Integrated Thermostatic Subassembly for Cooking Appliance Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of electric cooking appliances, such as electric fryers, is complex due to the numerous components that require separate mounting, leading to increased production costs and assembly operations.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a pre-assembled electrical sub-assembly within the appliance's casing, where the support with electrical connection and thermal safety components simplifies assembly by concentrating components in a reduced area, eliminating the need for a bottom hatch and reducing the number of parts required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If control devices, regulating devices, safety devices, and electrical supply devices are mounted separately inside the casing, then each component can be individually accessed and replaced, but the assembly operations become complicated and the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines control devices, regulating devices, safety devices, and electrical supply devices into a single integrated support structure. This support is fixed to the housing and provides a unified mounting platform for all electrical components, reducing the number of separate assembly operations while maintaining individual component accessibility through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a mounting platform for electrical components, provides structural support within the housing, and facilitates simplified assembly operations. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of parts needed while maintaining repairability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are assembled in the housing, then each component can be optimized independently, but the assembly operations require many steps and increase production complexity
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating multiple electrical components onto a single support structure, the patent reduces the number of assembly steps required. The support is fixed to the housing in one operation, and components are mounted on the support, streamlining the assembly process while allowing each component to remain independently optimized for its specific function.
3Ease of operation
If a bottom hatch is added to access components, then component accessibility is improved, but the housing structure becomes more complex and the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates component mounting within the existing housing structure using an internal support system, eliminating the need for a separate bottom hatch. The support is fixed inside the housing and provides access to electrical components through the existing housing openings, maintaining component accessibility without adding structural complexity or increasing device size.
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 approach simplifies assembly operations, reduces manufacturing costs, and allows for a more compact design while ensuring thermal protection and efficient temperature detection, thereby optimizing the construction and functionality of the appliance.
Implementation Method 1
the support defines with the casing a reception space housing the active electrical parts of the apparatus
Implementation Method 2
the thermostatic regulation means and/or the thermal safety means comprise at least one feeler provided to cooperate with the cooking element
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The appliance (1) has a support (20) that is fixed to an upper part of a housing (4). The support is mounted in the housing by a passage for installing a cooking element (30) e.g. cooking container. The support defines a receptacle space (23) with the housing, where the space houses active electrical parts of a thermostatic regulation unit (50) so that the support need not be closed. A pre-assembled electrical sub-assembly is fixed to the housing during assembling of the appliance, and a thermostatic control unit actuates a contact breaker for opening and closing a power supply circuit.