barbecue

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable barbecues require constant user attention for manual intervention, are prone to food burning, generate excessive heat, and can produce carcinogenic compounds due to direct flame exposure, making them laborious and unsafe for use in poorly ventilated areas.

Innovation Solution

A portable barbecue with a cooking chamber and ventilation system that uses ceramic radiating means and gas burners, featuring automatic food rotation and temperature control, along with a water tray to collect drippings and reduce smoke, allowing for controlled cooking without direct flame exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If food is cooked by direct flame exposure on traditional barbecue, then cooking speed is improved, but food burning and carcinogenic compound formation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking speedVSAvoidfood burning and carcinogenic compounds
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a water tray positioned between the heat source and the food to act as an intermediary. This water tray absorbs excess heat and prevents direct flame contact with the food, thereby maintaining cooking speed while reducing food burning and carcinogenic compound formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a controlled cooking environment by enclosing the cooking chamber and using water vapor from the water tray to displace oxygen around the food. This inert-like atmosphere prevents direct flame exposure and reduces the formation of harmful compounds while maintaining efficient heat transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual turning and monitoring of food is performed on traditional barbecue, then cooking uniformity is improved, but user labor and attention requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking uniformityVSAvoiduser labor and attention
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an automatic rotation mechanism that rotates the food on the grill without user intervention. This self-service feature ensures uniform cooking by automatically turning the food at appropriate intervals while eliminating the need for constant manual monitoring and turning by the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates temperature sensors and control systems that continuously monitor the cooking process and automatically adjust heat application and food rotation. This feedback mechanism ensures uniform cooking results while minimizing user intervention, as the system self-regulates based on real-time temperature data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If gas burners and ceramic radiating means are used in enclosed space, then temperature control precision is improved, but heat accumulation and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature control precisionVSAvoidheat accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of water (liquid to vapor) in the water tray to manage heat accumulation. As water evaporates, it absorbs excess heat energy, preventing dangerous temperature buildup while maintaining precise temperature control through the gas burners and ceramic radiating means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of heat accumulation into a beneficial feature by using the water tray to absorb excess heat through evaporation. This transforms the heat management challenge into an effective temperature regulation mechanism that enhances safety while maintaining cooking efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Object-generated harmful factors

If water tray is added to collect drippings and reduce smoke, then smoke reduction is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke generationVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water tray serves multiple functions simultaneously: it collects fat drippings to prevent smoke and fire hazards, generates water vapor to suppress smoke, and acts as a heat absorption medium to prevent food burning. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by combining several beneficial effects into a single simple component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 automatic and safe cooking with precise temperature control, reducing the risk of food burning and carcinogenic compound formation, while minimizing heat dispersion and allowing use in poorly ventilated spaces.

Implementation Method 1

provided with ceramic radiating means inserted in said rear wall and connected to said heating means to transmit and radiate in the cooking chamber the heat generated by the heating means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

provided with a water tray suitable to collect the fat dripping from the food

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 3

provided with a water tray suitable to collect the fat dripping from the food

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3331408B1barbecue
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 ATTREZZERIA UNIVERSAL DI CARAMASCHI ARMANDO SAS
  • EP3331408B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3331408B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3331408B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A barbecue provided with grill means (50) and/or spit means (70) to cook food comprises a cooking chamber (2) substantially closed and provided with a front access opening (8) closable by means of at least one door (10) and a ventilation chamber (3) divided from the cooking chamber (2) by means of a dividing wall (21) of the cooking chamber (2); the ventilation chamber (3) is arranged to house heating means (5) and it is connected to an external environment by means of a plurality of top openings (29) to let at least the cooking heat exit; the barbecue (1) comprises ceramic radiating means (6) inserted in the dividing wall (21) and connected to the heating means (5) in order to transmit and radiate in the cooking chamber (2) the heat generated by the heating means (5), and supporting and moving means (7) to support the grill means (50) and/or the spit means (70); the dividing wall (21) is a rear wall of the cooking chamber (2) opposite to the front access opening (8), the ventilation chamber (3) being arranged at the back of the cooking chamber (2) with reference to the front access opening (8); moreover, the supporting and moving means (7) are arranged in order to move the grill means (50) and/or the spit means (70) along a regulating direction (R), near to or far from said ceramic radiating means (6), and to rotate the grill means (50) and/or the spit means (70) about a respective transversal rotational axis (Z; Z') in order to adjust and control the food cooking.