Nested Cone Tortilla Fryer for Multi-Unit Cooking Without Sticking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conical tortilla cooking assemblies are inadequate for cooking multiple tortillas simultaneously, fail to securely hold tortillas in shape during cooking, and cause excess space occupation and sticking issues in deep oil fryers.
Innovation Solution
A specially configured tortilla fryer with nesting cone pairs made of stainless steel, supported by a frame and equipped with biasing means using leaf springs and chains to maintain the conical shape and prevent sticking during deep oil cooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional conical tortilla cooking assemblies are used, then tortillas can be cooked in a conical configuration, but multiple tortillas cannot be cooked simultaneously and they occupy excess space in the fryer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nesting by placing multiple cone assemblies within a single fryer vessel. Each assembly consists of an inner cone for shaping the tortilla and an outer cone that nests around it, allowing multiple tortillas to be cooked simultaneously in a compact arrangement that minimizes fryer space occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooking system is segmented into multiple independent cone assemblies, each capable of holding and cooking one tortilla. This segmentation allows simultaneous cooking of multiple tortillas while maintaining efficient space utilization through the nesting arrangement of these modular units.
2Shape
If conical mold elements are used to shape tortillas, then tortillas can be held in cone shape during cooking, but sticking or adhesion of cooked tortillas to the mold elements occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cone assemblies incorporate porous or perforated surfaces that allow oil to pass through during cooking. This oil flow prevents the tortilla from adhering to the mold surfaces while still maintaining the conical shape, effectively eliminating the sticking problem through the use of porous material structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic pressure from circulating hot oil to prevent sticking. The oil passages in the cones deliver pressurized oil flow between the tortilla and mold surfaces, creating a lubricating effect that prevents adhesion while maintaining the desired conical shape during cooking.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid conical molds are used to hold tortillas, then tortillas can be securely held in shape, but the assembly cannot adapt to tortilla expansion during cooking
Solution Approach 1:
The cone assemblies are designed with flexible or movable components that can dynamically adjust during cooking. The cones incorporate elements that allow controlled movement and deformation to accommodate tortilla expansion while maintaining the overall conical shape, transitioning from a static to a dynamic structure that adapts to cooking conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows parameter changes in the cone structure during cooking, such as changes in spacing, pressure, or shape dimensions, to adapt to tortilla expansion. The molds are designed to modify their physical parameters in response to the cooking process, maintaining shape stability while accommodating volume changes of the tortilla.
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 efficient cooking of multiple tortillas in a conical configuration, preventing sticking and excess space occupation, while allowing for easy withdrawal and handling of cooked tortillas.
Implementation Method 1
The springs components of such biasing means combinations suitably comprise leaf springs, and the ties preferably comprise chains. Suitably helical springs and other forms of flexible ties may be alternatively utilized.
Data Source
AI summary
A tortilla fryer incorporating a plurality of cone pairs, each cone pair among the plurality of cone pairs including an inner cone which is horizontally received within an outer cone; the tortilla fryer further incorporating a support frame, wherein each cone pair is fixedly attached to and supported within the support frame; the tortilla fryer further incorporating cone binding chain and spring arm assemblies which operatively interconnect the support frame and the cone pairs' inner cones, the chain and spring arm assemblies resisting horizontal movements of the inner cones out of the outer cones.