Inductive heating adapter system and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Induction cooking systems face challenges in efficiently heating cooking vessels with non-flat or curved bases, as they require direct and optimal electrical coupling with the induction coil, which is difficult for vessels like woks or pots with unique shapes, limiting their compatibility with standard induction stoves.
Innovation Solution
A wireless transmission inductive heating adapter system featuring a set of coils, including a burner coil, an intermediary coil, and a form factor coil with a distinct shape, such as curved, to enable inductive energy transfer to cooking vessels with non-standard shapes, using ferrites to improve energy transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a standard induction coil is used for heating, then heating efficiency is improved, but compatibility with non-flat based cooking vessels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary adapter component that sits between the flat induction coil and the curved cooking vessel. This adapter includes a curved surface that conforms to the vessel's shape and contains conductive material or additional coils to maintain electromagnetic coupling. The intermediary translates the flat coil's electromagnetic field into a shape-compatible field for curved vessels, resolving the contradiction between maintaining heating efficiency and achieving compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies curvature to the adapter component to match the spherical or curved base of cooking vessels like woks. By transforming the flat induction coil interface into a curved surface through the adapter, the system maintains optimal electromagnetic coupling with curved vessels while preserving the efficiency of the original induction coil design.
2Productivity
If direct electrical coupling is required for induction heating, then heating efficiency is improved, but adaptability to various vessel shapes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter incorporates flexible or adjustable components that can dynamically conform to different vessel shapes and sizes. This may include flexible conductive materials, adjustable coil configurations, or adaptive positioning mechanisms that maintain optimal electrical coupling across various geometries, thereby preserving heating efficiency while increasing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate multiple types of curved cooking vessels through a single standardized design. By incorporating adjustable or conformal features, the same adapter structure can adapt to different curvatures and sizes, maintaining efficient coupling without requiring vessel-specific modifications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an adapter is introduced to enable curved vessel compatibility, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the shape-adaptation function into a separate, removable adapter component rather than integrating it into the induction coil itself. This modular approach allows the core induction heating mechanism to remain simple while the adapter handles the complexity of shape adaptation. Users can attach the adapter only when needed for curved vessels, minimizing the impact on overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter introduces complexity only in the specific location where shape adaptation is needed, rather than modifying the entire induction heating system. The adapter is a localized component that interfaces between the flat coil and curved vessel, concentrating the adaptive functionality in one area while leaving the rest of the system simple and unchanged.
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
Enables the use of induction stoves with cooking vessels that would otherwise be incompatible due to their shape, providing efficient heating of curved pots and pans by optimizing the electrical coupling and energy transfer, thus expanding the range of cookware compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
a set of coils configured to transfer inductive power from an induction burner to a cooking vessel
Implementation Method 2
a set of one or more ferrites, positioned in proximity to the set of coils to improve inductive energy transfer between the set of coils
Data Source
AI summary
An inductive heating adapter comprising a base portion that includes a planar first coil and a planar second coil. The inductive heating adapter further comprises an adapter portion that defines a curved cavity and includes a curved third coil that corresponds to the curved cavity, the adapter portion configured to hold a curved vessel within the curved cavity defined by the adapter portion. The inductive heating adapter further comprises an electrical connection between the base portion and the adapter portion. The base portion is configured to be disposed on a burner area of a stove top of an inductive stove with the curved vessel disposed within the curved cavity and the burner area of the inductive stove comprises a stove coil configured to wirelessly generate an electrical current in the base portion that causes inductive heating of the curved vessel disposed within the curved cavity.