Enclosed Vacuum Tumbling Device for Meat Marination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum tumblers for marinating meat suffer from reduced efficiency due to loss of vacuum after the hose is removed, leading to inefficiency and the risk of spills and human injury from exposed rotating containers.
Innovation Solution
An enclosed vacuum tumbling system with an airtight driver containing a vacuum pump, motor, and circuit board that maintains a constant vacuum by powering on/off based on monitored levels, and an enclosed rotating chamber that tilts 15 degrees for easy placement, ensuring the vacuum is maintained throughout the process and preventing exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the container is fully exposed during tumbling to allow rotation, then the tumbling action can effectively move meat to the top and drop into liquid, but the liquid and contents can easily spill from the container creating mess and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the inner tumbling container inside an outer containment chamber. The inner container holds the meat and marinade while the outer chamber prevents spills and contains any leakage. This nested structure allows the inner container to tumble freely while the outer chamber provides protection against spilling hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a transparent or translucent outer chamber that acts as a protective shell. This shell allows visual monitoring of the tumbling process while containing the liquid and preventing spills. The shell structure maintains the tumbling motion effectiveness while eliminating the harmful spilling effect.
2Ease of operation
If the vacuum hose is removed after reaching desired vacuum to simplify operation, then the device becomes easier to use, but the vacuum is lost and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through an automatic vacuum control system with a sensor that monitors vacuum levels and automatically activates the vacuum pump when vacuum is lost. This eliminates the need for manual hose reattachment while maintaining vacuum reliability. The system serves itself by detecting and correcting vacuum loss automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback control where a vacuum sensor continuously monitors the vacuum level inside the container and provides feedback to the control circuit. When the sensor detects vacuum loss below a threshold, the circuit automatically activates the vacuum pump to restore vacuum, ensuring continuous vacuum maintenance without manual intervention.
3Reliability
If the vacuum pump runs continuously to maintain constant vacuum, then vacuum consistency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having the vacuum pump operate only when needed based on sensor feedback. The pump runs intermittently to maintain vacuum levels rather than continuously, activating only when the sensor detects vacuum loss and stopping when vacuum is restored, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining vacuum consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action through automatic vacuum maintenance. The vacuum pump is automatically activated when vacuum is lost and continues running until vacuum is restored, providing continuous vacuum protection without manual intervention. This maintains reliable vacuum while minimizing energy use by running only when necessary.
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 system ensures thorough marination in minutes with consistent vacuum, improved safety by enclosing the rotating container, and easier cleanup, preventing spills and human injury.
Implementation Method 1
The vacuum pump is configured to be powered on in response to the monitored vacuum being below a predetermined level. The vacuum pump is configured to be powered off in response to the monitored vacuum being equal to or greater than a predetermined level.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vacuum tumbling system for marinating meat including a vacuum sensor; an airtight driver; an outer vacuum chamber configured to monitor and pull a vacuum; and an inner vacuum tumbling chamber configured to enclose a marinade mixture, liquid, and the meat, configured to be disposed inside the outer vacuum chamber, and configured to pull the vacuum from the outer vacuum chamber through a small hole which is recessed on a bottom surface of the inner vacuum tumbling chamber. The outer vacuum chamber monitors the vacuum through the vacuum sensor, pulls the vacuum through the airtight driver, and tumbles the inner vacuum tumbling chamber in response to the airtight driver being driven.