CN110507166B

CN110507166B - Cooking utensil

Info

Publication number: CN110507166B
Application number: CN201810488509.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘扬
Original assignee: Foshan Shunde Midea Electrical Heating Appliances Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Foshan Shunde Midea Electrical Heating Appliances Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-21
Filing date: 2018-05-21
Publication date: 2021-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-21
Also published as: CN110507166A

Abstract

The invention discloses a cooking appliance, comprising: a cooking container in which a cooking cavity is formed; a container cover which can be opened and closed and is arranged on the cooking container to open and close the cooking cavity; the floater is arranged on the container cover and can move up and down between a high position and a low position along with the pressure in the cooking cavity; a stopper movable between a lock position to restrict opening of the container lid and an unlock position to release the restriction on the container lid; a control assembly configured to control the stop in the locked position when the float is in the high position and in the unlocked position when the float is in the low position. According to the cooking utensil provided by the embodiment of the invention, the cover opening requirement of the cooking utensil under low pressure can be met, the cover opening operation can be realized under high pressure, the cover opening risk caused by high pressure in the cooking utensil is effectively solved, the cover can be opened and closed safely, the safety is improved, and the use performance is excellent.

Description

Cooking utensil

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of kitchen appliances, in particular to a cooking appliance.

Background

When cooking appliances such as an electric pressure cooker and the like work, the pressure in the products can rise, the upper cover assembly can not be opened normally under the pressure state, otherwise, the danger of explosion of the cooker exists, and great potential safety hazards are generated for consumers.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to solving at least one of the problems of the prior art. Therefore, the invention provides a cooking appliance which can be opened safely and is improved in safety.

A cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a cooking container having a cooking cavity formed therein; a lid which is openably and closably provided to the cooking container to open and close the cooking chamber; a float mounted to the container lid and movable up and down between a high position and a low position with pressure in the cooking chamber; a stopper movable between a lock position to restrict opening of the container lid and an unlock position to release the restriction on the container lid; a control assembly configured to control the stop in the locked position when the float is in the high position and to control the stop in the unlocked position when the float is in the low position.

According to the cooking utensil provided by the embodiment of the invention, the cover opening requirement of the cooking utensil under low pressure can be met, the cover opening operation can be realized under high pressure, the cover opening risk caused by high pressure in the cooking utensil is effectively solved, the cover can be opened and closed safely, the safety is improved, and the use performance is excellent.

In addition, the cooking appliance according to the above embodiment of the present invention may further have the following additional technical features:

according to some embodiments of the invention, the control assembly comprises: a response element sensitive to proximity of said float, said response element being disposed in said container cover; the master controller is connected with the response element; and the driving device is connected with the master controller, and under the control of the master controller, the driving device drives the limiting piece to be positioned in the locking position when the floater moves to the response range of the response element and drives the limiting piece to be positioned in the unlocking position when the floater moves out of the response range of the response element.

Further, the float includes a first magnet and the responsive element includes a magneto-resistor.

Still further, the container cover has a float mounting hole, and the float further includes: the floater mounting hole is formed in the bottom of the floater mounting hole, the first magnet is movably mounted in the floater mounting hole, and the first magnet is connected with the floater.

In some specific examples of the present invention, the upper end of the float body has a float groove, and the first magnet is provided in the float groove.

Optionally, a lower portion of the float body is provided with a seal that seals the float mounting hole when the float is in the high position.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a float base connected to the container cover is disposed at the float mounting hole, the float base has a stepped hole therein, the stepped hole includes a first hole section and a second hole section, the first hole section is located above the second hole section, the first hole section has a larger diameter than the second hole section, a support portion is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the float body, and the support portion is supported on a wall of the hole between the first hole section and the second hole section when the float is at a low position.

