Contained Camp Stove Fire Pit With Dual Cooking Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Increasing wildfires have led to stricter regulations on open fires, necessitating the development of a camp stove and fire pit that can safely contain flames and reduce the risk of wildfires while still allowing for the enjoyment of a campfire experience.
Innovation Solution
A fire safe camp stove and fire pit device with a movable lid and access door that completely contains flames and sparks, featuring a fire chamber, two cooking surfaces, and anchoring mechanisms to comply with fire risk area ordinances, allowing for controlled cooking and ambiance without the risks of uncontained fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an open fire is used for cooking and ambiance, then the cooking experience and campfire ambiance are enhanced, but the risk of wildfires and compliance with fire restrictions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A contained fire chamber with controlled access door and lid acts as an intermediary structure between the fire source and the surrounding environment. This mediator allows the fire to burn in a controlled manner while preventing sparks and embers from escaping to cause wildfires, thus enabling safe cooking and ambiance enjoyment.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful aspect of the fire (uncontained sparks and embers) is extracted and isolated within the fire chamber structure. By separating the fire containment function from the cooking and ambiance functions, the design allows enjoyment of fire benefits while eliminating wildfire risks through proper containment and spark arrestor screening.
2Reliability
If a contained fire chamber is used to reduce wildfire risk, then wildfire compliance is improved, but the campfire ambiance and cooking functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fire chamber structure incorporates localized features such as screened openings positioned to contain sparks while allowing visible flames, and controlled access points that maintain ambiance. The screening is strategically placed to block spark escape paths while preserving visual access to the fire for ambiance, thus maintaining both compliance and experience quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire chamber structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains sparks for wildfire compliance, allows visible flames for ambiance, provides a cooking surface, and enables controlled airflow for efficient burning. This multi-functionality ensures that compliance measures do not compromise the campfire experience but rather enhance overall functionality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If spark arrestor screening is installed to reduce spark emission, then wildfire risk is reduced, but the visibility of flames for ambiance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The screening is applied selectively at specific locations where spark escape is most likely, rather than completely enclosing the fire chamber. This localized screening approach blocks spark emission paths while leaving other areas open to maintain flame visibility, thus achieving spark reduction without sacrificing ambiance quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The screening design replicates patterns that allow visual passage while physically blocking sparks. The mesh or screen structure creates a visual copy or representation of the fire through the screening material, maintaining the aesthetic experience of flames while providing the physical barrier needed to stop spark emission.
Data Source
AI summary
A fire safe camp stove and fire pit device is disclosed. An example device includes a fire chamber. A first cooking surface is provided directly over the fire chamber. A lid is movable between an open position and a closed position. The lid in the open position provides access to the first cooking surface. The lid in the closed position provides a second cooking surface above the first cooking surface.