Cooking device with a steam-generating element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooking devices with fixed water connections face issues where incoming water can divert and accumulate in the oven chamber due to air displacement, leading to water being sucked back into the water supply system, especially during negative pressure conditions.
Innovation Solution
A cooking device design featuring a coupling element with a pipe element that includes a free-fall section and a water-conveying element, preventing water diversion by guiding water along the conveying element while air escapes, thus ensuring water is not entrained and does not accumulate in the oven chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water is admitted via a fixed water connection, then the user does not have to manually fill the water tank, but water can be diverted and entrained during free-fall, causing water to collect in the oven chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe element is divided into distinct functional sections: a free-fall section for water admission and a water-conveying element for controlled water delivery. This segmentation allows the water flow to be separated into two stages: initial free-fall admission followed by controlled conveyance, preventing water diversion while maintaining automatic filling functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The water-conveying element acts as an intermediary component between the free-fall section and the steam-generating element. It mediates the water flow by receiving water from the free-fall section and directing it along a controlled path to the steam-generating element, preventing water from being diverted into the oven chamber while still enabling automatic water admission
2Reliability
If a free-fall section is used to prevent water accumulation, then water cannot accumulate in the system, but water is particularly prone to being diverted while running through the free-fall section
Solution Approach 1:
The water-conveying element serves as an intermediary that receives water from the free-fall section and guides it along a controlled path. It intercepts the freely falling water and redirects it into a controlled flow path, preventing diversion into the oven chamber while preserving the accumulation-prevention benefits of the free-fall section
Solution Approach 2:
The water-conveying element extracts the water flow from the uncontrolled free-fall environment and transfers it to a controlled conveyance path. By taking the water out of the free-fall zone and channeling it through a dedicated conveying element, the system prevents water diversion while maintaining the reliability of the free-fall section
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 solution effectively prevents water diversion and accumulation in the oven chamber, ensuring that only air is sucked back into the water supply system during negative pressure, maintaining the integrity of the cooking process and reducing the risk of water contamination.
Implementation Method 1
there is often a free-fall section where the water cannot accumulate. If negative pressure arises in the water supply system, it is not the water but rather merely air that is sucked back into the system
Implementation Method 2
A pipe element is disposed between the coupling element and the steam-generating element and is configured to establish a flow-connection suitable for conveying water. The water-conveying element is at least partially disposed in the free-fall section
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking device includes an oven chamber operable to receive food that is to be cooked, a steam-generating element for generating steam, and a coupling element through which water used for generating steam is fed, at least in part, to the steam-generating element. The coupling element includes a connecting element configured to connect to a fixed water connection. A pipe element is disposed between the coupling element and the steam-generating element and is configured to establish a flow-connection suitable for conveying water. The pipe element includes a free-fall section and a water-conveying element is at least partially disposed in the free-fall section.