Device for preparing food

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft food preparation devices face challenges in ensuring safe and convenient food preparation while preventing unwanted odors and turbulence-induced spills, with a need for compact, lightweight, and efficient solutions that can handle various cooking vessel sizes and types.

Innovation Solution

A modular, mobile food preparation device featuring a heating plate with an integrated filter and cover device that uses a multi-armed mechanism for parallel displacement, providing a compact and lightweight solution that includes a filter system for odor removal and a covering device that acts as a splash guard and extractor hood, with adjustable airflow and temperature control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a covering device is used to prevent spills and odors, then food preparation safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefood preparation safetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the covering device, filter device, and exhaust air extraction system into a single integrated unit. The cover device (4) is operatively connected to the filter device (3), and the exhaust air flow channel integrates the covering device with the filter device, creating a unified system that reduces overall complexity while maintaining safety functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated device performs multiple functions simultaneously: the covering device prevents spills and odors, the filter device removes unwanted odors, and the exhaust air flow channel provides ventilation. This multi-functional design improves food preparation safety without requiring separate devices for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a filter device is integrated to remove odors, then odor control is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor controlVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter device is merged with the covering device through operative connection, allowing odor filtration to be performed as part of the existing cover structure rather than as a separate component. The exhaust air flow channel further integrates these functions by routing exhaust air through both the covering and filtering systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a multi-armed mechanism is used for parallel displacement, then ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical displacement mechanisms with a parallel swivel arm mechanism that uses minimal moving parts. The multi-armed mechanism enables smooth parallel displacement of the covering device without requiring multiple separate actuators or complex linkages, reducing mechanical complexity while improving operability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 allows for safe, convenient, and efficient food preparation by filtering out unwanted odors, preventing spills, and ensuring efficient airflow and temperature management, even during turbulence, while being adaptable to different cooking vessel sizes and types.

Implementation Method 1

The flow channel has an outlet opening on a first side surface, the outlet opening being positionable in such a way that the exhaust air can flow via the outlet opening into an inlet opening of the filter device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExhaust air flow: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a filter device and a covering device which is operatively connected to the filter device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 3

a heating device with a heating plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3377821B1Device for preparing food
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 HS2 ENG GMBH
  • EP3377821B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3377821B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3377821B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for preparing food, comprising a heating device (2) with a heating plate (21), a filter device (3), and a cover device (4) which is operatively connected to the filter device (3) and which comprises an upper face, a lower face, and lateral surfaces (45, 46). The lower face of the cover device (4) has at least one inlet opening for a flow channel arranged in the interior of the cover device for waste air. The flow channel has an outlet opening (52) on a first lateral surface, and the outlet opening (52) can be positioned such that the waste air can flow into an inlet opening of the filter device (31) via the outlet opening (52).