Heated Food Container Socket Interlock for Electric Shock Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing receiving devices for food preparation vessels with heating devices pose a risk of electric shock due to exposed contact sockets that can be subjected to working voltage even when the vessel is not present, potentially harming users if conductive objects are inserted.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating signaling means in at least one contact socket that generates an insertion signal when a conductive or non-conductive object is inserted, ensuring that other contact sockets are only subjected to working voltage when the insertion signal is present, thereby preventing accidental voltage application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contact sockets are always connected to working voltage for operational readiness, then the device can immediately power the heating device when a vessel is inserted, but the risk of electric shock increases if conductive objects are inserted without a vessel present
Solution Approach 1:
The signaling means performs a preliminary detection action by generating an insertion signal when a contact pin is inserted into the first contact socket. This preliminary signal triggers the control device to subsequently enable working voltage supply to the other contact sockets, ensuring that power is only applied after proper insertion is detected, thus preventing electric shock from conductive objects while maintaining immediate power availability when a vessel is present
2Reliability
If signaling means and control devices are added to detect insertion and control voltage supply, then user safety against electric shock is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signaling means acts as an intermediary detection element in the first contact socket that generates an insertion signal when a contact pin is inserted. This intermediary signal mediates between the physical insertion event and the control device's decision to supply working voltage, providing a simple and reliable safety mechanism without requiring complex sensors or control algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The contact pin of the preparation vessel itself serves the dual function of both establishing electrical connection and triggering the safety mechanism. When inserted into the first contact socket, the contact pin automatically generates the insertion signal through the signaling means, eliminating the need for separate detection sensors and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a receiving device (1) for receiving at least one preparation vessel (2) for food with a heating device, comprising at least one receiving area (4) for the preparation vessel (2) and at least three contact sockets (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) for at least partial receiving of corresponding contact pins (6a, 6b, 6c) on the preparation vessel (2).A receiving device (1) for receiving at least one preparation vessel (2) for food with a heating device, in which user safety is increased, is realized by the fact that at least one first of the contact sockets (5c) has at least one signaling means (8), that the signaling means (8) generates at least one insertion signal when one of the contact pins (6b) is at least partially inserted into the first contact socket (5c), that when an insertion signal is present at least one further of the contact sockets (5a, 5b, 5d, 5e) can be supplied with an operating voltage, and that without an insertion signal none of the contact sockets (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) can be supplied with an operating voltage.