Electrical fryer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical fryers lack a separate cleaning mode and often risk safety due to erroneous operations that can activate the oil filtering mode during cooking, posing a high risk to users.
Innovation Solution
An electrical fryer design featuring a knob mechanism with distinct positions for oil filtering, cleaning, and cooking, along with a temperature control mechanism that includes a switch assembly and driving mechanism, allowing safe and controlled operation by enabling the user to switch between these modes with a single knob, ensuring the electrical heater is not energized during oil filtering and is controlled for specific temperature ranges for cleaning and cooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two separate knobs are used for controlling oil temperature and filtering, then the device can perform both functions, but the complexity of operation increases and safety risks arise from erroneous operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the oil filtering control and temperature control into a single integrated knob mechanism. The knob has distinct positions (filtering position, cleaning position, cooking position) that control different functions through a cam mechanism that selectively activates either the oil filter or the heating element, eliminating the need for separate knobs and preventing erroneous simultaneous activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single knob mechanism serves multiple functions: it controls oil filtering, cleaning (at around 80°C), and cooking (at higher temperatures). By integrating these functions into one control interface with clearly defined positions, the device achieves multi-functionality while maintaining operational safety and simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If a single knob controls multiple functions, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cam mechanism as an intermediary between the single knob and the multiple control functions. The cam translates the knob's rotational position into selective activation of different components (oil filter opening/closing, heating element on/off, temperature control). This mechanical intermediary simplifies the user interface while managing the internal complexity through a well-defined mechanical transmission path.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the oil filter is opened during cooking mode, then the filtering function is activated, but this creates a high safety risk due to hot oil exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by designing the cam mechanism to prevent simultaneous activation of the oil filter and heating element. The mechanical linkage ensures that when the knob is in the cooking position, the oil filter remains closed, and when the knob is in the filtering position, the heating element is turned off. This pre-emptive mechanical constraint eliminates the safety hazard of hot oil exposure during filtering operations.
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 design allows for safe and easy operation by controlling oil filtering, cleaning, and cooking with a single knob, reducing the risk of erroneous operations and enhancing user safety compared to fryers with separate knobs for filtering and cooking without a cleaning mode.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical heater, wherein said electrical fryer further comprises: a knob mechanism comprising a knob presenting an oil filtering position and at least one heating position
Implementation Method 2
an oil filter configured to filter oil and drain oil contained in inner pot
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electrical fryer including an inner pot configured to contain oil, an oil filter configured to filter oil and drain oil contained in inner pot, an electrical heater. The electrical fryer further includes: a knob mechanism comprising a knob presenting an oil filtering position and at least one heating position; an oil filtering control mechanism connected between the knob mechanism and the oil filter; a temperature control mechanism comprising a switch assembly being drivingly connected with the knob mechanism; wherein, the knob is turned so as to switch between the oil filtering position and said at least one heating position, and when the knob is turned to the oil filtering position, the knob mechanism drives the oil filtering control mechanism to open the oil filter and the knob mechanism controls the switch assembly to switch it off so that the electrical heater is not energized, and when the knob is turned to said at least one heating position, the knob mechanism controls the switch assembly to switch it on so that the electrical heater heats the inner pot.