Cooking device
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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 inefficient nutrient retention and increased complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A cooking device design that includes a buffer chamber between the water evaporation chamber and the heating chamber, where steam is led through the buffer chamber before being ejected into the heating chamber, preventing bumping water from entering and improving heating efficiency by reheating steam, thus eliminating the need for a baffle plate and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a baffle plate is provided in the water evaporation chamber to prevent bumping water from reaching the ejection opening, then the reliability of preventing water ejection is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffer chamber as an intermediary space between the water evaporation chamber and the heating chamber. This buffer chamber receives bumping water that escapes from the water evaporation chamber and allows it to cool and settle before potential ejection, thereby preventing hot water from directly entering the heating chamber while avoiding the need for complex baffle plate structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the steam generation system into distinct functional chambers: the water evaporation chamber, the buffer chamber, and the heating chamber. This segmentation allows each chamber to perform its specific function independently, with the buffer chamber acting as a transition zone that separates the water prevention function from the steam ejection function, eliminating the need for additional preventive structures like baffle plates
2Reliability
If a baffle plate is provided in the water evaporation chamber to prevent bumping water from reaching the ejection opening, then the reliability of preventing water ejection is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer chamber serves as a cost-effective intermediary structure that eliminates the need for expensive baffle plate components. By using a simple chamber design rather than complex internal partitions, the manufacturing cost is reduced while maintaining the reliability of water prevention through the natural cooling and settling process in the buffer chamber
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer chamber uses a simple, inexpensive structural design compared to complex baffle plate systems. The chamber relies on basic thermal and gravitational principles rather than complex mechanical structures, making it more economical to manufacture while achieving the same water prevention function
3Productivity
If steam is directly ejected from the water evaporation chamber into the heating chamber, then the heating efficiency is maintained, but bumping water enters the heating chamber causing harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer chamber acts as a mediator that allows steam to pass through while blocking bumping water. The chamber's design enables steam to be heated by the heating chamber walls during passage, improving heating efficiency, while simultaneously preventing water from reaching the ejection opening by allowing water to cool and settle in the buffer zone
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer chamber exploits parameter changes in the water-steam mixture during passage through the chamber. As the mixture travels through the buffer chamber, temperature and pressure parameters change, causing water to cool and condense while steam continues to rise and be heated, thereby separating the harmful water phase from the useful steam phase
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 heating efficiency by reheating steam, and simplifies the device structure and reduces costs by eliminating the need for a baffle plate.
Implementation Method 1
a water evaporation chamber (5)
Implementation Method 2
the heat of the heating chamber is conducted to the buffer chamber
Implementation Method 3
the heat of the water evaporation chamber is conducted to the buffer chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A cooking device is provided in which without the necessity of an obstacle such as a baffle plate provided in an evaporation chamber, bumping water in the evaporation chamber is more reliably prevented from entering a heating chamber. A steam generating container A heated by a heat source 2a includes: an evaporation chamber 5 into which water is supplied by a water supply device; a delivery opening 31 delivering steam from the evaporation chamber 5; and ejection openings 26 ejecting steam delivered through the delivery opening 31 into a heating chamber 11 containing food. A buffer chamber 6 in fluid communication with the delivery opening 31 and with the ejection openings 26 is provided between the evaporation chamber 5 and the heating chamber 11. Even when bumping water enters the buffer chamber 6 through the delivery opening 31, the bumping water having entered flows inside the buffer chamber 6. Thus, the bumping water is hardly ejected into the heating chamber 10 through the ejection openings 26.