Professional deep fryer

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial deep fryers face issues with external heating elements being inefficient, causing frequent oil changes and safety risks due to accidental splashing of hot oil, as well as the need for two-handed operation when pivoting out the heating device for cleaning.

Innovation Solution

A weight compensation device is integrated into the bearing mechanism of the fryer, providing a counter-torque that prevents the heating device from automatically returning to its operating position, allowing one-handed operation and ensuring safe pivoting, which includes a spring device or other counterforce mechanisms to maintain stability and prevent accidental retraction into the oil.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If internal heating elements are used, then heating efficiency is improved, but the risk of accidental swinging back into the frying medium increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A weight compensation device with a counter-torque mechanism is integrated into the bearing assembly to counterbalance the torque generated by the heating device. This prevents the heating element from accidentally swinging back into the frying medium while maintaining the ability to pivot it out for cleaning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The weight compensation device applies a preliminary counter-torque to oppose the gravitational force that would cause the heating element to swing back. This preemptive counter-action ensures safety before any accidental movement can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If a locking mechanism is used to secure the heating element, then safety is improved, but the complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a complex locking mechanism, the patent employs a weight compensation device that uses gravitational counter-torque to automatically hold the heating element in its pivoted-out position. This eliminates the need for additional locking components while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Reliability

If the heating element is made heavy for stability, then reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidpivoting effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The weight compensation device generates a counter-torque that exactly balances the torque produced by the heating device's weight. This allows the heating element to remain stable when in position while requiring minimal effort to pivot it out for cleaning, effectively neutralizing the effect of its weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

4Reliability

If two-handed operation is required for pivoting, then safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoperation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The weight compensation device provides sufficient counter-torque to support the heating element's weight, allowing a single operator to pivot the heating device out for cleaning without needing to use both hands. This maintains safety while significantly improving operational convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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 prevents unintentional return of the heating device into the oil, reduces the force required for pivoting, enables safe one-handed operation, and ensures independent pivoting, thereby preventing oil splashing and fires, while allowing easy handling and maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

a weight compensation device configured to generate a counter-torque as a counter-torque on the pivoting device depending on the pivot position of the heating device, which counteracts a torque generated by the heating device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Implementation Method 2

which includes a spring device or other counterforce mechanisms to maintain stability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4166053A1Professional deep fryer
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 MKN MASCHINENFABRIK KURT NEUBAUER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4166053A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4166053A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4166053A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a deep fryer (1) for commercial kitchens with a housing in which a trough-like cooking device (5) for receiving a frying medium is formed, a heating device (7) formed from at least one heating element (9) which can be pivoted into and out of the trough-like cooking device (5) into an operating position, wherein the heating device (7) is attached to a rotatable pivoting device (11) which is mounted in a bearing device (13), wherein the bearing device (13) has a bearing on the housing of the deep fryer (1) ora first bearing block (15) attached to a top surface (3) of the housing of the fryer (1), which includes a weight compensation device (24) configured to exert a predetermined weight compensation moment as a counter-torque on the pivoting device (11) depending on the pivot position of the heating device (7), which counteracts a torque generated by the heating device (7), wherein the counter-torque is designed such that, from a predetermined pivot angle starting from the operating position of the heating device (7), a self-pivoting return of the heating device (7) to the operating position is prevented.