Embedded Copper-Stainless Mesh Cookware Base for Induction Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Anodized aluminum cookware requires additional manufacturing steps and materials to incorporate metals like copper and magnetic ferrous materials for induction cooking, while maintaining the benefits of aluminum oxide surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Embedding a copper mesh and a stainless steel mesh in the exterior bottom surface of anodized aluminum cookware, where the stainless steel mesh is embedded into the copper mesh, enhancing lateral heat conduction and enabling induction cooking with minimal additional manufacturing steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If copper layers are incorporated into aluminum cookware to increase lateral heat conduction, then heat distribution is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to sophisticated fabrication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a copper mesh with porous/open structure embedded in the cookware base. This mesh provides thermal conduction pathways while requiring minimal manufacturing steps - the mesh is simply placed and secured in the base, avoiding complex multi-layer fabrication while achieving improved heat distribution through the copper's high thermal conductivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining aluminum cookware base with embedded copper mesh and stainless steel mesh. This composite approach allows each material to contribute its properties (aluminum for structural integrity, copper for thermal conduction, stainless steel for induction compatibility) without requiring sophisticated fabrication to bond layers, as the meshes are embedded through simple securing processes
2Adaptability or versatility
If magnetic ferrous materials are added to anodized aluminum cookware for induction cooking, then induction compatibility is achieved, but additional manufacturing steps are required to mask and bond metal layers
Solution Approach 1:
The stainless steel mesh provides induction compatibility through its ferromagnetic properties while its open structure allows it to be easily secured to the aluminum base without requiring masking of large metal surfaces. The mesh can be attached through simple mechanical securing or bonding processes embedded during base formation, eliminating complex multi-step masking and bonding procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds multiple functional meshes within the base structure - the copper mesh for thermal conduction and the stainless steel mesh for induction compatibility are nested together and secured within the aluminum base. This nested arrangement integrates multiple functions into a single structural element, reducing manufacturing steps compared to separate layer bonding processes
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional metal layers are bonded to the base for induction capability, then induction cooking is enabled, but the aggressive acidic anodizing solution requires additional masking steps
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh structures with their open porous designs allow the anodizing process to proceed without extensive masking. The meshes can be secured to the base before anodizing, and their open structure means minimal surface area requires protection, eliminating complex masking steps while maintaining induction capability through the exposed ferromagnetic stainless steel mesh
Solution Approach 2:
The patent secures the copper and stainless steel meshes to the aluminum base before undergoing the anodizing process. This preliminary attachment ensures the meshes remain in position during anodizing without requiring masking, as they are already fixed in their functional positions within the base structure
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 embedded mesh structure improves heat distribution across the cookware bottom, allows for induction cooking, reduces material usage, and enhances the cookware's durability and resistance to warping.
Implementation Method 1
copper layers to increase lateral heat conduction so that a cookware vessel heats evenly across the bottom
Implementation Method 2
magnetic, that is ferro-magnetic alloys, such as magnetic stainless steel, such that the cookware can be heat on an induction range
Implementation Method 3
The electromagnetic radiation is generated by conductive coils in the induction heating source, which upon entering the skin layer of metal induce eddy currents that cause resistive heating in the cookware vessels bottom
Implementation Method 4
induce eddy currents that cause resistive heating in the cookware vessels bottom
Implementation Method 5
anodized aluminum cookware... formed entirely of aluminum. Additional metals... enable the use of the anodized cookware
Implementation Method 6
the harness and durability of the aluminum oxide on the interior and exterior surfaces that incorporates additional metals
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2F
Figure 3
AI summary
Cookware has both as copper and a stainless steel mesh embedded in the exterior facing surface of the bottom of the base. The embedding process work hardens the bottom of an aluminum cooper vessel. A ferromagnetic stainless steel is embedded into the cooper mesh, forming portion of the exterior bottom surface of the cookware to render the cookware compatible with induction cooking heat sources