Collapsible Charcoal Igniter Grid for Fluid-Free Fast Ignition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional charcoal briquets are difficult to ignite and require the use of lighter fluid, which can impart unwanted flavors and emit volatile organic compounds, and the ignition phase is time-consuming, necessitating alternative methods for faster ignition without lighter fluid.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible combustible charcoal igniting device with elongate grid members that form chimney cells, allowing for efficient ignition of charcoal briquets without lighter fluid, featuring creases for compact storage and interlocking design for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lighter fluid is used to ignite charcoal briquets, then ignition ease is improved, but harmful factors (unwanted flavors and volatile organic compound emissions) increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the harmful lighter fluid component from the ignition system, replacing it with a mechanical ignition device that uses no chemical additives. The charcoal briquets are ignited through direct contact with hot surfaces from the ignition device, eliminating unwanted flavors and VOC emissions while maintaining ease of ignition.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary ignition device that transfers thermal energy from an initial flame source to the charcoal briquets without requiring lighter fluid. The device acts as a thermal mediator, using conductive and radiative heat transfer to ignite the charcoal cleanly without chemical contaminants.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional charcoal briquets are used without lighter fluid, then harmful factors are reduced, but ignition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ignition device is pre-positioned in direct contact with the charcoal briquets before ignition begins. This preliminary positioning ensures immediate and efficient heat transfer from the moment the ignition source is applied, eliminating the need for longer ignition times typically associated with lighter fluid evaporation and combustion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes air flow channels and ventilation pathways that facilitate oxygen supply to the ignition zone, enhancing combustion efficiency and reducing ignition time without requiring lighter fluid. The controlled air flow promotes faster, cleaner burning of the charcoal.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact storage configuration is implemented, then storage efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ignition device is segmented into multiple collapsible sections or panels that can fold or compress into one another. This segmentation allows the device to transition from an expanded functional configuration to a compact storage configuration, reducing storage volume while maintaining structural integrity and ease of deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic, movable components that allow it to change shape and volume based on operational needs. Hinged joints, telescoping elements, or flexible materials enable the device to expand when in use and collapse to a minimal profile for storage, balancing compactness with functional simplicity.
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 device enables faster ignition of charcoal briquets compared to conventional methods, achieving cooking readiness in a shorter time without the need for lighter fluid, while being compact and easy to store.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second elongate grid members may be formed from a combustible material that can be ignited and that will continue to burn, and which will ignite charcoal briquets placed thereon.
Data Source
AI summary
A combustible charcoal igniting device may include first elongate grid members generally parallel to one another when the device is in an uncollapsed configuration and second elongate grid members generally parallel to one another and transverse relative to the first elongate grid members when the device is in the uncollapsed configuration. The first and second elongate grid members define chimney cells on or above which charcoal briquets may be placed for ignition. The elongate grid members may comprise a combustible material that can be ignited and that will continue to bum, igniting charcoal briquets placed on the chimney cells. The first elongate grid members may include creases that align with one another, so that the device is collapsible from opposed sides towards a crease line defined by the creases to reduce the length of the device when in a collapsed configuration.