Modular Cooking Appliance Power Management for Multi-Oven Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Food-service operators require multiple ovens for cooking various food items, which occupy valuable space and demand excessive electrical power, necessitating different operating skills and inefficient use of resources.
Innovation Solution
A modular cooking appliance with interchangeable oven modules that employs adaptive power management through temperature-control and time-control modes to optimize oven usage and prevent exceeding current limitations, allowing multiple ovens to operate concurrently while minimizing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate ovens are used to cook various food items, then cooking versatility is improved, but space occupation and electrical power demand increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple oven functions (convection oven, microwave oven, and combination mode) into a single integrated appliance. The housing contains multiple heating elements and control systems that can operate independently or together, allowing the same physical space to serve multiple cooking purposes simultaneously, thereby reducing countertop occupation while maintaining cooking versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance is designed with multi-functional capabilities where a single device can perform convection cooking, microwave heating, and combination cooking modes. The control panel allows selection of different cooking modes and the system can adapt its operation to handle various food items, making one appliance universal enough to replace multiple specialized ovens.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate ovens are used to cook various food items, then cooking versatility is improved, but electrical power demand increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple oven functions (convection oven, microwave oven, and combination mode) into a single integrated appliance. The housing contains multiple heating elements and control systems that can operate independently or together, allowing the same physical space to serve multiple cooking purposes simultaneously, thereby reducing countertop occupation while maintaining cooking versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system manages power consumption by periodically switching between different heating elements and cooking modes based on the selected program. The system can alternate between convection and microwave heating in combination mode, or sequentially activate different components to achieve the desired cooking effect while managing peak power demand.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different kinds of ovens are used, then cooking capability is improved, but operating complexity increases due to different operating skills required
Solution Approach 1:
The appliance is designed with multi-functional capabilities where a single device can perform convection cooking, microwave heating, and combination cooking modes. The control panel allows selection of different cooking modes and the system can adapt its operation to handle various food items, making one appliance universal enough to replace multiple specialized ovens.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel is designed to be user-friendly with preset programs and automated controls that guide the operator through the cooking process. The system automatically adjusts heating elements, timing, and power distribution based on the selected mode, reducing the need for the operator to understand complex operating procedures for different oven types.
4Productivity
If multiple ovens operate simultaneously without power management, then cooking productivity is improved, but electrical current limitations are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The control system manages power consumption by periodically switching between different heating elements and cooking modes based on the selected program. The system can alternate between convection and microwave heating in combination mode, or sequentially activate different components to achieve the desired cooking effect while managing peak power demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel monitors the operational state of heating elements and power consumption in real-time, adjusting the activation sequence and power distribution to ensure total current demand does not exceed the 50-amp limitation. The system provides feedback to the operator about cooking progress and power usage, enabling intelligent load management during simultaneous cooking operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for cooking is disclosed. In response to an oven being selected to cook a food item, a determination is made whether or not any oven is being engaged in cooking. If no oven is being engaged in cooking, then temperature-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the selected oven. If one oven is currently being engaged in cooking, then another determination is made whether or not the total current demand by the two ovens to cook respective food items exceeds a predetermined current limitation under temperature-control mode. If the total current demand does not exceed the predetermined current limitation, then temperature-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the two ovens. If the total current demand exceeds the predetermined current limitation, then time-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the two ovens.