Kettle grill with height adjustable grill
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional kettle grills lack the ability to quickly and easily adjust the heat applied to food, as the distance between the grill grate and charcoal grate is fixed, limiting temperature control during grilling.
Innovation Solution
The kettle grill features vertically and horizontally offset bearing surfaces on functional parts within the grill tray, allowing the grill grate to be adjusted by lifting and rotating to change its distance from the charcoal grate, with handles and detachable accessories for easy manipulation and additional accessory attachments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the grill grate is fixed at a constant distance from the charcoal grate, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the temperature control during grilling is limited and cannot be quickly changed
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into multiple functional parts (first functional part, second functional part, third functional part) with distinct bearing surfaces at different heights. This segmentation allows the grill grate to be positioned at multiple fixed distances from the charcoal, enabling temperature control while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The grill grate is designed to be movable between different positions rather than fixed. By providing multiple bearing surfaces on the functional parts, the system allows dynamic adjustment of the grill grate height, enabling quick temperature changes during grilling while keeping the adjustment mechanism simple.
2Ease of operation
If multiple bearing surfaces are provided on functional parts for height adjustment, then temperature control is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into separate functional parts, each with specific bearing surfaces. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of individual components that can be produced using simple processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while enabling multiple height positions for temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
Each functional part has bearing surfaces with specific local characteristics (different heights and positions) tailored to its function. This local differentiation allows the rest of the structure to remain simple and easy to manufacture, while only the critical bearing surfaces require precise positioning for the height adjustment feature.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the grill grate can be quickly adjusted to different heights, then temperature flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grill grate is designed with movable support elements that can transition between different bearing surfaces on the functional parts. This dynamic capability allows quick adjustment to multiple height positions for versatile temperature control, while the adjustment mechanism remains simple—requiring only lifting and rotation actions without complex mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism utilizes rotational movement in the horizontal plane to achieve vertical height adjustment. By rotating the grill grate or its support elements, the contact points shift between bearing surfaces at different heights, converting a horizontal rotation into vertical position change, thereby simplifying the adjustment mechanism while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a kettle grill (1) with a grill tray (2) for receiving the charcoal and several functional parts (4) fastened to the grill tray (2) on an inside (3) of the grill tray (2) and on which a grill grate (5 ) can be placed, characterized in that each functional part (4) forms a plurality of bearing surfaces (6) which are arranged offset to one another vertically and in the circumferential direction of the grill shell (2) in such a way that the grill grate (5), depending on its orientation, is at a different distance from the in the charcoal that can be accommodated in the grill tray (2) can be placed on corresponding contact surfaces (6) of the functional parts (4).