CN103175229B

CN103175229B - Use the method and apparatus of the fuel gas culinary art of being produced by electrolytic cell

Info

Publication number: CN103175229B
Application number: CN201310048962.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: W·E·康拉德
Original assignee: GBD Corp
Current assignee: Ouma Shelong Intellectual Property Co
Priority date: 2006-05-01
Filing date: 2006-05-01
Publication date: 2015-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-01
Also published as: CN103175229A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a kind of housed device of such as cook utensil, described housed device uses hydrogen and optional electrical heating to carry out cooking food.Described cook utensil can have cooking surface (such as roasting surface) thus cause the indoor barbecue rack that can use when not ventilating or reducing air-conditioning requirement.

Description

Use the method and apparatus of the fuel gas culinary art of being produced by electrolytic cell

The application's to be the applying date be May 1, denomination of invention in 2006 is " method and apparatus using the fuel gas culinary art of being produced by electrolytic cell " and application number is 200680055197.2(international application no is PCT/CA2006/000673) the divisional application of application for a patent for invention.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of method and apparatus of cooking food.This equipment can be of portable form, and can use or produce and use fuel gas to be provided for the heat of cooking.Alternatively or additionally, this equipment can use electrical contact to heat with the convection current producing food culinary art.The present invention also relates to a kind ofly produce fuel gas and the method and apparatus of this fuel gas can be stored.This equipment can be a kind of indoor barbecue rack.

Background technology

Known polytype cooking equipment.These equipment comprise barbecue rack, baking box and gas and electricity culinary art platform.Barbecue rack utilizes charcoal, propane (being stored in case) or natural gas as heating source.Utilize the heat cooking food of spontaneous combustion at the below burning gases of cooking surface or charcoal.Food roasting is very popular, and has developed indoor barbecue rack.These indoor barbecue racks typically comprise the grill being provided as culinary art platform component.Culinary art platform comprises grill, below this grill, locate neat gas burner.Gas extraction system adjacent (such as, above grill or rear) is arranged to discharge burning gases.These indoor barbecue racks have some shortcomings.First, they must be connected to source of the gas.If natural gas is not also supplied in kitchen, such as, for natural gas baking box, being then retrofitted to by indoor barbecue rack in existing kitchen may difficulty or do not accomplish.Another shortcoming is the noise of gas extraction system.Combustion product must be discharged and gas extraction system has high flow rate usually, and this causes high noise levels when cooking.

Known a kind of gas barbecue grills utilizing hydrogen.This barbecue rack utilizes external pressurized hydrogen gas tank.This tank is dismountable, with convenient ullage, the tank of new accommodation hydrogen can be installed.A shortcoming of this barbecue rack is that hydrogen is a kind of very light gas and has low power density.Therefore, the transportable hydrogen gas tank of consumer will have relatively little hydrogen supply compared with propane container.

Existingly make to be heated by resistive or the culinary art Platform Designing of gas burner becomes food is placed on to be located in frying pan above culinary art element or culinary art tank.Food does not directly contact with thermal source and places.Therefore, existing culinary art platform is used for by such as fry, boils or steam-cooking food carrys out cooking food.

Known designs becomes to make food to be directly placed on electrical heating cooking surface on the surface of heating.These comprise for grill with the electric frying pan of the multiple trademark Soynatto of such as GeorgeForeman, tart grilled mold and cook utensil.In each in these examples, food is placed on electrically heated surface.GeorgeForeman apparatus uses corrugated cooking surface, thus produces passage, can be collected in these passages from the fat of food when cooking food.This cook utensil does not simulate food roasting.

Known cook utensil make electricity consumption gentle the two cook.An example is following cook utensil, it baking box comprising gas culinary art platform and heated when being with or without forced convertion by resistance heated.Also known baking box and culinary art platform allow to use gas and electrical heating (see such as U.S. Patent No. 5,275,147, U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2004/0200825 and Japanese patent application No.55065834).These cook utensils do not simulate food roasting.

Summary of the invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, the cook utensil that a kind of combined electrical contact heats and convection current is cooked is provided.Therefore food can be cooked by Direct Contact Heating and convection current.

According to a further aspect in the invention, the cook utensil providing a kind of combined electrical contact to heat and use ignitable fuel (preferably hydrogen) to cook.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of apparatus of such as cook utensil, the fuel gas used by described cook utensil produced by described apparatus.Some or all of fuel gas of producing may be used for cooking food, use after some or all of the fuel gas of production can be stored for.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of portable and may be used for indoor and do not discharge the cook utensil of burning gases.

Each different aspect disclosed herein can be used alone or combinationally uses.According to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of cook utensil, described cook utensil comprises: for the production of the component of ignitable fuel; To flow the burner be communicated with described component; And cooking surface, one of at least can be received on described cooking surface in food or cooking container.

In one embodiment, described component is electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises the hydrogen means of storage be communicated with that to flow with described electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.In another embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises cooking zone, wherein when described cook utensil in use time always the opening at least partially of described cooking zone.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface comprises food receiving surface.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil has the plug that can removably be received in household socket.

According to an aspect of the present invention, provide a kind of cook utensil with electrolytic cell, described cook utensil comprises:

(a) spine; And

(b) cooking surface;

Wherein said cooking surface is installed to described spine.

In one embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises the lid be arranged in described spine.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface also comprises the Sheng food tray be arranged in described spine.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface is releasably attached to described spine.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface is electrically heated.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface comprises food receiving surface and electric heating structure.

In another embodiment, described food receiving surface and described electric heating structure form single assembly.

In another embodiment, described food receiving surface to be removably mounted on described electric heating structure and described electric heating structure is installed to described spine.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface has electrical heating elements, described cook utensil has electrical contact, and described cooking surface is releasably attached to described electrolytic cell, and described electrical heating elements is connected to described electrical contact when being installed to described spine.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface has electrical heating elements, described cooking surface has the first installation component, described spine has the second installation component, described first and second installation components are bonded with each other, thus when described first and second installation components are bonded with each other, described cooking surface is installed to described spine and described electrical heating elements is electrically connected to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described first and second installation components comprise conductive member.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of housed device, described housed device comprises:

(a) electrolytic cell; And

B () is positioned at not porous below described electrolytic cell and open-topped container.

In one embodiment, described container has volume and described electrolytic cell has liquid capacity, and the volume of described container has at least identical size with the volume of described electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, described container is dismountable.

In another embodiment, be installed to spine, and described electrolytic cell forms described spine described tub removable.

In another embodiment, described housed device also comprises cooking surface, and described container dimensional is designed so that its below at whole cooking surface extends.

In another embodiment, described container comprises dismountable Sheng food tray.

In another embodiment, described electrolytic cell has outlet and described container is positioned at the below of described outlet.

In another embodiment, described outlet comprises draw-off plug.

In another embodiment, described housed device comprises cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described housed device comprises the charger removably receiving hydrogen storage medium.

In another embodiment, described hydrogen storage medium to comprise in metal hydride, carbon pipe, hydrogen salt, slaine, magnesium hydride, many microporous oxides, metal nitride and zeolite one of at least.

In another embodiment, described hydrogen storage medium to be removably received in garden tool, electric tool, pressure washer and car jack one of at least.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of cook utensil, described cook utensil comprises:

A () produces the electrolytic cell of ignitable fuel;

B () comprises the lower cooking surface of food receiving surface; And

C () is positioned at the upper culinary art component of the top of described lower cooking surface.

In one embodiment, opening is provided with in described lower cooking surface.

In another embodiment, opening is provided with in described upper culinary art component.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises the gas burner be positioned at below described cooking surface, and wherein said burner is in the downstream of described electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface is electrically heated by electric heating structure.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface and described electric heating structure form single assembly.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface to be removably mounted on described electric heating structure and described electric heating structure is installed to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface is releasably attached to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface can be detachably connected to the underframe be arranged in described cook utensil, and described lower cooking surface is configured to be electrically connected to described cook utensil when described lower cooking surface is connected to described underframe.

In another embodiment, be installed to described cook utensil described upper culinary art member removable.

In another embodiment, described upper culinary art component is electrically heated.

In another embodiment, described upper culinary art component can be detachably connected to the underframe be arranged in described cook utensil, and described upper culinary art component is configured to be electrically connected to described cook utensil when described upper culinary art component is connected to described underframe.

In another embodiment, described upper culinary art component is heated by the burning of ignitable fuel.

In another embodiment, described upper culinary art component is heated by the combustion product produced by the burning of ignitable fuel.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface and described upper heater are spaced apart to limit cooking zone betwixt, and described cook utensil also comprises fan to produce forced convertion in described cooking zone.

In another embodiment, state culinary art component and comprise cooking surface.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises the plug that can removably be received in household socket.

A () produces the electrolytic cell of ignitable fuel;

Cooking surface under (b); And

C () is positioned at the upper member above described lower cooking surface, described upper member infrared radiation reflecting, and locates and be configured to reflect towards described lower cooking surface the infrared radiation that it receives.

In one embodiment, described upper member comprises aluminium.

In another embodiment, the lower surface of described upper member has aluminium disposed thereon.

In another embodiment, described upper member comprises lid.

In another embodiment, the lower surface of described lid is processed into infrared radiation reflecting.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises the upper culinary art component be positioned at the below of described upper member above described lower cooking surface, is provided with opening in wherein said upper culinary art component.

In another embodiment, described upper culinary art component comprises cooking surface.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises the gas burner be positioned at below described cooking surface, and wherein said burner is connected to the gas vent of described electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, opening is provided with in described lower cooking surface.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface and described upper member are spaced apart to limit cooking zone betwixt, and described cooking zone has the vertical height of 1/16 to 4 inch.

In another embodiment, described cooking zone has the vertical height of 1/4 to 2 inch.

In another embodiment, described cooking zone has the vertical height of 3/4 to 1.5 inch.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface and described upper culinary art component are spaced apart to limit cooking zone betwixt, and described cooking zone has the vertical height of 1/16 to 4 inch.

In another embodiment, described upper member is installed between a closed position and a open position movingly, is positioned on described lower cooking surface at upper member described in described closed position.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface comprises food receiving surface.

In another embodiment, described upper member is transparent at least partially.

A () produces the electrolytic cell of the ignitable fuel being used for cooking food;

Cooking surface under (b); And

C () is positioned at the lid of the top of described lower cooking surface, described lid be transparent at least partially.

In one embodiment, described lid is installed between a closed position and a open position movingly, is positioned on described lower cooking surface at lid described in described closed position.

In another embodiment, described lid is rotatably installed to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises the burner for ignitable fuel.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is also included in the cooking zone above described lower cooking surface, and the burning of described ignitable fuel produces the heat of the described cooking zone of heating.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface is electrically heated.

In another embodiment, described lid is the infrared radiation reflecting at least partially of transparent and described lid at least partially to visible ray.

In another embodiment, described lid has lower surface, being applied with at least partially visible transparent and the coating of infrared radiation reflecting of described lower surface.

In another embodiment, described lower surface is aluminized.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.

A () produces the electrolytic cell of ignitable fuel;

Cooking surface under (b);

C () is positioned at the upper member above described lower cooking surface, to limit cooking zone between described lower cooking surface and described upper member;

(d) filter element; And

E () location is to make air by the fan of described filter element.

In one embodiment, described filter element comprises porous filter medium.

In another embodiment, described filter element comprises cyclone.

In another embodiment, described filter element comprises electrostatic filter.

In another embodiment, described upper member comprises lid.

In another embodiment, described lid is installed between a closed position and a open position movingly, is positioned on described lower cooking surface at lid described in described closed position.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.

Cooking surface under (b); And

C () is positioned at the lid above described lower cooking surface, and described lid is installed between a closed position and a open position movingly, is positioned on described lower cooking surface at lid described in described closed position.

In one embodiment, described lid is rotatably installed to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface is electrically heated.

In another embodiment, described lid is releasably attached to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, cook utensil is of portable form.

A () produces the electrolytic cell of ignitable fuel; And

B () it can receive the cooking surface of food for cooking, wherein said cooking surface is releasably attached to described cook utensil.

In one embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises lid.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface is electrically heated by electric heating structure.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface and described electric heating structure form single assembly.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface to be removably mounted on described electric heating structure and described electric heating structure is installed to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface has electrical heating elements, described cook utensil has electrical contact, and described cooking surface is releasably attached to described cook utensil, and described electrical heating elements is connected to described electrical contact when being installed to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface has electrical heating elements, described cooking surface has the first installation component, described electrolytic cell has the second installation component, described first and second installation components are bonded with each other, thus when described first and second installation components are bonded with each other, described cooking surface is installed to described cook utensil and described electrical heating elements is electrically connected to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.

According to a further aspect in the invention, a kind of housed device comprising multiple electrolytic cell is provided, wherein each electrolytic cell has multiple electrode, domestic appliances has certain volume, and described volume is less than the volume of same housed device when comprising the single electrolytic cell had with described multiple electrolytic cell equal number electrode.

In another embodiment, described housed device has the length and width that limit floor space, and described floor space is less than the floor space of same housed device when comprising the single electrolytic cell had with described multiple electrolytic cell equal number electrode.

In another embodiment, at least two electrolytic cells are electrically connected in series.

In another embodiment, at least two electrolytic cell parallel connection electrical connections.

In another embodiment, locate before and after at least two electrolytic cells.

In another embodiment, at least one electrolytic cell is positioned at above the second electrolytic cell.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of housed device, described housed device comprises: at least one electrolytic cell; At least one is positioned at the burner in combustion zone; The hydrogen gas flow path extended between described electrolytic cell and described burner; And be positioned to direct air to the fan in described combustion zone.

In one embodiment, hydrogen has explosive threshold concentration, and described fan guides enough air to described combustion zone to reduce under density of hydrogen in described combustion zone to described explosive threshold concentration.

In another embodiment, described fan guides enough air to described combustion zone to reduce density of hydrogen in described combustion zone to the half being less than described explosive threshold concentration.

