Rotatable Dual-Mode BBQ Grill for Gas-Electric Cooking Switch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing BBQ grills often require multiple units for different cooking methods due to varying regulations, limiting convenience and flexibility, as they typically use either charcoal, wood, or electricity, without a single solution that can efficiently switch between gas and electric cooking modes.

Innovation Solution

A dual cooking mode BBQ grill with a rotatable cooking unit that can switch between gas and electric modes by rotating 180 degrees, featuring a gas burner and electric heating element, respectively, along with a reflector for enhanced heat radiation and a regulator system for safe and adjustable cooking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate grills are purchased for different cooking modes (charcoal, electric, gas), then cooking versatility is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooking versatilityVSAvoidnumber of grills required
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines gas and electric cooking systems into a single BBQ grill body. The grill includes both a gas burner assembly and an electric heating element assembly within the same cooking chamber, allowing users to switch between cooking modes without needing multiple separate grills. This merging resolves the contradiction by maintaining cooking versatility while reducing the number of devices required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The grill body is designed to perform multiple cooking functions using different energy sources. The same grill chamber can operate in gas cooking mode, electric cooking mode, or be converted to charcoal cooking mode by removing the electric assembly. This multi-functionality approach allows a single device to replace multiple specialized grills, resolving the contradiction between versatility and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a single grill supports multiple cooking modes, then convenience is improved, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of switching modesVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs removable and reconfigurable components that allow dynamic switching between cooking modes. The electric heating element assembly and gas burner assembly can be removed and reinstalled as needed, enabling users to switch between electric, gas, and charcoal modes easily. This dynamic design maintains ease of operation while managing structural complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The grill is divided into separate functional modules: a removable electric heating element assembly, a gas burner assembly, and a charcoal cooking assembly. Each module can be independently removed or installed, allowing users to configure the grill for different cooking modes. This segmentation reduces operational complexity by making mode switching simple while accommodating multiple cooking functions.

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

Enables convenient switching between gas and electric cooking modes in a single unit, enhancing cooking flexibility and efficiency while maintaining safety and temperature control, thus addressing the need for multiple grills in different settings.

Implementation Method 1

a first cooking mode element, and a second cooking mode element, wherein the first cooking mode element is a gas burner and the second cooking mode element is an electric heating element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

the first cooking mode element is a gas burner and the second cooking mode element is an electric heating element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

a reflector located between the first and second hub, the reflector having a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3203886B1Dual cooking mode BBQ grill
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 WACO PACIFIC
  • EP3203886B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3203886B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3203886B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A dual cooking mode BBQ grill (100) that includes a grill body (102) which defines an open top cooking chamber (502), a cooking shelf (500) is used for supporting food to be cooked located above of the open top cooking chamber, and a rotatable cooking unit (504) located inside the open top cooking chamber, the rotatable cooking unit has a first cooking mode and a second cooking mode, wherein the first and second cooking modes are alternatively selected by rotating of the cooking unit with respect to the grill body.