Dual-Fuel Gas Range Oven Using 120V Electric Baking

Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers face high installation costs when converting a household from a gas cooking appliance to an electric one, as it requires rewiring to supply 240 volts, leading to consumers often opting for a single type of appliance to minimize costs, rather than having both gas and electric cooking options.

Innovation Solution

A dual-fuel gas range with a gas cooktop and an oven that includes both gas and electrical heating elements, utilizing a 120-volt power supply, allowing for the integration of a gas cooktop with an electric oven, and a convection fan system, enabling precise temperature control through sensors and algorithms to optimize cooking performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a consumer selects an electric cooking appliance to achieve optimal baking performance, then baking performance is improved, but installation costs increase due to required rewiring for 240 volts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebaking performanceVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines gas and electric heating systems into a single cooking appliance. The oven includes both a gas burner and an electric heating element that can work together or independently, allowing the appliance to provide both gas cooking capabilities and electric baking capabilities without requiring separate appliances or extensive rewiring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooking appliance is designed to perform multiple functions using different energy sources. The oven can bake using electric heating, cook using gas burning, or use both simultaneously, making it a universal appliance that replaces both gas and electric appliances while maintaining optimal performance for each cooking method.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a consumer installs an electric cooking appliance to achieve optimal baking performance, then baking performance is improved, but the complexity of installation increases due to additional wiring and circuit breaker requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebaking performanceVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines gas and electric heating systems into a single cooking appliance. The oven includes both a gas burner and an electric heating element that can work together or independently, allowing the appliance to provide both gas cooking capabilities and electric baking capabilities without requiring separate appliances or extensive rewiring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If a consumer selects a gas cooking appliance to reduce installation costs, then installation costs are reduced, but baking performance deteriorates compared to electric ovens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation costVSAvoidbaking performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines gas and electric heating systems into a single cooking appliance. The oven includes both a gas burner and an electric heating element that can work together or independently, allowing the appliance to provide both gas cooking capabilities and electric baking capabilities without requiring separate appliances or extensive rewiring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cooking appliance is designed to perform multiple functions using different energy sources. The oven can bake using electric heating, cook using gas burning, or use both simultaneously, making it a universal appliance that replaces both gas and electric appliances while maintaining optimal performance for each cooking method.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 consumers to install a dual-fuel cooking appliance without significant rewiring, improving baking and broiling performance by using a 120-volt system, enhancing cooking evenness and browning, while maintaining a standard household power supply.

Implementation Method 1

preheating the oven cavity by turning on the gas burner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

maintaining the temperature in the oven cavity using the first electrical heating element based on a signal received from the second temperature sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

A convection fan includes a convection fan impeller, a convection heating element circumscribing the convection fan impeller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS7759617B2Gas range and method for using the same

Publication Date: 2010.07.20 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A gas range includes a gas cooktop including a plurality of gas cooktop burners, and an oven coupled to the gas cooktop. The oven includes an oven cavity comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a rear portion coupled to the top and bottom portions, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the first and second side portions coupled to the top, bottom, and rear portions respectively, at least one gas oven burner positioned proximate to the bottom portion within the oven cavity; and a first electrical heating element positioned proximate the top portion within the oven cavity.