In another embodiment, described fan guides enough air to described combustion zone to reduce density of hydrogen in described combustion zone to being less than 1/10th of described explosive threshold concentration.

In another embodiment, when described electrolytic cell activates, described fan automatically activates.

In another embodiment, described housed device also comprises hydrogen means of storage, and described hydrogen gas flow path is included in the first path extended between described electrolytic cell and described hydrogen means of storage and the alternate path extended between described hydrogen means of storage and described burner, and described fan also directs air to the storage area of wherein locating described hydrogen means of storage.

In another embodiment, hydrogen has combustion threshold concentration, and described fan directs sufficient air to described storage area to reduce under density of hydrogen in described storage area to described combustion threshold concentration.

A () produces the electrolytic cell of ignitable fuel;

(b) burner;

C combustible fuel flow path that () extends between described electrolytic cell and described burner;

D () it can receive the lower cooking surface of food for cooking;

E () is positioned at the upper member above described lower cooking surface,

One of at least movable relative to another in wherein said lower cooking surface and described upper member.

In one embodiment, described upper member is lid.

In another embodiment, described upper member is heater.

In another embodiment, one of at least can vertical motion in described lower cooking surface and described upper member.

In another embodiment, described upper member is arranged between closed position and open position movingly, is positioned at above described lower cooking surface at upper member described in described closed position.

In another embodiment, described upper member is rotatably installed to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface is electrically heated.

In another embodiment, described burner is positioned at the below of described lower cooking surface.

In another embodiment, described lower culinary art component can vertically regulate relative to described burner.

In another embodiment, described upper member is releasably attached to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.

(a) electrolytic cell;

(b) burner;

Cooking surface under (d);

E () contains food tray; And

F () is electrically connected the circuit of described electrolytic cell to power supply, described circuit comprises detector,

One of at least described cook utensil is releasably attached in wherein said lower cooking surface and described Sheng food tray, described detector to detect in described lower cooking surface in described cook utensil and described Sheng food tray existence one of at least, when one of at least making described electrolytic cell and described isolated from power from described circuit during described cook utensil dismounting in described lower cooking surface and described Sheng food tray.

In one embodiment, described power supply comprises the plug that can removably be received in household socket.

In another embodiment, lower cooking surface comprises food receiving surface.

In another embodiment, described lower cooking surface comprises electric heating structure.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface has electrical heating elements, and described detector comprises electrical contact, and described electrical heating elements is connected to described electrical contact when being installed to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface has the first installation component, described cook utensil has the second installation component comprising electrical contact, described first and second installation components are bonded with each other, thus when described first and second installation components are bonded with each other, described cooking surface is installed to described cook utensil and described electrical heating elements is electrically connected to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of housed device, described housed device comprises: the electrolytic cell producing hydrogen; Be positioned at the burner in combustion zone; The hydrogen gas flow path extended between described electrolytic cell and described burner; And illuminate the illuminating member of described combustion zone.

In one embodiment, described illuminating member comprises the component being positioned at also luminescence when heated in described combustion zone.

In another embodiment, described illuminating member is flammable.

In another embodiment, described illuminating member right and wrong are flammable.

In another embodiment, described illuminating member is one or more in light emitting diode, incandescent lamp bulb, fluorescent tube, or more these combination.

In another embodiment, described illuminating member comprises the element be included in the hydrogen of burning.

In another embodiment, described element is involved in the electrolyte solution in electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, described hydrogen gas flow path comprises injector, and in the liquid of described element in described injector.

In another embodiment, in operation, produce flame by described burner, and described illuminating member comprises location to reflect the mirror of the image of described flame towards user.

(a) electrolytic cell;

(b) thermal source;

C () is by the cooking zone of described heat source; And

D () is positioned at the culinary art supporting member in described cooking zone,

One of at least movable in wherein said lower thermal source and described culinary art supporting member.

In one embodiment, culinary art supporting member comprises the bar portion turning barbecue rack for electricity, and wherein said bar portion rotatably installs.

In another embodiment, cook supporting member and comprise food receiving surface.

In another embodiment, one of at least can vertical motion in described thermal source and described cooking surface.

In another embodiment, described thermal source comprises burner.

In another embodiment, described thermal source also comprises electric heating structure.

In another embodiment, described burner and described electric heating structure can side by side operate.

In another embodiment, described burner and described electric heating structure one of at least can vertical motions.

In another embodiment, cook supporting member and comprise food receiving surface and described electric heating structure is included in described cooking surface.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.

A () produces the electrolytic cell of fuel gas;

B () comprises the thermal source of burner, when described gas fuel burning, described burner produces flame;

C (), by the cooking zone of described heat source, described cooking zone has adjustable cooking temp; And

(d) to be positioned in described cooking zone and with the culinary art supporting member of the spaced apart certain distance of described thermal source,

Wherein said cooking temp is adjustable.

In one embodiment, described cooking temp by change following in one of at least adjustable:

The temperature of (a) thermal source; With

Temperature in (b) cooking zone.

In another embodiment, described cooking temp is by following adjustable:

A () changes the distance between described thermal source and described culinary art supporting member;

B () provides diluent air to arrive described cooking zone;

C () changes to the amount of the diluent air of described cooking zone;

D () changes the amount of the fuel gas produced by described electrolytic cell; And

E () changes the size of described flame.

In another embodiment, described thermal source also comprises electrical heating elements.

In another embodiment, the described distance in described burner and described electrical heating elements one of at least and between described culinary art supporting member is variable.

In another embodiment, described culinary art supporting member comprises the bar portion turning barbecue rack for electricity.

In another embodiment, described culinary art supporting member comprises food receiving surface.

In another embodiment, described thermal source also comprises location with the electrical heating elements heating described cooking surface.

In another embodiment, the power being provided to described electrical heating elements is adjustable.

In another embodiment, described cooking temp is saved by changing the power adjustable being provided to described electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, described burner has aperture, and by change described aperture dimension adjustable described in cooking temp.

In another embodiment, diluent gas and described fuel gas combine, and by changing the adjustable described cooking temp of amount of the diluent gas combined with described fuel gas.

In another embodiment, described thermal source also comprises electrical heating elements, and the power being provided to described electrical heating elements and the heat that produced by described burner are all variable.

In another embodiment, the power being provided to described electrical heating elements and the heat produced by described burner are all variable individually.

In another embodiment, the heat produced by described burner one of is at least changed by following:

A () changes the amount of the fuel gas produced by described electrolytic cell; With

B () changes the size of described flame.

In another embodiment, described cooking temp one of at least can automatically regulate in temperature based on the temperature of the food in described cooking zone, the temperature of described cooking zone and described cooking surface.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of housed device, described housed device comprises: at least one electrolytic cell; At least one burner; Hydrogen means of storage; And the first hydrogen gas flow path extended between described electrolytic cell and described hydrogen means of storage and the second hydrogen gas flow path extended between described hydrogen means of storage and described burner.

In one embodiment, described housed device is also included in the 3rd hydrogen gas flow path extended between described electrolytic cell and described burner.

In another embodiment, described burner burns the hydrogen obtained from described electrolytic cell and the hydrogen obtained from described hydrogen means of storage simultaneously.

In another embodiment, described hydrogen means of storage comprises hydrogen storage medium.

In another embodiment, described hydrogen storage medium is release hydrogen when applying electric current, and described housed device also comprises the conductive member of the described hydrogen storage medium of connection to current source.

In another embodiment, described conductive member connects described hydrogen storage medium to variable current source.

In another embodiment, described hydrogen storage medium is release hydrogen when applying heat, and described housed device also comprises the electrical heating elements being thermally coupled to described hydrogen storage medium.

In another embodiment, the power being provided to described electrical heating elements is variable, and the amount of hydrogen that provided by described hydrogen storage medium of time per unit changes by changing the power that is provided to described electrical heating elements thus.

In another embodiment, domestic appliances comprises cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.

In another embodiment, described housed device also comprises the plug that can removably be received in household socket.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of method providing heat in housed device, described housed device comprises at least one electrolytic cell, at least one burner and hydrogen storage medium, and described method comprises:

A () one of at least obtains hydrogen from described electrolytic cell and described hydrogen storage medium; With

B () burns described hydrogen to produce heat.

In one embodiment, described method also comprises and operates described electrolytic cell when not needing heat and store the hydrogen produced by described electrolytic cell in described hydrogen means of storage.

In another embodiment, described housed device has the plug that can removably be received in household socket, and described method also comprises and removes described plug from described household socket and also to burn the hydrogen obtained from described hydrogen means of storage.

In another embodiment, described housed device has battery, and described method also comprises charging to described battery when described household socket receives described plug and using and is stored in electric energy in described battery with from described hydrogen means of storage release hydrogen.

In another embodiment, described hydrogen means of storage is included in the hydrogen storage medium of release hydrogen when applying heat, and described method also comprises and uses the electric energy that is stored in described battery to heat described hydrogen storage medium thus from described hydrogen storage medium release hydrogen.

In another embodiment, described housed device comprises cook utensil, and described method also comprises the described heat of use with cooking food.

A () produces the electrolytic cell of ignitable fuel, described ignitable fuel burns in combustion zone;

Cooking surface under (b);

(c) cooking zone; And

(d) flavouring agent container.

In one embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises the lid be positioned at above described lower cooking surface.

In another embodiment, described flavouring agent container is heat-resisting and is positioned in described combustion zone or top.

In another embodiment, described flavor enhancement comprises liquid, and in described flavouring agent container is configured to carry above described flavor enhancement to described combustion zone, combustion zone position one of at least, and be delivered to the food in described cooking zone.

A () produces the electrolytic cell of ignitable fuel;

B (), at the gas burner in the downstream of described electrolytic cell, described gas burner has burner opening; And

C () is wherein provided with the cooking surface of opening, described cooking surface to be positioned at above described burner and to be configured to guide the liquid produced when cooking food away from described burner opening.

In one embodiment, described cooking surface comprises food receiving surface.

In another embodiment, described food receiving surface is roughly bellows-shaped.

In another embodiment, described ripple is roughly V-arrangement.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface is releasably attached to described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface is electrically heated.

In another embodiment, described food receiving surface is removably mounted on described electric heating structure.

In another embodiment, described electrolytic cell comprises the spine of described cook utensil.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of housed device, described housed device comprises: the electrolytic cell producing hydrogen; Be positioned at the burner in combustion zone; The hydrogen gas flow path extended between described electrolytic cell and described burner; And the injector be positioned in described hydrogen gas flow path.

In one embodiment, described housed device also comprises hydrogen means of storage.

In another embodiment, described hydrogen means of storage to comprise in pressurized storage container and hydrogen storage medium one of at least.

In another embodiment, described hydrogen gas flow path comprises and extends to the first flow path of described hydrogen means of storage from described electrolytic cell and extend to the second stream of described burner from described hydrogen means of storage, and described injector is positioned in described second stream.

In another embodiment, described hydrogen gas flow path comprises the 3rd stream extending to described burner from described electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, described 3rd stream and described second stream merge in the upstream of described injector.

In another embodiment, described 3rd stream comprises injector.

In another embodiment, described housed device also comprises the charger removably receiving hydrogen means of storage.

In another embodiment, described hydrogen means of storage can removably be received in garden tool or electric tool.

In another embodiment, described housed device comprises domestic appliances.

In another embodiment, described housed device comprises cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described housed device is of portable form.

In another embodiment, described injector has come-at-able import when being positioned in the described housed device of assembling.

In another embodiment, described housed device has external shell and described injector has the import be positioned on described external shell.

In another embodiment, described import has dismountable cap and described housed device has injector fluid level indicator.

In another embodiment, described import has dismountable cap and liquid level warning member, and when the described liquid level warning member liquid signaled in described injector drops under predeterminated level, personnel can recharge described apparatus thus.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of method of clean cook utensil, described cook utensil has: can receive the cooking surface of food for cooking thereon; In electrolytic cell and hydrogen storage medium one of at least, described method comprises:

A () makes described cook utensil cool;

B () dismantles described cooking surface; And

C () be clean described cooking surface in dish-washing machine or pond.

In one embodiment, described cook utensil to comprise in culinary art component, lid and Sheng food tray one of at least, and described method also to comprise in dismounting described upper culinary art component, lid and Sheng food tray and one of at least cleans.

In another embodiment, described method also comprises the electrical heating elements can dismantled from described cook utensil, and described method is also included in electricity disconnection described electrical heating elements when dismantling described electrical heating elements from described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface has for connecting the installation component of described culinary art component to described cook utensil releasedly, described electrical heating elements and described cooking surface are dismountable, and described electrical heating elements is electrically connected to described cook utensil by described installation component, and described method is also included in electricity disconnection described electrical heating elements when dismantling described cooking surface from described cook utensil.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface is removably mounted on electric heating structure, and step (b) comprises and dismantles described cooking surface from described electric heating structure.

In another embodiment, during normal use, described electric heating structure remains in described cook utensil, and keeps described electric heating structure in described cook utensil when step (b) is also included in the described cooking surface of dismounting to carry out clean.

In another embodiment, described cooking surface and described electric heating structure form single assembly, and step (b) comprises the described cooking surface of dismounting and described electric heating structure.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of method of clean portable cook utensil, described portable cook utensil to comprise in electrolytic cell and hydrogen storage medium one of at least, and described method comprises:

A () makes described cook utensil cool;

B () dismantles described cooking surface; And

C () be clean described cooking surface in dish-washing machine or pond.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of method of cooking food, described method comprises:

A () activates electrolytic cell to produce hydrogen;

B () burns described hydrogen to produce heat, and use described heat cooking food; And

C () makes electricity consumption produce extra heat to carry out cooking food.

In one embodiment, carry out step (b) and (c) simultaneously.

In another embodiment, step (c) comprises and makes electricity consumption come heating cooking surface.

