Cooking appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances with induction heating elements, particularly those using ferrites for magnetic components, face inefficiencies in terms of electrical and thermal conductivity, leading to suboptimal performance and higher costs.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an electrically conductive shielding element, preferably made of aluminum or its alloys, to shield electromagnetic fields generated by the induction heating element, along with thermal and electrical insulation elements to enhance efficiency and safety, while eliminating the need for ferrites.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ferrites are used as magnetic elements in induction heating appliances, then magnetic field conduction is improved, but electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity are reduced leading to inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic field conductionVSAvoidelectrical and thermal conductivity efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes ferrites and magnetic elements from the induction heating appliance, extracting the problematic component that caused poor electrical and thermal conductivity. The shielding element is positioned at a distance from the induction heating element, eliminating the need for ferrite-based magnetic conduction while maintaining electromagnetic field management through spatial separation rather than material mediation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a shielding element made of electrically conductive material as an intermediary between the induction heating element and the surrounding environment. This shielding element manages electromagnetic fields without requiring ferrites, acting as a mediator that provides field control while allowing efficient electrical and thermal conduction through the use of conductive materials positioned at a distance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If ferrites are used for magnetic components, then magnetic field shielding is achieved, but device cost and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic interference shieldingVSAvoidoverall device weight and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a shielding element made of electrically conductive material that can be simpler and more cost-effective than ferrite-based solutions. The shielding element is positioned at a distance from the induction heating element, allowing for a lighter, potentially disposable or easily replaceable component design that reduces overall device weight and cost while maintaining electromagnetic interference shielding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent shifts from using ferrite materials (material-based solution) to using spatial positioning (distance-based solution) for electromagnetic field management. By positioning the shielding element at a specific distance from the induction heating element, the patent solves the shielding problem in the spatial dimension rather than relying on heavy ferrite materials, thereby reducing weight and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If ferrites are used to conduct magnetic fields, then magnetic field management is improved, but thermal behavior and heat resistance are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnetic field managementVSAvoidheat resistance and thermal behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes ferrites from the system, extracting the component with poor thermal behavior. By eliminating ferrites and using a shielding element positioned at a distance, the patent achieves magnetic field management without the thermal limitations of ferrite materials, allowing for better heat resistance and thermal behavior in the overall device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding element acts as an intermediary that manages electromagnetic fields while being positioned at a distance from the heat-generating induction heating element. This spatial separation allows the shielding element to perform its electromagnetic management function while being less affected by high temperatures, thereby improving overall thermal behavior and heat resistance of the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 achieves high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and improved thermal behavior, reducing electromagnetic interference and allowing for diverse cooking modes with efficient heating of food and muffle walls, while ensuring operator safety and compliance with electrical shielding regulations.

Implementation Method 1

at least one electrically conductive shielding element (16), which is provided to shield an electrical and/or magnetic field generated by the induction heating element (14)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

The induction heating element is intended to generate an electromagnetic alternating field, in particular with a frequency between 17 kHz and 150 kHz. The induction heating element is intended in particular to use the electromagnetic alternating field generated by the induction heating element to generate heat in at least one, in particular metallic, preferably ferromagnetic, object to be heated through eddy current induction and/or magnetic reversal effects

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

generate heat in at least one, in particular metallic, preferably ferromagnetic, object to be heated through eddy current induction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEddy currents: Eddy Currents

Implementation Method 4

the cooking appliance device has at least one thermal insulation element, which is arranged at least partially and advantageously completely between the shielding element and the induction heating element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3560280A1Cooking appliance
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a cooking appliance (10), in particular an induction oven appliance, having at least one muffle wall (12) and having at least one induction heating element (14). In order to provide an appliance of the type in question having improved properties with respect to efficiency, according to the invention, the cooking appliance (10) has at least one electrically conductive screening element (16) for blocking an electric and/or magnetic field produced by the induction heating element (14).