Flame Tamer Openings for Even Heat at Barbeque Grill Edges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flame tamers for barbeque burner boxes fail to distribute heat energy evenly across the cooking surface, resulting in temperature differences between the center and border areas, leading to low cooking efficiency and fuel wastage.

Innovation Solution

A flame tamer design with protruding openings is positioned on the peripheral walls of the barbeque burner box to guide hot air towards the edges, ensuring even heat distribution across the cooking surface by bridging multiple flame tamers on the front and rear walls with strategically placed openings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a conventional flame tamer with small holes is used, then hot air can pass upward, but heat energy cannot be distributed evenly throughout the cooking area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat distribution uniformityVSAvoidcooking efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flame tamer is divided into multiple sections with different types of openings (small holes for upward flow, large openings for lateral flow) arranged in specific patterns. This segmentation allows different portions of the flame tamer to perform different functions: distributing heat vertically and laterally to achieve even heat distribution across the cooking surface while maintaining cooking efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the flame tamer are designed with different opening characteristics - the first surface has small holes for upward hot air passage, while the second surface has large openings for lateral heat distribution. This local differentiation enables the flame tamer to simultaneously achieve even heat distribution and maintain cooking efficiency in different areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Temperature

If heat sources are concentrated in the center, then the center area becomes a hot spot, but the border area becomes a cold spot

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature uniformityVSAvoidfuel energy waste
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The flame tamer design creates local quality differences in heat distribution by positioning large openings at specific locations on the second surface. These large openings channel hot air laterally toward the border areas, creating localized heat enhancement at the edges while the center area maintains its natural heating pattern, thereby achieving overall temperature uniformity and preventing energy waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the flame tamer blocks the flames completely, then safety is improved, but heat distribution is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflame blocking capabilityVSAvoidheat distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The flame tamer incorporates a porous structure with multiple types of openings (small holes and large openings) that allow controlled passage of hot air and heat while maintaining flame blocking capability. The porous design enables the flame tamer to filter and redirect heat flow, blocking direct flame contact for safety while still achieving effective heat distribution through the openings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 achieves uniform heat distribution, enhancing cooking efficiency and preventing food from being overcooked or undercooked while reducing energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

protruding openings for guiding the heat energy from heat sources toward particular directions so that the heat energy can be evenly distributed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a flame tamer for use in a barbeque burner box to be bridged on two opposite peripheral walls... having at least one protruding opening for guiding the hot air from the heat source

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2301397B1Flame tamers and arrangement thereof for barbeque grills
Publication Date: 2012.09.19 WINNERS PRODS ENG A PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA CORP
  • EP2301397B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2301397B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2301397B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Flame tamers (1,2,3) for bridging on a barbeque burner box (4) above heat sources (5) of a barbeque grill (6) to distribute heat energy evenly over the barbeque cooking surface have protruding openings ( 11, 12, 21, 31, 32 ) extending toward one more of the peripheral walls ( 41, 42, 43 , 44 ) of the barbeque burner box ( 4 ) so that foods on the cooking surface can be cooked evenly and efficiently, thus saving much energy consumption.