Chafing Dish Electrical Heating Pad for Uniform Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chafing dishes using Sterno liquid for heating suffer from non-uniform heating, safety hazards, and lack of temperature control, which is critical for home food delivery where maintaining food temperature is essential.
Innovation Solution
A chafing dish heating apparatus with an electrical heating pad, reflectors, insulators, and a thermostat, integrated with accelerometers and a universal intelligent interface, providing uniform heating and temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If Sterno liquid is used for heating in chafing dishes, then heating capability is provided, but heating uniformity is poor and safety hazards occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical combustion system (Sterno liquid) with an electrical heating system. The electrical heating element provides controlled thermal energy without the fire hazards, uncontrolled temperature fluctuations, and safety issues associated with open flame Sterno burners.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system incorporates a thermostat that automatically regulates temperature by sensing and controlling the heating element's power output. This self-regulating mechanism eliminates the need for manual monitoring and adjustment, providing consistent safe heating while preventing overheating hazards.
2Temperature
If Sterno liquid is used for heating in chafing dishes, then heating capability is provided, but heating uniformity across the surface is not acceptable
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system divides the heating surface into multiple independent heating zones with separate heating elements. Each zone can be independently controlled to ensure uniform heat distribution across the entire chafing dish surface, eliminating the hot spots and cold areas that occur with single-point Sterno flame heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the concentrated point-source heat from Sterno flames with a distributed electrical heating element that provides uniform thermal energy across the entire cooking surface, achieving consistent heating uniformity without the irregular temperature patterns of flame-based systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If basic insulated bag configuration is used for food delivery, then portability is maintained, but food temperature cannot be maintained over extended delivery periods
Solution Approach 1:
The insulated bag incorporates an active heating system that continuously provides thermal energy to the food during transport. Unlike passive insulation that merely delays cooling, this system actively maintains food temperature throughout the entire delivery period, extending temperature maintenance duration indefinitely as long as power is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system includes a thermostat and temperature sensor that automatically monitor and regulate heating power to maintain the desired food temperature. This self-regulating system ensures continuous appropriate heating without manual intervention, maintaining food safety temperatures throughout extended delivery periods.
4Temperature
If electrical heating pad with thermostat is used in chafing dish, then temperature control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system incorporates a thermostat that automatically regulates temperature by sensing and controlling the heating element's power output. This self-regulating mechanism eliminates the need for manual monitoring and adjustment, providing consistent safe heating while preventing overheating hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature control system uses a thermostat to continuously monitor the heating element's temperature and provide feedback control. When the desired temperature is reached, the thermostat automatically reduces or stops power supply to the heating element, preventing overheating while maintaining precise temperature control with minimal user intervention.
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
Ensures consistent and safe heating of food during delivery, eliminating the need for frequent replacement and reducing the risk of food poisoning by maintaining precise temperature levels.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical heating pad or cooling device configured to be placed within a chafing dish receptacle and connectable to a power source
Implementation Method 2
an inner receptacle reflector... an outer receptacle reflector
Implementation Method 3
an inner receptacle reflector, an inner receptacle insulator; an outer receptacle insulator; and outer receptacle reflector
Implementation Method 4
an inner receptacle insulator; an outer receptacle insulator
Implementation Method 5
the thermostat detects an impedance of the electrical heating pad and adjusts a power supplied to the electrical heating pad to heat the food parcel to a selected temperature or to maintain the food parcel at the selected temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A chafing dish heating apparatus including an electrical heating pad configured to be placed within a chafing dish receptacle and connectable to a power source; a receptacle reflector configured to receive the chafing dish receptacle; a receptacle insulator configured to receive the receptacle reflector; a lid reflector configured to receive a chafing dish lid; a lid insulator configured to receive the lid reflector; and a thermostat connected to the electrical heating pad and configured to be connected to a power source.