Modular Refractory Cooktop for Uniform Pizza Oven Heating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional electric ovens, especially those used for cooking pizza, suffer from overheating issues leading to burns, inefficient heat retention, frequent wear of the cooktop, and reduced productivity due to the need for idle periods between batches, as well as heat loss through the oven mouth.
Innovation Solution
An electric oven design featuring a modular and removable refractory cooktop made from a clay- and pozzolana-based material with a layered heating structure and heat shields to manage temperature distribution and retention, preventing burns and heat loss, and allowing for easy replacement of worn modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high-density material with low apparent porosity is used for the cooktop, then uniform cooking performance is achieved at full load, but the cooktop overheats during transients and light duty periods causing burns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous refractory material for the cooktop that absorbs excess heat during transients and light duty periods, preventing overheating and burns. The porous structure provides thermal buffering capacity while maintaining cooking uniformity at full load through its heat absorption and release characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the cooktop material by selecting refractory material with specific porosity and thermal mass characteristics. This material parameter change enables the cooktop to dynamically adjust its heat transfer behavior, absorbing heat during low-demand periods and releasing it during high-demand cooking, thereby eliminating burns while maintaining cooking uniformity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a low-density material with high apparent porosity is used for the cooktop, then overheating and burns are prevented, but the oven exhibits limited radiating power causing partial or lasting cookings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes porous refractory material that provides thermal buffering through its porosity, preventing overheating and burns during transients. The porous structure absorbs excess heat when demand is low and releases it when cooking is required, maintaining adequate radiating power while preventing harmful overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the thermal parameters of the cooktop material by selecting refractory material with specific porosity and thermal mass characteristics. This material parameter change enables the cooktop to dynamically adjust its heat transfer behavior, absorbing heat during low-demand periods and releasing it during high-demand cooking, thereby eliminating burns while maintaining cooking uniformity.
3Ease of operation
If the oven mouth remains open during cooking, then easy access is provided, but heat loss occurs in the front part of the oven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat shield as an intermediary element positioned in the oven cavity near the mouth. This heat shield reflects and redirects heat flow, creating a thermal barrier that reduces heat loss through the open mouth while maintaining easy access for loading and unloading pizzas. The heat shield acts as a mediator between the hot oven interior and the cooler external environment.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a biscuit-like material is used for the cooktop, then stability at high temperature is achieved, but the cooktop is subject to frequent tear and wear requiring complete replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooktop into modular segments or tiles made from refractory material. This segmentation allows individual modules to be replaced when worn or damaged, rather than requiring complete cooktop replacement. The modular design maintains thermal stability through the refractory material while improving durability and reducing maintenance impact through selective module replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters of the cooktop by selecting refractory material with optimized mechanical and thermal properties. This material parameter change provides both thermal stability for high-temperature cooking and enhanced mechanical durability, reducing tear and wear while maintaining composition stability.
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 enables uniform and optimal cooking of pizzas without burns, maintains high oven performance, eliminates the need for idle periods, and reduces heat loss, ensuring a longer oven lifespan and improved productivity.
Implementation Method 1
the absorbed heat is released gradually and softly, thus preventing toxic burns, especially in the lower zone of pizza
Implementation Method 2
a lower heating plate and an upper heating plate which accommodate electric resistors
Implementation Method 3
means for controlling and distributing heat flow inside the oven
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~3A
AI summary
An enhanced electric oven (10) comprising an oven-body (12) and a vault or dome (14) which externally enclose an oven cavity or cooking cavity (17), a flue (16) for fume exhaust, a mouth (18) for accessing the oven cavity (17), closable by way of a door (20), a dish supporting plane (22) placed outside the mouth (18), a hood (23), if any, a lower heating plate (33), and an upper heating plate (33A) which accommodate electric resistors, a modular and removable cooking plane (34) made from a refractory material, and means for controlling and distributing heat flow within the oven.