Cooking Grate with Integrated Venting to Reduce Component Complexity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking grates for gas ranges require separate vent covers or trim pieces, leading to increased manufacturing, installation, and cleaning costs and complexities.

Innovation Solution

A cooking grate with integrated venting and cooking surfaces, where the venting surface is positioned at a different elevation than the cooking surface and includes angled vanes to direct air towards the cooking surface, forming a unitary cast iron construction that combines both functions into a single component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate vent covers or trim pieces are used, then venting function is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventing functionVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the cooking grate and vent cover into a single integrated component. The cooking grate includes a cooking surface portion and a vent surface portion that are unitarily formed, eliminating the need for separate vent covers or trim pieces. This integration directly reduces device complexity while maintaining both cooking and venting functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated cooking grate serves multiple functions: it supports cookware for cooking and simultaneously acts as a vent cover to direct air flow through the range. The vent surface portion with vanes performs the venting function that previously required a separate component, making the cooking grate a multi-functional element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate vent covers or trim pieces are used, then venting function is achieved, but manufacturing and installation cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventing functionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By unitarily forming the cooking grate and vent cover as a single component, the patent eliminates the need for separate manufacturing processes, material purchases, and assembly operations for distinct vent covers. This integration reduces manufacturing cost through simplified production and material usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If separate vent covers or trim pieces are used, then venting function is achieved, but cleaning complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventing functionVSAvoidcleaning simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated design allows the cooking grate and vent surface to be cleaned as a single unit. Users can remove and clean the entire assembly together without needing to separately access and clean separate vent covers or trim pieces, significantly simplifying the cleaning process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Productivity

If venting surface is at different elevation than cooking surface, then airflow direction is improved, but structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow managementVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a vent surface portion at a different elevation than the cooking surface portion. The vent surface is positioned higher and includes angled vanes that locally modify the structure to direct air flow toward the cooking surface, optimizing airflow management at specific locations without complicating the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This integrated design reduces manufacturing and installation costs, simplifies cleaning, and enhances airflow management by allowing heat to flow upward from gas burners while venting air efficiently, thereby improving the overall efficiency and usability of the cooking appliance.

Implementation Method 1

The venting surface may include a plurality of vanes angled upwardly and towards the cooking surface to direct air towards the cooking surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow direction control:

Implementation Method 2

allows heat to flow upward from the one or more gas burners

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal convection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The at least one cooking grate allows heat to flow upward from the one or more gas burners

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10309657B2Cooking grate with integrated venting

Publication Date: 2019.06.04 MIDEA GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

A cooking grate combining the cooking surface and the venting surface for a cooking appliance. The venting surface of the cooking grate may include one or more vanes. The vanes of the venting surface may direct air towards the cooking surface. The venting surface of the cooking grate may include a depending skirt defining a cavity therein. One or more cooking grates may be used in a variety of applications.