Meshed Basket Filter for Smoke-Reducing Air Fryer Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air-based fryers generate smoke when cooking fatty or greasy foods due to entrained oil or fat contacting the heating element, and existing solutions do not effectively prevent this issue.

Innovation Solution

A cooking apparatus with a filter element having an air-permeable meshed structure is placed between the food basket and the heating element, blocking fat particles and other solids while allowing air to pass through, thereby preventing smoke generation. The filter element is detachably secured and extends entirely over the upper opening of the food basket to ensure all airflow is filtered.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a filter element is placed between the food basket and heating element, then smoke generation is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmoke generationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An air-permeable meshed filter element is introduced as an intermediary component between the food basket and heating element. This filter element captures fat and solid particles from the air flow while allowing air circulation to continue, thereby preventing smoke generation without disrupting the cooking process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter element is constructed with an air-permeable meshed structure containing numerous small apertures (maximum outer dimensions not exceeding 1mm by 1mm). This porous structure enables the filter to capture particles while maintaining air flow through the element, resolving the contradiction between filtration effectiveness and air circulation requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Reliability

If the filter element extends entirely over the upper opening of the food basket, then filtering effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering effectivenessVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element is designed as a separate, detachable component that can be independently removed and cleaned. This segmentation allows the filter to extend entirely over the upper opening for maximum filtering effectiveness while maintaining ease of maintenance and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the filter element is detachably secured to the food basket, then ease of cleaning is improved, but reliability of filtration may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidfiltration reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element incorporates attaching means that enable it to be detachably secured to the food basket. This dynamic design allows the filter to be easily removed for cleaning and reattached to maintain filtration reliability, balancing ease of operation with continuous effective filtration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution effectively prevents fat and solid particles from reaching the heating element, reducing smoke generation and facilitating easy cleaning, while maintaining efficient air circulation for cooking.

Implementation Method 1

the filter element comprising an air-permeable meshed structure for retaining particles contained in the air flowing out from the food basket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a heating element disposed above the food basket for heating air flowing out from the food basket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

a system for circulating the heated air upwards within the food basket

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3277141B1Cooking apparatus with filter element
Publication Date: 2018.11.14 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP3277141B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3277141B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3277141B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present application relates to a cooking apparatus (1) comprising a cooking chamber (2), a basket (3) disposed within the cooking chamber (2) to receive food (4) to be cooked, a heating element (5) disposed above the food basket (3) for heating air flowing out from the food basket (3), an air circulation system (6, 12, 13) for circulating the heated air upwards within the food basket (3) and a filter element (7) disposed between the food basket (3) and the heating element (5).The filter element (7) is spaced from the heating element (5).The filter element (7) comprises an air-permeable meshed structure for retaining particles contained in the air flowing out from the food basket (3). The food basket (3) comprises an upper opening (11), and the filter element (7) extends entirely over the upper opening (11).