Hinged Cooking Plate Cushioning to Prevent Food Crushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household cooking appliances with hinged structures often crush fragile foods due to the weight of the upper structure, and existing solutions either fail to adequately mitigate this or result in bulky and costly weight dampers.
Innovation Solution
The integration of elastic means, such as torsion or compression springs, on a shaft within the hinge system to act as a compact shock absorber, which compensates for up to 50% of the weight of the upper structure, preventing food crushing while maintaining contact and reducing the size and cost of the damper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a shock absorber composed of elastic means is used to compensate for the weight of the first structure, then food crushing is limited and food contact is maintained, but the shock absorber has a large size
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic means (torsion spring) is integrated within the hinge assembly, nesting the shock absorption function within the existing structural framework. The torsion spring is positioned on the shaft of the hinge, utilizing the hollow space within the hinge structure rather than adding external bulky components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly serves multiple functions: it provides the mechanical connection between structures, enables pivoting motion, and incorporates the elastic means for weight compensation and shock absorption. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated shock absorber components.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If elastic means are placed on the shaft with diameter greater than shaft diameter, then friction is avoided, but the elastic means occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The friction problem is extracted and eliminated by ensuring the elastic means operates independently on the shaft without direct contact. The torsion spring is mounted on the shaft in a manner that prevents frictional interaction, allowing free rotation and movement.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a dampening system is added to limit weight effects, then fragile food crushing is prevented, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The torsion spring provides automatic weight compensation and shock absorption based on the natural mechanical properties of the elastic element. The system self-regulates the damping force according to the position and weight conditions without requiring external control mechanisms or complex electronic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper compensates between 40% and 80% of the weight of the first structure, with 50% being preferred, optimizing the balance between food protection and cooking performance.
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
This solution effectively limits food crushing during cooking by providing a compact, inexpensive, and easily integrated damping system that maintains food contact with both heating plates, ensuring efficient cooking without affecting cooking time.
Implementation Method 1
a damper for the weight of the first structure when the latter is in the cooking position or in the closed position and in the cooking position the damper of the weight of the first structure being composed of at least one elastic means which makes it possible to keep the first structure in contact with the food or foods to be cooked
Implementation Method 2
According to a first embodiment of the shock absorber, the latter is composed of at least one torsion spring. One advantage of having an elastic means composed of a torsion spring is to have an elastic means that is inexpensive and easily integrated on a shaft
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooking apparatus (1) which comprises: a first structure (2) including a heating plate (3) for cooking food; a second structure (4) including a heating plate (3) for cooking food; and a frame (8) on which the second structure (4) rests; and the first structure (2) and the second structure (4) are hingedly connected to one another by at least one hinge (5) between an open position or a closed position or else a cooking position, which is an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position, characterised in that the cooking apparatus (1) comprises a device for cushioning the weight of the first structure (2) when the latter is in the cooking position or in the closed position, and in the cooking position the cushioning device makes it possible to keep the first structure (2) in contact with the one or more food items to be cooked.