Valve Holder Assembly for Stable Cooking Appliance Knob Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooking appliances, such as oven ranges, experience issues with the knob unit shaking and deviation from concentricity due to the coupling structure of the valve, leading to instability and inaccurate control.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance design that includes a knob unit with a valve holder assembly featuring elastic members and a sensing member to prevent movement of the coupling shaft, maintaining concentricity and stability by fixing the valve holder at multiple points and detecting valve operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the valve is coupled to the knob unit by a coupling shaft passing through the main body, then the valve can be operated to regulate fuel supply, but the coupling shaft moves during rotation causing the knob unit to shake and deviate from concentricity
Solution Approach 1:
A valve holder assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the coupling shaft and the knob unit. The valve holder includes a holder body with a through hole through which the coupling shaft passes, and elastic members are provided on the holder body to contact and constrain the coupling shaft. This intermediary structure allows the coupling shaft to rotate for valve operation while preventing excessive movement that causes shaking, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and stability.
2Ease of operation
If the coupling shaft is allowed to rotate freely for valve operation, then the valve can be adjusted, but the knob unit tilts downward due to its weight
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic members act as counterbalancing elements that provide upward support force to counteract the downward tilt caused by the knob unit's weight. The elastic members are configured to contact the coupling shaft and prevent it from tilting downward, thereby maintaining the knob unit in a horizontal, concentric position while still allowing rotation for adjustment operations.
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
Prevents shaking of the knob unit and maintains concentricity, ensuring precise control and operation of the cooking appliance.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member provided on the valve holder casing and configured to contact the valve holder to prevent movement of the valve
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a cooking appliance including a valve holder assembly for preventing movement of a valve. The cooking appliance includes a main body including a heating part, a valve positioned at least partially inside the main body to supply fuel to the heating part, and a knob unit coupled to the main body to regulate the degree of opening and closing of the valve, wherein the knob unit includes an operating part provided on a front surface of the main body to be operable and to which the valve is coupled at least partially, and a valve holder assembly positioned at the rear of the operating part, and the valve holder assembly includes a valve holder configured to allow a portion of the valve to pass therethrough, a valve holder casing configured to receive the valve holder, and an elastic member provided on the valve holder casing and configured to contact the valve holder to prevent movement of the valve.