Oscillating Hot Dog Grill With Vertical Crank Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot dog grills face issues with bearing deformation and wear due to load exertion from rotatable roller tubes, leading to grease and liquid leakage, and complex mechanical assemblies with lateral linkages causing motor overwork and failure.
Innovation Solution
A vertically oriented crank mechanism oscillates a grill with an inclined heating surface, eliminating the need for lateral linkages and using a motor-driven rotating shaft to move the grill between two positions, ensuring uniform heat distribution and reducing mechanical complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If roller tubes are mounted to the housing by bearings, then the roller tubes can rotate to cook hot dogs, but the load exerted by the tube causes bearing deformation and wear, leading to grease and liquid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the roller tubes and their bearings from the system entirely, replacing them with a flat oscillating grill surface. This extraction eliminates the bearing deformation and grease leakage problems while achieving the same cooking function through a different mechanical approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical roller tube rotation system with an oscillating grill mechanism driven by a motor and crank assembly. This substitution eliminates the need for bearings that are subject to load deformation and grease leakage.
2Ease of operation
If a chain driven by a rotatable sprocket or gear is used to rotate roller tubes, then the roller tubes can be rotated, but the drive chain force distorts the end of the roller tube and causes bearing wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the chain-driven roller tube rotation system entirely, replacing it with a motor-driven oscillating grill mechanism. This eliminates the distortion and misalignment problems caused by chain force application to the roller tube ends.
3Ease of operation
If a motorized cam with lateral linkage is used to oscillate the grill, then the grill can be moved back and forth, but the lateral linkage causes undue wear and motor failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lateral linkage system entirely, replacing it with a vertical crank mechanism that directly connects the motor to the grill assembly. This eliminates the misalignment and wear problems inherent in lateral linkage systems while maintaining the oscillating motion function.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a lateral linkage system that pushes and pulls the grill from the side, the patent inverts the approach by using a vertical crank mechanism that converts rotational motor motion directly into oscillating grill motion through a vertical connecting rod, eliminating lateral forces on the linkage.
4Temperature
If roller heating tubes are mounted horizontally or at an angle with central axes in a straight line, then the tubes can heat hot dogs, but the drive chain force distorts the tube ends and causes grease leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the roller heating tubes entirely and replaces them with a flat oscillating grill surface with heating elements beneath. This eliminates the bearing and seal problems while providing adequate heating through direct contact with the grill surface.
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 provides a reliable and simple mechanism for hot dog cooking with uniform heat distribution, reducing wear and tear, and preventing grease leakage, while maintaining consistent motor operation and efficient heat control.
Implementation Method 1
A motor having a rotating shaft which extends from the inclined top plate is provided. The rotating shaft is mechanically coupled to the top cross member of the grill assembly. The motor propels the grill between the two positions relative to the inclined top plate.
Implementation Method 2
A heating element is provided under the heating surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A hot dog grill for cooking hot dogs or similar food products is disclosed. The grill has an inclined heating surface defined on a sloping top plate. A grill assembly having a top cross member is placed over and in proximity to the heating surface. The grill assembly is moveable between two positions relative to the inclined heating surface. The grill assembly has a pair of sides which support rails. The rails are interlocked with sockets on the sides of the sloping top plate to guide the movement of the grill assembly. Lateral rods are installed between the sides of the grill assembly. Hot dogs and similar foods are cooked on the heating surface and rest on the lateral rods. A motor has a rotating shaft extending from the inclined heating surface. The rotating shaft is mechanically coupled to the top cross member of the grill assembly via a pivot block and pin. The motor propels the grill between the two positions relative to the inclined heating surface causing the lateral rods to push the hot dogs and rotate them.