Countertop cooking system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing countertop cooking systems, such as toaster ovens, face challenges in evenly cooking multiple layers of food due to uneven radiation distribution, with the middle area receiving less radiation and traditional convection ovens experiencing hotspots and uneven air circulation.
Innovation Solution
A cooking system with a housing that includes a convection heater and air movement device, where a fan shroud separates the cooking and convecting chambers, allowing for full-height air flow and reducing spin, ensuring even air distribution across the cooking chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional convection fans are used to circulate air, then air circulation is improved, but hotspots and uneven cooking occur due to spin and limited air movement volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single convecting chamber into multiple segments (first convecting chamber, second convecting chamber, third convecting chamber) with separate air movement devices. This segmentation allows independent control of air flow in different zones, eliminating the spin effect and hotspots that occur with a single fan, while maintaining high air circulation speed for efficient cooking.
2Device complexity
If small convection fans are used, then device complexity is reduced, but air movement volume and velocity are insufficient for even cooking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple air movement devices into a coordinated system that operates together to move large volumes of air. By combining several fans in different chambers, the system achieves high total air movement volume and velocity without requiring a single oversized fan, balancing device complexity with effective air circulation for even cooking.
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 design ensures even cooking without the need to reposition food, eliminating hotspots and achieving uniform heating by directing heated air evenly between the top and bottom layers, resulting in more consistent cooking results.
Implementation Method 1
a convection heater including an air movement device and a convection heating element for heating an air flow moved by the air movement device
Implementation Method 2
the top layer receives radiation from one or more heating elements at the top of the cooking system and the bottom layer receives radiation from one or more heating elements at the bottom of the cooking system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A cooking system positionable on a support surface including a housing including at least a top wall, bottom wall, and side walls, said housing defining a hollow chamber including a cooking chamber and a convecting chamber. A convection heater is disposed within the convecting chamber. At least one fluidly communicable opening extends between the convecting chamber and the cooking chamber. The at least one fluidly communicable opening fully extends between the top wall and the bottom wall of the housing.