Control device for a cooktop, and cooktop
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooktops face challenges in aligning control knobs with control shafts due to misalignment and tolerance issues, necessitating openings that compromise the flat surface integrity, making cleaning difficult.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a rotatable connection part, intermediate part, and top part, featuring slidable couplings in perpendicular radial directions to transmit rotational force while compensating for misalignment, ensuring a flat surface and easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If openings are provided in the top plate to mechanically couple control knobs with control shafts, then the control shafts can be operated reliably, but the flat surface integrity is compromised making cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is divided into three separate parts: a top part that interfaces with the user, a connection part that couples to the control shaft, and an intermediate part that bridges between them. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while the intermediate part compensates for misalignment, enabling reliable control shaft operation without requiring large openings in the top plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate part acts as a mediator between the top part and the connection part. It includes sliding mechanisms that allow it to move radially to compensate for misalignment between the opening in the top plate and the control shaft axis, thereby enabling reliable mechanical coupling while maintaining a flat top plate surface.
2Manufacturing precision
If tolerance in the alignment of the rotational axis of control knobs and valve shafts is bridged, then misalignment issues are resolved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection part and intermediate part are designed with sliding couplings that allow dynamic adjustment during operation. The intermediate part can slide radially to accommodate misalignment, providing a simple dynamic mechanism that compensates for manufacturing tolerances without requiring complex adjustment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding coupling mechanism allows the intermediate part to change its radial position to compensate for misalignment between the control shaft axis and the opening in the top plate. This parameter change (radial displacement) enables the system to adapt to manufacturing tolerances while maintaining a relatively simple structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the top plate surface is kept relatively flat, then cleaning is easier, but the ability to accommodate misalignment between openings and control shafts is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves the misalignment accommodation capability from the top plate surface (2D plane) to the intermediate part's radial movement (adding a sliding dimension). The top plate maintains its flat surface while the intermediate part compensates for misalignment through radial sliding, effectively separating the flatness requirement from the alignment tolerance requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device for a cooktop comprises a rotatable connection part including a coupling mechanism for coupling to a control shaft, an intermediate part; and a rotatable top part. The connection part and the intermediate part are slidably coupled to one another such that a rotation of the connection part is transmissible to the intermediate part, and that the connection part and the intermediate part are slidable relative to one another in a first radial direction. Further, the intermediate part and the top part are slidably coupled to one another such that a rotation of the intermediate part is transmissible to the top part, and that the intermediate part and the top part are slidable relative to one another in a second radial direction. The first and the second radial directions cross each other.