Pivoting Pot and Lid Linkage for Collision-Free Cooking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances with pivotable pots face challenges in coordinating motorized movements of the pot and lid, leading to potential collisions and increased costs due to separate motorized drives for each component.
Innovation Solution
A common drive system is implemented for both the pot and lid, coupled with a mechanical linkage and a linear drive, allowing for synchronized movement and decoupling to prevent collisions, while reducing costs and effort in operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate motorized drives are used for the pot and lid, then the coordination of movements can be achieved, but the device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive mechanisms for the pot and lid into a single integrated drive unit. This common drive is coupled to a mechanism that converts drive energy into temporally staggered movements of the pot and lid, eliminating the need for separate motors while maintaining coordinated operation through mechanical linkage with built-in timing characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism between the common drive and the pot/lid components. This mechanism acts as a mediator that receives drive energy and automatically distributes it to move the pot and lid in the correct sequence, preventing collisions without requiring complex electronic control systems.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is lowered by motor power, then the operator can open and close the pot easily, but collision between pot and lid may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism is designed so that the lid is automatically opened before the pot is lowered. This preliminary action of opening the lid prevents any potential collision between the descending pot and the lid, while still allowing motorized assistance for easy operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical linkage automatically manages the sequencing of movements without requiring external control. The system self-regulates to prevent collisions through its inherent mechanical design, where the geometry of the linkage ensures proper timing of pot and lid movements.
3Productivity
If the pot is tilted for emptying, then cooking products can be removed efficiently, but the heavy weight requires motorized assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The common drive unit combines the functions of lid operation and pot tilting into a single integrated system. This allows the operator to benefit from motorized assistance for both functions while maintaining efficient emptying capability through coordinated movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism is designed to counterbalance the weight of the pot during tilting operations. The linkage geometry and mechanical advantage provided by the system reduce the force required from the motor to tilt the heavy pot, making the operation more efficient and less energy-consuming.
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 enables simple, efficient, and cost-effective operation of the cooking appliance by ensuring the pot and lid can be opened and closed without physical effort, with reduced risk of collision and lower motorized drive expenses, allowing for automatic product removal and manual operation during power outages.
Implementation Method 1
the drive is a linear drive, for instance an electrical lifting cylinder
Implementation Method 2
said swiveling lever(s) being coupled to the drive. In a relatively simple manner, the swiveling lever allows to exert high torques on the pivot axle
Implementation Method 3
the swiveling lever allows to exert high torques on the pivot axle, so that the power of the drive may be reduced
Implementation Method 4
A linkage represents a simple, robust and especially low-cost way of transmitting the force of the drive to the pivot axles
Implementation Method 5
The linear drive may have its two axial ends coupled to bearings which can be moved through it
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking appliance has a pivotable pot having a pot pivot axle and a pivotable lid having a lid pivot axle, and includes a common drive for pivoting the pot and the lid.