Hermetic container for food with automatic valve for discharging the steam produced by heating the food, in particular in a microwave oven, and relative automatic steam discharge valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hermetic containers for heating food in microwave ovens face challenges with complex and costly steam venting mechanisms, bulky designs, and the need for manual activation, which can lead to unsafe pressure buildup if not properly managed.
Innovation Solution
A compact, automatically operating valve device integrated into the container's lid, utilizing a plastic-moulded control member and elastic tongue to automatically vent steam when internal pressure reaches a critical threshold, ensuring safe and efficient cooking without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a movable cap valve device is used to vent steam automatically, then steam venting function is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of steam venting from complex movable cap mechanisms and implements it through a simpleThrough-hole closure element that can be easily produced by injection moulding. This removes unnecessary mechanical complexity while retaining the automatic venting function when steam pressure reaches critical levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element is designed as a simple, inexpensive component made from plastic material suitable for injection moulding. Rather than using complex metal valve mechanisms, the patent employs a cost-effective plastic element that performs the venting function reliably without requiring precise manufacturing tolerances.
2Extent of automation
If a mass-based valve system is used to overcome steam pressure, then automatic venting is achieved, but device size becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mass-based mechanical valve systems with a simplified closure element system. Instead of using weights or masses that must be overcome by steam pressure, the invention uses a Through-hole closure element that responds directly to steam pressure through its elastic properties and geometric design, eliminating the need for bulky counterweights.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter from mass-based pressure overcoming to direct pressure-responsive deformation. The closure element's elastic modulus and geometric parameters are optimized to allow automatic opening at critical steam pressure levels without requiring additional mass or volume.
3Device complexity
If manual valve activation is required, then device simplicity is maintained, but safety reliability decreases due to user error
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is designed to automatically respond to steam pressure buildup without requiring user intervention. When steam pressure reaches the critical level, the elastic deformation of the closure element automatically opens the through-hole for venting, ensuring safety reliability through self-activating functionality.
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 reliable, safe, and cost-effective automatic steam venting, preventing pressure buildup and ensuring correct cooking while being suitable for microwave oven dimensions and easy to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic tongue (23), which applies on the control member (21) an elastic force (F) directed to press the control member (21) against the through hole (15), formed in the bottom (13a) of the recess (13), so as to close it
Implementation Method 2
When the internal pressure (P), acting inside the container (10), of the steam (V) produced by the progressive heating and cooking of the food (C) in the microwave oven, reaches a critical value (P1) such as to prevail over the elastic force (F)
Data Source
AI summary
A container for heating and cooking food includes: a lower containment body; an upper cover hermetically coupling with the lower containment body; and an automatic valve, in the shape of a cap, integrated in the upper cover, allowing steam to vent. The automatic venting valve includes: a control member controlling the pressure inside the container; and an elastic tongue associated and moulded in one piece with the control member. The control member is housed and rotatable in a recess in the upper cover. The elastic tongue has a deformed configuration, applying an elastic force pressing and closing the control member against a through hole in the bottom of the recess housing the control member, preventing the steam from exiting the container. When the steam pressure reaches a critical value, the control member rotates and tilts, removing the control member from the through hole, allowing the steam to vent.