Oven Door Glass Interlock for Safe Panel Reassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oven doors require professional assistance for cleaning and reassembly of glass panels, and there is a need to ensure proper reassembly to allow safe operation, as improper installation can prevent the oven from functioning.
Innovation Solution
An interlocking mechanism, such as a bracket with cammed portions and horizontal surfaces, is integrated into the oven door to guide the proper installation of multiple glass panels, ensuring they are correctly seated before allowing the top cap to be installed and the oven to operate, using a failsafe electrical circuit to verify proper assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If glass panels are made removable for cleaning, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to risk of improper installation
Solution Approach 1:
The interlocking mechanism enables users to independently install and remove glass panels without professional assistance. The self-explanatory cammed portions and translation paths guide proper installation, making the system self-service capable while maintaining reliability through built-in guidance features.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlocking mechanism provides tactile feedback through cammed portions that guide the glass panels along predetermined translation paths. This feedback system ensures users can intuitively understand the correct installation sequence and positioning, preventing improper installation while maintaining ease of operation.
2Reliability
If an interlocking mechanism is added to ensure proper assembly, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interlocking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: cammed portions for guidance, translation paths for movement, and biasing forces for positioning. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply, reducing overall complexity while ensuring reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cammed portions utilize curved or angled surfaces to guide the glass panels along translation paths. This geometric approach provides intuitive mechanical guidance without requiring complex control systems, achieving reliability through simple geometric constraints.
3Reliability
If a failsafe electrical circuit is implemented to verify assembly, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electrical verification systems with a mechanical interlocking mechanism that provides inherent verification through its geometry. The cammed portions and translation paths mechanically ensure proper assembly without requiring additional electrical sensors or control circuits.
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
This solution allows users to easily clean and reassemble the glass panels without professional help, while ensuring the oven operates only when all panels are correctly installed, enhancing user convenience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The bracket is biased either forward or rearward along said translation path by a biasing force such that in its fully biased position a first cammed portion of the bracket is aligned with an insertion path of a first glass panel within the door
Implementation Method 2
The first cammed portion is at an angle relative to the translation path such that on insertion of the panel a leading edge thereof will exert a downward force on the first cammed portion that urges the bracket along the translation path against the biasing force
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a door for a cooking appliance, such as an oven range, with multiple spaced apart glass panels. An interlocking mechanism promotes a proper installation of the glass panels, and interferes with the installation of the glass panels or with operation of the appliance if at least one of the panels is not properly installed. A switch with a plunger can be installed in the door, which allows the appliance to operate only when a failsafe electrical circuit is closed corresponding to a selected position of the plunger when the door is closed. The plunger is prevented from retaining that selected position if at least one of the glass panels is improperly installed or if a top cap is not properly seated or installed above the glass panels.