Modular cooking appliance having a hot air oven with a built-in magnetron and a double duty heater

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Solution Overview

Problem

Food-service operators require multiple types of ovens to cook various food items, which occupy valuable space and demand multiple electrical power plugs, necessitating different operating skills and inefficient use of resources.

Innovation Solution

A modular cooking appliance with interchangeable oven modules, including an impingement oven, convection oven, and microwave oven, powered by a single three-phase electrical connection, utilizing multiplexors to efficiently distribute power and a common control panel for unified operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple types of ovens are used to cook various food items, then cooking versatility is improved, but space occupation and electrical power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking versatilityVSAvoidcountertop space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a single oven unit that can perform multiple cooking functions (convection baking, convection roasting, microwave cooking, and combination mode) through interchangeable cooking modules and a control system that manages different heating elements and power distributions, eliminating the need for multiple separate ovens

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple heating systems (convection heating elements and microwave magnetron) and control mechanisms into a single integrated oven unit that can operate in different modes, merging the functionality of multiple separate appliances into one device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple types of ovens are used to cook various food items, then cooking versatility is improved, but electrical power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking versatilityVSAvoidelectrical power requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a control system that periodically switches between different heating elements and power sources (convection elements and microwave magnetron) based on the selected cooking mode, managing power consumption in time-based intervals to handle high-power requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic power management system that adjusts power distribution to different heating elements based on the selected cooking mode, using a solid-state relay and control circuitry to optimize power usage and prevent exceeding single-phase current limits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple ovens are used, then different cooking functions are available, but operating skill requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking function varietyVSAvoidoperating skill requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides a unified control panel and interface that manages all cooking functions (convection, microwave, and combination modes) through a single system, eliminating the need for operators to learn multiple separate oven operations while maintaining diverse cooking capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 modular appliance allows for concurrent cooking of diverse food items using different oven types with a single power connection, optimizing space and reducing electrical requirements, while enabling efficient power management to avoid exceeding single-phase current limits.

Implementation Method 1

at least one magnetron configured to generate microwave radiation for the cooking chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave radiation: Microwave Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a heating element configured to heat air that is delivered to the cooking chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11739942B2Modular cooking appliance having a hot air oven with a built-in magnetron and a double duty heater

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 AUTOMATION TECH LLC

AI summary

A modular cooking apparatus includes a first interchangeable cooking module containing an impingement oven, a second interchangeable cooking module containing a hot air oven with built-in magnetron, and a single power connection for receiving three-phase electrical power. Each oven has a base load and a boost load. A first multiplexor is configured to direct electrical power from a first phase pair of the three-phase electrical power to either the base load or the boost load of the first oven. A second multiplexor is configured to direct electrical power from the first phase pair to the boost load of the first oven or to the boost load of the second oven. The modular cooking apparatus is configured such that either the first multiplexor or the second multiplexor can direct electrical power from the first phase pair to the boost load of the first oven.