Compact Cooking Apparatus with Removable Compartment for Easy Cleaning
Solution Overview
Problem
Current convection and steam cooking ovens are large, expensive, and difficult to clean, lacking compactness and ease of maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A cooking apparatus with a housing, removable cooking compartment, air circulation system, and steam generation capabilities, featuring a heating unit, fan, and user interface for efficient convection and steam cooking with easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional steam oven or convection oven is used, then steam cooking or convection heating functionality is achieved, but the apparatus becomes large and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines steam generation and convection heating functions into a single integrated cooking apparatus. The heating unit serves dual purposes: generating steam when water is present and providing convection heating when air circulates. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate steam ovens and convection ovens, reducing overall apparatus size and cost while maintaining both cooking capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooking apparatus is designed with multi-functionality, where the same heating unit and air circulation system can operate in different modes (steam cooking, convection heating, or combination mode). The control system enables the apparatus to switch between functions based on user input, making a single device replace multiple specialized appliances.
2Reliability
If a conventional steam oven configuration is used, then steam cooking capability is provided, but the apparatus becomes difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking apparatus is divided into separable components, including a removable cooking compartment, detachable heating unit, and separable water reservoir. This segmentation allows each component to be easily removed and cleaned independently, addressing the cleanability issue while maintaining steam cooking functionality. The modular design enables thorough cleaning without disassembling the entire apparatus.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact cooking apparatus is designed, then size and cost are reduced, but cleaning accessibility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus incorporates dynamic, movable components such as the removable cooking compartment and detachable heating unit. These movable parts allow users to access and clean internal surfaces that would otherwise be difficult to reach in a compact fixed design. The ability to disassemble and reassemble components maintains compactness when assembled while providing full cleaning accessibility when disassembled.
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 apparatus is compact, cost-effective, and easy to clean, providing efficient convection and steam cooking with improved food retention and nutrient preservation.
Implementation Method 1
air heated by the heating unit can circulate between the second enclosed space and the cooking compartment
Implementation Method 2
air heated by the heating unit can circulate
Implementation Method 3
a fan configured to generate an air flow at the second enclosed space so as to facilitate the air flow circulation
Implementation Method 4
water can be delivered from the water reservoir to the heating unit for steam generation
Implementation Method 5
water can be delivered from the water reservoir to the heating unit for steam generation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A cooking apparatus (100) comprising: a housing (110); a cooking compartment (120) arranged at the housing, the cooking compartment being configured to form a first enclosed space in which food item can be received; a heating unit (130) arranged inside a second enclosed space in the housing, wherein the cooking compartment comprises an air inlet through which air can enter from a side of the cooking compartment, and an air outlet through which air can exit from an opposite side of the cooking compartment, and wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are connected to the second enclosed space such that air heated by the heating unit can circulate between the second enclosed space and the cooking compartment.