Grill Burner Door Switch for Open-Door Gas Combustion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cookers with closed doors cannot grill dishes effectively due to lack of fresh air, leading to inefficient combustion of gas grill burners, and existing solutions either require manual door management or risk overheating.

Innovation Solution

A stove design with a switch that prevents gas supply to the grill burner when the door is closed, ensuring the door remains open for effective combustion, featuring a mechanically operated switch and support system to maintain the door open while preventing accidental closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the oven door is closed during grilling, then energy consumption is reduced, but combustion effectiveness deteriorates due to lack of fresh air supply

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcombustion effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A mechanically operated switch acts as an intermediary between the door position and the gas supply system. The switch detects whether the door is open or closed and automatically controls the gas tap accordingly, eliminating the need for manual intervention and ensuring safe operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-monitoring and self-control through the mechanically operated switch that automatically detects door position and regulates gas supply without requiring user attention or manual operation, making the system self-regulating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the door is opened during grilling, then combustion effectiveness is improved due to fresh air supply, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombustion effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanically operated switch provides continuous feedback about door position to the gas control system. When the door is closed, the switch automatically cuts off gas supply, preventing energy waste. When the door is opened, gas supply is restored, maintaining combustion effectiveness. This feedback mechanism enables automatic adaptation to door position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If a switch is installed to control gas supply based on door position, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A mechanically operated switch serves as a simple intermediary component that bridges the mechanical door position and the gas control system. This mechanical intermediary is far simpler than electronic sensors or complex control systems, adding minimal complexity while ensuring safety through automatic gas cutoff when the door is closed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanically operated switch is a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. Its mechanical nature makes it robust and low-cost compared to electronic alternatives, minimizing the impact on overall device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

Ensures effective combustion of gas grill burners by maintaining the door open, reducing energy consumption and preventing overheating, while being user-friendly and cost-effective with a child safety lock feature.

Implementation Method 1

a switch (70) which monitors the communication between the gas tap (50) and the sensor (60), depending on whether the door (30) is open or closed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical switching:

Implementation Method 2

a grill burner (40) mounted in the baking chamber (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP2708817B1Cooking oven with a grill burner
Publication Date: 2016.11.09 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2708817B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2708817B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2708817B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The oven has a baking area, and a door (30) for providing access to the baking area. A grill burner (40) is attached to the baking area. A gas tap (50) monitors gas supply to the grill burner, and a flame sensor detects function of the grill burner and communicates with the gas tap. A switch (70) switches-off the gas tap when the switch inhibits communication between the gas tap and the sensor and when the door is closed. The switch is designed as a mechanically closing and opening switch, and a carrier is arranged behind a front plate for supporting the switch.