Wire-Frame Rack Assembly for Simplified Oven Drawer Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oven appliances have complex and heavy rack assemblies made from multiple sheet metal pieces, requiring complicated assembly and resulting in structural rigidity issues, especially in smaller upper cooking chambers of double oven range appliances, which complicates access and viewing of food items.
Innovation Solution
A simplified rack assembly using a wire support frame mounted to support brackets, formed through computer numerically controlled machining and welding, providing structural rigidity with fewer parts and easier manufacturing, allowing for smoother operation and access in the upper cooking chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional rack assemblies are constructed from multiple sheet metal pieces welded together, then structural strength is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate sheet metal components into a single integrated rack assembly. The rack is formed as one continuous piece of material that is bent and shaped to create the entire structure, eliminating the need for multiple separate parts that would require welding or fastening together. This integration maintains structural strength while dramatically reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack assembly is designed with segmented functional zones within a single continuous structure. Different sections of the rack are shaped to provide specific functions (support, spacing, attachment points) without requiring separate components. This allows the rack to perform multiple functions while remaining a simple single-piece construction.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional rack assemblies use multiple welded sheet metal pieces, then structural rigidity is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The entire rack assembly is formed as a single continuous piece of metal that is bent and shaped into the final configuration. This eliminates all welding operations and complex assembly steps, making manufacturing simpler while maintaining the structural rigidity needed to support cookware and withstand thermal expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack is formed through controlled bending and shaping of a single metal piece, changing its geometric parameters to create the rigid structure. This forming process achieves the necessary structural rigidity without requiring joins or fasteners, significantly simplifying manufacturing compared to traditional multi-piece welded construction.
3Volume of moving object
If the upper cooking chamber is made smaller to fit compact oven designs, then overall appliance size is reduced, but accessibility and viewing of food items becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rack assembly is designed to be easily movable within the compact upper cooking chamber. The single-piece construction with integrated attachment points allows the rack to slide smoothly on the rails, enabling users to access food items in the small chamber without difficulty. The dynamic accessibility compensates for the limited space.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack assembly extends in multiple dimensions within the compact chamber, utilizing vertical space and lateral positioning to maximize accessibility. The design allows the rack to be pulled out toward the user, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to access that overcomes the limitations of the small chamber volume.
4Ease of manufacture
If the rack assembly is made lighter to improve ease of installation, then installation simplicity increases, but structural strength to support weight decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is formed from a single piece of metal with optimized thickness and cross-sectional dimensions. The material parameters are carefully selected to provide sufficient strength for supporting cookware while keeping the overall weight low for easy installation. The continuous structure distributes loads efficiently, maintaining strength despite the lightweight single-piece design.
Solution Approach 2:
The rack utilizes the inherent properties of metal material, combining strength-to-weight ratio advantages with formability. The single-piece metal construction provides both the lightweight characteristic for easy installation and the structural strength needed, achieving a balance that multi-piece assemblies with joints cannot match.
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 enhances accessibility and viewing of food items in the upper cooking chamber by providing a lightweight, rigid, and easy-to-assemble rack assembly that reduces the complexity of manufacturing and assembly processes while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The wire support frame may be formed from metal using computer numerically controlled machining
Implementation Method 2
The wire support frame may be formed from metal using computer numerically controlled machining and may be welded to the support brackets
Data Source
AI summary
A drawer assembly for an oven appliance is provided. The drawer assembly includes two slide assemblies mounted within a cooking chamber of the oven appliance for supporting a door and a rack assembly. The rack assembly includes a wire support frame for supporting a cooking tray and two support brackets for mounting the wire support frame to the slide assemblies. In this manner, a user may slide the rack assembly and cooking tray out of the cooking chamber by pulling on the door. The wire support frame may be formed from metal using computer numerically controlled machining and may be welded to the support brackets. In this manner, the rack assembly provides a simple, rigid construction that requires a minimal number of parts and is easy to manufacture.