Cooking apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooking apparatuses, such as microwave ovens and traditional ovens, face limitations in cooking efficiency and food quality due to the use of air as a heat transfer medium, leading to dry and poorly tasting food, while steam cookers improve moisture retention but require complex water level management systems.
Innovation Solution
A steam cooker with a water supply control valve that adjusts the water level in the steam generator without additional pumps or electrical signals, using a float mechanism to automatically open and close the water inlet based on water levels, ensuring efficient steam generation and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional water level control system with pumps and electrical signals is used, then the water level can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The float mechanism automatically detects water level and controls the inlet valve opening/closing without external control signals, making the system self-regulating and eliminating complex electronic controls
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electrical control systems with a purely mechanical float mechanism that uses buoyancy forces to open and close the water inlet valve, simplifying the overall system architecture
2Reliability
If additional pumps and electrical controls are added for water level management, then water level control is achieved, but the apparatus design becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The float mechanism automatically detects water level and controls the inlet valve opening/closing without external control signals, making the system self-regulating and eliminating complex electronic controls
Solution Approach 2:
The float uses buoyancy force (counteracting gravity) to mechanically open and close the water inlet valve, providing automatic water level control without additional pumps or electrical components
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 enhances cooking efficiency by maintaining optimal water levels in the steam generator, preventing overheating and ensuring stable steam production, while simplifying the apparatus design and eliminating the need for complex electronic controls.
Implementation Method 1
a float configured to move within the housing to open the inlet portion while a level of water in the housing is at a first level, and move within the housing to close the inlet portion while the level of water in the housing is at a second level above the first level, and a buoyancy of the float is greater than gravity caused by a weight of the water supplied by the water supply device and flowing to the water supply control valve
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking apparatus which includes a steam generator, and a water supply device to supply water to the steam generator, and a water supply control valve arranged between the water supply device and the steam generator and configured to adjust a level of water in the steam generator. The water supply control valve includes a housing, an inlet portion, and a float configured to move within the housing to open the inlet portion while a level of water in the housing is at a first level and move to move within the housing to close the inlet portion while the level of water in the housing is at a second level above the first level where the buoyancy of the float is greater than the gravity caused by the weight of the water supplied by the water supply device and to the water supply control valve.