Cookware with metal mesh embedded in the base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Anodized aluminum cookware requires additional manufacturing steps and costs to incorporate metals like copper for improved heat conduction and magnetic ferro-magnetic alloys for induction cooking, while maintaining a durable aluminum oxide surface.
Innovation Solution
Embedding a metal mesh, specifically a copper mesh and a ferromagnetic stainless steel mesh, into the exterior bottom surface of anodized aluminum cookware to enhance lateral heat conduction and induction compatibility with minimal additional manufacturing steps and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If copper layers are incorporated into aluminum cookware to increase lateral heat conduction, then heat distribution is improved, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase due to sophisticated fabrication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous metal mesh structure embedded in the cookware base instead of solid copper layers. This mesh provides sufficient surface area for heat conduction while being easier to manufacture and integrate into the aluminum cookware, reducing fabrication complexity while maintaining thermal performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by embedding metal mesh (copper or other conductive material) within the aluminum cookware base. This composite approach combines the thermal conductivity benefits of copper with the ease of aluminum fabrication, achieving improved heat distribution without the sophisticated fabrication required for solid copper layers
2Adaptability or versatility
If magnetic ferro-magnetic alloys are incorporated into anodized aluminum cookware for induction cooking, then induction compatibility is achieved, but additional manufacturing steps are required to mask and bond additional metal layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous metal mesh structure that can be directly embedded into the cookware base without requiring masking or bonding of additional metal layers. The mesh structure provides sufficient magnetic properties for induction compatibility while simplifying the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The metal mesh serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thermal conduction, magnetic properties for induction compatibility, and structural reinforcement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate layers for each function, reducing manufacturing steps
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional metal layers are bonded to the base for induction capability, then induction cooking is enabled, but the aggressive acidic anodizing solution requires additional masking steps
Solution Approach 1:
The porous metal mesh structure is embedded within the aluminum base before anodizing, allowing the anodizing process to proceed uniformly without requiring masking of additional metal layers. The mesh remains protected within the aluminum matrix during anodizing
Solution Approach 2:
The metal mesh is embedded into the aluminum base before the anodizing process. This preliminary action ensures that the mesh is protected during anodizing and that no additional masking steps are required, as the mesh is already integrated within the aluminum structure
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 embedded mesh structure improves even heating across the cookware bottom, allows for induction cooking, and reduces the need for additional materials, resulting in a lighter, more durable, and thermally efficient cookware vessel.
Implementation Method 1
copper layers to increase lateral heat conduction so that a cookware vessel heats evenly across the bottom
Implementation Method 2
The electromagnetic radiation is generated by conductive coils in the induction heating source, which upon entering the skin layer of metal induce eddy currents that cause resistive heating in the cookware vessels bottom
Implementation Method 3
which upon entering the skin layer of metal induce eddy currents that cause resistive heating
Implementation Method 4
anodized aluminum cookware... formed entirely of aluminum. Additional metals... enable the use of the anodized cookware with induction heating sources... to provide non marring finishes
Data Source
AI summary
Cookware has both as copper and a stainless steel mesh embedded in the exterior facing surface of the bottom of the base. The embedding process work hardens the bottom of an aluminum cooper vessel. A ferromagnetic stainless steel is embedded into the cooper mesh, forming portion of the exterior bottom surface of the cookware to render the cookware compatible with induction cooking heat sources.