In another embodiment, described method is also included in accommodating food on described cooking surface.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of method of cooking food in portable cook utensil, described method comprises:

A () activates electrolytic cell to produce hydrogen;

B () burns described hydrogen to produce heat; And

C () uses described heat cooking food.

In one embodiment, described method also comprises and makes electricity consumption produce extra heat to carry out cooking food.

In another embodiment, described method also comprises described hydrogen generation heat of simultaneously burning with the heat made outside electricity consumption amount of production with cooking food.

In another embodiment, described method also comprises use electrical heating cooking surface.

In another embodiment, the described method electricity be also included in described cook utensil turns accommodating food on barbecue rack.

In another embodiment, described portable cook utensil has the plug that can removably be received in household socket, and described plug inserts in described household socket before being also included in the described electrolytic cell of actuating by described method.

According to a further aspect in the invention, a kind of cook utensil is provided, it comprises the discontinuous electrically heated cooking surface with multiple surface portion, described surface portion is laterally spaced apart to limit gap between adjacent spaced surface portion, and being dimensioned to of described gap allows to form convection current wherein.

In one embodiment, described convection current has the rate of climb of 1 to 1000 inch per second.

In another embodiment, described gap comprises the opening in described cooking surface, and described cook utensil also comprises at least one is positioned at burner below described cooking surface.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil comprises the component for the production of the ignitable fuel being supplied at least one burner described.

In another embodiment, described component is electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises at least one container be communicated with that flows with described electrolytic cell, the gas that at least one container storage wherein said is produced by described electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, described cook utensil is of portable form.

A () be accommodating food on electrically heated surface; And

B () one of at least provides hydrogen from electrolytic cell and hydrogen storage medium; And

C () burning gases are to provide extra heat to cook described food.

In one embodiment, described method also comprises use electrolytic cell to produce hydrogen.

In another embodiment, described method also comprises the described hydrogen of storage at least partially.

In another embodiment, described method also comprise the hydrogen of described storage of burning at least partially to cook described food.

In another embodiment, described method also comprises and only uses the hydrogen of described storage to cook described food.

In another embodiment, described method also comprises the described electrolytic cell of operation to produce hydrogen, and side by side the burn hydrogen stored and the hydrogen produced by described electrolytic cell are to cook described food.

In another embodiment, use and have and can removably be received in the cook utensil of the plug in household socket and implement described method, and described method also comprises and being inserted in described household socket by described plug.

In another embodiment, use and there is battery, hydrogen means of storage and can removably be received in the cook utensil of the plug in household socket and implement described method, and described method also comprises: operate described electrolytic cell when described plug is inserted in household socket to charge at least in part to described hydrogen means of storage; Described plug is removed from described household socket; And use described battery-operated described cook utensil.

A () one of at least obtains the ignitable fuel in cook utensil from electrolytic cell and hydrogen storage medium;

B () burns described ignitable fuel with heating cooking region; And

Electricity in (c) cooking surface in described cooking zone, described cooking zone turn barbecue rack bar portion and be arranged in cooking container on the set cooking surface of described cooking zone one of at least on place described food.

In one embodiment, described method is also included in the described ignitable fuel of burning and stored described ignitable fuel at least partially before producing heat.

In another embodiment, described method to be also included on electrically heated surface accommodating food simultaneously described food also just by the heat cooking of the burning from described ignitable fuel.

In another embodiment, the cooking surface that step (c) is included in described cooking zone places described food.

In another embodiment, step (c) electricity be included in described cooking zone turns on barbecue rack and places described food.

In another embodiment, always opening at least partially of described cooking zone, and step (c) is included in the cooking container be arranged on the set cooking surface of described cooking zone places described food.

A () to comprise in electrolytic cell and hydrogen storage medium sources of hydrogen one of at least; With

B () location is with the electrical heating elements on heating cooking surface.

In one embodiment, described cook utensil also comprises electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, described apparatus is of portable form.

In another embodiment, described apparatus is by operated on household electric current.

In another embodiment, described apparatus has the plug that can removably be received in household socket.

According to a further aspect in the invention, a kind of housed device comprising electrolytic cell is provided, wherein said electrolytic cell comprises at least one gas vent and at least one fluid inlet, and described housed device has the outlet that at least one is communicated with described cell fluid.

In another embodiment, be positioned to can be close when described electrolytic cell is positioned in described housed device for described outlet.

In another embodiment, described housed device has external shell, and described outlet is positioned on described external shell.

In another embodiment, described housed device has outer surface, and described outlet be positioned to can be close from described outer surface.

In another embodiment, described housed device also comprises the reservoir be communicated with described cell fluid, and described outlet to be arranged in described electrolytic cell and described reservoir one of at least, or to be arranged on from described electrolytic cell and described reservoir in the conduit that one of at least extends.

(a) electrolytic cell;

B () and described cell fluid flow the fluid reservoir be communicated with;

One of at least there is openable import in (c) described electrolytic cell, described fluid reservoir and the fluid passage between described electrolytic cell and described reservoir; And

(d) burning of gas device for being produced by described electrolytic cell.

In one embodiment, described fluid reservoir has described import.

In another embodiment, described housed device has external shell and described import is positioned on described external shell.

In another embodiment, described housed device there is outer surface and described import be positioned to can be close from described outer surface.

In another embodiment, described import has dismountable cap and described housed device also comprises fluid level indicator.

In another embodiment, described import has dismountable cap, and described housed device also comprises liquid level warning member, when the liquid signaled in described electrolytic cell and described reservoir one of at least when described liquid level warning member thus drops under predeterminated level, personnel can recharge described reservoir.

In another embodiment, described fluid reservoir has at least equally large with the volume of the liquid of described electrolytic cell volume.

In another embodiment, described fluid reservoir is configured to keep water-stop when liquid solidifies wherein.

In another embodiment, one of at least movable relative to another thus be positioned at another below in described electrolytic cell and described fluid reservoir, when described fluid reservoir is positioned at the below of described electrolytic cell, electrolyte solution can flow to described fluid reservoir due to gravity from described electrolytic cell thus, and electrolyte solution can flow to described electrolytic cell due to gravity from described fluid reservoir when described electrolytic cell is positioned at the below of described fluid reservoir.

In another embodiment, described electrolytic cell is connected in assembly together with described fluid reservoir and described assembly is rotatably installed.

In another embodiment, be installed to one of in described electrolytic cell and described fluid reservoir in described electrolytic cell and described fluid reservoir another.

In another embodiment, described electrolytic cell and described fluid reservoir are rotatably installed around approximate horizontal rotation.

In another embodiment, described electrolytic cell and described approximate horizontal rotation are roughly positioned at the centre in the assembly of described electrolytic cell and described fluid reservoir.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of method, described method comprises:

A () provides a kind of equipment, the first fluid stream that described equipment comprises electrolytic cell, fluid accumulator and extends between described electrolytic cell and described fluid accumulator, one of at least movable relative to another thus be positioned at another below in described electrolytic cell and described fluid reservoir; And

B () makes described fluid accumulator in the below of described electrolytic cell by position one of at least in mobile described electrolytic cell and described fluid reservoir, and discharge electrolyte solution to described fluid accumulator from described electrolytic cell.

In one embodiment, described electrolytic cell has fluid flow port, described fluid accumulator has fluid flow port, and described fluid flowing path comprises described cell fluid flowing ports, fluid reservoir fluid flow port and valve, and described method comprises and opens described valve.

In another embodiment, described electrolytic cell is connected in assembly together with described fluid reservoir, and described method also comprises and rotates described assembly around approximate horizontal axis.

In another embodiment, described electrolytic cell is connected in assembly together with described fluid reservoir, and described assembly has mid portion, and described method also comprises and rotates described assembly around the axis by described mid portion.

In another embodiment, described equipment also comprises the plug that can removably be received in household socket, and described plug inserts in described household socket before being also included in the described electrolytic cell of actuating by described method.

In another embodiment, described method also comprises discharges electrolyte solution to described fluid accumulator from described electrolytic cell, and allows described electrolyte solution to solidify in described fluid accumulator.

In another embodiment, described equipment also comprises the heater being thermally coupled to described fluid accumulator, and described method also comprises the described heater of use with the electrolyte solution solidified in the described fluid accumulator that liquefies.

In another embodiment, described method also comprises and discharges the electrolyte solution of liquefaction to described electrolytic cell from described fluid accumulator.

B () discharged electrolyte solution to described fluid accumulator from described electrolytic cell before make described equipment be exposed to temperature that described electrolyte solution solidifies.

In one embodiment, described equipment also comprises the plug that can removably be received in household socket, and described plug inserts in described household socket before being also included in the described electrolytic cell of actuating by described method.

(a) electrolytic cell;

(b) import for providing liquid to arrive described electrolytic cell; And

(c) burning of gas device for being produced by described electrolytic cell.

In one embodiment, described import is positioned to when described electrolytic cell is positioned in described housed device is come-at-able.

In another embodiment, state import and there is dismountable cap and described housed device has fluid level indicator.

In another embodiment, described import has dismountable cap and liquid level warning member, and when the described liquid level warning member liquid signaled in described electrolytic cell drops under predeterminated level, personnel can recharge described apparatus thus.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of equipment, described equipment comprises:

(a) hydrogen storage medium and produce ignitable fuel electrolytic cell in one of at least;

(b) burner;

(c) in described electrolytic cell and described hydrogen storage medium one of at least and the first flow path extended between described burner;

D () and diluent air source and described burner fluid flow the fan be communicated with,

Wherein said fan directs dilution air is to described burner.

In one embodiment, described equipment is also included in the second stream extended between described fan and described burner.

In another embodiment, described second stream and described first flow path fluid flow communication.

In another embodiment, described equipment is of portable form.

In another embodiment, described equipment also comprises the plug that can removably be received in household socket.

In another embodiment, described equipment is domestic appliances.

In another embodiment, described equipment is cook utensil.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of method stoping backfire in a device, described equipment to comprise in electrolytic cell and hydrogen storage medium one of at least, and described method comprises:

A () to use in described electrolytic cell and described hydrogen storage medium one of at least to produce fuel gas;

B () provides fuel gas to burner; And

C () provides enough diluent gas to described burner in case non-return combustion under stress.

In one embodiment, described method be also included in described burner combined upstream described in diluent gas and described fuel gas.

In another embodiment, described method is also included in means of storage the fuel gas storing and produced by described electrolytic cell.

In another embodiment, described method also comprises subsequently from described means of storage transport fuel gas to described burner.

In another embodiment, described method also comprises the described fuel gas cooking food of use.

In another embodiment, described equipment has the plug that can removably be received in household socket, and described plug inserts in described household socket before being also included in the described electrolytic cell of actuating by described method.

In another embodiment, the amount that described method also comprises based on the fuel gas produced by described electrolytic cell regulates the amount being provided to the diluent gas of described burner.

Accompanying drawing explanation

In order to better understand the present invention and how implement the present invention in order to more clear illustrating, illustrate preferred embodiment of the present invention, in accompanying drawing now with reference to accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is the perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention adopting groove portion and electrical heating elements;

Fig. 2 is the perspective view of of the present invention alternative preferred embodiment adopting groove portion, electrical heating elements and framework;

Fig. 3 is the perspective view of of the present invention alternative preferred embodiment adopting groove portion, groove, electrical heating elements and framework;

Fig. 4 is the circuit diagram of alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is the fluid schematic of the of the present invention alternative preferred embodiment described in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is the perspective view of grill according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is the perspective view of the grill of Fig. 7, and its middle cover is in the position of rising;

Fig. 9 is the perspective view of the grill of Fig. 7, and its middle cover is in the position of reduction;

Figure 10 is the perspective view of the grill of the Fig. 7 of the form of removing or dismantling;

Figure 11 is the side view of the grill of the Fig. 7 of the form of removing or dismantling;

Figure 12 is the schematic diagram of the parts of the main casing inside of the grill of Fig. 7;

Figure 13 is the alternative schematic of the parts of the main casing inside of the grill that can be positioned at Fig. 7;

Figure 14 is the exploded view of the alternate embodiment of Fig. 7;

Figure 15 a-15c is the schematic diagram of the method and apparatus of discharge electrolytic cell;

Figure 16 a-16c is the discharge alternative of electrolytic cell and the schematic diagram of equipment;

Figure 17 a-17c is the discharge another alternative of electrolytic cell and the schematic diagram of equipment; And

Figure 18 a-18c is the discharge another alternative of electrolytic cell and the schematic diagram of equipment.

Detailed description of the invention

According to the present invention, a kind of equipment comprises electrolytic cell.This electrolytic cell is for the production of fuel gas.Such as, if be water with electrolyte solution in a cell, then electrolytic cell will produce hydrogen and oxygen.Electrolytic cell can be configured to produce be separated hydrogen stream and oxygen stream (such as, electrolytic cell can have one or more oxygen outlet and one or more hydrogen outlet), or electrolytic cell can be configured to hydrogen and the oxygen stream of producing mixing, as known in the art.Preferably, fuel gas is hydrogen.Burning hydrogen produces heat.Described heat will for generation of energy, such as, as the thermal source being used for Stirling engine (Stirlingengine), or cooking food.

This equipment is preferably housed device (that is, being designed to be used in the equipment in the family place of such as house, apartment or cottage) and more preferably cook utensil.The example of housed device comprises garden tool (such as weeds trimmer, hay mover or analog), pressure washer, charger, car jack, fireplace, electric tool (such as drilling machine, annular saw and analog), steam cleaner, jackhammer, weeds is dewatered thus kills their high temperature service.The example of cook utensil comprises indoor grills, outdoor grills, sandwich manufacture and mechanical, electrically turn barbecue rack, micro-wave oven, conventional oven, chafing dish, iron plate pot (flametappanyaki), food steamer, aerator, in described aerator, fragrance and/or smell (fragrance) are passed to the aromatic material of food by hydrogen flame evaporation, burning or chemical modification, and wherein hydrogen is used for culinary art.Such as the cook utensil of indoor grills, outdoor grills, sandwich maker, micro-wave oven and conventional oven has cooking surface.Cooking surface be a kind of on it accommodating food with surface (that is, food receiving surface) to be cooked or the stayed surface of placing container (such as, kettle, pot) on it, place the food for cooking in the above-described container.In special preferred embodiment, cooking surface to be such as used in the food receiving surface in indoor grills, outdoor grills and sandwich maker.Or cook utensil can have food rack (such as, electricity turns the bar portion of barbecue rack).Food rack is support food in cooking zone.

