Thin-Wall Steel Raclette Pan With Rolled Edge for Thermal Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing raclette device containers face challenges with thermal stresses due to their proximity to electrical resistance and the small quantity of food they hold, leading to potential user safety hazards and corrosion issues, while also being heavy and costly.
Innovation Solution
A steel container with walls less than 1 mm thick and a rolled edge along the peripheral wall, providing rigidity, thermal resistance, user protection, and corrosion prevention, while being lightweight and economical.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the container is made of steel with thin walls to reduce weight and cost, then the weight and cost are reduced, but the structural rigidity and resistance to thermal stress deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral wall is formed with a rolled edge creating a curved, rounded profile instead of a sharp 90-degree corner. This curvature distributes stress more evenly throughout the wall structure, preventing stress concentration at sharp edges while maintaining structural integrity with thin steel walls of 0.4-0.6mm thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall thickness is optimized to a specific range of 0.4-0.6mm, which is thin enough to reduce weight and cost but thick enough to maintain structural rigidity and resist thermal stress. This precise parameter control resolves the contradiction between thinness and strength.
2Weight of moving object
If the container is made of steel with thin walls to reduce weight and cost, then the weight and cost are reduced, but the resistance to thermal stress deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rolled edge creates a curved transition that distributes thermal stress evenly across the wall structure, preventing stress concentration at sharp corners. This curvature is particularly effective in withstanding the thermal expansion and contraction that occurs during cooking cycles, maintaining reliability with thin steel walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall thickness is precisely controlled within 0.4-0.6mm to provide adequate thermal stress resistance while minimizing weight. This parameter optimization ensures the container can withstand thermal cycling without deformation or failure.
3Weight of moving object
If the wall thickness is reduced to less than 0.6 mm to reduce weight and cost, then the weight and cost are reduced, but the sharp free end becomes more hazardous to users
Solution Approach 1:
The rolled edge transforms the sharp free end into a smooth, rounded profile that is difficult to access and cannot cause injury. This curvature eliminates the hazardous sharp edge that would otherwise be present in thin-walled containers, making the product safe for user contact while maintaining thin wall thickness of 0.4-0.6mm.
4Ease of manufacture
If the container is made of steel instead of aluminum to reduce cost, then the cost is reduced, but the corrosion resistance of the free end deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rolled edge creates a curved surface that is difficult to access, providing a physical barrier that protects the free end from corrosive environments. This geometric protection complements the metallurgical protection of coated steel, maintaining corrosion resistance while using cost-effective steel material instead of aluminum.
Solution Approach 2:
The container uses coated steel, combining the cost-effectiveness of steel with the corrosion protection of appropriate coatings. This composite approach maintains corrosion resistance while reducing material costs compared to using aluminum or stainless steel.
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 effectively manages thermal stresses, protects users from sharp edges, prevents corrosion, and maintains structural integrity while being cost-effective and easy to stack, addressing the limitations of traditional containers.
Implementation Method 1
the peripheral wall 3 has a rolled edge 5 along the corresponding free edge 4... having a good resistance despite the significant thermal stresses that it supports
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The support (1) has a base wall (2) for receiving food, and a peripheral wall (3) e.g. falling wall, extending perpendicularly from the base wall, where the support is made of steel. The thickness of the walls is 0.4 mm. The peripheral wall has a rolled edge (5) along an upper free edge (4) of the peripheral wall. The peripheral wall carries a projecting pin (9) extended towards the exterior.