Steam cooker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steam cookers face limitations in small baking ovens due to their shape and handle placement, leading to issues like lid sticking, uncontrolled pressure equalization, and condensation water flowing back into the cooker, while also lacking the capability for multi-level cooking and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional steam cooker design featuring a lower part with raised side walls and offset handles, a lid with pressure equalization openings, and stackable steam cooking inserts that allow for efficient steam flow and condensation management, enabling easy handling and energy-efficient operation, including the option for double-level cooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional steam cooker handles are mounted on short sides, then the overall length is reduced, but the handles become difficult to reach and leverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by mounting handles on opposite long sides rather than on short sides, creating an asymmetric handle arrangement that prioritizes operational ease over compactness. This asymmetric placement provides better leverage and reachability while maintaining a functional form factor for small baking ovens.
2Loss of energy
If the lid is sealed tightly to prevent steam escape, then energy efficiency improves, but pressure builds up causing uncontrolled pressure equalization and lid movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different sealing characteristics in different areas of the lid. The lid includes both sealed portions and unsealed portions with pressure equalization openings, allowing different regions to serve different functions: the sealed areas prevent steam escape and conserve energy, while the unsealed areas allow controlled pressure equalization to prevent uncontrolled lid movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is segmented into multiple functional zones including sealed portions and unsealed portions with pressure equalization openings. This segmentation allows the lid to simultaneously achieve both energy efficiency through sealing and pressure control through designated opening areas, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
3Device complexity
If the steam cooker is designed for single-level cooking, then the structure is simple, but multi-level steam cooking capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The steam cooker is segmented into multiple independent cooking levels using removable inserts that can be stacked vertically. Each insert functions as an independent cooking chamber, allowing multi-level steam cooking. The segmented design maintains relative structural simplicity while enabling versatile multi-level operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the cooking capability from single-level to multi-level by utilizing the vertical dimension. Stackable inserts are arranged vertically within the cooker chamber, transforming a single-plane cooking surface into a multi-level three-dimensional cooking system, thereby increasing versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
4Loss of substance
If condensation water flows back into the steam cooker, then liquid recovery is achieved, but energy efficiency decreases due to repeated heating requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary drainage system with channels and outlets that guide condensation water away from the cooking chambers. This intermediary drainage structure prevents direct回流 of condensation water into the food, allowing controlled water removal that recovers liquid while minimizing energy loss from repeated heating requirements.
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 design enhances handling and energy efficiency, prevents lid sticking and uncontrolled pressure, allows for effective steam flow and condensation management, and supports multi-level cooking, making it suitable for small ovens and energy-efficient use.
Implementation Method 1
the steam cooking insert with handles being arranged at an offset and with through-holes for steam to flow through
Implementation Method 2
a lid with a frame, a lid body, a lid handle, and a plurality of openings for pressure equalization
Implementation Method 3
there is often the desire to carry out multi-level steam cooking... water vapor that is e.g. condensing on the lid or on the sides should flow back again into the steam cooker
Data Source
AI summary
A steam cooker having a lower part, which has raised side walls, wherein the sides walls include two long and two short sides, and which has handles attached to the opposite long side walls so as to be diametrically offset relative to each other, and including a lid, which has a frame, a lid body, a lid handle, and a plurality of openings for pressure equalization, and at least one steam cooking insert to be inserted into the lower part, wherein the steam cooking insert is provided with through-holes for steam to flow through and with handles arranged at an offset.