Electric cooking or grilling device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric baking or grilling devices have limited heating output due to safety concerns, resulting in longer preparation times and potential overheating issues, which violate EU maximum surface temperature regulations.

Innovation Solution

A double-walled hood-like housing design with a vacuum cavity between the walls acts as a heat barrier, allowing increased heating output without raising the outer surface temperature, and additional heat protection coatings enhance this effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the heating output is increased to reduce preparation time, then productivity improves, but the outer surface temperature exceeds EU regulations and user safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefood preparation speedVSAvoidouter surface temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into inner and outer walls with a vacuum cavity between them, segmenting the thermal path to isolate the heat source from the outer surface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A vacuum cavity acts as an intermediary layer between the heated inner wall and the outer wall, blocking heat transfer while allowing the structure to maintain mechanical integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If the heating output is increased to cook more food in the same time, then quantity of food prepared improves, but the housing material may be damaged due to excessive heat

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of food preparedVSAvoidhousing material temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure is segmented into multiple walls with a vacuum gap, creating thermal zones that protect the outer housing material from excessive heat

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing combines metal inner wall, vacuum insulation layer, and outer wall material to create a composite structure with superior thermal resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Loss of energy

If solid metal housing parts are used to reduce heat transfer, then heat loss to outside decreases, but the heating output must be limited to prevent outer surface overheating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer to outsideVSAvoidheating output
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum cavity serves as an intermediary that blocks heat transfer without requiring reduction of heating power, as vacuum is the ultimate thermal insulator

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum creates an inert environment free of gas molecules that could conduct or convect heat, providing maximum thermal insulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

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

This design significantly reduces food preparation time, increases the quantity of food that can be cooked in the same time, and meets EU surface temperature regulations while ensuring user safety.

Implementation Method 1

a vacuum is formed in the cavity between the spaced walls

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum insulation: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

The double-walled design of the walls of the respective hood-like housing part forms a heat barrier which effectively prevents the formation of high surface temperatures on the outer skin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3586698B1Electric cooking or grilling device
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 ERNST NEUMARKER
  • EP3586698B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3586698B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3586698B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To create an electric baking or grilling appliance, such as a contact grill or a waffle iron (1), comprising at least a housing (2) and an electric heating element (3) arranged in the housing (2) with a contact surface (4) or two electrically heated contact surfaces (4) pivotable into a parallel, mutually approximate position, wherein a hood-like housing part (2a, 2b) covers or surrounds the respective rear side of the heated contact surface (4) and the heating element (3) arranged thereon, wherein each hood-like housing part (2a, 2b) is made of metal, in which, with increased heating power and thus a particularly short preparation time of the food to be baked or grilled, only a low surface temperature occurs on the outer surface of the housing, which can optionally be designed visually according to the user's wishes and has a long service life, it is proposed that the respective hood-like housing part (2a, 2b) be double-walled.wherein the two walls (9, 10) are spaced apart from each other and a cavity (6) is formed between the spaced walls (9, 10).