Microwave Oven With Cylindrical Housing And Rotating Turntable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave devices are inefficient in rapidly thawing frozen food items within a short period, typically exceeding 1 minute.
Innovation Solution
A microwave device with a cylindrical oven housing featuring evenly distributed microwave radiation sources and a rotating turntable with precise holding mechanisms, combined with a microwave-reflecting cap element and a suction system to optimize microwave distribution and moisture management, allowing for uniform heating and rapid thawing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional microwave heating is used, then food can be heated, but the thawing time exceeds 1 minute and heating uniformity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The microwave radiation source is divided into multiple segments (first, second, third, and fourth microwave radiation sources) positioned at different locations around the oven cavity. Each radiation source emits microwaves in different directions, creating multiple heating zones that work together to achieve both rapid and uniform thawing throughout the food item.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple microwave radiation sources are combined in a single oven cavity, with their radiation paths and heating zones overlapping. This merging of multiple radiation sources creates a comprehensive microwave field that simultaneously achieves rapid energy delivery and uniform heat distribution across the entire food item.
2Productivity
If microwave radiation sources are added to improve heating speed, then thawing time decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each microwave radiation source serves multiple functions: it provides primary heating radiation, contributes to creating turbulence in the microwave field, and works in combination with other sources to ensure uniform coverage. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve rapid and uniform thawing without requiring an excessive number of radiation sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The oven cavity is designed with a substantially spherical shape, and the microwave radiation sources are positioned to radiate into this curved space. The spherical geometry naturally distributes microwave energy more evenly throughout the cavity compared to conventional rectangular designs, reducing the need for additional complex components while maintaining heating uniformity.
3Manufacturing precision
If a rotary table is used to improve heating uniformity, then microwave field turbulence increases, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The food item is held in a movable holder that can rotate or change position within the oven cavity during the thawing process. This dynamic positioning allows the food to be exposed to microwave radiation from multiple angles and creates turbulence in the microwave field, ensuring uniform heating without requiring a large, complex rotary table mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder for the food item is nested within the oven cavity in a space-efficient manner, allowing rotation or movement within the available space. This nested configuration enables the heating uniformity benefits of a rotary mechanism while minimizing the overall device footprint and structural complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple microwave radiation sources are positioned to improve uniformity, then the oven housing size increases, but compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The substantially spherical oven cavity efficiently accommodates multiple microwave radiation sources positioned at different locations around the perimeter. The curved spherical geometry allows these sources to be compactly arranged along the circular path, maintaining optimal spacing for uniform radiation distribution while minimizing the overall volume required compared to linear or rectangular configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The microwave radiation sources are positioned in a circular arrangement around the oven cavity, utilizing the circumferential dimension rather than simply placing sources in a linear row. This dimensional arrangement allows multiple radiation sources to be packed more efficiently into a compact volume while maintaining the spacing needed for uniform microwave distribution throughout the cavity.
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 thawing of frozen food from -20°C to +80°C within ≤ 1 minute, ensuring efficient and uniform heating while preventing moisture buildup and ensuring food safety.
Implementation Method 1
at least one microwave radiation source (18) is coupled to the housing shell (14) by means of a microwave coupling element (16)
Implementation Method 2
at least one product holding device (22) for the product (40) is provided, which is rotatable about a central axis (26) by means of a drive device (24)
Implementation Method 3
the oven casing (12) can contain a heating element to prevent condensation
Implementation Method 4
the casing can be made, at least partially, of a material that, under the influence of microwaves, exhibits eddy current losses such that it self-heats
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A microwave oven (10) for heating, in particular defrosting, especially food (40) is described. The microwave oven (10) has an oven housing (12) to the outer casing (14) of which a number of microwave radiation sources (18) are coupled by means of microwave coupling elements (16). The microwave coupling elements (16) extend circumferentially from the outer casing (14). At least one product holding device (22) for the product (40) is provided in the oven housing (12), which is rotatable about a central axis (26) by means of a drive device (24). The at least one product holding device (40) is formed by a turntable (28) which is designed for the defined, positionally precise holding of the product (40).