Pan Support Bridge Structure for Airflow and Burner Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking devices with pan supports often obstruct fresh air flow, reducing combustion efficiency and increasing production costs due to the use of external frames and materials.

Innovation Solution

A cooking device with transverse arm pairs and a bridge member on each burner, eliminating the need for an external frame, allowing fresh air to reach the burner while providing a balanced structure through strategically placed feet and a bridge member that acts as a third support point.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If an external frame is used in the pan support, then structural integrity is improved, but air flow to the burner is obstructed and combustion efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidcombustion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The pan support is divided into multiple transverse arm pairs instead of using a single external frame structure. Each arm pair is independently positioned on the cooktop plate, allowing air to flow freely between and around the arms while maintaining structural support capability. This segmentation eliminates the air flow obstruction problem inherent in continuous external frames.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The external frame structure is completely removed from the design. Instead of enclosing the burner with a frame, the invention uses discrete transverse arm pairs that provide support without forming a continuous enclosure. This extraction of the frame element eliminates the air flow blockage while preserving the essential support function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If an external frame is used in the pan support, then structural stability is improved, but production costs increase due to additional materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidproduction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pan support is divided into multiple transverse arm pairs instead of using a single external frame structure. Each arm pair is independently positioned on the cooktop plate, allowing air to flow freely between and around the arms while maintaining structural support capability. This segmentation eliminates the air flow obstruction problem inherent in continuous external frames.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The external frame structure is completely removed from the design. Instead of enclosing the burner with a frame, the invention uses discrete transverse arm pairs that provide support without forming a continuous enclosure. This extraction of the frame element eliminates the air flow blockage while preserving the essential support function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If feet are positioned only at arm ends, then support points are limited, but balancing the pan support becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport point configurationVSAvoidbalancing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bridge member is positioned at a different vertical level than the cooktop plate, creating a three-dimensional support configuration. This vertical dimensionality addition provides a third support point that enhances balancing capability without constraining horizontal air flow at the burner level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The bridge member acts as an intermediary element that connects adjacent parallel arms and provides additional support. It mediates between the arms and the cooktop plate, distributing loads and improving balance while maintaining air flow pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2657614B1A cooking device with a pan support
Publication Date: 2016.12.07 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2657614B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2657614B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2657614B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cooking device (10) having pan support (30) with a transverse arm pair (32) positioned on each burner (14), a cooktop plate (12), and at least two burners (14) provided on said cooktop plate (12). Said cooking device (10) comprises a foot (36) provided at the end of at least one arm (34) of each transverse arm pair (32) and seated to the cooktop plate (12); and at least one bridge member (42) connecting at least one each parallel arms (40) of the transverse arm pairs (32), which are adjacent to the foot (36). The transverse arm pair (32) and the bridge member (42) are configured so as to balance the pan support (30) on the cooktop plate (12).