Double Contact Grill with Heated Airflow Cooking Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing double contact grills are limited to direct grilling and lack the capability to provide additional cooking functions such as convection cooking or air frying.
Innovation Solution
A double contact grill design incorporating a fan assembly to direct heated air flow between the upper and lower heating surfaces, allowing for both grilling and heated air flow cooking functions, with a removable cooking chamber for versatile operation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a double contact grill is designed for direct grilling only, then the device structure remains simple, but the cooking functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The grill is designed to perform multiple cooking functions including direct grilling, convection cooking, baking, and air frying within a single device. The upper housing can function either as a cooking surface for direct contact grilling or be removed to allow air circulation for convection cooking, enabling the device to adapt to different cooking modes without requiring separate appliances
Solution Approach 2:
The upper housing is designed to be removable and reconfigurable, allowing the device structure to dynamically change between different cooking configurations. The upper housing can be removed entirely for air frying mode, or positioned in different locations to create various cooking cavities, providing operational flexibility without permanently increasing structural complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the upper housing is made removable for versatile operation, then cooking versatility improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grill is divided into separable components including the removable upper housing, frame assembly, and cooking cavity sections. This segmentation allows each component to be independently configured or removed based on the desired cooking mode, enabling versatility while keeping the base structure relatively simple and modular
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
Enables multiple cooking functions like grilling, baking, and air frying, enhancing the appliance's versatility and cooking capabilities beyond traditional direct contact grilling.
Implementation Method 1
a fan assembly configured to direct a flow of heated air into a space between the upper heating surface and the lower heating surface
Implementation Method 2
at least one heating element associated with the air plenum
Implementation Method 3
a fan assembly configured to initiate a flow of air into the air plenum through the intake vent, across the at least one heating element, and into a space intermediate the lower heating surface and the upper heating surface
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking apparatus includes a lower housing having a lower heating surface, an upper housing having an upper heating surface, and a fan assembly configured to direct a flow of heated air into a space between the upper heating surface and the lower heating surface.