Cooktop Peripheral Ventilation System for Control Electronics Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooktop designs with separate control elements reduce available cooking space due to the need for a dedicated cooling area and air inlet openings, which complicates the ventilation of electronic components and reduces their lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation system incorporating a trim structure, inner and outer ducts, and a fan to create a flow of cooling air that draws heat from electronic components and exhausts it through a peripheral gap, enhancing the cooling efficiency of the cooktop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control elements are mounted in a separate area of the frame, then the need for shielding control electronics from heat is reduced, but the available cooking surface area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control element mounting with the ventilation system by integrating control elements into the peripheral side portion of the frame that houses the ventilation openings and ducts. This consolidation allows control electronics to be positioned in a cooled zone without requiring separate shielding structures, thereby protecting electronics while minimizing impact on cooking surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by mounting control elements on the peripheral side portion of the frame rather than on the horizontal cooking surface. This dimensional relocation allows control electronics to be positioned in a three-dimensional space that is cooled by the ventilation system, eliminating the need to sacrifice horizontal cooking surface area while still providing thermal protection.
2Temperature
If cooling air inlet openings are added to the frame, then heat generated by heating elements can be drawn away, but the available cooking space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates cooling air inlet openings from the horizontal cooking surface to the vertical peripheral side portion of the frame. This dimensional change allows ventilation openings to be positioned in a space that does not interfere with the horizontal cooking surface, enabling effective heat dissipation while preserving maximum cooking space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the frame structure into distinct functional zones: the horizontal top surface for cooking and the vertical peripheral side portion for ventilation and control element mounting. This segmentation allows cooling openings to be placed in the vertical portion without compromising the horizontal cooking area, thereby resolving the contradiction between heat dissipation and cooking space availability.
3Productivity
If a fan is used to establish negative pressure for air flow, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the ventilation system so that the fan integrated into the existing frame structure utilizes the same motor and control infrastructure already present for the induction heating elements. The negative pressure ventilation is achieved by repurposing existing system components, thereby improving cooling efficiency without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the ventilation fan function with the existing motor control infrastructure of the induction cooktop. By integrating the ventilation control with the existing electronic control system that manages the heating elements, the system achieves improved cooling efficiency while minimizing additional complexity through shared control architecture and integrated motor usage.
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 system effectively directs cooling air to exhaust through a peripheral gap, improving the lifespan of electronic components by maintaining efficient airflow and reducing the need for additional cooling infrastructure, thus optimizing the available cooking space.
Implementation Method 1
A fan may be mounted within the chassis to establish a negative pressure to cause the air to flow through at least one of the inner and outer ducts
Implementation Method 2
a flow of cooling air may be drawn into the inner duct in order to draw heat from the electronic components and then delivered to the outer duct
Data Source
AI summary
A countertop mounted cooking appliance includes a chassis upon which is arranged a cooktop. A peripheral side portion of the chassis includes at least one opening and a control box is mounted in the chassis for housing control elements and associated electronics. An inner duct extends over at least a portion of the control box, while an outer duct extends across the at least one opening along the peripheral side portion to the countertop. A fan is mounted within the chassis wherein, when the fan is activated, a cooling airflow is developed and directed through the inner duct, out of the chassis, and through the outer duct prior to being exhaust through a gap created between the cooktop and the countertop by a trim piece.