Centrifugal Airflow Cooking Vent Layout for Steam Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing airflow cooking appliances have complex internal structures and inefficient water vapor evacuation during cooking, which affects cooking performance and user safety.

Innovation Solution

A portable cooking appliance featuring a centrifugal turbine and a steam extraction window oriented at a specific angle to efficiently extract water vapor, combined with a steam extraction duct, simplifies the internal structure and enhances vapor removal by aligning the airflow tangentially with the extraction window, reducing the need for additional components and ensuring safety by positioning the extraction window opposite the user grip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a complex internal structure is used in airflow cooking appliances, then cooking functionality is improved, but water vapor evacuation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking functionalityVSAvoidwater vapor evacuation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the steam extraction function from the complex internal structure by providing a dedicated extraction window (1) positioned opposite the centrifugal turbine's exhaust zone. This separate extraction path allows efficient water vapor removal without interfering with the cooking airflow circulation, resolving the contradiction between cooking functionality and vapor evacuation efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the airflow paths by creating distinct zones: a cooking airflow circulation path through the centrifugal turbine and a separate steam extraction path through the extraction window. This segmentation allows independent optimization of both cooking functionality and water vapor evacuation, preventing the trade-off between these two functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the extraction window is oriented parallel to the tangential direction, then the internal structure is simplified, but steam extraction efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinternal structure complexityVSAvoidsteam extraction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the extraction window's orientation angle as a critical parameter, positioning it within 10°-30° relative to the radial direction (or 60°-80° relative to the tangential direction). This parameter optimization ensures the window captures the centrifugal airflow effectively without requiring additional deflectors or complex positioning mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and extraction efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The extraction window's orientation allows it to automatically capture steam and water vapor through the centrifugal force generated by the turbine's rotation. The window's position opposite the exhaust zone enables it to self-align with the airflow pattern, eliminating the need for active control mechanisms or complex adjustment devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If additional components like deflectors are added to orient airflow towards the extraction window, then steam extraction is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesteam extraction efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The centrifugal turbine serves multiple functions: it circulates cooking airflow through the cooking chamber and simultaneously generates centrifugal force that directs steam and water vapor toward the extraction window. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate deflectors or additional components, resolving the contradiction between extraction efficiency and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the airflow circulation function and steam extraction function into a unified system where the centrifugal turbine's rotation creates a single airflow pattern that serves both purposes. The extraction window is positioned to capture this unified airflow, eliminating the need for separate airflow direction control components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 evacuates water vapor, improving cooking efficiency and safety by optimizing the orientation of the extraction window and its proximity to the centrifugal turbine, while minimizing additional parts and assemblies, thus addressing the inefficiencies of prior art appliances.

Implementation Method 1

a centrifugal turbine arranged to create an airflow in a cooking space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

a steam extraction window arranged to extract steam from the cooking space to the outside of the appliance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3257410B1Air-flow cooking appliance
Publication Date: 2019.03.20 SEB SA
  • EP3257410B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3257410B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Food cooking appliance comprising: - a centrifugal turbine arranged to create an air flow in a cooking space, - a steam extraction window arranged to extract steam present in the cooking space, characterized in that the extraction window has at any point of its passage surface a normal direction with at least one non-zero component along a direction tangential to a circle centered on the centrifugal turbine and passing through the center of the extraction window.