Steam Cooking Device Buffer Chamber to Prevent Bumping Water Ejection

Solution Overview

Problem

Cooking devices employing a baffle plate in the water evaporation chamber face issues with bumping water detouring and entering the heating chamber, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity and cost.

Innovation Solution

A cooking device design that eliminates the need for a baffle plate by incorporating a buffer chamber between the water evaporation chamber and the heating chamber, where steam is reheated and pressure-adjusted, improving heating efficiency and reducing the size and cost of the heat source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a baffle plate is provided in the water evaporation chamber to prevent bumping water from entering the heating chamber, then the reliability of preventing water ejection is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of bumping water ejectionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the baffle plate from the water evaporation chamber entirely. Instead of adding a preventive structure, the design extracts the problematic component and replaces it with a buffer chamber that passively prevents bumping water ejection through its volume and pressure-regulating function, thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The buffer chamber acts as an intermediary between the water evaporation chamber and the heating chamber. It mediates the steam flow and absorbs bumping water, preventing direct contact between the evaporation chamber and heating chamber, thus eliminating the need for a baffle plate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a baffle plate is provided in the water evaporation chamber to prevent bumping water from entering the heating chamber, then the reliability of preventing water ejection is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of bumping water ejectionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the baffle plate from the water evaporation chamber entirely. Instead of adding a preventive structure, the design extracts the problematic component and replaces it with a buffer chamber that passively prevents bumping water ejection through its volume and pressure-regulating function, thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The buffer chamber merges multiple functions: it serves as a steam passage, a bumping water reservoir, and a pressure regulation chamber. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate baffle plate components and reduces the total number of parts, thereby lowering manufacturing cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If the heat source size is reduced to lower device cost and size, then the device complexity is reduced, but the heating efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat source sizeVSAvoidheating efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer chamber performs preliminary heating of steam before it enters the heating chamber. By pre-heating the steam in the buffer chamber using the heat source, the main heating chamber requires less energy input, allowing for a smaller heat source while maintaining overall heating efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The buffer chamber maintains continuous steam flow and heating action. The steam is continuously generated, buffered, and supplied to the heating chamber, ensuring uninterrupted heating process that improves overall energy efficiency despite the reduced heat source size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 buffer chamber effectively prevents bumping water from entering the heating chamber, enhances steam reheating, and simplifies the device structure, resulting in improved energy efficiency and cost reduction.

Implementation Method 1

a water evaporation chamber; a heat source heating the steam generating container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a buffer chamber connecting through the leading opening and the ejection opening is provided between the water evaporation chamber and the heating chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

a heating chamber in which food is put and heated; a heating means heating the food

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11555616B2Cooking device

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 SHARP KK

AI summary

A steam generating container A heated by a heat source includes: a water evaporation chamber into which water is supplied by a water supply device; a leading opening to lead steam from the water evaporation chamber, and ejection openings ejecting steam led through the leading opening into a heating chamber containing food. A buffer chamber connecting through the leading opening and with the ejection openings is provided between the water evaporation chamber and the heating chamber. Even when bumping water enters the buffer chamber through the leading opening, the bumping water having entered flows inside the buffer chamber. Thus, the bumping water is hardly ejected into the heating chamber through the ejection openings.