configuration between cooking members, allowing users to choose the appropriate configuration for different cooking needs without requiring a completely different grate structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-grates are designed to nest within one another when not in use. The second sub-grate can be stored within the first sub-grate, and the third sub-grate can be stored within the second, creating a compact storage solution that minimizes space requirements while maintaining multiple functional configurations.
2Temperature
If cooking members are spaced closely together, then radiant heating is increased, but convective heating is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The grate system transitions from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic, adjustable configuration. Users can change the spacing between cooking members by selecting different sub-grates based on cooking requirements, enabling the system to adapt its thermal characteristics (radiant vs convective heating ratio) to match different cooking tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of spacing between cooking members to control heat transfer characteristics. By providing sub-grates with different predetermined spacings (closely spaced for high radiant heat, widely spaced for high convective heat), the system allows users to adjust the radiant-to-convective heating ratio according to specific cooking needs.
3Productivity
If cooking members are spaced widely apart, then convective heating is increased, but radiant heating is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The grate system transitions from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic, adjustable configuration. Users can change the spacing between cooking members by selecting different sub-grates based on cooking requirements, enabling the system to adapt its thermal characteristics (radiant vs convective heating ratio) to match different cooking tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of spacing between cooking members to control heat transfer characteristics. By providing sub-grates with different predetermined spacings (closely spaced for high radiant heat, widely spaced for high convective heat), the system allows users to adjust the radiant-to-convective heating ratio according to specific cooking needs.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sub-grates are provided with different spacings, then cooking versatility is improved, but assembly and storage complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-grates are designed to nest within one another when not in use. The second sub-grate can be stored within the first sub-grate, and the third sub-grate can be stored within the second, creating a compact storage solution that minimizes space requirements while maintaining multiple functional configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooking grate is divided into multiple independent sub-grates (first sub-grate, second sub-grate, third sub-grate) that can be selectively assembled. Each sub-grate has a different spacing configuration between cooking members, allowing users to choose the appropriate configuration for different cooking needs without requiring a completely different grate structure.
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
Enables a high degree of radiative heating or convective heating depending on configuration, with the ability to alter cooking characteristics without tools, effectively addressing the need for varied heat profiles in a single cooking device.
Implementation Method 1
radiant heat, from surfaces heated by such gases in various ways
Implementation Method 2
convective heat, from hot gases of combustion
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-part cooking grate with a lower sub-grate with a first plurality of V-shaped cooking members running along a length of the lower sub-grate and having a first predetermined spacing between the first plurality cooking members along a width of the lower sub-grate, and an upper sub-grate with a second plurality of V-shaped cooking members running along a length of the lower sub-grate and having a second predetermined spacing between the second plurality of cooking members along a width of the upper sub-grate.