Modular Two-Sided Grill With Independent Temperature Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current two-sided grills lack the ability to cook different food products requiring varying lower grill temperatures simultaneously due to a single common lower grill plate, limiting flexibility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A modular grill design comprising removably connected sub-units with independent control systems for upper and lower grill surfaces, allowing for separate temperature control and easy assembly/disassembly, including space for grease collection between units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single common lower grill plate is used in two-sided grills, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ability to cook different food products requiring different temperatures is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The grill is divided into multiple independently controllable sub-grills, each with its own heating elements and temperature control system. This segmentation allows different zones to be heated to different temperatures simultaneously, enabling versatile cooking of multiple food products with varying temperature requirements while maintaining a modular structure that balances complexity with functionality
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single common lower grill plate is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but cross-contamination between different food products cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The grill assembly is segmented into separate sub-grills that can be independently manufactured and then assembled together. Each sub-grill can be dedicated to specific food types or temperature ranges, preventing cross-contamination while allowing standardized manufacturing of individual modules that are later combined into the complete grill system
Solution Approach 2:
The modular sub-grill design creates universal building blocks that can be configured in different arrangements to accommodate various cooking requirements. Each sub-grill unit serves multiple functions including heating, containing specific food products, and preventing cross-contamination, while the standardized interface allows flexible reconfiguration for different manufacturing and operational needs
3Loss of energy
If a single common lower grill plate is used, then the device is easier to service, but energy efficiency is reduced due to inability to control temperature zones independently
Solution Approach 1:
The grill is segmented into independent sub-grills with separate heating elements, thermostats, and control systems. This allows individual sub-grills to be serviced, repaired, or replaced without affecting the entire grill assembly, improving ease of maintenance while enabling energy-efficient operation by heating only the specific zones needed for current cooking tasks rather than heating the entire grill plate
4Productivity
If modular sub-units are used with independent control systems, then power management and energy efficiency are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into independent modules for each sub-grill, with each module containing its own thermostat and heating control. This modular approach allows precise temperature control in each zone for efficient multi-product cooking while keeping the complexity localized to individual units rather than requiring a complex centralized control system
Data Source
AI summary
The modular grill of the present disclosure contains a plurality of removably connected sub-unit grills, each having their own associated control system. This allows for easy servicing and removal of each sub-unit. In addition, each sub-unit can be set to different cooking parameters if desired, thus allowing for the cooking of different products within the same grill.