Cooking Chamber Diverter for Self-Cleaning Oil Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fryer apparatuses face issues with contamination and chemical reactions in cooking media, leading to reduced quality and frequent replacement, as well as accumulation of debris in wash systems, which is time-consuming and costly, especially when transitioning to specialized zero trans fat media.
Innovation Solution
A diverter system comprising a diverter plate with an orifice and bumper portion is integrated into the cooking apparatus, allowing for effective dispersal and filtration of cooking media, ensuring thorough cleaning of the cooking chamber by increasing the velocity and area coverage of the media, thereby removing sediment and debris efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If filtering mechanisms are used to remove particles from cooking medium, then the useful life of cooking medium is extended, but debris accumulates at the bottom and sides of the cooking chamber requiring time-consuming manual cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-cleaning functionality where the cooking medium automatically circulates through the diverter system to dislodge and remove debris from the cooking chamber walls and bottom, eliminating the need for manual intervention and extending operational duration between maintenance cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The diverter system maintains continuous circulation of cooking medium through the cooking chamber, ensuring ongoing removal of debris from surfaces and preventing accumulation, thereby sustaining cleaning action throughout the cooking medium's useful life
2Object-affected harmful factors
If specialized zero trans fat cooking media are used, then food quality is improved, but replacement cost and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic diverter system continuously circulates and cleans the specialized cooking medium, removing debris that would otherwise contaminate the medium and necessitate premature replacement, thereby reducing replacement frequency and associated time losses
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of debris accumulation into beneficial continuous circulation action, where the cooking medium itself is used to clean the chamber and protect the specialized medium from contamination, extending its service life
3Productivity
If cooking medium is heated for cooking, then food is cooked, but chemical reactions occur that reduce viscosity and adversely affect cooking performance
Solution Approach 1:
The diverter system maintains continuous circulation of cooking medium through the cooking chamber, preventing stagnant zones where debris would accumulate and contaminate the medium, thereby maintaining more stable composition and viscosity characteristics throughout the cooking process
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and removes particles and debris from the cooking medium through the diverter mechanism, preventing these contaminants from participating in or catalyzing unwanted chemical reactions that would degrade the medium's viscosity and cooking performance
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
The diverter system extends the useful life of cooking media by effectively removing contaminants and debris, reducing the need for frequent replacements and maintaining the quality of the cooking medium, while also being compatible with specialized media.
Implementation Method 1
A diverter system comprising a diverter plate with an orifice and bumper portion is integrated into the cooking apparatus, allowing for effective dispersal and filtration of cooking media, ensuring thorough cleaning of the cooking chamber by increasing the velocity and area coverage of the media
Implementation Method 2
a filter pump configured to pump filtered cooking media from the filter pan to the cooking chamber
Implementation Method 3
a heating element configured to convey heat to cooking media held in the cooking chamber
Implementation Method 4
a filter pan disposed in fluid communication with the cooking chamber and configured to receive and filter cooking media from the cooking chamber via a drain in the cooking chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A diverter, and a cooking chamber and cooking apparatus including the diverter, is capable of diffusing liquids, semi-solid substances, and the like. The diverter includes a diverter plate and an orifice that projects from a surface of the diverter plate. The orifice has an open sidewall portion. The diverter further includes a recessed portion formed in the diverter plate, extending from the orifice, and a bumper portion that projects from a surface of the recessed portion and is disposed proximate to the orifice. The cooking chamber includes a heating element, a wall, an inlet port formed in the wall, and a cooking chamber fitting disposed adjacent to the inlet port. The cooking apparatus includes a cooking chamber, a filter pan, a filter pump, and an inlet port formed in a wall of the cooking chamber.