Radiation grill apparatus

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radiation grill apparatuses with infrared radiation sources on opposing sides of the housing cause user glare, and attempts to mitigate this, such as adjusting spectral composition or using special glasses, either compromise cooking performance or safety.

Innovation Solution

A radiation grill apparatus with an infrared radiation source arrangement on one side and a reflector arrangement comprising multiple reflector portions to redirect infrared radiation for improved heat distribution homogeneity, while shielding the user from direct exposure to the radiation source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If infrared radiation sources are placed on opposing sides of the housing to ensure uniform heating, then heat distribution uniformity is improved, but user glare increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat distribution uniformityVSAvoiduser glare

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes one of the two infrared radiation sources from the opposing side, extracting the harmful glare effect while preserving the essential heating function through the remaining single-sided source combined with reflector geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The reflector arrangement acts as an intermediary element that redirects infrared radiation from the single-sided source to achieve uniform heat distribution across the food support member, replacing the need for opposing sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If spectral composition is adjusted to reduce perceived glare, then user comfort is improved, but cooking performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperceived glareVSAvoidcooking performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying the radiation source to reduce glare, the patent inverts the approach by using geometric reflection to redirect radiation away from the user while maintaining the original effective spectral composition for cooking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If spectral composition shifts into invisible infrared spectrum to reduce glare, then user comfort is improved, but safety deteriorates due to invisible overexposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisible glareVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful visible glare component from the user's line of sight through geometric redirection, while preserving the infrared radiation's cooking effectiveness and maintaining user awareness of the radiation presence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Temperature

If reflector arrangement is added to redirect radiation for improved heat distribution, then heat distribution uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat distribution homogeneityVSAvoidreflector arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reflector arrangement is divided into multiple discrete reflector portions, each serving a specific redirection function, allowing modular design and simplifying manufacturing while achieving the desired heat distribution pattern

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces user glare without compromising cooking performance, achieving comparable heat distribution uniformity to traditional designs while preventing overheating and smoke generation, and simplifying cleaning by shielding the drip collection member.

Implementation Method 1

an infrared radiation source arrangement along one of said opposing sides and arranged to direct a portion of said infrared radiation onto the food support member such as to create a heat distribution across the food support member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a reflector arrangement arranged to redirect a further portion of said infrared radiation onto the food support member such as to improve the homogeneity of said heat distribution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS20240225355A1Radiation grill apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.07.11 VERSUNI HLDG BV

AI summary

A radiation grill apparatus is discussed including a housing having opposing sides and a food support member on said housing. The housing includes an infrared radiation source arrangement along one of the opposing sides only and arranged to direct a portion of the infrared radiation onto the food support member such as to create a heat distribution across the food support member; a drip collection member facing the food support member; and a reflector arrangement arranged to redirect a further portion of the infrared radiation onto the food support member such as to improve the homogeneity of the heat distribution. The reflector arrangement includes a plurality of reflector portions arranged to redirect respective parts of the further portion of infrared radiation towards different regions of the food support member.