Cooking device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances face issues with ventilation flaps that are either not adaptable for different air flow rates or are structurally complex, prone to failure, and become sooty, leading to sticking and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance with a closure element that can be moved into multiple positions by an actuating device, automatically returning to a basic position when not in operation to prevent sticking, and featuring a toothed rack or spindle device for precise control of ventilation openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a ventilation flap is used to control air flow in the cooking chamber, then air flow regulation is achieved, but the flap becomes clogged with soot and sticks, preventing proper operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful soot and grease deposits from the ventilation control mechanism by providing a separate waste collection chamber. The ventilation flap no longer needs to move or open, eliminating the sticking problem while maintaining air flow regulation through adjustable vents that are isolated from direct contact with cooking contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary air flow path through separate vents and a waste collection chamber. Instead of the ventilation flap directly controlling air flow through a single opening, the system uses multiple vents and a separate waste collection pathway, mediating the air flow control to prevent soot accumulation on moving parts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complex ventilation flap design is used to achieve different air flow rates, then ventilation control is improved, but the device complexity increases and becomes more prone to malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the ventilation system into separate functional components: fixed ventilation vents for air flow control, a separate waste collection chamber, and independent access mechanisms. This segmentation simplifies each component while maintaining overall ventilation control capability, reducing the complexity of any single moving part.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation flap structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the ventilation opening, houses adjustable vents for air flow control, and integrates a separate waste collection chamber. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, simplifying the overall device.
3Temperature
If the ventilation opening is kept closed to maintain cooking conditions, then cooking temperature stability is improved, but the cooking chamber cannot be properly ventilated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the ventilation system dynamic by providing adjustable vents that can be opened or closed independently of the main cooking chamber seal. The waste collection chamber lid can also be independently accessed, allowing ventilation and waste removal without compromising the thermal seal of the cooking chamber during operation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cooking appliance (1) with a heated cooking chamber (11) and with a cooking chamber door (21) for closing a loading opening (31) of the cooking chamber (11) and with a ventilation opening (2) for ventilating the cooking chamber (11). A closing element (3) is movable by an actuating device (4) into at least two positions (13, 23, 33), namely a first position (13) for opening the ventilation opening (2) and a second position (23) for at least partially closing the ventilation opening (2). The first position (13) is the position that opens the ventilation opening (2) the widest.The actuating device (4) is suitable and designed to move the locking element (3) into a home position (43) when the cooking appliance (1) is placed in a non-operational state and the locking element (3) is in a position (13, 23, 33) other than the home position (43), so that the locking element (3) is arranged in the home position (43) when the cooking appliance (1) is not in operation.