Compact Top-Heat Grill with Hinged Flap for Dual-Zone Cooking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional top heat grills require additional devices and complex processes for pre-cooking, are not easily portable, and pose safety concerns due to the use of gas cylinders, limiting their flexibility and indoor usage.
Innovation Solution
A compact grill design with a hinged front flap creating a temperature gradient, allowing for simultaneous pre-cooking in a lower drawer and main cooking in an upper drawer, eliminating the need for sous-vide cooking and enabling flexible operation with interchangeable gas cartridges for safe and indoor use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional top heat grills use gas cylinders for high temperature cooking, then grilling performance is improved, but portability and safety are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces reusable gas cylinders with disposable gas cartridges that can be easily inserted and removed. These cartridges are designed for single use, eliminating the need for complex refilling operations and making the grill highly portable and suitable for indoor use. The cartridges are connected via simple bayonet connectors that require no tools for attachment or detachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel supply system is segmented into modular gas cartridges that can be independently replaced. This segmentation separates the fuel storage from the grill body, allowing the grill to remain stationary while only the lightweight cartridges are exchanged, thereby improving portability without compromising the grilling capability.
2Productivity
If conventional top heat grills use only high temperature cooking, then cooking speed is improved, but food preparation complexity increases due to need for pre-cooking
Solution Approach 1:
The grill interior is divided into two distinct thermal zones: an upper zone with high temperature for rapid cooking and a lower zone with moderate temperature for gentle pre-cooking. This spatial differentiation of thermal conditions allows both pre-cooking and main cooking to occur simultaneously within the same device, eliminating the need for separate sous-vide equipment and reducing process complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional top heat grills have simple interior design for easy cleaning, then maintenance ease is improved, but functional versatility is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The front wall of the grill is designed as a hinged flap that can be opened and closed dynamically. When closed, it creates the thermal gradient necessary for pre-cooking in the lower zone. When opened, it allows access for easy cleaning of the interior surfaces. This dynamic design enables the structure to serve multiple functions: maintaining thermal zones during operation and providing access during maintenance.
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
Enables efficient and flexible grilling with reduced equipment needs, faster pre-cooking times, and safe indoor operation, while minimizing environmental impact through efficient gas usage and compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a radiant heater (2') which is mounted on the ceiling wall (2) of the grill interior (1)
Implementation Method 2
a thermal effect is achieved in the grill interior, which cooks the food in the upper drawer with high top heat in a very short time
Implementation Method 3
the front flap can be closed by means of a magnetic closure on the outer housing
Data Source
AI summary
Grilling appliance for cooking and grilling food, comprising an outer housing (8), an inner housing which defines the grilling interior and has a first side wall (6), a second side wall (7) opposite the first side wall, a ceiling wall (2), a rear wall (9) and a base plate (3), wherein the grilling interior is accessible from the front, a heating element (2') which is incorporated into the ceiling wall (2) of the grilling interior, wherein the heating element (2') is preferably a gas burner, a first pair of substantially horizontally oriented guides (41, 41', 41") which are arranged at the same height on the first and second side walls (6, 7), wherein a pivotable front flap (4) is provided which, in the closed position, closes the lower area of the front and leaves the upper area of the front open, wherein the first pair of guides (41, 41', 41") are arranged in the upper area of the front.