Closing device for an apparatus for cooking food products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closing devices for deep fryers, made of materials like silicone, suffer from poor stability and leakage issues due to high temperatures, leading to frequent replacements and safety concerns, especially when discharging oil.
Innovation Solution
A closing device comprising a plastic closing element with a low coefficient of thermal dilation, made of propylene, and a gasket, which is threaded to securely couple with a discharge tube, preventing leaks by using a gasket and threading mechanism to ensure a stable and efficient closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If silicone closing devices are used, then the device can be easily manufactured and installed, but the closing stability deteriorates and the device deteriorates at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The closing device uses a composite structure combining a polypropylene closing element with a silicone gasket. The polypropylene provides thermal stability and structural integrity at high temperatures, while the silicone gasket provides sealing functionality. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by leveraging the strengths of each material for their respective functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter of the closing element from silicone to polypropylene, which has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion and higher temperature resistance. This parameter change maintains manufacturing ease while significantly improving closing stability and high-temperature performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If silicone closing devices are used, then the device can be easily manufactured, but leakage occurs at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of polypropylene closing element with silicone gasket prevents oil leakage by combining the thermal stability of polypropylene with the sealing properties of silicone. The polypropylene maintains its shape and sealing pressure at high temperatures, preventing the leakage that occurs with pure silicone devices.
Solution Approach 2:
Changing the closing element material to polypropylene with appropriate melting point and thermal expansion characteristics prevents deformation at frying temperatures, thereby eliminating the leakage problem while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard plastic molding processes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible discharge tubes are used, then the tube can be selectively inserted and bent, but the working life is short due to breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The closing device is segmented into separate components: a polypropylene closing element, a silicone gasket, and threading mechanisms. This segmentation allows the rigid polypropylene part to provide structural strength while the flexible gasket provides sealing, eliminating the breaking issue of fully flexible tubes while maintaining adaptability through the threaded connection system.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If rigid discharge tubes are used, then the tube has long working life, but selective closing devices are required to prevent leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the closing function and the discharge tube function into a single integrated closing device assembly. The polypropylene closing element with integrated threading and the silicone gasket work together as one unit, eliminating the need for separate closing devices while maintaining long working life and preventing leakage.
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 enhanced stability and efficiency in preventing oil leaks during frying and discharge operations, reducing the need for frequent replacements and ensuring user safety by maintaining a secure seal even at high temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
a gasket (26) interposed between the insert (24) and the closing element (28)
Implementation Method 2
an external surface of the closing element (28) has a first threading (54) and an internal surface of the insert (24) has a second threading (56), wherein the first threading (54) and the second threading (56) are able to be selectively coupled for screwing the closing element (28) with respect to the insert (24)
Implementation Method 3
the closing element (28) is made of plastic material with a low coefficient of thermal dilation. In another embodiment of the present invention, the closing element (28) is made of propylene
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
Closing device able to be associated with a cooking apparatus (12) of the type where the food product is totally or partly immersed in a cooking liquid, for example a deep fryer, with a main body (14) defining an internal chamber (16) and with a mouth (18) to which a tube (20) to discharge the cooking liquid is coupled. The closing device comprises at least one insert (24) which can be selectively associated with an end open toward the outside of the discharge tube (20), a closing element (28) which can be selectively associated with the insert (24), and a gasket (26) interposed between the insert (24) and the closing element (28).