Burner Valve Control for Uniform Griddle Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Achieving uniform heat distribution across a griddle placed over multiple heating elements in cooking appliances is difficult due to the need for independent adjustment of each element, relying on sensory feedback which is inefficient and challenging to achieve.
Innovation Solution
A burner control system with a valve configuration that allows for individual control of each burner or simultaneous control of multiple burners as a unit, ensuring a balanced gas flow to maintain a uniform heat gradient across the griddle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If independent adjustment of each heating element is performed, then individual control flexibility is improved, but achieving uniform heat distribution becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple heating elements into a unified control system where a single control mechanism can simultaneously adjust all heating elements. This merging approach maintains individual control flexibility while dramatically improving heat distribution efficiency by allowing synchronized adjustment of all elements to achieve uniform heat patterns across the cooking surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed with universal functionality to handle both individual element adjustment and simultaneous control of all elements. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by providing a single control interface that can operate in multiple modes: independent adjustment for flexibility and unified control for efficient uniform heat distribution.
2Measurement precision
If sensory feedback methods are used for heat distribution detection, then detection capability is improved, but the complexity and difficulty of achieving uniform heat distribution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service principles where the control mechanism automatically maintains uniform heat distribution without requiring complex sensory feedback systems. The unified control design inherently balances heat distribution across all elements, eliminating the need for sophisticated detection and adjustment mechanisms while maintaining simplicity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple valves are used for individual burner control, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual valve controls into a single unified valve system that can control gas flow to all burners simultaneously. This combining approach maintains precise control capability while reducing the number of separate valve components, thereby decreasing overall device complexity while preserving control precision.
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 system enables efficient and uniform heating of a griddle by allowing simultaneous control of burners, ensuring a consistent heat gradient regardless of their individual heat ratings, simplifying the cooking process and improving heat distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a first valve configured to individually meter a flow of gas to the first burner, a second valve configured to individually meter a flow of gas to the second burner, and a third valve configured to meter a flow of gas to both of the first burner and the second burner
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance including at least two surface burners and a burner control system configured to selectively allow individual control of each of the at least two burners or simultaneous control of the at least two burners as a unit.