Water vapour is produced in the hydrogen of the aerial burning of hydrogen or mixing and the burning of oxygen stream.Therefore, the apparatus of burning hydrogen may be used for indoor, and need not discharge combustion product to outside (such as the exhaust fan of the culinary art platform surface of natural gas or propane heating) or reduce air-conditioning requirement.Therefore, the cooking equipment of hydrogen is used to allow in indoor environment, use flame cooking food.Therefore, electrolytic cell is used to allow barbecue rack culinary art in consumer's simulating chamber.Therefore, if when rainy or they without any used chamber's external space (such as, there is no balcony or have balcony but to barbecue restriction apartment or housing unit), consumer can at indoor food roasting.

This description illustrates the some features using the equipment of electrolytic cell to comprise.Equipment can use these features one or more.Therefore, each feature is alternative preferred embodiment.Should be understood that one or more described feature can with in a separate device, and therefore the multiple combination of feature and sub-portfolio can be merged in independent equipment.The following PART of description illustrates the feature as being used in cook utensil (preferably household cooking appliance, be most preferably of portable form household cooking appliance).

According to an aspect of the present invention, a kind of food receiving surface being configured to allow to form free convection is provided.Should be understood that the structure of food receiving surface can be used in arbitrary cook utensil.There is provided heat to cook or reheat the food be placed on this food receiving surface.Thermal source can be electricity and/or flame.But, preferably, be used alone flame or combinationally using with electrical heating the structure utilizing food receiving surface in the apparatus of flame.More preferably, flame is produced by the burning of the hydrogen produced by electrolytic cell.In another embodiment, combustion of hydrogen is used for heating ceramic, metal or glass, this pottery, metal or glass frequency emittance is on request with cooking food or strengthen the culinary art of food, and can selectively heat with hydrogen flame, propane flame, propane infrared heating, electrical contact, electric infrared heating, microwave cooking, resistance are cooked, decatize or one or more in smoking are combined.

Fig. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment that thermal source is resistance heated, and wherein heat is sent to food receiving surface (that is, electrical contact heating) by conduction, and this food receiving surface is configured to produce convection current with culinary art or heat food.In this embodiment, cook utensil 10 comprises electrical heating elements 12 and cooking surface 14, and described cooking surface 14 is can the food receiving surface of cooking food on it.Electrical heating elements 12 can be arbitrary electrical heating elements as known in the art.This element typically comprises stratie (that is, by the element of current flow heats passed through) and can be electric heating (calrod) element or quartz element.Cooking surface 14 is electrically heated element 12 and heats.Cooking surface is configured so that allow the convection current in the below being positioned at the food 16 on this cooking surface 14 and allow the direct contacting foodstuff 16 of convection current.Therefore, cooking surface 14 comprises discontinuous surface.

In the embodiment in figure 1, cooking surface comprises spaced thus has multiple flanks 18 of end face 20 and sidewall 22.End face 20 and sidewall 22 thermal communication, and sidewall 22 and electrical heating elements 12 thermal communication.Therefore, heat is sent to end face 20 by conduction.Electrical heating elements 12 can with substrate 24 thermal communication.Such as, substrate 24 can by mechanical attachment or by comprising electrical heating elements 12 as foundry goods.Flank 18 can be removably mounted in substrate 24.Such as, flank 18 can only be shelved on the upper surface of substrate 24.Therefore, flank 18 can be disassembled, thus flank 18 can clean or for supplying the food of cooking thereon.Should be understood that the upper surface of substrate 24 can be used as to contain food tray and substrate 24 can be releasably attached to cook utensil.Or flank 18 can be fixed to substrate 24.Therefore, flank 18 and substrate 24 can be releasably attached to cook utensil.In either case, therefore the cooking temp that end face 20 can be heated to require also can be used as contact grill element.In use, if heat end face 20 fully, then the food of culinary art on end face 20 may have barbecue vestige.Should be understood that in alternative embodiments, end face 20 can have the electrical heating elements that is connected with it or actually can comprise electrical heating elements.Therefore, substrate 24 is dispensable.Contain the below that food tray etc. can be arranged on flank 18.

If end face 20 is positioned in the electrical heating elements heating of the below on the surface shown in Fig. 1, then sidewall 22 can be hollow or solid when being used as heat transfer member.Therefore, flank 18 may be constructed to the heat transfer member with electrical heating elements 12 thermal communication.Flank 18 can be fixed to substrate 24 or be cast as one with substrate 24.Flank 18 is constructed by the heat conducting material of such as aluminium, copper, cast iron or steel.

End face 20 is separated by gap 26 thus is limited to the open space 28 below end face 20.The rear portion of sidewall 22 there is height H and the front portion of sidewall 22 have height H '.Height H and H ' can be identical or different.According to the embodiment of Fig. 1, the size in height H, gap 26 between H ' and adjacent end face 20 is all designed to allow to treat that the convection current 30 formed in the below of food 16 assists end face 20 cooking food.Height H, the H ' of sidewall 22 may be greater than 0.75 inch, preferably 0.75 to 3 inch, more preferably 1.0 inches to 2.0 inches, and be most preferably 1.25 to 1.5 inches, and the gap 26 between end face 20 may be greater than 0.125 inch, preferably at 0.125 to 2 inch, more preferably 0.5 to 1.5 inch, and be most preferably 0.75 to 1.0 inch, to produce convection current 30 in the below of the food 16 of just cooking.

Should be understood that, when heat is applied to cooking surface 14, free convection air-flow will be introduced in open space 28.Therefore, food 16 will be conducted (from end face 20 contact heating) and convection current both cook.Preferably, convection current 30 has the rate of climb of 1 to 100 inch per second, more preferably 3 to 50 inches per second, and is most preferably 5 to 20 inches per second.Height H, H ' and gap 26 can be selected to produce such rate of climb.Set up convection current in the below of the core of the food 16 of just cooking, having more than is in edge.The groove portion of current contact cook utensil can't produce the convection current being suitable for cooking food.In addition, groove portion often catches the moisture dripped from food, and this is easy to the process of cooking food instead of simulating flame barbecue.

Should be understood that, when food 16 is cooked, fat can drip and be collected in substrate 24.Therefore, substrate 24 can be used as to contain food tray.In this case, substrate 24 preferably tilt thus make the fat dropped in substrate 24 flow to for the treatment of collecting zone.Therefore, the upper surface of substrate 24 is preferably solid.In alternative structure, substrate 24 can be configured to the below of the substrate 24 allowing fat through this fat of collection.Substrate 24 can be inclined to the with respect to the horizontal plane 32 angle A with 0 to 20 degree (preferably 2 to 12 degree, and more preferably 5 to 8 degree).

In alternative structure, substrate 24 can be level and height H, H ' can change angle to produce 0 to 20 degree (preferably 2 to 12 degree, and more preferably 5 to 8 degree) relative to level.

Should be understood that flank 18 only can be applied to the end face of food 16, or be applied to both the end face of food 16 and bottom surface to improve cooking speed, such as, by waiting to cook or all providing heat both the upper surface of food to be heated and lower surface.Therefore, food receiving surface can be positioned at below and/or the top of the food to be cooked in cook utensil.

According to a further aspect in the invention, provide a kind of and be dimensioned to the cooking surface producing free convection air-flow, and pass through burning and/or the electrical heating cooking food of fuel.Such as, the cook utensil 10 combined electrical contact heating of the alternative preferred embodiment of Fig. 2 and the culinary art of use ignitable fuel.Therefore, a kind of burner also preferably simultaneously used with it that can be unique thermal source, alternately can use with electrical heating elements 12 is provided.Should understand, one or more burner can be located thus be provided a hot only part to cooking surface 14 (such as, the part not having burned device to heat will be colder, and can be used in more slowly cooking food or keep the food of having cooked warm until it is eaten) or to the below of all cooking surfaces 14.Burner 34 can be positioned in some or all open spaces 28 and can with substrate 24 adjacent positioned.Preferably, burner is fallen in fully to make user can not insert finger touch this burner, and more preferably, finger can not be inserted into the position at the tip being flame by user.Preferably, burner is positioned at the below of the solid section of grill surface or cooking surface or the baffle plate under it, touches flame to prevent someone.

Burner can be arbitrary burner as known in the art.According to a further aspect in the invention, as illustrated in fig. 2, burner 34 comprises one or more manifold 36, described manifold 36 comprises a series of port 38, carries ignitable fuel (gas, liquid or solid) will the flame 40 of heat or extra heat to be provided to carry out cooking food and strengthen convection current 30 to produce by described port 38.Flame 40 can be used in cooking food 16, or electrical heating elements 12 can be used in cooking food 16, or the combination of the two can be used in cooking food 16.

The diameter of port 38 can be 0.001 to 0.035 inch, preferably 0.003 to 0.025 inch, more preferably 0.005 to 0.012 inch, and is most preferably between 0.007 to 0.010 inch.The wall thickness of manifold 36 is preferably 0.02 to 0.100 inch, more preferably 0.005 to 0.035 inch, and is most preferably 0.010 to 0.020 inch.The internal diameter of the internal diameter of manifold 36 and the pipeline that manifold 36 is connected to electrolytic cell is preferably 0.020 to 0.5 inch, more preferably 0.025 to 0.250 inch, and is most preferably 0.050 to 0.125 inch.Port 38 produces preferably by with laser beam cutting or by holing with very high speed.Manifold 36 can be made up of aluminium, steel, brass, copper, stainless steel, nickel or other high-temperature metal arbitrary, glass, plastics or composite.Spacing between aperture or port 38 can be 0.125 to 2 inch, preferably 0.5 to 2 inch, and more preferably 1.0 to 1.5 inches.The axis limited by the air-flow by aperture 38 can at-10 degree with between positive 30 degree (upwards) relative to surface 14.

Cooking surface can comprise food receiving surface (such as flank 18) and electric heating structure (electrical heating elements 12 in such as substrate 24).Food receiving surface and electric heating structure can be single structures (that is, they can be assembled into a unit).Preferably, food receiving surface and electric heating structure are removably mounted to cook utensil, to make both food receiving surface and electric heating structure simultaneously from cook utensil dismounting (element as independent).Such as, electrical heating elements 12 can integrally be integrated in food receiving surface.As shown in figure 14, cooking surface 136 and 200 is each can be received in bracket 208 slidably.Cooking surface 136 and 200 is each has the electrical contact 210 on its rear portion.Mating contact 212 is arranged in bracket 208.Therefore, when cooking surface 136,200 slides in the position in bracket 208, electrical heating elements is electrically connected to apparatus.Should be understood that mating contact 212 can be connected to power supply by arbitrary device as known in the art, such as, they can be hardwired to Electronic Control encapsulation 214.Contact 210,212 can be arbitrary electric connector as known in the art.

Or food receiving surface removably can be received on electric heating structure and (such as, is positioned in substrate 24 or is detachably fixed in substrate 24).Should be understood that food receiving surface can be releasably attached to electrical heating elements 12 and electrical heating elements 12 does not need to install in the substrate.

According to a further aspect in the invention, aperture 38 is preferably arranged so that will not drip on it from the droppings of cooking food 16, prevents the port 38 that exogenous impurity pollution, obstruction or destruction fuel gas flow through thus.Preferably, cooking surface has the opening be arranged on wherein, and the liquid produced when cooking surface is positioned at the top of burner and is configured to guiding food cooking is away from burner port 38.These openings allow combustion product to rise and directly contact the food on cooking surface.Cooking surface can towards these Open Side Down angulations.Such as, can make cooking surface roughly corrugate, these openings are arranged in wavy trough.Preferably, wavy is roughly V-arrangement.

According to a further aspect in the invention, combustion product can be utilized to heat flank 18.Such as, if sidewall 22 is hollow and have the bottom of opening, then port 38 can be positioned at the below with sidewall 22 under end face 20, to make combustion product rise heat the downside of end face 20.Should be understood that port 38 can be positioned between sidewall 22, and therefore flame is positioned at flank 18.In another alternate embodiment, combustion product can be transmitted through the inner hollow space of passage to flank 18.In this case, port 38 does not need the below being positioned at cooking surface 14, as long as combustion product is flowed through flank by transmission.

Arbitrary device ignited flammable gas as known in the art can be passed through.Such as, when fuel is supplied to port 38, user can manually light burner 34.Such as, user can light match near fuel inlet source.Preferably, igniting component 42 is provided with.Igniting component 42 can be arbitrary igniting component as known in the art.Known manual ignition component (such as, electronic spark generator) in barbecue rack and culinary art platform field.Therefore, component 42 of lighting a fire can be positioned to adjacent with one or more ports 38 of manifold 36 and be positioned at below it to provide the device lighting ignitable fuel.Preferably, igniting component 42 locates to light the ignitable fuel carried by manifold 36 near port 38 fully, also keeps at a distance fully and makes it during cooking do not destroyed by flame 40.Igniting component 42 can be a kind of electric heating wire be made up of nichrome or the other applicable material that can sustain high-temperature operation.Or igniting component 42 can be that one is applied in high-tension electric wire, and it is mounted to make periodically produce spark between ground connection manifold 36 and this igniting component 42 thus light ignitable fuel in the region closest to port 30.Igniting component 42 can be a kind of from port 38 apart from 0.050 the hot-wire ignition component of " to 0.125 ".

