Grill Grate Cleaning Chamber for Top and Underside Sanitizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning barbeque grill cooking grates are inefficient in removing residue from both the top and underside surfaces, leading to potential flare-ups, contamination, and require abrasive tools or sprays, making it difficult to reach the underside without disassembling the grill.
Innovation Solution
An automated cleaning device with rotating brushes and a chamber system that allows for simultaneous cleaning and sanitizing of both the top and underside surfaces of the grill grate, using a combination of rollers, sprayers, and cleaning brushes powered by a motor, eliminating the need for abrasive tools and sprays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional manual cleaning tools (brushes, scrapers) are used, then the top surface of the grill grate can be cleaned, but the underside surface cannot be effectively reached without disassembling the grill
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a robotic arm with multiple degrees of freedom that operates in three-dimensional space above the grill grate. Instead of requiring access from below the grill, the robotic arm approaches the grate from the top and uses its end effector to clean both the top and underside surfaces through controlled movement and rotation, effectively utilizing vertical and rotational dimensions to access all surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm acts as an intermediary between the user and the grill grate cleaning task. It translates simple user commands into complex coordinated movements of the end effector, enabling cleaning of both surfaces without requiring the user to manually disassemble the grill or reach difficult-to-access areas.
2Productivity
If abrasive cleaning tools are used, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but the risk of damaging the grill grate and causing flare-ups increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the cleaning mechanism from mechanical abrasion to thermal processing. The end effector applies focused heat to the grill grate surface, utilizing temperature and time parameters to carbonize and remove residue. This thermal approach eliminates the need for abrasive contact, preventing physical damage to the grate while effectively removing buildup that causes flare-ups.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical cleaning system (brushes, scrapers) with a thermal system. Instead of using mechanical force to scrape off residue, the system uses controlled heating to burn off carbonized material, substituting a chemical/thermal process for a mechanical one and thereby eliminating grate damage and flare-up risks associated with abrasive tools.
3Productivity
If the grill is heated at very high temperature to burn off residue, then cleaning is achieved, but energy consumption increases and cooking time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies heating locally and selectively to specific areas of the grill grate that have residue buildup, rather than heating the entire grill chamber. The end effector concentrates thermal energy precisely where needed, allowing efficient residue removal without the excessive energy consumption required by whole-grill high-temperature heating cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cleaning of the grill grate before the main cooking process. By removing residue buildup in advance using the robotic end effector's focused thermal treatment, the need for extended high-temperature pre-heating or post-cooking cleaning cycles is eliminated, reducing overall energy consumption and optimizing cooking time.
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
Effectively cleans and sanitizes the entire grill grate, reducing flare-ups and contamination risks, while being easier to use and more thorough than traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
the heating element positioned to heat the cooking grate to a temperature sufficient to sanitize and burn off residue on the cooking grate
Implementation Method 2
the spray nozzle positioned to spray a cleaning solution onto the cooking grate as the cooking grate moves through the cleaning device
Data Source
AI summary
A device and system for easily cleaning the cooking grate of a barbeque grill. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a cleaning device and system for cleaning, degreasing, and sanitizing an entire cooking grate, including the top cooking surface, and opposing underside surface of the grate, which is often missed or ineffectively cleaned by traditional methods.