Pressure Cooker Lid Parallel Layout to Reduce Installation Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure cookers require significant space for functional units like the pressure control device and safety opening system, leading to space inefficiencies and quality fluctuations due to component tolerances, which are challenging to manage in series production.
Innovation Solution
The functional units are rearranged in a parallel configuration instead of a serial one, allowing them to be placed at the same height, reducing installation space and using an adjustment element in the pressure control device to equalize spring force and compensate for component tolerances, enabling precise control of cooking pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If functional units are arranged in series (one behind the other), then the pressure cooker can accommodate all necessary functional units, but the lid and handle require a comparatively large amount of space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a series arrangement (one-dimensional linear sequence) to a parallel arrangement where functional units are positioned at different radial distances from the control shaft. This dimensional change allows functional units to be distributed in a radial pattern rather than linearly, significantly reducing the axial length required for the lid and handle assembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If functional units are arranged in series, then all functions can be included, but manufacturing tolerances accumulate and result in additional pressure fluctuations and high quality variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tolerance accumulation problem by separating the functional units from a shared tolerance path. Each functional unit operates with its own tolerance reference point relative to the control shaft, preventing the cumulative effect of tolerances that would occur in a series arrangement where each component's tolerance adds to the total variation.
3Manufacturing precision
If an adjustment element is installed in the upper spring housing, then component tolerances can be compensated and quality variation reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment element modifies the spring force parameter of the pressure regulating device. By allowing variable adjustment of the spring force, the system can compensate for manufacturing tolerances in other components. This parameter change approach provides a simple mechanism to achieve consistent pressure control across production batches without requiring complex tolerance control in manufacturing.
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 reduces installation space by half, ensures consistent target cooking pressure across products despite component tolerances, and allows for the use of cheaper components with higher mechanical tolerances, enhancing production efficiency and product quality.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring (6), which serves to press against the valve element (8)
Implementation Method 2
a pressure force acts from below through the through-hole (13) on the lower end of the valve element (8)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a pressure cooker lid, having a lid handle (14), a lid body (12), a cooking pressure control device (1), a functional element (2), and a rotatable machine element (3), by means of which a target cooking pressure pz of the cooking pressure control device (1) and a parameter influencing a function of the functional element (2) can be mechanically set by means of rotational motion about the axis of rotation (3R) of said machine element, characterized in that the cooking pressure control device (1) and the functional element (2) are arranged at the same height (H) as viewed in the direction of the axis of rotation (3R). The invention relates to a pressure cooker lid, having a lid handle (14), a lid body (12), a cooking pressure control device (1), and a rotatable machine element (3), by means of which a target cooking pressure pz of the cooking pressure control device (1) can be mechanically set by means of rotational motion about the axis of rotation (3R) of said machine element, characterized in that the cooking pressure control device (1) has a fine adjustment device (5, 6, 7), by means of which fine adjustment of a target cooking pressure pz of the cooking pressure control device (1), which target cooking pressure can be or is set by means of the rotatable machine element (3), is mechanically enabled.