Chimney starter
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chimney starters take 10 to 20 minutes to prepare charcoal for grilling, leaving room for improvement in reducing the time required for charcoal ignition.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical chimney starter with spiral heat exchange chambers, an air intake port, a removable base, and a wireless fan blower that directs heated air through the chambers to accelerate charcoal burning, allowing for faster ignition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional chimney starters are used without additional air circulation, then the structure is simple, but the charcoal ignition time is long (10 to 20 minutes)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by incorporating a fan blower that forces air through the charcoal and heat exchange chambers. This controlled air flow accelerates combustion by ensuring adequate oxygen supply to the charcoal, reducing ignition time from 10-20 minutes to under 3 minutes while managing the increased structural complexity through integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the air flow parameter by introducing a fan blower that actively circulates air through the system. Additionally, the spiral heat exchange chambers modify thermal parameters by preheating the air before it reaches the charcoal, creating optimal combustion conditions that significantly reduce ignition time
2Speed
If air flow is increased to accelerate charcoal burning, then the ignition speed improves, but the heat distribution uniformity may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air flow path by directing air through multiple spiral heat exchange chambers before reaching the charcoal. This segmentation distributes the air flow more evenly across the charcoal surface, maintaining uniform burning while still achieving rapid ignition through the cumulative effect of preheated air
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral heat exchange chambers use curved geometry to guide air flow in a rotational pattern. This curvature distributes the air evenly around the charcoal, ensuring uniform heat distribution and consistent burning speed across the entire charcoal surface
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
Charcoal is ready for grilling in under three minutes, significantly faster than traditional methods, with even burning and enhanced safety features.
Implementation Method 1
a fan blower configured to be positioned in the air intake port such that blown air is configured to be directed through the series of spiral heat exchange chambers
Implementation Method 2
the directed air is heated via the burning coals, wherein the heated directed air further accelerates the burning of the charcoal
Implementation Method 3
a series of spiral heat exchange chambers contained within the cylindrical housing
Data Source
AI summary
An improved chimney starter having a cylindrical housing having an outer wall and inner wall defining a chamber, the chamber configured to hold charcoal. A series of spiral heat exchange chambers contained within the cylindrical housing and an air intake port provided on a portion of the cylindrical housing, wherein the air intake port is connected to the series of spiral heat exchange chambers. A base configured to retain a fire starter configured to ignite and burn the charcoal. Advantageously, a fan blower is configured to be positioned in the air intake port such that blown air is configured to be directed through the series of spiral heat exchange chambers, wherein the directed air accelerates the burning of the charcoal.