Igniting component can be activated by a user when cooking surface first time opens, or preferably can keep working during whole cooking process, to guarantee if flame 40 is accidentally extinguished (fluid such as from food drips on flame), flame will promptly be lighted again.

Ignitable fuel can be a kind of at large for the fuel of cooking or heat, such as methane (natural gas), propane, butane, naphtha or methylated spirit.Preferably, hydrogen can be used as ignitable fuel.The advantage of hydrogen is used to be that the gaseous product burnt does not need to discharge.Preferably, hydrogen is by the electrolysis production of water.

According to a further aspect in the invention, equipment comprises the hydrogen means of storage being different from pressurized tank.Hydrogen can be stored in the hydrogen storage medium of such as metal hydride, CNT, hydrogen salt, slaine, or is stored in the material of plastics, pottery or glass absorption, or in the combination of these multiple materials, and when needed for such as cooking.Many this method and technologies as known in the art and arbitrary this method can use at this.Some such as magnesium hydride, many microporous oxides, metal nitride, zeolite or its combination hydrogen storage mediums absorb hydrogen at ambient temperature with under medium high pressure, and at high temperature or when electric current pass through material time release hydrogen.Therefore, this storage medium is provided for the method for the safety storing hydrogen and the danger that do not have pressurized storage container to leak.

The equipment of this storage medium is used preferably to have thermal source to heat hydrogen storage medium.Such as, hydrogen storage medium can have the stratie with its thermo-contact.When hydrogen is needed, electric current will be provided to stratie thus release hydrogen.Preferably, the magnitude of current of applying is variable (such as, variable variable resistance).Therefore, when the more electric current of applying, then more hydrogen is discharged.Therefore, such as, arranging on variable variable resistance can be labeled as low-heat, moderate fever and Gao Re or analog.Electric current for stratie can provide from household socket (equipment that such as can plug in).Therefore, in operation, equipment can be connected to household socket.When hydrogen is needed, electric current can be provided to stratie with the hydrogen stream of production requirement with the flow required.

Or, if want there is no the place place operating equipment of available power supply, battery or other electric current means of storage can be provided.Electric current means of storage may be used for providing electric current to carry out heating resistor heating element heater to make hydrogen storage medium in the place place release hydrogen of equipment to be used.Such as, if equipment is cook utensil, this apparatus can plug in place of residence and indoor charging.Hydrogen storage medium can also charge then.Then apparatus can take to does not such as have available power supply part (such as in park) to picnic, and apparatus uses the hydrogen and electric current that store for cooking food.

In alternative embodiments, hydrogen storage medium can removably receive in a device.Alternatively or additionally, equipment can be suitable for receiving one or more hydrogen storage mediums.Therefore, equipment can be provided with the hydrogen from two or more hydrogen storage mediums.Hydrogen storage medium can (operating time with expansion equipment) or side by side (to expand the amount of the hydrogen that can be used for equipment) use continuously.

In another alternate embodiment, equipment can comprise charger, or equipment can be charger.Charger has the component (such as electrolytic cell) providing the hydrogen be stored in hydrogen storage medium.One or more hydrogen means of storage is arranged in this charger and such as one or more electrolytic cell, and wherein said electrolytic cell is operated to provide the hydrogen of storage.Then this one or more hydrogen means of storage can be dismantled and be arranged in the second equipment to provide hydrogen to this second equipment.Such as, equipment can be cook utensil and hydrogen storage medium can provide hydrogen for culinary art.Or equipment can be the housed device of such as garden tool, electric tool, pressure washer and car jack.Hydrogen storage medium can be designed to be received in interchangeably in two or more different housed device.Therefore, hydrogen storage medium can be the common-use size that can receive in different housed devices, and is similar to such as AA or C battery.An advantage of this design is that hydrogen storage medium is allowed electricity to be stored as hydrogen and is provided for the heat of culinary art or power subsequently by burning hydrogen.

Therefore, hydrogen storage medium can refill on request or replace by the means of storage be full of.Alternatively or additionally, the hydrogen be stored in hydrogen storage medium can produce by electrolysis or by chemical reaction in a device.

In another alternate embodiment, some or all in the hydrogen of production can consume along with use and residue can be stored.Or some or all in the hydrogen of production can store along with production and residue can be consumed.Such as, hydrogen can be produced by electrolysis or by other chemistry or electrochemical reaction, and is stored in bottle under stress or is stored in metal hydride, takes out hydrogen subsequently when needs hydrogen is for cooking from described metal hydride.Thus, such as, during the renewable energy that maybe can obtain from wind or solar energy when electric cost is low, adopt hydrogen as the cook utensil 10 of ignitable fuel by the electrolysis of the non-aqueous electrolytic solution of such as potassium hydroxide and so on, hydrogen can be produced and store the hydrogen produced until need hydrogen for culinary art.Subsequently, the hydrogen of storage can be used.Or some or all while producing hydrogen in this hydrogen can side by side for culinary art.

Such as, if cook utensil 10 comprises electrolytic cell, then may be used for burning hydrogen by some or all in the oxygen of electrolysis production.Hydrogen can be collected from the headroom of electrolytic cell with oxygen and be transported by identical passage to manifold 36.Or hydrogen and oxygen can be collected dividually from electrolytic cell and be provided to port 38 via the passage separated.Therefore, hydrogen and oxygen can mix at port 38 place.Also hydrogen only can be provided to port 38 and to burn this hydrogen with aerial oxygen.

Use the advantage of the alternate embodiment of hydrogen storage medium to be, the hydrogen of production can exit described hydrogen storage medium and with than initial Energy transfer to electrolytic cell to the larger speed burning of the speed producing hydrogen.Such as, apparatus plug being inserted the household socket of standard north American can obtain the energy of 1500W.This electric energy is enough is used (such as using 1 hour) with the hydrogen of production inventory.When utilizing cook utensil 10, the hydrogen of storage can burn, and the electricity simultaneously obtained from household socket is used to provide electrical heating and extra hydrogen.Therefore, cook utensil 10 can carry with the speed of per time period 3000W the hydrogen produced, thus accelerate can the speed of cooking food.Should be understood that and can utilize some culinary art patterns, it comprises: the hydrogen that (1) burning stores also uses the electricity during cooking obtained to provide power to electrical heating; (2) hydrogen that burning stores also uses the electricity during cooking obtained to provide power to electrical heating and to produce extra hydrogen; (3) use the electricity during cooking obtained to provide power to electrical heating and to produce extra hydrogen, and do not utilize the hydrogen of storage; And (4) take out cook utensil from socket and only use the hydrogen of storage for culinary art (burning of electrical heating and/or hydrogen, wherein hydrogen is produced in advance and stored).Therefore, cook utensil can carry out recharging and in outdoor application in house, such as, courtyard or balcony (if not outdoor plug easily, or using at remote picnic place place).

Should be understood that the energy using in the apparatus comprising portable tool and store with the form of hydrogen, also may be used for other apparatus.It is one or more that this apparatus can provide in following functions: space heating; Water heats; Be expelled in fuel cell by hydrogen and generate electricity; By refrigeration or the air conditioning of the such as adsorption cycle of ammonia circularly cooling; By hydrogen in thermoelectric pile or thermoelectric generator internal-combustion generating; By with being connected to the turbine of generator, internal combustion engine, external-combustion engine, Stirling or graceful gloomy engine or the generating of other prime mover burning hydrogen.

Or, the hydrogen not only producing hydrogen by the arbitrary means be such as hydrolyzed but also fetch storage obtains the desired heat for cooking cook utensil 10 to produce hydrogen flow rate can also be constructed.

Should be understood that this hydrogen storage medium is in the downstream of electrolytic cell and in the upstream of burner if provide a kind of hydrogen storage medium.The hydrogen from hydrogen storage medium and the hydrogen from electrolytic cell if burner can burn simultaneously, then burner can with both hydrogen storage medium and electrolytic cell all fluid flow communications, described hydrogen storage medium then flows with cell fluid and is communicated with.Suitable valve can be provided with the source allowing consumer and select to require or hydrogen source.

Fig. 3 illustrates the alternate embodiment of the cook utensil 10 adopting some aspects of the present invention.Especially, cook utensil adopts electrical contact heating cooking and uses both ignitable fuel culinary arts.In this embodiment, cook utensil 10 is constructed to traditional grill.Therefore, cooking surface 14 comprises grill, and this grill has a series of groove 44 but also preferably has the fluid that helps from cooking process away from just by the groove portion 46 of flow of food cooked.Cooking surface 14 can be constructed by the heat conducting material of such as aluminium, copper, cast iron and steel.At least one or be preferably multiple electrical heating elements 12 to be integrated on cooking surface 14 or in thus with cooking surface 14 thermal communication.Should be understood that cooking surface 14 can alternatively be formed primarily of one or more electrical heating elements 12.Should also be understood that in alternative embodiments, groove portion 46 can be replaced by groove 44.

Use another aspect of the present invention, groove 44(is preferably groove 44 and groove portion 46) be dimensioned to permission convection current 30 in the formation of the below of food with auxiliary cooking surface 14 cooking foods.Preferably, convection current 30 has the rate of climb of 1 to 1000 inch per second, more preferably has the rate of climb of 3 to 100 inches per second, and most preferably has the rate of climb of 5 to 50 inches per second.Groove 44 can be 0.25 to 3 inch wide and 0.25 to 24 inch long, preferably 0.375 to 1.0 inch wide and 1 to 6 inch long, and more preferably 0.5 to 0.75 inch wide and 2 to 4 inches long.Alternatively or additionally, groove portion 46 can be 0.125 to 1.0 inch wide and 0.125 to 2 inch dark, preferably 0.25 to 0.75 inch wide and 0.25 to 0.75 inch dark, more preferably 0.375 to 0.5 inch wide and 0.375 to 0.5 inch dark in help fluid from cooking process away from just by the flow of food of cooking.Therefore, groove 44 and groove portion 46 produce the geometry of the convection current 30 promoted below the food of just cooking.

Should be understood that the grill plate of Fig. 3 can be applied to the both sides of food to improve the speed of culinary art.Therefore, cook utensil can have upper culinary art component and lower cooking surface.In such an embodiment, lower cooking surface is preferably food receiving surface.Upper culinary art component can be arbitrary culinary art component as known in the art (that is, providing heat to arbitrary component of the upper surface of food in cooking zone) and be preferably arbitrary cooking surface disclosed herein, and the food receiving surface more preferably heated.Upper food receiving surface can be electrically heated and/or by combustion product (such as, pass through food receiving surface or hot combustion gas just on this above food receiving surface) heating.Preferably in upper and lower cooking surface one of at least, and more preferably upper and lower cooking surface is both removably mounted to cook utensil.

As the embodiment of Fig. 1, cooking surface 14 can be level or tilt.

According to another aspect of the invention, the grill plate of Fig. 3 is also provided preferably with burner 34.In such an embodiment, groove 44 can be allow the arbitrary special construction from the food on the direct heating cooking surface 14 of flame 40 of burner 34.Or groove 44 can be dimensioned to and allow to form the convection current 30 with the rate of climb provided herein.Should be understood that port 38 can be positioned at the below of the solid section of cooking surface 14, that is, not in the below of groove 44, minimizing fat or other liquid drip to the possibility of port 38 thus.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, in operation, user can by apparatus plug insertion socket.If unit is hard wired, do not require this step.When equipment connection is to power supply, if or equipment just with give provide power battery operated from hydrogen storage medium release hydrogen time, user then can open this equipment.Preferably, user activates single controller, and this controller starts the operation of electrolytic cell and igniting component.When the gas producing q.s is to produce permanent flame, valve can be opened to allow this gas to be provided to burner.The work of igniting component causes this gas when gas flows to burner automatically to be lighted thus.Or, the analog (such as, in the example of spark ignition component) that circuit can comprise timer, pressure sensor, flow sensor or make when gas starts to flow to burner igniting component activated.If igniting component is by the line heated, then timer, pressure sensor, flow sensor or analog can make ignition lead before gas flows to burner, start heating fully, to make ignition lead have suitable temperature when gas arrives burner.Should understand, single controller can be a kind of promoted by consumer and suppress until the start button producing flame (such as, lamp brighten instruction can release-push or light extinguish instruction can release-push) or, start button only pressurized and circuit structure can become maintain during boot sequence the operation of electrolytic cell and igniting component.

Such as, Fig. 4 illustrates the exemplary circuit diagram of the hydrogen flame cook utensil for describing in Fig. 3, and the parts of described circuit diagram can be contained in electric control encapsulation 214.Circuit 48 comprises power supply 50, on/off switch 52, electrical heating elements 12 and electrolytic cell 54.Power supply 50 can be household socket.In North America, this socket typically 120VAC socket and Europe it can be 240VAC socket.Therefore on/off switch 28 can be specified 120/240VAC, 15A, and is preferably single-pole single-throw switch (SPST) to open or to close all power supplys to unit.Lamp 70 can be connected with on/off switch 52 line and when is set as " unlatching " with indicator cock.In a preferred embodiment, apparatus is designed to utilize household current work.Therefore, this apparatus can be portable work bench face apparatus.In such an embodiment, user can arrange apparatus and (such as cook in its plug insertion socket) when needed on work top.Or apparatus can be stored on this work top.User then can open unit by the plug insertion socket of apparatus and then and such as start culinary art.Should be understood that apparatus can be hard wired.

Heating element heater 12 such as lower cooking surface can electrical wiring manually adjustable temperature controller 76, such as, for the variable spring of bimetallic element, with the temperature making user change heating element heater 12.This realizes by mechanical lever or knob.One or more extra heating element heater 12a(is such as upper cooking surface) can be electrically connected in series with electrolytic cell 54, and be selectively electrically connected in series with igniting component 42.

Cook utensil can comprise one or more safety device.These safety devices comprise pressure switch 56, pressure switch 60 and triple valve 66.

