Induction-Based Heat Retentive Server to Eliminate Dish Preheating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing induction-based heat retentive servers require preheating of plates, which consumes space and energy, and poses safety hazards due to hot surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A pellet system that uses an induction-heatable member enclosed within a body, allowing for induction heating to a temperature above the heat deflection temperature of the body, enabling heat transfer to a dish at room temperature without preheating, and maintaining food temperature above 140°F for one hour.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If preheating of plates is performed in conventional systems, then food can be maintained at serving temperature, but energy consumption increases and safety hazards occur due to hot surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the preheating function from a separate dish heater and integrates it directly into the server's induction heating system. The induction-heatable member heats the dish in-situ on the server, eliminating the need for a separate preheating step and reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The server performs self-heating through induction heating of the member, which then transfers heat to the dish. The system serves itself by generating the necessary heat internally without requiring external preheating equipment or additional energy input.
2Temperature
If preheating of plates is performed in conventional systems, then food can be maintained at serving temperature, but safety hazards increase due to operators getting burned by hot plates
Solution Approach 1:
The induction-heatable member acts as an intermediary between the induction field and the dish. It absorbs induction energy and transfers heat to the dish through controlled contact, preventing direct exposure of operators to extreme heat sources and reducing burn hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/thermal preheating system with an electromagnetic induction heating system. This substitution allows for more precise temperature control and reduces the risk of operators encountering unexpectedly hot surfaces.
3Power
If induction heating to high temperature is performed, then heat transfer to room temperature dish is effective, but body material may deform due to exceeding heat deflection temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The server body is designed with differentiated thermal properties in different regions. The induction-heatable member is positioned in a thermally isolated zone that can withstand high temperatures, while the main body uses materials with appropriate heat deflection temperatures for normal operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The induction-heatable member is nested within the server body in a thermally isolated chamber or zone. This nested structure allows the inner member to reach high temperatures for effective heating while the outer body remains at safe temperatures, preventing structural deformation.
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 system effectively maintains food at a serving temperature of 140°F or higher for one hour without preheating the dish, reducing energy consumption and safety risks associated with hot plates.
Implementation Method 1
induction heating the induction-heatable member to a temperature greater than the heat deflection temperature of the body
Implementation Method 2
allowing heat transfer from the server to the dish to increase the temperature of the dish
Implementation Method 3
The heat transfer from the server to the dish may be buffered by buffering material positioned between the induction-heatable member and the body
Implementation Method 4
The food and dish may be covered with an insulated cover while the food and dish are on the server
Data Source
AI summary
A heat retentive server includes a chamber defined between an upper shell and a lower shell that are connected to one another. An induction-heatable member is positioned in the chamber, and the induction-heatable member may be heated by electromagnetic induction to a first temperature that is greater than the heat deflection temperature of the upper shell. Buffering material is positioned in the chamber between the induction-heatable member and the upper shell, and the buffering material is adapted for providing predetermined conductive heat transfer from the induction-heatable member to the upper shell so that at least a portion of the upper shell is heated to a second temperature that is greater than the heat deflection temperature of the upper shell. The second temperature is less than the first temperature.