Indoor/outdoor cooking system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Outdoor cooking systems face challenges in protecting internal electrical components from water exposure, particularly in rainy conditions, as existing systems lack effective waterproofing and drainage mechanisms to prevent water from reaching sensitive electronics.
Innovation Solution
The cooking system incorporates a grease trap receptacle with a watertight passage and a vertically spaced exhaust inlet to direct water away from internal components, combined with an inset cooking surface and movable wall panels to prevent water ingress, ensuring safe and dry operation both indoors and outdoors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If outdoor cooking systems use traditional open drainage designs, then water can drain freely from the cooking surface, but internal electrical components are exposed to water damage
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is segmented into separate functional zones: a grease trap receptacle for water collection, a watertight passage for controlled drainage, and a vertically spaced exhaust inlet for ventilation. This segmentation allows water to drain freely through the grease trap while keeping electrical components isolated from water exposure, resolving the contradiction between drainage efficiency and component protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The grease trap receptacle acts as an intermediary element between the cooking surface and the external environment. It captures and contains water that drains from the cooking surface, preventing direct contact with internal electrical components while still allowing effective drainage. The watertight passage further mediates the drainage flow, ensuring water is directed away from sensitive areas.
2Productivity
If the exhaust inlet is positioned close to the cooking surface for efficient ventilation, then air flow is improved, but water can more easily enter the exhaust system and reach electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust inlet is positioned in a vertically spaced relationship above the cooking surface rather than directly adjacent to it. This vertical dimensioning creates a spatial separation that reduces water ingress risk while maintaining ventilation efficiency through optimized air flow paths. The grease trap receptacle is similarly positioned to create vertical separation between water collection and electrical components.
3Ease of operation
If the cooking surface is positioned at the top level for easy access, then user accessibility is improved, but water running off the surface can directly reach internal components
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful water runoff path is extracted and redirected through the grease trap receptacle system. Instead of allowing water to flow directly onto internal components, the drainage channels are designed to extract water from the cooking surface area and channel it through the watertight passage into the grease trap receptacle, separating the water flow from the electrical components.
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 configuration effectively prevents water from reaching internal electrical components, maintaining system safety and functionality in wet environments by ensuring quick drainage and sealing, thus protecting the cooking system's internal components from moisture.
Implementation Method 1
the grease drain and the grease trap receptacle define a watertight passage for water to flow from the cooking surface to the opening
Implementation Method 2
a fan disposed within the body, the fan being configured to pull air through the exhaust inlet
Implementation Method 3
the plurality of walls including an inset wall panel positioned within an area defined by adjacent wall panels, the inset wall panel being movable with respect to the frame
Data Source
AI summary
Examples are disclosed herein that relate to a cooking system. One example provides a cooking system including a body supporting a cooking surface, a grease trap receptacle positioned within the body, the grease trap receptacle including an opening to an outside of the body, a grease drain located adjacent to the cooking surface, the grease drain opening into the grease trap receptacle such that the grease drain and the grease trap receptacle define a watertight passage for water to flow from the cooking surface to the opening, and a grease trap movably positioned within the opening of the grease trap receptacle.