Optionally, the container lid comprises: an outer cover; the inner cover is connected with the outer cover and positioned on the inner side of the outer cover, and the floater mounting hole is formed in the inner cover; the mounting bracket is arranged between the outer cover and the inner cover, the floater is positioned below the mounting bracket, and the response element is arranged on the mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is a split part or an integrated part connected with one of the outer cover and the inner cover.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the stopper includes a second magnet, and the driving device includes: the main controller controls the current in the electrified coil to be opposite in flow direction when the floater moves into the response range of the response element and when the floater moves out of the response range of the response element so that the magnetic field formed by the electrified coil attracts or repels the second magnet.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the limiting member includes a second magnet, and the driving device includes: the electrified coil, the electrified coil with the master controller links to each other, the master controller is in the float remove to when response element's response scope control the electrified coil circular telegram in order to form the magnetic field drive the locating part upwards move to latched position and be in the float moves out make when response element's response scope the electrified coil does not circular telegram so that the locating part falls under the action of gravity to unblock position.

Further, the electrical coil is attached to the container lid.

Optionally, the stopper further includes: the base member, the second magnet is located the base member.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the stopper is translatable in an up-down direction.

Optionally, when the limiting member is in the locking position, two ends of the limiting member are respectively engaged with the container cover and the cooking container, and when the limiting member is in the unlocking position, the limiting member is disengaged from at least one of the container cover and the cooking container.

Furthermore, the container lid has a lid cooperation groove, the culinary art container has with lid cooperation groove position corresponds and the relative container cooperation groove of opening, when the locating part is in the latched position, the both ends of locating part stretch into respectively lid cooperation groove with the container cooperation groove, when the locating part is in the unlatched position, the locating part is followed in one of them shifts out and moves into in another one of them in lid cooperation groove with the container cooperation groove.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the cooking container has a container lock portion, the container cover has a cover lock portion, the container cover is movable relative to the cooking container along a circumferential direction of the cooking container between a cover locking position where the container lock portion and the cover lock portion are engaged and a cover releasing position where the container lock portion and the cover lock portion are disengaged, and the stopper is adapted to restrict the container cover from rotating toward the cover releasing position when the container cover is in the cover locking position.

Further, the cooking container includes: a housing; an outer pan secured within the outer shell, the container lock being located in the outer pan, the container lid being rotatable relative to the outer pan between the locked position and the uncapped position; the inner pot is arranged in the outer pot, the cooking cavity is formed in the inner pot, and the limiting piece is matched with the outer shell and the container cover to limit the container cover to rotate when the limiting piece is located at the locking position.

Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Drawings

The above and/or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cooking appliance is in an initial non-pressurized state of operation;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a float and control assembly of a cooking appliance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cooking appliance is in an initial non-pressurized state of operation;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a position limiter and a control assembly of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cooking appliance is in an initial non-activated state;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural view of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cooking appliance is in a pressurized state;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a float and control assembly of a cooking appliance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cooking appliance is in a cocked state;

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a limiting member and a control assembly of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cooking appliance is in a pressure-starting state;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural view of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cooking appliance is in a pressureless state after operation;

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural view of a float and control assembly of a cooking appliance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cooking appliance is in a pressureless state after operation;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a limiting member and a control assembly of a cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cooking appliance is in a non-pressure state after operation.

Reference numerals:

a cooking appliance 100;

a cooking container 10; a container fitting groove 101; a housing 11; an outer pan 12; an inner pot 13; a cooking chamber 110;

a container cover 20; a float mounting hole 201; a cover body fitting groove 202; an outer cover 21; an inner lid 22; a mounting frame 23; a groove 230;

a float 30; a first magnet 31; a float body 32; a float groove 321; a support portion 322; a seal 33;

a stopper 40; a second magnet 41; a base 42;

a control assembly 50; a responsive element 51; a master 52; the driving device 53;

a float base 60; a stepped hole 61; a first bore section 611; a second bore section 612.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below are exemplary embodiments for explaining the present invention with reference to the drawings and should not be construed as limiting the present invention, and those skilled in the art can make various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations to the embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", and the like, indicate orientations or positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are used only for convenience in describing the present invention and for simplicity in description, and do not indicate or imply that the referenced devices or elements must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus, are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

A cooking appliance 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 1 to 9, a cooking appliance 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: cooking vessel 10, vessel lid 20, float 30, restriction 40 and control assembly 50.