Preferably, as safety device, circuit 48 comprises pressure switch 56.As shown in Figure 5, the gas produced in electrolytic cell 54 is sent to manifold 36 via pressure switch 56.Pressure switch 56 is configured to close with predetermined pressure.Predetermined pressure can be that the flame that prevents reached at port 38 place crosses the minimum pressure of the air velocity that port 38 is upstream propagated.Preferably, air velocity exceedes the flame propagation velocity (that is, fast in case the speed of non-return combustion fully) of the fuel just used.Preferably, air velocity is 2 to 10 times of the flame propagation velocity of hydrogen and the oxygen mixture produced by electrolytic cell 54, and more preferably 3 to 5 times.Pressure switch 56 can be the double-pole single throw often opened.Therefore, pressure switch 56 can be set as and prevents in " backfire " to electrolytic cell 54 and keep flame keep manifold to cool thus away from the wall of manifold 36 and maintain the integrality of port 38.In typical apparatus, when the pressure of 0.1 to 3.0 pound per square inch (PSIG) is applied to outlet 58 place, more preferably between 0.5 and 1.5 pound per square inches (PSIG), most preferably between 0.75 and 1.0 pound per square inches (PSIG), pressure switch 56 can activated, and namely closes.Typically, the flow velocity of the fuel gas that this pressure is guaranteed in burner 34 maintains on minimal flow, to prevent the flame propagation along pipe that can cause " backfire ".

Second pressure switch 60 is configured to open when exceeding predetermined pressure.Second pressure switch 60 can be normally closed interlock, and it is opened when reaching the predetermined minimum operational pressure for electrolytic cell 54 based on its mechanical integrity.For many consumer applications, the pressure of 3 to 150 pound per square inches (PSIG) is preferably maximum allowable pressure, more preferably 4 to 50 pound per square inches (PSIG), and is most preferably 5 to 10 pound per square inches (PSIG).If such as blocked in manifold, hydrogen storage medium and/or flow channel, pressure switch 60 limits the maximum pressure that cook utensil 10 produces.If this pressure exceedes the maximum pressure of setting, circuit 48 disconnects and interrupts the power supply of electrolytic cell 54, stops process gas.Pressure switch can comprise outlet 62.Outlet 62 can Exhaust Gas to surrounding environment and/or hydrogen storage medium.Therefore, when exceeding predetermined pressure, outlet 62 is opened and alleviates superpressure.If pressure is reduced under setting maximum pressure (such as because superpressure is released by outlet 62), outlet 62 will be closed, and the normally closed interlock of pressure switch 60 is closed, and power up, the production of gas restarts.This also in production control due to the change of input voltage fluctuation.

If provide pressure switch 56, then also preferably provide flame igniter switch 64.Upon closing, flame igniter switch 64 allows electric current to flow through hot-wire ignition component 42 thus substantially bypassing the contact of pressure switch 56 and flows through electrolytic cell 54, described electrolytic cell 54 start process gas simultaneously three-way magnetic valve 66 keep mechanical closing.Flame igniter switch 64 can be the momentary contact switch of specified 120/240VAC, the 15A comprising single-pole single-throw switch (SPST).The fluid of triple valve 66 shown in Fig. 5 connects.Once the pressure in electrolytic cell arrives a following pressure, then the contact of pressure switch 58 is closed, activation option signal (such as lamp 68 is lit) and user can discharge flame igniter switch 64, this pressure representative realizes the minimum pressure exceeding the air velocity of the flame propagation velocity for fuel such as just used at port 38 place.Lamp 68 can selectively replace with the resistor of connecting with light emitting diode.

Lamp 68 also preferred ground wire connects, thus lamp 68 is opened when triple valve 66 provides power by pressure switch 56.Triple valve 66 is configured to connect manifold 36 and electrolytic cell 54 when pressure switch 56 is closed fluid flow communication, and is fluidly communicated with connection manifold 36 and air when pressure switch 56 is opened via passage 72 fluid.Therefore, the three-way magnetic valve that triple valve 66 can be connected by line, when flowing through pressure switch 56 with convenient electric current, valve 66 is opened and valve 66 allows hydrogen and/or hydrogen and oxygen to flow to manifold 36 from electrolytic cell 54.Three-way magnetic valve 66 also preferably carries out mechanical arrangement, when opening with convenient pressure switch 56, make it such as in 1 to 20 millisecond, more preferably in 1 to 10 millisecond, and most preferably close between 1 to 4 millisecond, make gas transfer to air from manifold 36 via passage 72 thus.When three-way magnetic valve is de-energized, burner 34 is connected to air, and the pressure of hydrogen/oxygen mixture and speed reduce, and flame propagation also arrives air then in burner, by valve 66, prevents " backfire " in electrolytic cell 54 thus.

The passage of the fluid of three-way magnetic valve 66, valve seat and sealing are not preferably made up by the material that electrolysis or burning gases destroy of stainless steel or other, such as fluorubber or other chemical inertness seal.

Preferably, hot-wire ignition component 42 is electrically connected in series with electrolytic cell 54.Thus if hot-wire ignition component 42 is destroyed, the flowing of hydrogen/oxygen will stop, because electric energy will do not had to flow to electrolytic cell 54.This is simple built-in security system.In addition, one or more electricity culinary art element 12 is also connected with electrolytic cell 54 and igniter 42 series line.Therefore, if igniting component 42 is destroyed, then electric energy will do not had to flow to electricity culinary art element.This will provide the igniting signal that component has been broken to user.Preferably, heating element heater 12a is electrically connected in series with hot-wire ignition component 42 and electrolytic cell 54.Pressure drop on heating element heater 12a guarantees that the voltage being fed to hot-wire ignition component 42 and electrolytic cell 54 is in the scope of the requirement for normal operating.

If power supply 50 is AC powers, then adopt AC to the DC current transformer of such as four diodes or bridge rectifier 74 alternating input current to be converted to the direct current needed by electrolytic cell 54.

According to a further aspect in the invention, equipment comprises one or more being positioned at from the injector in the fluid flowing passage of sources of hydrogen (electrolytic cell and/or hydrogen storage medium) and burner (see such as Figure 12).An advantage of this design is that injector prevents flame at the upstream back-propagation of injector to electrolytic cell and/or hydrogen storage medium.In addition, injector makes air-flow soak, and provides extra water thus and cook in cooking zone or assist while heat food to prevent food from dryouting in cooking zone.If equipment does not have hydrogen storage medium, then one or more injector can be positioned at the fluid flowing path from electrolytic cell to burner.If equipment has hydrogen storage medium and do not have electrolytic cell (such as, in the example of charger), then one or more injector can be positioned at the fluid flowing path from hydrogen storage medium to burner.If equipment has electrolytic cell and hydrogen storage medium, if and be incorporated in the upstream of burner from the stream of electrolytic cell and hydrogen storage medium, then one or more injector can be positioned at the downstream of the upstream of burner and the position of stream merging place, or stream can merge (such as at described injector place, stream from electrolytic cell to injector can be set, and the stream from hydrogen storage medium to injector can be set).Or injector stream can arrange from electrolytic cell to burner and arrange to burner from hydrogen storage medium, can have one or more injector in each stream.

For example, referring to Fig. 5, illustrate that electrolytic cell 54 is connected to the preferred schematic diagram of burner 34.Therefore, the hydrogen that electrolytic cell 54 is produced and oxygen gas mix thing through pipeline 78 in injector 80, can produce a series of bubble 82 in the water 84 of described injector 80 in injector room 86.Then hydrogen and oxygen gas mix thing pass through pipeline 90 to pressure switch 56, by pipeline 92 in pressure switch 60, by pipeline 94 in three-way magnetic valve 66 from the headroom 88 of injector room 86.If three-way magnetic valve 66 is energized, then hydrogen and oxygen flow are by pipeline 96, by optional check-valves 98, by pipeline 100 to manifold 36.If three-way magnetic valve 66 is de-energized, then hydrogen and oxygen flow interrupt, and manifold 36 is by pipeline 100, by check-valves 98, by pipeline 96 and the pipeline 72 being connected to discharge air by three-way magnetic valve 66.

Injector 80 is used to have some advantages.First, when hydrogen and oxygen gas mix thing are by injector room 86, hydrogen and oxygen gas mix thing can remove the vestige of the electrolyte used in electrolytic cell 54 through the water in injector room 86 or other applicable fluid.In addition, make hydrogen and oxygen gas mix thing moistening.Participate in preventing the food of cooking from dryouting by the humidity increased through injector 80.Such as, not by theoretical restriction, think that the water vapour assembled is by cold condense on surfaces, such as, locate the downside of lid at the cooking surface.Such raising, around the humidity level in the air of food (cooking zone), participates in maintaining the suitable moisture level in food.Another advantage is, injector prevents backfire along hydrogen and oxygen gas supply line to electrolytic cell.Such as, just in case flame back-propagation is by pipeline 94, then flame will enter the injector room by holding this flame.Flame can not pass upstream past injector room 86 and enter pipeline 78.

In a preferred embodiment, injector room or its be translucent or transparent (and preferably transparent) at least partially, and be located so that when apparatus in use time user can observe a translucent or transparent part for injector room 86 or multiple part.An advantage of the present embodiment is that user can observe gas foaming by injector room 86.Like this to the visual judgement that user provides electrolytic cell working.In a more preferred embodiment, such as the lamp of Light-Emitting Diode LED is arranged on the inside of injector room, but or is positioned at that it is outside directed with the inside illuminating injector room.The illumination provided by the inside of injector room 86 or one or more lamps of outside is strengthened user and observes the ability of bubble by injector room 86 and strengthen the ability that user obtains the visual judgement that electrolytic cell is operating.

In alternate embodiments, should be understood that cook utensil can use the ignitable fuel produced in cook utensil also can not utilize arbitrary electrical heating elements.Therefore, one or more burner can be provided by electrolytic cell and/or hydrogen storage medium.Such as, Fig. 6 illustrates alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, and wherein electrical heating elements is not embedded in grill plate 102.Flame 40 is for heating the air below grill plate 102, preferably produce convection current 30 in the below of the food 16 of just cooking, also heat grill plate 102, preferably strengthened the heat transfer of described grill plate 102 by the optional a series of fins 104 on this grill plate 102 lower surface.Fin 104 processs the food 16 of just cooking to help to cook sooner with roasting better for the part heat transmitted quickly from flame 40 in grill plate 102.Selectively, second group of flame mainly can guide heating fin 104 into.Should be understood that cooking surface can use arbitrary structure disclosed herein and parts can connect as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

In arbitrary above-described embodiment, optional upper heating element heater may be used for the end face of cooking food 16.This heating element heater can be the hydrogen flame burner of such as burner 34, provides the hydrogen net burner (hydrogenscreenburner) of radiation heating, electric radiation heating element heater, to be electrically heated by burning and/or by the contact cooking surface that heats or microwave energy.Thus, upper heating element heater may be used for cooking food 16, or flame 40 may be used for cooking food 16, or electrical heating elements 12,12a are used for cooking food 16, or above combination may be used for cooking food 16.

Also the element of only cooking that should be understood that cook utensil 10 can be that ignitable fuel by producing in this cook utensil 10 provides the upper heating element heater of power.

Also should be understood that cook utensil 10 can be that electricity turns barbecue rack, that is, cook utensil has the culinary art support comprising the bar portion turning barbecue rack for electricity, and its king-rod portion is rotatably installed in the cook utensil in cooking zone.Cooking zone can by the combustion heating of fuel gas produced by one or more electrolytic cell.This gas can burn in burner and/or radiation heating component.Or, also can use electrical heating.

Alternate route schematic diagram shown in Fig. 4 a.In fig .4, stabilized power source 110 is provided with.In this embodiment, two thermostat-pyrostals 112 and cryostat 114 is provided with.Therefore, user can console switch 120 to change between high temperature mode and low temperature mode.Alternatively or additionally, a kind of variable thermostat can be provided.When unit is to be used, user can plug in apparatus (being such as inserted in socket by plug 50) and then open main on/off switch 52 and press the button 116 of closing switch 118 and 64.When electrolytic cell 54 produced enough gas open low tension switch 56 time, then magnetic valve 66 is opened and gas in the future spontaneous combustion burner.Optional lamp 68 will illuminate and close with indicating user pressure switch 56, and they can release-push 56.While working at electrolytic cell 54 during hot spot firearm 42, when magnetic valve 66 is opened and gas flows to burner, then igniter heat is to being enough to light gas.As shown in fig. 4 a, also fuse can be provided.

Can in environment temperature is lower than electrolytic cell fluid solidifying point place in use or store this apparatus.If the fluid sets in electrolytic cell, then the shape of electrolytic cell can be distortion, causes the operating characteristic (such as, the efficiency of unit or the operational capacity of unit) of electrolytic cell to change.Therefore, in alternative embodiments, construction of tanks one-tenth can displacement fluids.In this case, one or more outlet can be arranged to discharge liquid from electrolytic cell and be preferably positioned at the part most on the lower of electrolytic cell.Arbitrary openable outlet as known in the art can use.Such as, outlet can seal with draw-off plug, and described draw-off plug comprises thread cap, bayonet socket mounting cap, occlusion cap or analog, or alternatively can use ball valve or analog.In pipeline engineering, arbitrary this mechanism as known in the art can use.Outlet can be positioned to can be close when housed device is assembled, and preferably outlet is positioned on the external shell of equipment.Therefore, one or more outlet can be close from the outer surface of equipment, such as, in the below of movable cover panel.Therefore, before storing apparatus for winter user can open outlet (such as, by draw-off plug of outwarding winding) and from electrolytic cell turned letter fluid.Or apparatus can comprise little pump with from electrolytic cell displacement fluids.

