Pressure Cooker Micro-Switch Assembly for Open-Lid Cooking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric pressure cookers cannot cook food with the cover open, and their micro-switch assemblies are prone to malfunction due to water ingress, affecting their practicability and stability.
Innovation Solution
An electric pressure cooker design that allows cooking with the cover open, featuring a micro-switch assembly with a non-straight push rod, water blocking flange, and silicone sleeve to prevent water ingress, ensuring proper operation and enhanced usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a straight push rod is used in the micro-switch assembly, then the structure is simple, but water on the cap can flow into the micro-switch assembly along the push rod, affecting proper operation
Solution Approach 1:
The push rod is designed with a curved shape instead of a straight configuration. This curvature redirects water flow away from the micro-switch assembly, preventing water from traveling along the push rod into the electrical components while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
A water blocking flange is introduced as an intermediary component on the push rod. This flange acts as a barrier that intercepts water flow and redirects it, serving as a mediator between the water-exposed cap and the protected micro-switch assembly
2Device complexity
If the micro-switch assembly is designed to require cover closure for operation, then the structure is simple, but the appliance cannot cook food with the cover open, limiting practicality
Solution Approach 1:
The micro-switch assembly is designed with dynamic states including an initial state, a first switched state when the cover is closed, and a second switched state when the cover is opened. This allows the system to adapt its electrical connections based on cover position, enabling versatile cooking functions while maintaining simple control logic
Solution Approach 2:
The micro-switch assembly controls multiple heating elements (first heating assembly and second heating assembly) through different switch states. This enables the appliance to perform multiple functions including covered cooking, open cooking, and steam generation, making the device universally applicable for various cooking needs
3Reliability
If water blocking structures are added to the push rod, then water ingress is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water blocking flange is designed with an asymmetric structure where one surface is larger than the other. This asymmetric design effectively blocks water flow in the critical direction toward the micro-switch assembly while minimizing interference with the push rod's mechanical operation, achieving protection without excessive complexity
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
Enables cooking without the cover, expanding the appliance's applications and improving the micro-switch assembly's reliability and safety by preventing water from entering the electrical components.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member disposed between push rod and an elastic member disposed between the push rod and the movable support and configured to apply an upward force on the push rod when the push rod moves downwardly
Implementation Method 2
the push rod is configured as a column and has a water blocking flange disposed on a peripheral surface of the push rod, an orthogonal projection area of the water blocking flange on the front housing is larger than a cross-sectional area of the second mounting hole
Implementation Method 3
the micro-switch assembly further comprises: a silicone sleeve fitted over the push rod and located between the water blocking flange and the second mounting hole, and the silicone sleeve has a lower end pressed against an upper surface of the front housing
Data Source
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AI summary
An electric pressure cooker is provided, including a cooker body (1) ； a cooker cover (2) having a closing state and an opening state, wherein the cooker cover (2) is rotatable with respect to the cooker body (1) between a sealing position and an unsealing position in the closing state； a micro-switch assembly (3) disposed on the cooker body (1) and adapted to switch between an OFF state in which the micro-switch assembly (3) electrically disconnects the electric pressure cooker from an external power source and an ON state in which the micro-switch assembly (3) electrically connects the electric pressure cooker with the external power source, wherein the micro-switch assembly (3) is in the ON state when the cooker cover (2) is in the opening state or at the sealing position.