Combustible fuel burning fire pit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable fire pits face challenges in cleaning and ash removal, as they require strenuous operations like rolling or inverting the structure, making it inconvenient for users to manage ash and clean the fire grate and pit.
Innovation Solution
A combustible fuel burning fire pit design with a removable fire grate and ash pan, featuring a domed shape with ventilation holes and grip features, allowing vertical lifting for easy removal and cleaning, along with an ash pan with downward-projecting feet and grippable surfaces for efficient ash collection and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the fire pit structure is made fixed and integrated, then structural stability is improved, but cleaning and ash removal become strenuous requiring rolling or inverting the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The fire pit is divided into separable components: a fixed outer shell and removable inner components (fire grate and ash pan). This segmentation allows the stable outer structure to remain in place while the inner components can be easily removed for cleaning, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The ash pan and fire grate are extracted as removable components from the fire pit structure. The ash pan can be lifted out through the top opening for ash disposal, and the fire grate can be removed for cleaning, eliminating the need to roll or invert the entire structure while maintaining the stability of the outer shell.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the fire grate is fixed in place, then structural stability is improved, but cleaning the fire grate and underlying area becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The fire grate is segmented from the overall fire pit assembly, making it a removable component. During operation, it provides stable support for fuel, but when cleaning is needed, it can be easily lifted out through the top opening, allowing access to both the grate itself and the area beneath it for thorough cleaning.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the ash pan is integrated into the fire pit structure, then structural stability is improved, but ash removal requires strenuous operations
Solution Approach 1:
The ash pan is extracted as a separate removable component from the fire pit structure. It features grip features that enable users to easily grasp and lift it vertically through the top opening for ash disposal. This design maintains the stability of the outer fire pit structure while eliminating the need for strenuous operations to remove ash.
4Ease of manufacture
If the fire pit is designed as a single integrated structure, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but cleaning accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fire pit is manufactured as separate components (outer shell, ash pan, fire grate) that are assembled together. While this requires multiple parts, each component can be manufactured using standard processes, and the segmentation enables easy removal of the ash pan and fire grate for cleaning, improving accessibility without excessive manufacturing 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
Facilitates easy cleaning and ash removal by allowing vertical lifting of the fire grate and ash pan, improving user convenience and maintaining high airflow for efficient combustion, reducing smoke and enhancing heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
a removable fire grate disposed within the burn chamber and disposed to support combustible fuel for burning
Implementation Method 2
The removable pan includes at least two downward-projecting feet, where the at least two downward-projecting feet form an air gap beneath the bottom of the removable pan
Data Source
AI summary
A fire pit is disclosed that includes a burn chamber, a removable fire grate, and a removable ash pan. The burn chamber is defined by an inwardly facing surface and a bottom. The removable fire grate is positioned within the burn chamber and supports combustible fuel for burning. The removable fire includes a plurality of holes sized to permit passage of ash from the combustible fuel, and at least one grip feature sized and shaped to permit a user to remove the removable fire grate from the fire pit by lifting the removable fire grate vertically through the burn chamber. The removable ash pan is positioned within the burn chamber beneath the removable fire grate, and includes, a side wall, a bottom, and at least one grippable surface configured to permit the user to remove the removable ash pan from the fire pit by lifting the removable ash pan vertically through the burn chamber.