Packable Canister Stove with Nested Support Arms for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable canister stoves face issues with size, weight, and stability due to unfolded support arms and clips, and stand-alone stoves often lack sufficient leg length for large pots, especially on uneven surfaces.
Innovation Solution
An integrated canister cooking system with a burner base reconfigured to be taller, allowing for aluminum construction, off-center fuel canister containment by the lid, and rotating pot support legs that nest sideways for compact storage, along with a fuel stabilizer for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If support arms are unfolded and secured in place to support the cooking vessel, then stability is improved, but packed volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms are designed to nest within the burner body when folded, with the first support arm containing the second support arm, creating a compact nested structure that minimizes packed volume while maintaining stability when deployed
2Stability of the object's composition
If support members stick out to the side to allow over-center rotation, then stability is improved, but weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms are integrated directly into the burner body structure, eliminating separate support members and clips. The support arms are formed as integral parts of the burner, merging the support function with the burner structure to reduce weight and simplify the design
3Weight of moving object
If clips are used to hold the legs in deployed position, then weight is reduced, but safety and stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using clips to hold the support arms in place, the design uses the over-center rotation mechanism where the support arms lock into a stable position through their own geometry. The support arms rotate about pins and lock into position through the over-center mechanism, inverting the approach from using external clips to using the structure itself for locking
4Volume of stationary object
If legs are folded down along the mix tube, then packed volume is reduced, but stability and support capability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into multiple support arms that can be independently folded and nested. The first support arm and second support arm are separate components that can be folded independently, allowing for compact packing while maintaining the ability to provide stable support when deployed
5Weight of moving object
If a taller burner base is used to accommodate aluminum construction, then weight is reduced, but packed volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The taller burner base accommodates aluminum construction for weight reduction, and the increased height allows support arms to nest within the burner body structure, offsetting the volume increase through efficient nesting of components
Data Source
AI summary
A packable cooking system is provided. To pack the system, the fuel canister is connected to the lid. The legs of the fuel stabilizer are folded and it is placed in the bottom of the pot. The pot support legs of the burner are rotated to their storage position forming an L-shape with the burner mixer tube and the folded burner assembly is placed in the bottom of the pot with the pot support legs along the bottom and side walls of the pot and the burner mix tube extending upward from the bottom of the pot along the side wall. This orientation, when the connection is off-center, allows the fuel canister that has been secured to the lid to fit within the pot in its offset position beside the upward extending burner mix tube with the folded fuel stabilizer below the fuel canister.