Alternatively or additionally, apparatus can have fluid accumulator.This reservoir is preferably dimensioned to the whole fluids received from electrolytic cell.Reservoir can be dismountable.Therefore, then consumer also can dismantle and seals reservoir by emptying electrolytic cell.Therefore, if apparatus is built-in outdoor equipment (built-in barbecue rack or fireplace), then user only needs to discharge the fluid of electrolytic cell in reservoir, dismounting reservoir in order to store reservoir winter.Or reservoir can be designed to wherein receive fluid and allow fluid to solidify (that is, no matter wherein electrolyte solution solidifies and keeps fluid tight) wherein.Therefore, user does not need to dismantle reservoir.Instead, user only needs from electrolytic cell displacement fluids to (such as, by opening valve or driven motor in the fluid flowing path between electrolytic cell and reservoir) reservoir.Reservoir is preferably dimensioned to be supported all fluids and allows it to expand when fluid sets.Therefore reservoir can have is the volume of 1.5 times of electrolytic cell volume.

Electrolytic cell can be discharged from electrolytic cell transmission electrolyte solution to reservoir by using pump.Similarly, pump can operate to transmit electrolyte solution to electrolytic cell from reservoir conversely.Alternatively or additionally, gravity may be used for discharging electrolyte solution to reservoir and/or from reservoir to electrolytic cell from electrolytic cell.Such as, if reservoir is positioned at the below of electrolytic cell, then electrolyte solution can flow to reservoir by the valve such as opened in the stream between electrolytic cell and reservoir from electrolytic cell.

In a preferred embodiment, electrolytic cell and reservoir position one of is at least movable relative to another, fluid can be made to flow in-between.Therefore one of electrolytic cell and reservoir (preferably two) can be able to be reorientated vertically by such as sliding along vertical rail.Therefore, such as, electrolyte solution can make reservoir be discharged to reservoir in the below of electrolytic cell from electrolytic cell by mobile electrolytic cell and fluid accumulator position one of at least.

In preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 15 a-15c, reservoir 154 is installed to electrolytic cell 54 and electrolytic cell and reservoir shape all-in-one-piece assembly, and they are rotated around horizontal axis A as a unit.This assembly can rotate to a position, above the port of the port in this position in electrolytic cell in reservoir, makes liquid can flow to reservoir (see Figure 15 a) by gravity from electrolytic cell.As shown in fig. 15 a, liquid can be discharged to reservoir from electrolytic cell via port 226, and liquid makes the gas in electrolytic cell (such as air) flow to reservoir from electrolytic cell via air port 228 because gravity flow in reservoir.When assembly rotates (being indicated by arrow in such as Figure 15 b) to another position (such as 180 degree of rotations as shown in fig. 15 c), the top of the port in a cell of the port in reservoir, make liquid can flow to by gravity the electrolytic cell comprising check-valves from reservoir, can arrange comprise check-valves valve to control the flowing of fluid.Alternatively or additionally, air-transmitting air pump 230(between electrolytic cell and reservoir can be used in see Figure 16 a to 16c) and/or liquid pump 232(between electrolytic cell and reservoir see Figure 17 a to 17c).Alternatively or additionally, the size of reservoir 154 can change (such as by limiting movable piston 234(bottom reservoir 154 see such as Figure 18 a to 18c)).

Should be understood that reservoir may be used for supply supplementing water to electrolytic cell.Therefore, reservoir can have the one or more liquid outlets be communicated with the one or more inlet flow on electrolytic cell.When water in a cell electrolysis time, supplementing water can be transported to electrolytic cell from reservoir.User manually can transmit water by such as opening valve.Or flowing can be automatic, such as, by by the valve that controls of the driven ground of liquid sensor (such as float switch).Therefore, when water is transformed into hydrogen and oxygen, supplementing water automatically can be fed to electrolytic cell.

Should be understood that and sometimes will have to increase water to electrolytic cell and optional injector room 86.Therefore, electrolytic cell and each can being configured to of injector are provided supplementing water.According to an embodiment, in electrolytic cell and reservoir one of at least or the flow channel (such as conduit) extended in-between there is import.Similarly, injector has at least one import.In alternative preferred embodiment, if be provided with injector room 86, be then provided with independent import.This independent import and injector and both electrolytic cells all fluid are communicated with and therefore two elements can simultaneously by topped up with water.Such as, import can make a part of water pass to injector room and electrolytic cell by bifurcated (such as Y shape).Can filter the water that is provided to injector and reservoir one or both of with from supply water remove particulate matter and/or remove anion or cationic material.Such as, import can have filter medium and/or the ion exchange resin of filter particulate material.

The arbitrary openable import be known in the art can use.Such as, import can use thread cap, bayonet socket mounting cap, the sealing of occlusion cap, ball valve or analog.Arbitrary this mechanism known in pipeline engineering field can use.These imports can be positioned in can be close when assembling housed device, and preferably these imports are positioned on the external shell of equipment.Therefore, one or more import can be close from the outer surface of equipment, such as, in the below (such as, the part of installing pivotly of the external shell of apparatus, see Fig. 7) of movable lid 106.Should be understood that or, can automatically to provide supplementing water in pumping household tap water to equipment.

As Figure 12 illustrates, the main casing 132 for equipment comprises two electrolytic cells 54, and each electrolytic cell 54 has at least one fuel gas outlet 150 and at least one supplementing water import 152.Water inlet 152 extends from reservoir 154.But each gas vent 150 extends to reservoir 154 can selectively be directly connected to injector 156.Each electrolytic cell is filled to the headroom 158 be provided on interstitial wire 160.When needs water, water is provided to electrolytic cell 54 by arbitrary device as known in the art.Hydrogen and oxygen not separated catching and to accumulate in single headroom 158 and to flow to reservoir 154 alternatively.Hydrogen and oxygen form bubble 162 in the water 164 of reservoir 154.This bubble is upwards sent to headroom 166 and flows to a component that will become in the water 172 of the gas introducing injector 156 of bubble along the pipeline pipeline 168 that flows downward, such as, spread stone (diffuserstone) 170.The gas transport becoming bubble 174 to headroom 176, transfers to flow downward pipeline 178 to passage 180 and the burner that arrives by water 172.Should be understood that and can only provide one of reservoir 154 and injector 156.Such as, in the fig. 12 embodiment, reservoir 154 is as the reservoir providing supplementing water to arrive electrolytic cell 54 and as injector.Therefore, the pipeline 168 that flows downward can be directly connected to passage 180.Or gas vent 150 can be directly connected to injector 156, reservoir 154 is made to be not used as injector 156(see such as Figure 13).

Reservoir 154 and each stopper 182 with closedown import 184 releasedly of injector 156.There is provided movingly (such as pivotable) or dismountable lid or cover panel 186 to hide each stopper 182.Should be understood that and single cover panel 186 can be provided to cover the top of two stoppers 182.When requiring to recharge injector and/or reservoir, the optional cover panel 186 that moves is increased to import 184 to expose stopper 182 and to dismantle stopper 182 to allow water.Reservoir 154 and injector 156 is each can have vertical tube 188, the length of described vertical tube 188 can make bottom be arranged in reservoir 154 and each preferred maximum liquid height place of injector 156.

Preferably, equipment has injector fluid level indicator, the scale liquid level viewport of such as float switch, transparent injector room or part or be communicated with the pipeline vertically or vertically tilted making its liquid level indicate the liquid level of electrolytic cell with cell fluid.Similarly, preferably electrolytic cell and/or injector have fluid level indicator.More preferably, equipment has the liquid level warning member of such as float switch, or activates the capacitive liquid level sensor of loudspeaker of lamp and/or the sound that gives a warning as known in the art when one or more liquid level of injector, electrolytic cell and reservoir drops under predetermined level.Therefore, when the liquid level warning member liquid signaled in injector, electrolytic cell and/or reservoir drops under predetermined level, personnel can recharge apparatus.Warning separately can be provided to need to recharge to indicate which element.

The equipment of should be understood that can have two reservoirs, and one for storing electrolyte solution and another arrives electrolytic cell for providing supplementing water.

In another alternate embodiment, equipment de-sign becomes off and in outdoor application.In this case, heater can be provided with reservoir and the optional injector room of thawing.Such as, electric heating coil can be arranged on each unit inside or around each unit.When activating this electric heating coil (such as, electric current flows through the electric wire being wound around each element), the fluid thaws in reservoir and optional injector.Then fluid can get back to electrolytic cell by such as using pump from reservoir.This can be run by reversion and realize for the pump discharging electrolytic cell.Other device arbitrary known in fluid transmission field can use.Then user can use this apparatus.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, provide at least one fan or analog to dilute the gas produced by electrolytic cell.Such as, pipeline 96 can be communicated with the air-source (such as fan) of pressurization.Therefore, the gas from electrolytic cell can use Dilution air.Therefore, first flow path can extend between electrolytic cell and burner, and fan can to flow with burner fluid with dilution source of the gas (such as surrounding environment) and is communicated with.Second stream can extend between fan and burner.Second stream can be separation flow path or can merge (that is, the second stream can with first flow path fluid flow communication) with first flow path in the upstream of burner.Therefore, the diluent gas stoping the method for backfire to comprise in equipment to provide enough is under stress to burner in case non-return combustion.

This alternative aspect has two advantages.First, the diluent air of increase participates in the speed that stabilizing gas flows to burner.Change if be provided in the electric current of electrolytic cell, then the amount of the gas produced will change.The diluent air increased reduces deviation by being transported to the volume of gas of burner by increase, reduces the absolute deviation flow in the volume of the gas of burner thus.Secondly, the diluent air of increase will increase the size of flame.This is of value to the aesthetic property increasing unit.Particularly, if electrolytic cell is used in fireplace, then the size of the flame increased produces the outward appearance more making people happy or true to nature.The amount of diluent air can be 1 to 5 times that when standard circuit electric current is available, electrolytic cell is designed the gas volume produced, preferably 1 to 3 times.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, at least one fan or analog are used for providing diluent air in combustion zone.If igniter and other security system have failed, then diluent air is provided to may be used for preventing hydrogen from reaching explosive threshold concentration.The amount of diluent air is preferably enough, reaches explosion ratio to prevent hydrogen.Preferably, fan guides enough air to combustion zone to reduce density of hydrogen in combustion zone to the half being less than explosive threshold concentration, and more preferably to being less than 1/10th of explosive threshold concentration.The amount of diluent air can be 5 to 200 times that when standard circuit electric current is available, electrolytic cell is designed the gas volume produced, preferably 5 to 100 times also more preferably 25 to 100 times.Preferably, the automatically actuated fan when activating electrolytic cell.If equipment also comprises hydrogen means of storage, then fan preferably also guides air in the storage area at hydrogen means of storage place.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, apparatus can have the collecting tank be positioned at below electrolytic cell.This collecting tank be a kind of be configured to keep receive the not porous of liquid and open-topped container.If leaking appears in electrolytic cell, then collecting tank will receive the fluid leaked from electrolytic cell.Thus just in case leak generation, then arbitrary surface at apparatus place will not be destroyed.The volume of collecting tank can be at least identical with the liquid volume of electrolytic cell, and be preferably 1.5 times of the volume of electrolytic cell or more doubly.Collecting tank alternatively can be positioned at the below of whole pipe-line systems of the unit (such as, to the pipeline of optional reservoir) of transporting fluid.Collecting tank can removably be installed.Therefore, if electrolyte solution leaks, it will to remain in collecting tank and collecting tank can be disassembled and take the place of the collecting tank of can turning in such as pond to.Or collecting tank salablely can be sent back to permission equipment and be placed under repair.In another alternate embodiment, collecting tank can extend in the below of part or all of cooking surface and is also used as to contain food tray.

The illustrative examples how some aspects being combined in the cook utensil in single cook utensil is illustrated shown in Fig. 7-11.As shown therein, grill 130 has main casing 132, optional Sheng food tray 134, grill surface 136 and optionally covers 138.Should be understood that the size of apparatus can be selected based on the cooking surface of the requirement of grill surface 136 or cosmetic requirements.Should be understood that main casing 132 can comprise substrate 196 and encapsulation is positioned at the cover plate 198(of the parts in substrate 196 see such as Figure 14).As shown in figure 14, cover plate 198 is general U-shape, makes only individual plastic or metalwork can encapsulate the parts be arranged in cover plate 198.

Apparatus preferably has at such as Fig. 7 and movable lid between 9 illustrative closed positions and open position as illustrative in Fig. 8.In a closed position, cover dome is provided above cooking surface and help above grill surface 136 with lid 138 below cooking zone 140 in retains hot and moisture.Preferably, (and more preferably cover whole) at least partially of lid is that translucent or transparent (and more preferably transparent) observes the food of just cooking in grill surface 136 to allow user.Such as, as shown in figure 14, lid 138 can have the framework 192 of double wall and transparent core 194, such as can detachably for clean glass or plastic plate.By being used in the structure of the double wall between double-walled with insulation or the air gap, the external temperature of cover can being reduced and also can be reduced by the heat loss of lid 138.

Alternatively or additionally, cover 138 locate and be configured to reflect towards cooking surface (grill surface 136) infrared radiation received thereon.Such as, cover 138 and made of aluminum or its lower surface can be processed into infrared radiation reflecting (such as, it can be aluminized).Therefore, the infrared radiation of being produced by the burning of hydrogen will upwards be conveyed through the opening of grill and by the food reflexed on grill 36 downwards, thus the upper surface of auxiliary cooking food in cooking zone.Should be understood that and a kind of upper member of below with infrared radiation reflecting being positioned at lid can be provided.In another alternate embodiment, if grill 130 has upper cooking surface, then on this, cooking surface preferably has opening thus allows infrared radiation be upwards transferred to lid or upper member and then reflected to help the upper surface of the food of cooking in grill surface 136 downwards.

Alternatively or additionally, lid 138 is installed between a closed position and a open position movingly, covers the top that 138 are positioned at lower cooking surface in a closed position, and user can close to the food of just cooking in the open position.Lid 138 can be installed movingly by as known in the art arbitrary device of such as pivotal pin.

