Conical Grill with Stepless Linkage for Continuous Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grilling devices face challenges in variable heat regulation, stability, and ease of operation, particularly in adjusting the distance between the food and heat source, which can lead to uneven cooking and safety issues due to complex assembly and risk of burns.
Innovation Solution
A grilling device with a conical funnel shape featuring a linkage for continuous adjustment of the grill height, integrated ash tray, and a disc-shaped ring for stabilization, allowing for sensitive heat control and easy assembly, along with a linkage system for precise distance adjustment and air supply regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If offset grids or slots with locking positions are used to adjust grill height, then the distance between food and heat source can be changed, but the assembly becomes complex and the operation becomes tedious with safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex locking slot mechanism from the structure and replaces it with a simple linkage system that allows continuous height adjustment without requiring the grill grate to be inserted into or locked at specific notches, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining adjustability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static locking mechanism with fixed positions to a dynamic continuous adjustment system using a linkage that can be positioned at any height, allowing smooth and flexible adjustment of the grill grate distance from the heat source
2Adaptability or versatility
If locking slots are used for height adjustment, then the grill height can be changed, but the operation becomes unsafe with risk of burns and dropping the grill grate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a linkage mechanism as an intermediary tool that allows the user to adjust the grill height from a safe distance without directly handling the hot grill grate, eliminating the need to search for and manipulate locking slots near the heat source
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage system allows the user to pre-adjust the grill height to the desired position before placing food or making final adjustments, enabling safe positioning without repeated searching and adjusting near the hot surface
3Loss of substance
If the outer shell is made thin to save material, then material usage is reduced, but the stability and rigidity of the shell decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a conical/curved shell shape instead of a flat or angular design, where the curved geometry inherently provides greater structural rigidity and resistance to deformation, allowing the use of thinner material while maintaining stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses radially insertable feet that extend outward to provide counterbalancing support, compensating for the reduced rigidity of the thin shell and enhancing overall structural stability during use
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 comfortable, safe, and intuitive heat regulation with precise control over cooking conditions, improving cooking evenness and operational safety while simplifying assembly and ash disposal.
Implementation Method 1
a conical outer shell being preferred by many users because a so-called chimney effect with stable draft and combustion conditions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
In order to create a grill of straightforward construction, in particular one of conical shape, having an outer shell (4) in which a heating plane (6) and a cooking grid (5) are arranged, it being possible to adjust the vertical distance between the cooking grid and heating plane, it is proposed, for the purpose of variable heat regulation, that the distance between the cooking grid (5) and heating plane (6) can be adjusted in a stepless manner via a linkage (8). The linkage (8) is mounted preferably in a pivotable manner in order to be fixed in any desired positions. In addition, for straightforward installation, the outer shell (4) is stabilised by a structural unit and formed in a braceable manner, preferably on plug-in feet of a substructure (2).