Heating table with adjustable-height grill

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Solution Overview

Problem

Outdoor heating solutions like gas heaters, fire pits, and chimineas are inefficient and environmentally harmful, with no effective means to control smoke or heat output, and existing height adjustment mechanisms for cooking surfaces in recessed combustion chambers are complex and not suitable for high-temperature environments.

Innovation Solution

A friction rod mechanism that allows the cooking surface to be raised and lowered within a recessed combustion chamber using opposing friction members, enabling easy access and adjustable heat exposure without complex mechanisms, and allowing for easy cleaning and surface replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a sealed combustion chamber with recessed cooking surface is used, then heating efficiency is improved and smoke control is enhanced, but accessibility to the cooking surface becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidaccessibility to cooking surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking surface is made dynamically adjustable in height through a rod mechanism that allows it to move between a recessed position (for efficient heating) and a raised position (for easy accessibility). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to switch between the two conflicting states depending on operational needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If complex height adjustment mechanisms are used, then cooking surface accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability in high-temperature environment decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking surface accessibilityVSAvoidadjustment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex adjustment mechanisms are extracted and replaced with a simple rod-based system that relies on basic mechanical principles. The cooking surface is supported by rods that can be manually adjusted without complex gears, motors, or control systems, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-servicing through simple manual operation. The rods and support structures allow the cooking surface to be adjusted without requiring external power sources, complex control systems, or specialized maintenance, making the system more reliable in high-temperature environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the cooking surface is fixed in position, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different cooking methods and heat exposure requirements is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanism simplicityVSAvoidheat exposure control

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Object-generated harmful factors

If a recessed combustion chamber is used, then smoke control is improved, but the surface area of the cooking surface that can fit within the chamber is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmoke controlVSAvoidcooking surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooking surface area is expanded by utilizing the vertical dimension through height adjustment. The cooking surface can be raised to provide greater accessible area and can accommodate different cooking vessel sizes, while the recessed chamber structure maintains smoke control. This dimensional approach allows both smoke control and larger cooking surface area to coexist.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution provides a durable, space-efficient, and easily adjustable cooking surface that can withstand high temperatures, maximizing usable area and facilitating easy cleaning and surface changes, while reducing environmental impact by containing emissions.

Implementation Method 1

The friction rod passes through an aperture in the cooking surface and is positioned between two opposing friction members. The weight of the cooking surface and friction between the rod and two opposing friction members holds the cooking surface at potentially infinite positions above the heat source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a recessed combustion chamber for receiving a combustible fuel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

using combustible fuel to generate heat within a substantially sealed chamber to provide efficient, radiant heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS11779153B2Heating table with adjustable-height grill

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 THE CASHMERE CAVEMAN CO WILD KITCHENS LTD

AI summary

A mechanism for raising and lowering a cooking surface within a recessed combustion chamber is provided.