Removable Steam Oven Water Tank With Cleanable Wave Breakers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid supply systems for household appliances, particularly steam ovens, face challenges in cleanability, hygiene, and manufacturing complexity, with issues such as fluid spillage during transport and increased tooling costs due to splash protection features in prior art designs.
Innovation Solution
A fluid supply system featuring a removable container with integrated wave breakers supported by a frame, allowing easy cleaning and assembly, and a lid with guides for secure closure to prevent spillage, which can be manufactured simply and efficiently using injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If wave breakers are integrated into the container by molding plastics material in one piece, then splash protection is improved, but manufacturing complexity and tooling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wave breakers are separated from the container body and manufactured as independent components. The container consists of the container body and separately manufactured wave breaker elements that can be assembled together, dividing the originally integrated structure into distinct segments that are easier to manufacture and assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The wave breaker function is extracted from the container body structure. Instead of being an integral part of the molded container, the wave breakers are removed as separate elements that perform the splash protection function independently, simplifying the container's primary manufacturing process.
2Ease of operation
If a removable water tank is used for high-end appliances, then usability and hygiene are improved, but the risk of fluid spillage during transport increases
Solution Approach 1:
Wave breakers are pre-installed in the container to prevent fluid spillage before the container is transported or moved. The splash protection structure is already in place to disrupt wave formation during the filling and transport processes, addressing the spillage risk proactively rather than reactively.
Solution Approach 2:
The wave breakers act as intermediary structures between the fluid and the container walls. These intermediate elements disrupt the direct path of fluid waves, preventing them from reaching the container rim and causing spillage, while maintaining the removable and cleanable nature of the container.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed tank with water intake port is used for entry level steam ovens, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but hygiene and cleanability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is segmented into a removable container portion and a fixed appliance portion. The container can be detached and cleaned separately, providing easy access for hygiene maintenance while the fixed portion remains simple in structure. This segmentation allows the removable component to be optimized for cleanability without complicating the overall manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable container design enables users to easily remove, clean, and refill the water tank without requiring disassembly of the appliance or complex cleaning procedures. The simple yet separable design allows users to maintain hygiene themselves without requiring specialized service or complex mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention describes a fluid supply (100) for a household appliance especially a steam oven (200) that has improved cleaning and hygienic characteristics. A wave breaker structure (120) is removably included inside a removable fluid container (110) and can be completely separated from it for cleaning purposes. The fluid container (110) is preferably releasable having a valve (115) and being mounted inside of a steam oven (200).