Pizza Oven Heating Shield Layout for Even Crust Cooking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pizza cooking appliances face challenges in evenly cooking pizzas due to uneven heat distribution, with the pizza crust receiving intense heat while the center remains undercooked, and heat loss when the oven door is opened leading to uneven cooking.

Innovation Solution

A cooking appliance with a circular body and a heating element extending circumferentially around the cooking area, positioned outside the pizza to deliver radiant energy, allowing the crust to absorb heat while shielding the inner portion from intense heat, and incorporating a reflective ceiling to deflect heat towards the outer portion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the oven door is opened to access the pizza, then the pizza can be monitored or adjusted, but heat escapes from the cavity causing temperature reduction and uneven cooking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to pizzaVSAvoidheat loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

A heat reflective shield or barrier is introduced as an intermediary component within the cavity to intercept and reflect escaping heat back into the cooking space. This mediator reduces the direct path of heat loss when the door is opened, maintaining thermal conditions during access operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design ensures a crisp pizza crust while minimizing the charring of toppings, maintaining even cooking and reducing heat loss when the door is opened.

Implementation Method 1

a heating element extending generally circumferentially around the cooking area and locating within the width of the annular region to deliver radiant energy to cook the product

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

during an initial stage in the cooking cycle, the radiant energy is absorbed by both the inner portion of the pizza and the outer portion of the pizza

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiation absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

during a later stage in the cooking cycle, the outer portion of the pizza rises to shield the inner portion of the pizza from the radiant energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShadowing effect: Shadow

Data Source

PatentUS12262845B2Cooking appliance

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 BREVILLE HLDG PTY LTD

AI summary

A cooking appliance (200) including: a body (104) providing a floor (105) and a ceiling (110), with the floor (105) and ceiling (110) at least partly surrounding a cooking cavity (116), the body (104) having an opening via which product to be cooked can be moved in and out of the cooking appliance (200), the cavity (116) having a periphery at least partly surrounding a cooking area (117) adjacent the floor (105) to locate the product therein; a heating element (219) located in an upper portion of the cavity (116) to deliver radiant energy to cook the product; and a shield (232) integral to the heating element (219) and at least partly surrounding the heating element (219) to shield a portion of the cooking area (117) from the radiant energy.