Circulator cooker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sous-vide circulators are complex and difficult to clean, lack user-friendly features for home kitchens, and often require tools for maintenance, with limited remote control capabilities and integration with wireless devices.
Innovation Solution
A sous-vide circulator with a detachable stainless steel or aluminum skirt for easy cleaning, a waterproof submersible pump accessible without tools, and remote control via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC for temperature control and recipe management, along with a wireless thermometer for precise food temperature monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If current sous-vide circulators use a fixed integrated design with motor above water and shaft attached to submersed impeller, then the device structure is stable and reliable, but the device becomes complex and difficult to clean, requiring tools for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The circulator device is divided into separate components: a removable circulator unit containing the impeller and pump mechanism, and a stationary base unit containing the motor. The circulator unit can be detached from the base unit, allowing users to easily remove and clean the circulator components without requiring tools or disassembling the entire device. This segmentation directly resolves the contradiction by making cleaning simple while maintaining a stable base structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The impeller and circulator mechanism are extracted from the fixed integrated design and placed in a removable circulator unit that can be easily detached. This allows the circulator components to be separated from the motor base, enabling straightforward cleaning of the water-contact parts without tool requirements, thus improving ease of operation while reducing overall device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If sous-vide circulators use traditional scientific equipment design, then the device achieves precise temperature control, but the device lacks user-friendly features for home kitchens and requires tools for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a user-friendly stationary base unit with control interface and a removable circulator unit. The base unit contains the motor and control electronics, while the circulator unit with impeller can be easily removed for cleaning. This segmentation makes the device more user-friendly for home kitchens while simplifying maintenance by eliminating the need for tools to access circulator components.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable circulator unit is designed to be easily detached and reattached by users without requiring tools or technical expertise. Users can independently clean and maintain the circulator components by simply removing them from the base unit, enabling self-service maintenance that enhances user-friendliness while reducing maintenance complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the circulator uses a fixed integrated design, then the device structure is stable, but remote control capabilities and integration with wireless devices are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The circulator device incorporates multiple communication interfaces (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC) into the base unit, enabling universal connectivity with various wireless devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers. This multi-functionality allows remote control and monitoring through mobile applications while maintaining a stable fixed structure, resolving the contradiction by adding adaptability without significantly increasing integration complexity.
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 provides a user-friendly, easily maintainable sous-vide circulator with advanced remote control features and precise temperature monitoring, enhancing cooking quality and safety in home and commercial kitchens.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element coupled to the temperature controller
Implementation Method 2
a water proof or resistant submersible pump in which the motor can be located under water, at the water line, or above water
Data Source
AI summary
A sous-vide circulator cooker is disclosed. A sous-vide circulator cooker can include a controller located in a sealed housing. The controller configured to be communicatively coupled to an electronic input device, such as a smart phone or server, and be capable of receiving control instructions from the electronic input device. The sous-vide circulator cooker can also include a submersible pump connected to the sealed controller, an adjustable electrode to detect water level, a clamp enabling the device to be adjustably secured to a container such as a water chamber. The cooker can be used to cook food placed in water within the chamber by heating the water.