Fryer Filter Bowl Layout for One-Handed Oil Filtration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric fryer designs face challenges in facilitating easy and ergonomic filtration of the cooking bath, often requiring precise manipulations and using both hands, which can lead to confusion between gripping members and safety issues.

Innovation Solution

The design features an elongated gripping member for the receptacle and another elongated gripping member for the filtration element, with the latter extending below and closer to the tank, allowing for one-handed operation and improved safety, along with a filtration element forming a bowl with edges close to the tank walls for enhanced debris retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a gripping member extends inside the tank close to a side wall for removing the filtration element, then the filtration element can be removed independently of the heating element, but the arrangement does not allow easy removal of the filtration element

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent removal capabilityVSAvoidremoval ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping member is repositioned from an internal arrangement close to the side wall to an external arrangement on the upper edge of the tank. This dimensional change allows the gripping member to extend outward, providing easy access for one-handed operation while maintaining the ability to remove the filtration element independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If two grippers are arranged close to opposite side walls with upper ends extending outside the tank for removing the filtration element, then the filtration element can be removed independently, but both hands are required and the arrangement proves insufficiently ergonomic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent removal capabilityVSAvoidergonomics
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The design extracts the essential gripping function from a complex two-gripper system and consolidates it into a single elongated gripping member positioned on the upper edge of the tank. This extracted solution maintains independent removal capability while enabling one-handed operation, significantly improving ergonomics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The single gripping member is designed to be universally applicable for removing both the receptacle and the filtration element independently. By positioning it on the upper edge of the tank with elongated structure, it serves multiple removal operations with one component, eliminating the need for separate grippers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If gripping members are arranged close to side walls for removing filtration element, then filtration can be performed, but confusion may occur between gripping members of receptacle and filtration device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration functionalityVSAvoidgripping member identification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping member is positioned at a distinct location on the upper edge of the tank, separate from any receptacle gripping features. This localized positioning creates clear spatial differentiation, allowing users to easily distinguish between the filtration element gripper and receptacle handling areas, eliminating confusion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration simplifies the filtration process, reduces the risk of confusion between gripping members, and enhances safety by allowing one-handed operation and effective debris retention, facilitating both cooking and filtration operations.

Implementation Method 1

immersion electric heater arranged in the tank below the receptacle and above the filtration element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResistive heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

filtration element arranged in said tank under the food receptacle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical filtration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2220976B1Kitchen appliance with a receptacle for food and a filter element
Publication Date: 2013.03.20 SEB SA
  • EP2220976B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2220976B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The apparatus has a vat (1) for receiving a cooking bath, and a receptacle (2) for receiving foods. The receptacle is arranged in the vat in a removable manner, and is associated to a gripping body (10) extending at the exterior of the vat. A filtering element (3) forming a bowl is arranged in the vat in a removable manner. The filtering element is associated to another gripping body (11) extending at the exterior of the vat. The latter gripping body extends outside the vat below an upper edge of the vat and remote from the former gripping body.