Alternatively or additionally, to contain in food tray 134, grill surface 136 and lid 138 one of at least (and preferably each) removably installs make they can dismantle for clean, store or transport.Contain food tray 134, grill surface 136 and lid 138 removably to be installed by arbitrary device as known in the art.As shown in Figure 7, main casing is provided with isolated hook portion 142 and covers the component 144 that 138 are provided with the roughly U-shaped that can removably be received in hook portion 142.Preferably, containing in food tray 134, grill surface 136 and lid 138 one of at least (and preferably each) is available dishwasher.

Should be understood that the electrical heating elements then comprised in grill surface 136 when grill surface 136 reinserts in main casing 132 must be electrically connected to power supply if grill surface 136 is electrically heated.Therefore, main casing 132 can have electrical contact, and when grill surface 136 is mounted to main casing 132, electrical heating elements is connected to electrical contact.Such as, grill surface 136 can have the first installation component, main casing 132 can have the second installation component, first installation component and the second installation component are bonded with each other thus when the first installation component and the second installation component are bonded with each other, and grill surface 136 is installed to main casing 132 and electrical heating elements is electrically connected to cook utensil.If the first and second installation components comprise conductive member, then can realize like this.Therefore, just automatically electrical heating elements can be electrically connected only by installing grill surface 136 in main casing 132.The arbitrary electrical contact be known in the art can use.

Contain food tray 134 and grill surface 136 removably to install as a unit or eachly can both removably to install respectively.Should be understood that if contain one of food tray 134 and grill surface 136 and removably install, then another does not need like this, as long as all parts of another element all can close to cleaning when an element dismounting.Such as, removably install if contain food tray 134, then, when containing food tray 134 and dismantling, all parts of grill surface 136 all can close to cleaning.

Selectively, cook utensil can be designed so that if cooking surface and contain one of food tray or both from cook utensil dismounting, stopping maybe being worked inoperative by electrolytic cell.Such as, cook utensil can have the circuit of electrical connection electrolytic cell to power supply, and this circuit comprises detector.Detector detects the cooking surface in cook utensil and contains food tray existence one of at least, instantly cooking surface and contain circuit when food tray one of is at least dismantled from cook utensil and make electrolytic cell and isolated from power (such as, switch disconnects).Especially, when the grill surface 136 with electrical heating elements is dismantled from main casing 132, circuit can be disconnected, and also disconnects the circuit comprising electrolytic cell thus from the contact dismounting electrical heating elements main casing 132.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, each transport volume being configured for reducing apparatus of food tray 134, grill surface 136 and lid 138 is contained.Should be understood that when contain food tray 134, grill surface 136 and lid 138 with in a different way arrangement and nested or part is nested time, the volume of apparatus can be reduced.Therefore, preferably, when packing appliance, provide if contain food tray 134, grill surface 136 and lid 138() be eachly element separately and be placed in external member in a nesting relation.Such as, Sheng food tray 134 and lid 138 can be dimensioned to and make one can partly or entirely be nested in another.Therefore, these elements can be positioned in external member thus to reduce the volume of packaging.Grill surface 136 can generally planar and be disposed adjacent with nested element and maybe can remain in main casing 132.

As shown in FIG. 10 and 11, apparatus comprise have groove 148 shelve 146 or other device contain food tray 134, grill surface 136 and lid 138 to receive in the position of roughly vertically arrangement.Therefore, contain food tray 134 can be partly nested in lid 138 and grill surface 136 can with Sheng food tray 134 adjacent positioned.Should be understood that shelving 146 preferably includes the part with the pin of apparatus place surface contact, contributes to stable apparatus thus when deployed.Should be understood that contain food tray 134, grill surface 136 and lid 138 by washing after and also dry time, shelve 146 and a kind of device fixing them be provided.When contain food tray 134, grill surface 136 and lid 138 be arranged on shelve in 146 time, they can drip-dry.

The embodiment of Fig. 8-11 also illustrates another alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention, and wherein electrolytic cell or the shell that arranges electrolytic cell comprise the spine of equipment.According to this alternate embodiment, the part (and preferably whole) in the element of constitution equipment is installed to the shell that also can be releasably attached to electrolytic cell or arrange electrolytic cell.Therefore, electrolytic cell or the shell that arranges electrolytic cell comprise the division center of equipment.Such as, if equipment is cook utensil, then contain one or more shell being preferably installed to electrolytic cell or electrolytic cell is set in food tray 134, grill surface 136 and lid 138, and electrolytic cell is more preferably removably installed or the shell of electrolytic cell is set.As illustrated in figs. 8-11, main casing 132 has the flat base on the surface being positioned at such as dining table, kitchen sales counter.The weight of the electrolytic cell in main casing 132 be installed to the Sheng food tray 134 of main casing 132, grill surface 136 and cover 138 weight balancing.Or, should understand and can be provided with pin, and if so, pin is preferably installed to main casing 132 or is installed to the electrolytic cell be arranged on wherein.An advantage of this design is the size of reduction equipment (preferably housed device, and more preferably cook utensil).Thus, cook utensil is by the sales counter platform that is more easily mounted in kitchen.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, arbitrary cook utensil can comprise fan to provide forced convertion in cooking zone.Fan can be located to provide forced convertion in cooking zone.Cooking zone be in equipment by heating for culinary art or reheat the volume of food, and can by following restriction: lower cooking surface (such as grill surface 136) and cover 138; Lower cooking surface and upper cooking surface 200(are see Figure 14); Or when electricity turns barbecue rack, the region between the substrate of unit and the lid of unit.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, cooking zone can have the vertical height of 1/16 to 4 inch, preferably the vertical height of 1/4 to 2 inch, and the more preferably vertical height of 3/4 to 1.5 inch.Such as, as shown in figure 14, lower cooking surface 136 can be fixing height and upper cooking surface 200 can be moved on vertical extension rail 202 slidably by arbitrary device as known in the art.Such as, pin 204 can slidably and at the position lockable of predetermined position or arbitrary requirement in track 202.The cover plate 198 of main casing 132 can have the opening 136 be arranged on before track 202.Should be understood that cooking surface 200 can be installed pivotly by pivotal pin 224.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, the vertical height of cooking zone can be adjustable.Such as, in lower cooking surface (grill surface 136) and upper member (such as cover 138 or upper culinary art component), one of at least (and preferably each) is movable relative to another.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, fan can be provided to pass through filter element to make air.Fan also can cause the forced convertion occurred in cooking zone.Filter element can be such as porous filter medium, cyclone filter device and/or electrostatic filter.Exhaust from filter element to may be directed in the region of the outside of cooking zone (such as cook utensil is in room wherein) or gets back in cooking zone with preferably induced convection air-flow.As Figure 14 illustrates, motor 216 drives and makes air be aspirated through filter medium 220 and then get back to the fan blade 218 of cooking zone.

In order to the amounts of hydrogen of production requirement, the quantity of electrode can change.Therefore, the volume of electrolytic cell can be determined partially by the quantity of required electrode.In the example of some apparatus, the volume of required electrolytic cell may require the cumulative volume of increase equipment, makes the shell of equipment to receive electrolytic cell.According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, housed device comprises multiple electrolytic cell and not only one.Therefore, the quantity of the electrode of requirement can by comprising first electrolytic cell with the first quantity electrode and having the second electrolytic cell of the second quantity electrode and provide at housed device, wherein, two electrolytic cells of combination totally provide the number of electrodes of requirement.Should be understood that and one or more electrolytic cell can be provided.Multiple electrolytic cell can be positioned in housed device, to make the volume of the housed device with multiple electrolytic cell be less than the volume of same housed device when comprising the single electrolytic cell had with the electrode of the electrode equal number in described multiple electrolytic cell.Preferably, the floor space with the housed device of multiple electrolytic cell is less than the floor space of same housed device when comprising the single electrolytic cell had with the electrode of the electrode equal number in described multiple electrolytic cell.Multiple electrolytic cell can connect and/or be connected in parallel and can before and after location (below electrolytic cell front side with to be positioned at the rear side of the electrolytic cell after this before electrolytic cell closest) or one on another (see Figure 12).Especially, as shown in figure 12, radiator 190 can arrange adjacent with lower surface with the upper surface of each electrolytic cell 54 thus allow to dispel the heat.Radiator can comprise multiple pin-shaped fin or other heat radiation or dispersing elements.To should be understood that on arbitrary surface that other requires that radiator also can be arranged on electrolytic cell 54 and the part of the wall of electrolytic cell 54 can be formed integrally as.Such as, radiator can form with the wall of cell vessel, bottom panel and top panel, such as, by casting or extruding.Or, they can separately be formed and then with electrolytic cell 54 thermal communication, such as by adhere to its surface.Radiator 190 and/or electric control encapsulation 214 can be cooled by the fan blade 222 driven by motor 216.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, housed device comprises the illuminating member illuminating combustion zone.Illuminating member can comprise and is positioned in combustion zone and sends the component of light when heated.Such as, illuminating member can be the combination of light emitting diode, fluorescent lamp, neon lamp, phosphorus lamp or other lighting device arbitrary as known in the art or more, and be subject to impulse action thus the visuality of the better illumination of generation or certain effects, the position of bubble of such as solidifying flickering flame or just rising in injector, or this illuminating member can be that the material of the such as glass or ceramic component be heated by the flame is to produce visible ray and/or visible flame.Illuminating member can be arranged in electrolyte solution or in optional injector or optional liquid level pipeline.Illuminating member can be luminous when being heated by hydrogen flame, or the burning or carry out chemical reaction or physically degenerate when heat by hydrogen flame, can visual element with what produce the existence of instruction flame.Or illuminating member (such as mirror) can reflect, and preferably reflect and amplify hydrogen flame with the observability of adding users to hydrogen flame.The advantage of this embodiment is that hydrogen flame produces seldom or do not produce visible ray and difficult observation.Therefore the illuminating member visual judgement that provides user's electrolytic cell working warn user to there is flame, makes user unexpectedly can not touch flame.If housed device is fireplace, then the aesthetic appearance of the flame that illuminating member is produced or enhanced burning.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, cooking temp is adjustable, preferably by the temperature changed in heat source temperature and cooking zone one of at least (and both selectively changing).Can by changing distance between thermal source and culinary art supporting member, provide diluent air to cooking zone, change diluent air to cooking zone amount, change the fuel gas produced by electrolytic cell amount and change one or more in the size of flame and change cooking temp.Such as, cook utensil can have culinary art support (such as cooking surface or electricity turn the bar portion of barbecue rack) and burner, and wherein cooking support and burner is one of at least movable relative to culinary art support.Therefore, the distance between the hydrogen of burning and food can regulate.Therefore, can manually move (and preferably vertical motion) cook support and burner one or both of and regulate the temperature at cooking food place.Alternatively or additionally, the power being provided to electrical heating elements can be adjustable.Alternatively or additionally, the power being provided to electrolytic cell can be adjustable.Alternatively or additionally, the size in the aperture of burner port is can be adjustable.Alternatively or additionally, the amount of the diluent gas be combined with fuel gas can be adjustable.

According to another alternative aspect of the present invention, cooking equipment comprises flavouring agent container.Preferably, flavouring agent container is heat-resisting and is positioned in combustion zone or top.Preferably, flavor enhancement comprises liquid and flavouring agent container to be configured to carry in the position above flavor enhancement to combustion zone and combustion zone one of at least, and is delivered to the food in cooking zone.Flavor enhancement can be solid or liquid, such as garlic juice, red, green or other pepper, fruit, vegetables include, but are not limited to orange, lemon, bitter orange, strawberry, cassia bark, vanilla extract, and can by the cup that such as to make flavor enhancement be in flame region or device vaporization can be electrically heated and by steam Transportation to flame region in Thermal plume or fluid, or be delivered to Thermal plume from flame, or be delivered in the food area of gas plume temperature under Fahrenheit temperature scale 650 degree.

Should be understood that each aspect of the present invention preferably uses individually, or is combined with other side of the present invention at cook utensil and preferably in portable cook utensil.

Should be understood that the fuel gas of use is produced by electrolytic cell and fuel gas comprises the hydrogen produced by electrolytic cell in indivedual each aspect of the present invention used or be combined with other side of the present invention.

Claims

1. a cook utensil, it comprises:

(a) electrolytic cell;

(b) burner;

Cooking surface under (d);

E () contains food tray; And

2. cook utensil according to claim 1, wherein said power supply comprises the plug that can removably be received in household socket.

3. cook utensil according to claim 1, wherein said lower cooking surface comprises food receiving surface.

4. cook utensil according to claim 1, wherein said lower cooking surface comprises electric heating structure.

5. cook utensil according to claim 1, wherein said cooking surface has electrical heating elements, and described detector comprises electrical contact, and described electrical heating elements is connected to described electrical contact when being installed to described cook utensil.

6. cook utensil according to claim 5, wherein said cooking surface has the first installation component, described cook utensil has the second installation component comprising electrical contact, described first and second installation components are bonded with each other, thus when described first and second installation components are bonded with each other, described cooking surface is installed to described cook utensil and described electrical heating elements is electrically connected to described cook utensil.

7. cook utensil according to claim 1, wherein said cook utensil is of portable form.

8. a cook utensil, it comprises:

A () produces the electrolytic cell of ignitable fuel;

C () is wherein provided with the cooking surface of opening, described cooking surface is positioned at above described burner and described cooking surface comprises the food receiving surface with roughly V-arrangement ripple.

9. cook utensil according to claim 8, wherein said cooking surface is releasably attached to described cook utensil.

10. cook utensil according to claim 8, wherein said cooking surface is electrically heated.

11. cook utensils according to claim 8, wherein said cooking surface comprises food receiving surface and electric heating structure.

12. cook utensils according to claim 11, wherein said food receiving surface and described electric heating structure form single assembly.

13. cook utensils according to claim 11, wherein said food receiving surface is removably mounted on described electric heating structure.

14. cook utensils according to claim 8, also comprise the plug that can removably be received in household socket.

15. cook utensils according to claim 14, wherein said electrolytic cell comprises the spine of described cook utensil.