Cooking Chamber Liner Mounting Slots for Thermal Expansion Relief

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances with cooking chambers experience mechanical stresses due to the expansion of the cooking appliance cavity liner during use, which can lead to improper functioning or damage, such as chipping of enamel in enameled cavity liners.

Innovation Solution

The cooking appliance features elongated mounting holes in the mounting tabs, allowing the cavity liner mounting elements to be positioned away from both ends of the holes, enabling the cavity liner to expand without causing mechanical stress between the cavity liner and the housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cavity liner is rigidly mounted to the housing, then the mounting connection is strong and stable, but the cavity liner cannot expand freely when heated, causing mechanical stress and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting connection stabilityVSAvoidmechanical stress from thermal expansion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system transitions from a rigid fixed connection to a dynamic adjustable connection. The elongated mounting holes allow the cavity liner to move and expand dynamically when heated, while the mounting elements maintain connection within the elongated hole boundaries, resolving the contradiction between stable mounting and free expansion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting hole geometry is changed from a standard circular hole to an elongated hole with specific dimensional parameters. This parameter change allows the mounting system to accommodate thermal expansion while maintaining connection, eliminating mechanical stress without compromising mounting stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the cavity liner is allowed to expand freely, then mechanical stress is eliminated, but the mounting connection becomes loose and unstable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stress from thermal expansionVSAvoidmounting connection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system provides controlled freedom of movement through the elongated holes. The cavity liner can expand freely within the boundaries defined by the elongated hole dimensions, eliminating mechanical stress while the mounting elements maintain stable connection throughout the expansion range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If standard round mounting holes are used, then the mounting structure is simple, but the cavity liner expansion causes stress concentration at the mounting points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting structure simplicityVSAvoidstress concentration at mounting points

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting hole shape parameter is changed from circular to elongated. This geometric parameter change redistributes the stress during thermal expansion, preventing stress concentration at single points while maintaining relatively simple mounting structure and manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This design allows the cooking appliance cavity liner to expand freely along the depth dimension without inducing mechanical stress, preventing issues like enamel chipping and ensuring proper functioning of the appliance.

Implementation Method 1

the cooking appliance cavity liner heats up so that the cooking appliance cavity liner expands and thus moves relative to the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS20250102150A1Cooking appliance including a housing with a cooking chamber disposed therein

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 MIELE & CO KG

AI summary

A cooking appliance includes: a housing with a cooking appliance cavity liner disposed in the housing to form a cooking chamber, the cooking appliance cavity liner having two mounting tabs for form-fitting connection to a mounting wall of the housing, each respective form-fitting connection being formed by at least one cavity liner mounting element engaging in a respective mounting hole in the mounting wall and in a respective mounting tab. The mounting hole disposed in each of the mounting tabs is an elongated hole. A longitudinal axis of the elongated hole extends in a depth dimension of the cooking appliance, which depth dimension extends from a front of the housing toward the mounting wall. Respective corresponding elongated holes, mounting holes, and cavity liner mounting elements are configured to match each other.