Device for grilling and cooking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking devices for grilling and cooking food, such as charcoal and gas grills, face challenges in achieving optimal cooking temperatures for extended periods while being easy to produce and safe to handle, and often suffer from issues like fat dripping and ash disposal.

Innovation Solution

A steel or cast iron device with a pan having an intermediate floor, side walls, and a vertically arranged heating surface that is inclined and extends along the side walls, featuring a pull-out drawer and a frame-like heating surface made of stainless steel, allowing for efficient cooking over wood or coal with ash disposal without environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If charcoal or gas burners are used to generate heat, then cooking temperature can be achieved, but fat dripping onto the burner causes safety issues and equipment damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking temperatureVSAvoidfat dripping onto burner
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating surface is positioned vertically above the combustion chamber rather than horizontally above it, changing the spatial dimension of heat transfer. This vertical arrangement allows fat to drip downward away from the horizontal burner surface, eliminating the harmful interaction between fat and the heat source while maintaining effective cooking temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a spherical or ellipsoidal firing trough is used, then cooking can be performed, but the device is difficult to produce and handle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling easeVSAvoidproduction difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using the conventional spherical or ellipsoidal firing trough shape, the patent inverts the approach by adopting a cubic basic shape with vertical heating surfaces. This inversion simplifies manufacturing processes and improves ease of handling while still achieving the desired cooking functionality through the vertical orientation of the heating surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Ease of operation

If the heating surface is arranged horizontally, then food can be cooked, but ash disposal becomes problematic and environmental impact increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking convenienceVSAvoidash disposal issues
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating surface is oriented vertically rather than horizontally, creating a dimensional change that allows ash to naturally fall downward due to gravity. This vertical arrangement enables ash to be collected at the bottom of the combustion chamber where it can be easily removed, eliminating the ash disposal problems associated with horizontal heating surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Duration of action of stationary object

If wood-based fuels are used for extended cooking, then optimal cooking temperature can be maintained, but the device structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking durationVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a cubic combustion chamber, a vertical heating surface, a slotted intermediate floor for fuel placement, and an ash drawer. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall structure simple and manageable for extended cooking operations with wood-based fuels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 device ensures comfortable and secure grilling with optimal cooking temperatures, easy ash removal, and a wide range of cooking options, while being low-corrosion and easy to handle, with the ability to maintain heat and prevent excessive temperature on outer walls.

Implementation Method 1

the heat energy generated during the burning to be conducted to the highest possible degree on the grill grate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a combustion grate through which air can flow is provided, on which the charcoal burns up

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2999385B1Device for grilling and cooking
Publication Date: 2017.07.26 WETZEL
  • EP2999385B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2999385B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2999385B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for grilling and cooking groceries. The device should be easy to produce and safe to use. The device comprises a pan made of steel with lateral walls and with a heating surface, which is largely horizontally inwardly arranged, optionally with a slight incline, in order to cook groceries, and which is connected to the lateral walls. The pan (12) comprises a grate-like intermediate floor (5), which is arranged parallel to the heating surface (6, 15), wherein the heating surface (6, 15) is arranged at least along one of the lateral walls of the pan (12).