Rotating Ring Cutter Channels to Reduce Annular Gap Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen appliances for processing food, particularly those with rotating ring elements, face issues with sticky materials adhering to the annular gap between the static housing part and the rotating ring element, leading to unwanted friction, performance loss, thermal stress, and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating radially angled delivery channels on the axial surfaces of the housing part and rotating ring element to convey material away from the annular gap, reducing adhesion and friction by applying a radial force that directs material inward, thus minimizing thermal stress and improving processing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the rotating ring element rests directly on the static housing part to form a compact structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but material adhesion in the annular gap causes increased friction and thermal stress
Solution Approach 1:
The axial surface is segmented into multiple radial delivery channels that divide the continuous surface into discrete flow paths. This segmentation allows material to be systematically conveyed away from the annular gap through multiple channels distributed around the circumference, preventing adhesion accumulation while maintaining structural compactness
Solution Approach 2:
The radial delivery channels act as intermediary structures between the axial surfaces and the annular gap. These channels provide a controlled pathway for material flow, mediating the interaction between the rotating ring element and static housing part by directing material away from the contact zone, thereby reducing direct adhesion and friction
2Manufacturing precision
If the annular gap between the housing part and rotating ring element is minimized for precision, then manufacturing precision is improved, but material adhesion leads to increased friction and performance loss
Solution Approach 1:
The radial delivery channels are pre-formed in the axial surfaces before assembly. This preliminary action ensures that material is immediately directed away from the annular gap as it enters the processing zone, preventing adhesion buildup that would otherwise occur in precision-fitted gaps, thereby maintaining both tight tolerances and high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The introduction of radial delivery channels changes the flow parameters of material through the annular gap. By creating controlled radial flow paths, the material velocity distribution and pressure gradient are optimized to prevent adhesion while maintaining the precision gap, thus preserving manufacturing precision without sacrificing productivity
3Device complexity
If the rotating ring element operates without material conveyance features, then the device complexity is reduced, but thermal stress increases due to friction from material adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The radial delivery channels are integrated directly into the axial surfaces of the rotating ring element and static housing part, allowing the structure to serve dual purposes: maintaining mechanical contact while simultaneously conveying material away from the friction zone. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate cooling or material removal systems, reducing overall complexity while mitigating thermal stress
Solution Approach 2:
The radial delivery channels extract material from the high-friction annular gap region and redirect it away from the contact zone. By removing the harmful element (adhering material) from the critical area, the channels prevent thermal stress generation without requiring additional active cooling systems or complex mechanical interventions
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 effectively reduces material adhesion and friction, maintaining the appliance's performance, reducing thermal stress, and preventing thermal decomposition or oxidation, thereby enhancing the quality of processed food.
Implementation Method 1
unwanted friction, resulting in a loss of performance of the food processor and a thermal load on the relative to each other moving axial surfaces
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for a kitchen appliance for processing goods to be processed, for example for dicing foodstuffs, comprising a rotating ring element (4), which rests with the lower axial face (9) thereof on an upper axial face (10) of a static housing part (2). According to the invention, means for radially conveying the goods to be processed in the annular gap are provided on the upper and/or lower axial face (10, 9) of the housing part (2) and/or rotating ring element (4). Preferably, the means are provided for radially conveying the goods to be processed towards the axis of rotation (3) of the rotating ring element (4), and comprise at least one feed channel (13) disposed obliquely in the radial direction and let into the upper and/or lower axial face (10, 9). The radially outer region (14) of the feed channel (13) is provided ahead of the radially inner region (15) of the feed channel (13) in the lower axial face (9) and/or behind same in the upper axial face (10). By using the invention, the goods to be processed that cling in the annular gap and cause undesirable frictional losses is at least partially removed from the annular gap. The power output of a machine setting the device in rotation is thereby available substantially for the processing work. Furthermore, the components of the machine moving towards one another are subjected to less thermal stress in the region of their faces resting axially on each other.