French Top Range With Removable Thermal-Gradient Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional French Top cooking ranges are deficient in providing sufficient heat control and flexibility, as they often require cumbersome removal of the circular portal to increase heat and lack a sufficient range of temperatures for simultaneous heating of multiple cooking vessels.
Innovation Solution
A cooking range design featuring a platen with a removable outer and inner plate, where the thermal resistance between the plates is modulated by varying materials and thickness to create a gradient of temperatures, and a perforated enclosure focuses heat on the inner plate for efficient heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the circular portal is removed to increase heat to a cooking vessel, then the heat provided to the cooking vessel is increased, but the structural integrity and traditional design of the cooking range is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking range is divided into multiple independent heating zones: a central circular portal for direct flame heating and a surrounding platen for indirect heating. This segmentation allows different cooking vessels to be heated simultaneously at different temperatures, eliminating the need to remove the circular portal while still providing high heat when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cooking surface are designed with different thermal properties. The circular portal area provides high-intensity direct heat, while the platen provides lower-intensity indirect heat. This local differentiation allows the system to provide both high heat (when needed) and maintain structural integrity (by keeping the platen in place).
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single heating zone is used in traditional cooking ranges, then the design is simple, but the ability to provide a sufficient range of temperatures for multiple cooking vessels is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking surface is segmented into at least two distinct heating zones: a central circular portal that receives direct flame and provides high heat, and a surrounding platen that receives indirect heat and provides lower heat. This enables simultaneous cooking of multiple vessels at different temperatures without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooking range is designed to perform multiple functions within a single device: it can provide high-heat direct flame cooking, medium-heat platen cooking, and even combine both for enhanced performance. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without requiring separate appliances.
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 allows for higher and more controlled temperatures, enabling efficient heating of cooking vessels without removing the inner plate, and provides a wider range of temperatures across the cooking surface, enhancing cooking flexibility and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the removable outer plate is made of stainless steel and has at least one of a different composition and thickness than the platen to increase the thermal resistance between the removable inner plate and the platen
Implementation Method 2
a lower thermal conductivity of the removable outer plate with respect to the platen is operative to increase the thermal resistance
Implementation Method 3
a gas burner positioned at the bottom of the combustion chamber
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a range for cooking includes a combustion chamber having a bottom surrounded by sidewalls that extend upward to an upper rim, a gas burner positioned at the bottom, and a platen positioned on the upper rim. The platen has an opening above the gas burner with a first flange. The range further includes a removable outer plate positioned on the first flange. The removable outer plate has an opening above the gas burner with a second flange. The range further includes a removable inner plate positioned on the second flange. The removable inner plate is circular and is made of cast iron. The removable outer plate is configured to increase the thermal resistance between the removable inner plate and the platen by having at least one of a different composition, thickness, and limited contact area than or with the platen.