Chimney starter booster
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chimney starters currently require 10 to 20 minutes to prepare charcoal for grilling, leaving room for improvement in reducing the time required for charcoal ignition and preparation.
Innovation Solution
A chimney starter booster with a housing, air intake port, air duct, and air output port configured to direct blown air through the chimney starter, accelerating charcoal burning using a fan blower and air flow deflector nozzle to spread air streams, ensuring faster and even charcoal ignition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a traditional chimney starter is used to ignite charcoal, then the charcoal can be prepared for grilling, but the process requires 10 to 20 minutes which is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning fuel cubes at the base of the chimney starter and designing the air duct system to immediately direct airflow to the fuel source upon activation. This pre-arranged configuration enables rapid ignition without requiring manual setup during the cooking process, reducing overall preparation time from 10-20 minutes to a faster timeframe.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatics by incorporating a blower device that forces air through a duct system directly to the fuel cubes and charcoal. This pressurized airflow accelerates the combustion process by ensuring adequate oxygen supply to the fuel source, significantly increasing ignition speed and reducing the time required to prepare charcoal for grilling.
2Speed
If air flow is increased to accelerate charcoal burning, then ignition speed improves, but air distribution uniformity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the air duct into multiple branches that distribute airflow to different sections of the chimney starter. This segmented duct system ensures that air is evenly distributed across multiple fuel cube locations and charcoal areas, maintaining uniform air distribution while still providing sufficient airflow to accelerate burning speed throughout the entire charcoal load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by positioning fuel cubes and air duct outlets at specific strategic locations within the chimney starter structure. This localized placement ensures that high-velocity airflow is directed precisely where needed to ignite fuel cubes and accelerate charcoal burning in critical areas, while maintaining overall uniformity through the segmented distribution system.
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 solution significantly reduces charcoal preparation time to approximately three minutes, achieving faster and more efficient charcoal burning compared to traditional chimney starters.
Implementation Method 1
an air intake port configured to accept a fan blower such that blown air is configured to be blown through the air intake port
Implementation Method 2
the directed blown air is directed through the chimney starter, wherein the directed air accelerates the burning of the charcoal
Data Source
AI summary
A chimney starter booster has an air intake port and an air output port connected by internal ducting in the booster's housing. The air intake port is configured to accept a wireless fan blower. The fan blower supplies directed air through the ducting and out the air output port containing an air deflecting nozzle. A standard chimney starter sits on a top portion of the booster's housing, such that the directed air enters the bottom of the chimney starter to accelerate the burning of the charcoal.