Aircraft oven with integrated cleaning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft ovens present a challenge in cleaning, as the inner cavity and ventilation areas are difficult for cabin crew or ground staff to access, requiring an improved cleaning system that can efficiently reach and clean all areas without manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
An integrated cleaning system for aircraft ovens, featuring a water line with nozzles extending into both the inner cavity and ventilation area, a pump, motor, solenoid valves, and a controller to manage water flow, cleaning agents, and temperature, allowing for automated cleaning without disassembly of components like the baffle plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual cleaning by cabin crew or ground staff is used, then the cleaning process is simple and does not require complex systems, but it is not possible to clean all areas of the oven including the inner cavity and ventilation area
Solution Approach 1:
The oven performs cleaning of its own internal components (inner cavity, ventilation area, baffle plate) using an automated cleaning system with nozzles and water injection, eliminating the need for manual disassembly and cleaning by cabin crew or ground staff
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system uses a water line with multiple nozzles positioned to spray water into the inner cavity, ventilation area, and onto the baffle plate, utilizing hydraulic flow to reach and clean all difficult-to-access areas of the oven
2Productivity
If the baffle plate is disassembled for cleaning, then all areas can be accessed, but the cleaning process becomes time-consuming and requires manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The oven automatically cleans its own baffle plate and internal components without requiring disassembly or manual intervention, performing the cleaning function independently to improve productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system operates continuously or periodically to maintain cleanliness of all oven surfaces, ensuring that cleaning is an ongoing process rather than a periodic manual task that requires stopping operations
3Reliability
If food debris is not thoroughly removed from the inner cavity and ventilation area, then cleaning time is reduced, but debris may burn or smell during oven use
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses directed water spray from multiple nozzles to thoroughly flush out food debris from the inner cavity, ventilation area, and baffle plate surfaces, ensuring complete removal to prevent burning or odors during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system performs thorough cleaning before the oven is used again, removing all food debris in advance to prevent it from burning or producing unpleasant smells during subsequent cooking operations
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 thorough and automated cleaning of both the inner cavity and ventilation area, maintaining a controlled temperature and ensuring efficient removal of food debris without manual intervention, thus improving maintenance efficiency and reducing the risk of debris burning or smelling during oven use.
Implementation Method 1
The aircraft oven may further include a pump and a motor, wherein the pump is attached to the motor, and wherein the pump is configured to pump water through the water line
Implementation Method 2
A solenoid valve may be provided downstream of the pump to control the flow of water through the water line
Implementation Method 3
The first plurality of nozzles may be configured to direct jets of water downward into the inner cavity. The second plurality of nozzles may be configured to direct jets of water upward towards the inner housing and into the ventilation area
Implementation Method 4
The controller may be configured to control the temperature of the ventilation area and the inner cavity. The temperature may be between an ambient temperature and 110 degrees Celsius
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft oven includes a first portion having an inner cavity surrounded by an inner housing. The first portion includes a ventilation area. The aircraft oven also includes a second portion including a water line that extends through the second portion, and wherein the water line extends along the inner housing, a first plurality of nozzles configured to extend from the water line into the inner cavity, and a second plurality of nozzles configured to extend from the water line, through the inner housing and into the ventilation area.