Electric grilling plate and appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing counter-top cookers require frequent rotation of food items to achieve even cooking, which can lead to mechanical wear and increased manufacturing costs, and cooking times are still considered long, deterring purchase.
Innovation Solution
An electric grilling plate with a heating coil positioned below a non-stick grilling surface, providing direct and radiant heat from both above and below, eliminating the need for food rotation and enhancing cooking efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If food items are rotated periodically or continually to achieve even cooking, then all surfaces of the food are directly exposed to radiant heat, but this creates mechanical wear and increases manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the food item to expose all surfaces to heat, the patent inverts the approach by heating the cooking surface itself. The electric heating element is embedded in the cooking surface, which radiates heat directly upward to cook the food item placed on it, eliminating the need for mechanical rotation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotation system with a thermal radiation system. An electric heating element generates radiant heat that is directly applied to the food item through the cooking surface, substituting mechanical motion with thermal energy transfer to achieve even cooking
2Productivity
If hot-air circulation is used to reduce cooking time, then cooking speed is improved, but the cooking time is still considered long enough that it does not create an incentive to purchase counter-top cookers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of heat transfer mode, transitioning from convection-based heating (hot-air circulation) to radiation-based heating. The electric heating element directly radiates thermal energy to the food item, creating a more intense and efficient heating process that significantly reduces cooking time compared to conventional convection methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimension of heat application by embedding the heating element within the cooking surface rather than heating air from above. This allows direct contact heating and radiant heat transfer from the surface, creating a more efficient three-dimensional heat distribution that reduces cooking time
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 electric grilling plate ensures consistent and even cooking without the need for mechanical rotation, reducing cooking time and increasing the appeal of counter-top cookers by offering faster cooking times.
Implementation Method 1
An electric heating element in the form of a heating coil 14 is positioned immediately below the grilling surface 12 and is in direct contact with the grilling surface 12
Implementation Method 2
The heating coil 14 is positioned immediately below the grilling surface 12 and is in direct contact with the grilling surface 12, ensuring that heat is efficiently transferred to the surface
Implementation Method 3
providing direct and radiant heat from both above and below
Data Source
AI summary
An electric grilling plate having a cooking surface connected to a heating element powered by an AC power source. The disclosed grilling plate is configured to be positioned in a bottom portion of a counter-top cooker, such as a convection oven, to provide direct and radiant heat to food items. Preferably, the appliance also includes an upper heating source with a fan to provide convection cooking as well.