Cooker Safety Cutoff With User-Reset Timer Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cookers and other electricity and fuel-powered appliances pose safety hazards when left unattended, risking fires due to forgotten or incapacitated users, leading to potential injuries and property damage.
Innovation Solution
A safety device with regulator means that cuts off electricity and fuel supply after a predetermined period unless manually reactivated by the user, incorporating user-operable control means, tamper-resistant settings, and optional sensors for gas and smoke detection, ensuring responsible cooking practices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the appliance is allowed to run indefinitely without user intervention, then user convenience is improved, but safety risk increases due to forgotten or incapacitated users
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically cutting off the appliance supply before a hazardous situation can develop. The timer mechanism pre-determines a safe operating duration and automatically interrupts supply if the user fails to extend it, preventing the harmful effect of unattended operation while maintaining convenience during normal use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by requiring user interaction (pressing the button) to extend operation beyond the initial time period. This feedback loop ensures the user is aware of the appliance state and actively chooses to continue operation, preventing forgotten or unattended use while allowing convenient extended operation when needed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a fixed time limit is imposed on appliance operation, then safety is improved, but user flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the time limit flexible rather than fixed. The initial time period can be extended by user action, allowing the operational duration to adapt to actual needs. This dynamic approach maintains safety through automatic cutoff while providing flexibility when users require longer operation periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic action by structuring operation into discrete time periods that can be renewed. Instead of a single fixed limit, the appliance operates in extendable periods, with each period requiring user confirmation to continue. This periodic structure balances safety enforcement with user flexibility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the user must manually reset the appliance after each use, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by automatically cutting off supply after the time period expires, eliminating the need for complex automatic reset mechanisms or continuous monitoring systems. The simple button press extends the timer, and the system handles the cutoff automatically, providing safety through self-service rather than complex control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A safety device for regulating the supply of electricity and/or fuel to an appliance. Electricity and/or fuel may be supplied to an appliance for a period of time responsive to a user operating a user operable control means, such as a button. The safety device will cut off the supply of electricity and/or fuel after a first period of time unless the user operable control means is operated again to extend the period of time for which the regulator means allows the supply of electricity and/or fuel. Thus, the user must periodically operate the user operable control means if the appliance is to continue functioning. The safety device may function differently at different times of the day. The safety device is particularly useful with electric or fuel burning cookers, to reduce the risk of fire when the cooker is inadvertently left unattended.