Grill pan
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grill trays fail to create visible grill patterns on food when used in ovens at high temperatures and are prone to warping or are heavy and energy-intensive to produce.
Innovation Solution
A metal grill plate with a specific relationship between the width of the supporting surface and the sheet thickness of the side walls, typically between 50% and 150% of the average sheet thickness, and a flat support surface, along with a coating and design features like holes or slots, to achieve a grill pattern and prevent warping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional grill trays are used in ovens at high temperatures, then they are lightweight and easy to produce, but they fail to create visible grill patterns on food
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the ratio between contact surface width and sheet thickness to a specific range (50%-150%). This parameter optimization enables grill pattern formation on food while maintaining the lightweight and easy-to-produce characteristics of stamped metal trays, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture.
2Manufacturing precision
If thicker metal sheets are used to achieve grill patterns, then visible grill marks are produced on food, but the grill plate becomes heavy and production becomes energy-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by defining an optimal ratio range (50%-150%) between contact surface width and sheet thickness. This allows the use of thinner, lighter metal sheets while still achieving effective grill pattern formation, thereby resolving the contradiction between grill pattern quality and grill plate weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third dimension by forming raised contact surfaces with specific widths through stamping and bending processes. This dimensional approach allows thin sheets to create effective grill patterns through geometric configuration rather than relying on increased material thickness, resolving the weight versus pattern effectiveness contradiction.
3Manufacturing precision
If the contact surface width is increased to create grill patterns, then grill marks are produced on food, but the metal sheet becomes prone to warping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by establishing an optimal ratio range (50%-150%) between contact surface width and sheet thickness. This balanced parameter selection ensures sufficient contact surface width for grill pattern formation while maintaining adequate sheet thickness to prevent warping, thus resolving the contradiction between grill pattern quality and structural stability.
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
The grill plate effectively creates visible grill patterns on food at high temperatures without warping, while being lightweight and energy-efficient, with the coating enhancing browning and non-stick properties.
Implementation Method 1
The grill plate can be provided with a coating, wherein a top surface may have a first coating and a bottom surface a second coating... which may comprise ceramic coatings... or polyaryletherketones such as PEK, PEKK, PEKEKK, or PEEK... Temperature-resistant thermosets such as silicone resin, epoxy resin, or polyimide or polyamide-imide are advantageous
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The grill metal sheet structure (2) comprises several cross-section roof-shaped grill portions (4) that are arranged adjacent to each other. The grill portions are provided with running side walls (6) along a longitudinal direction. One of the side walls are formed in reversed U or V-shape. A support surface (8) in the side walls is extended from the side walls along longitudinal direction of the grill portion. The width of the support surface is set between 25% and 200% of a middle sheet thickness of the side walls.