Vertical Grill Fat Evacuation Layout for Fire Risk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art vertical electric grills with internal drip trays are prone to fire flare-ups and smoke due to uncleaned combustible fats, and the use of a perforated metal cover obscures the need for tray emptying, leading to potential smoldering embers and kitchen fires.
Innovation Solution
The design redirects fats and breakaway solids to an external receptacle via angled or Y-shaped slides, eliminating the internal drip tray and using a hooded external drip tray to collect and contain them safely, away from high heat sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an internal drip tray is used to retain fats and oils, then the grill can collect and contain drippings, but the tray is prone to fire flare-ups and smoke when fats accumulate and are not cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drip tray from the internal structure of the grill and relocates it to an external position. The external drip tray is positioned below the grill body, separated from the heat source, eliminating the fire hazard while maintaining the fat collection function. This extraction resolves the contradiction by removing the tray from the hazardous internal environment while keeping it accessible for maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a slide as an intermediary component that channels fats and solids from the internal grilling area to the external drip tray. This slide acts as a mediator, transferring the problematic fats away from the heat source through a controlled path, preventing direct contact between combustible materials and the heating elements, thus eliminating fire risks while maintaining easy access to the collection area.
2Reliability
If a perforated metal cover is added to suppress fires, then fire risk is reduced, but the cover obscures the need for tray emptying and blocks perforations with solids
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the drip tray externally, the patent eliminates the need for a perforated cover entirely. The collection area is naturally visible and accessible from the outside, removing the detection difficulty associated with obscured internal trays while maintaining fire safety through physical separation from the heat source.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding a cover to an internal tray to suppress fires (which created visibility problems), the patent inverts the approach by making the tray external and uncovered. This reversal naturally provides visibility and access while achieving fire suppression through location rather than coverage.
3Reliability
If water is added to the internal drip tray to reduce fat volatility, then fire risk is reduced, but users may forget to maintain the tray and fire hazards remain
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the drip tray from the internal heated chamber and positioning it externally, the patent eliminates the need for water addition to reduce fat volatility. The external location naturally prevents combustion while making the collection area visibly accessible, removing the maintenance awareness problem associated with hidden internal trays.
Solution Approach 2:
The external drip tray design allows users to easily observe and maintain the collection area without needing reminders or additional measures like water addition. The visible, accessible design enables self-monitoring and self-maintenance, eliminating the fire risk associated with forgotten tray maintenance.
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
This solution prevents fire risks by ensuring fats and solids are collected outside the grill, reducing the likelihood of smoldering embers and smoke, and makes it easier for users to maintain the grill by keeping the collection area visible and accessible.
Implementation Method 1
at least two sources of radiant heat energy
Implementation Method 2
the body is adapted to direct fats and breakaway solids generated during the cooking of the food away from the cooking element down through the body of the electric grill
Data Source
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AI summary
A vertical grill (11) for cooking food items is disclosed wherein the vertical grill is comprised of a body (12) containing at least one vertical grilling area disposed between at least two sources of radiant heat energy (24), and wherein the body (12) is adapted to direct fats and breakaway solids generated during the cooking of the food into an external receptacle (32) via the external opening (22). It achieves this by including evacuation slides (28) and (30) which are contained within the body (12) of the grill (11) and arranged in a y shape assembly such that food and fats falling on evacuation slide (28) travels down until it is collected by evacuation slide (30) which delivers the food and fats to the external receptacle (32) where they are not in any danger of catching fire.