Electric Grill Drip Tray Interlock for Fire Flare-Up Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art vertical grills with internal drip trays are prone to fire flare-ups and smoke due to uncleaned combustible fats and oils, and the use of a perforated metal fire suppressing cover can obscure the need for tray cleaning, leading to potential kitchen fires.
Innovation Solution
An electric grill design with an external drip tray and safety mechanisms that require user interaction, such as mechanical locks, biasing elements, and sensors, to ensure the drip tray is emptied and cleaned before each use, preventing operation without tray movement and incorporating fire suppression systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an internal drip tray with perforated metal fire suppressing cover is used, then fire suppression capability is improved, but the tray cleaning requirement becomes obscured and users may forget to clean it, leading to fire hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drip tray from the internal configuration and positions it externally, making it visible and accessible to users. This allows the fire suppression cover to remain effective while eliminating the obscuration problem, as users can directly observe the tray contents and cleaning needs without the tray being hidden inside the grill body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mechanical linkage system involving a moveable stop and biasing element that acts as an intermediary between the drip tray and the grill operation. This mechanism mediates the relationship by preventing grill operation unless the tray has been removed and replaced, thereby ensuring users are aware of and address the cleaning requirement.
2Ease of operation
If the drip tray is made accessible and visible to users, then users are more likely to clean it regularly, but the device complexity increases due to additional safety mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service safety mechanism where the system automatically prevents operation if the drip tray has not been properly handled. The mechanical linkage and sensor system automatically detect whether the tray has been removed and replaced, and accordingly enable or disable grill operation without requiring user intervention or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic monitoring and control systems with a simpler mechanical linkage system. The moveable stop and biasing element create a mechanical interlock that physically prevents grill operation unless the tray has been properly handled, substituting sophisticated electronics with reliable mechanical means.
3Reliability
If the grill prevents operation without tray movement, then fire safety is improved, but the productivity and convenience of the grill is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent requires preliminary action in the form of removing and replacing the drip tray before the grill can operate. This preliminary action ensures that users have the opportunity to clean the tray and remove accumulated fats and oils, thereby preventing fire hazards before they can occur during grilling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by preventing the harmful effect (fire) before it can occur. The safety mechanism proactively blocks grill operation when the drip tray contains accumulated combustibles, thereby preventing the condition that would lead to fire rather than merely responding to fire hazards after they develop.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric grill for cooking food items comprises: a receptacle for receiving fats and breakaway solids generated during the cooking of the food; and a safety mechanism configured to prevent the grill from operating without at least one movement of the receptacle subsequent to the grill being powered on. Optionally, other safety features include, a fire suppression system, temperatures sensors, proximity sensors for detecting obstructions near the grill, weight sensors, liquid level sensors and infrared photo-interrupter sensors for detecting whether the tray has been removed from the grill, since the grill's last operation.