Container for cooking food and process for making the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containers for cooking food on electromagnetic induction plates face issues with continuous thermal stress, leading to deformation and uneven heating, where the ferromagnetic bottom can detach or become convex, affecting cooking efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring a non-ferromagnetic aluminum base and a ferromagnetic stainless steel bottom and side wall, connected via impact bonding, which enhances deformation resistance and thermal efficiency by absorbing more power from induction plates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the ferromagnetic bottom is subjected to continuous heating and cooling during use, then the container can be used on electromagnetic induction plates, but the bottom becomes prone to detachment and deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with electromagnetic induction platesVSAvoidbottom detachment resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the aluminum plate from solid to liquid by heating it to its melting point, then allows it to solidify again to create a strong bond. This parameter change (phase transition) enables the joining process while solving the reliability issue of bottom detachment under thermal stress

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The aluminum plate serves as an intermediary material between the ferromagnetic bottom and the non-ferromagnetic body. It facilitates the bonding process through impact bonding while its phase transition properties enable it to fill gaps and create a robust connection that resists detachment during heating and cooling cycles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the ferromagnetic bottom is subjected to continuous heating and cooling during use, then the container can be used on electromagnetic induction plates, but the base becomes convex and food accumulates at edges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with electromagnetic induction platesVSAvoidbase flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of aluminum from solid to liquid and back to solid to create a bonding process that maintains base flatness. The liquid aluminum fills and stabilizes the structure during cooling, preventing convex deformation and ensuring even food distribution during cooking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The impact bonding process with the aluminum plate serves as a preparatory measure that pre-strengthenes the bottom structure before use. This beforehand cushioning prevents future deformation and maintains base flatness throughout the service life of the container

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If impact bonding technique is used to join the bottom and body, then the container achieves good technical results on induction plates, but the process requires heating aluminum to melting point and complex pressing operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebond strength between bottom and bodyVSAvoidcomplexity of joining process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent exploits the phase transition of aluminum from solid to liquid at its melting point to simplify the bonding process. By heating the aluminum plate to melt it, then applying impact, the liquid aluminum flows and fills gaps, and upon cooling solidifies to create a strong bond, eliminating the need for complex welding or brazing equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical joining systems (such as brazing equipment or multi-step mechanical fastening) with a thermally-assisted impact bonding process. The thermal energy melts the aluminum, and the subsequent mechanical impact creates the bond, simplifying the overall device requirements while maintaining high reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 container achieves improved thermal efficiency and faster heating speeds while mitigating deformation issues, ensuring reliable performance across multiple heating cycles.

Implementation Method 1

the bottom made of ferromagnetic material is heated by means of the parasitic currents generated by the plates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

transferring the heat to the non-ferromagnetic material body, in particular to the aluminum body, which provides for cooking food

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

heating the base of the recipient, the aluminum plate and the steel cover to a temperature such that the aluminum becomes soft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP3861900B1Container for cooking food and process for making the same
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 TVS SPA
  • EP3861900B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3861900B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A container (1) for cooking food comprises a bottom (2) and a side wall (3) with an initial part (P) comprising an end (8a) belonging to the bottom (2), and wherein between the initial part (P) and the bottom (2) there is a section (8) with a specific radius (R) of curvature and a specific extension arc, the container (1) also comprises a first element (4), made of a first good heat-conducting metal material, and a second element (5), made of a second ferromagnetic metal material, the second element (5) is fixed externally with respect to an area (6) of the first element (4) which corresponds with the bottom (2) of the container (1), the second element (5) is contiguously extended over the entire bottom (2) and along a portion of the initial part (P) corresponding to the section (8), the section (8) having length comprised between 10 mm and 30 mm and extended for an extension arc of about 35° with respect to the lying plane of the bottom (2).