Specifically, a cooking cavity 110 is formed in the cooking container 10, and food may be contained in the cooking cavity 110. The lid 20 is openably and closably provided to the cooking container 10 to open and close the cooking chamber 110. When the container cover 20 is opened with respect to the cooking container 10, the cooking chamber 110 may be opened; when the container cover 20 is closed with respect to the cooking appliance 100, the cooking chamber 110 may be closed.

The float 30 is mounted to the container cover 20 and the float 30 is movable up and down between a high position and a low position in response to pressure in the cooking chamber 110. When the pressure in the cooking cavity 110 is high, the pressure applied to the float 30 is greater than the self-gravity, and the float 30 can move upward to the high position under the pressure, as shown in fig. 4 and 5; when the pressure in the cooking chamber 110 is low, the pressure applied to the float 30 is less than its own weight, and the float 30 drops to the low position by its own weight, as shown in fig. 1 and 2. Here, the high position and the low position are relative, that is, at both end positions of the stroke in which the float 30 moves up and down, the higher position is the high position, and the lower position is the low position.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the cooking appliance 100 may be designed with a predetermined pressure, the float 30 may drop to the low position when the pressure in the cooking chamber 110 does not exceed the predetermined pressure, and the float 30 may rise to the high position when the pressure in the cooking chamber 110 exceeds the predetermined pressure. Wherein, the preset pressure can be flexibly set according to actual requirements.

The stopper 40 is movable between a lock position for restricting the opening of the container lid 20 and an unlock position for releasing the restriction on the container lid 20. That is, the retaining member 40 is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and when the retaining member 40 is in the locked position, the retaining member 40 can restrict the container lid 20 from opening, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, for example; when the retaining member 40 is in the unlocking position, as shown in fig. 1 to 3, the retaining member 40 may release the retaining of the container cover 20, so that the container cover 20 may be opened with respect to the cooking container 10, so that the cooking cavity 110 may be opened.

It is understood that there are various structures for allowing the stopper 40 to restrict or release the container cover 20, and specific structures thereof will be further described below by taking some embodiments as examples.

In addition, the movement type of the limiting member 40 between the unlocking position and the locking position is not particularly limited, and the limiting member may be translated, such as up-down translation, left-right translation, front-back translation, or the like, or pivoted, such as rotating along a horizontal axis or rotating along a vertical axis. For example, in some embodiments of the present invention, the limiting member 40 can translate along the up-down direction, the moving track is controllable, and the movement is more stable and easier to control.

With continued reference to fig. 1-9, the control assembly 50 is configured to control the stop 40 in the locked position when the float 30 is in the high position and to control the stop 40 in the unlocked position when the float 30 is in the low position. That is, when the pressure in the cooking cavity 110 is high, such that the float 30 is at the high position, the control assembly 50 can control the position limiting member 40 to move to the locking position, as shown in fig. 4 to 6, at which the container cover 20 is locked relative to the cooking container 10 and cannot be opened; when the pressure in the cooking cavity 110 is low, such that the float 30 is at the low position, the control assembly 50 may control the limiting member 40 to be at the unlocking position, as shown in fig. 1 to 3 and 7 to 9, at this time, the limiting action of the limiting member 40 on the container cover 20 is released, the container cover 20 may be moved relative to the cooking container 10, and when there is a need to open the cover, the container cover 20 may be moved to the opening position, such that the cooking cavity 110 may be opened.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that when cooking appliance 100 is in operation, the pressure within cooking chamber 110 generally rises and then falls, with the pressure being lower during the initial operating phase and after completion of the operation, and higher during intermediate phases of the operation. In the case where the pressure of the cooking chamber 110 is high, there is a high possibility of explosion of the pot when the opening operation is performed. In the related art, the cover body of the cooking appliance is not locked in the whole working process of the cooking appliance, and a user can open the cover at any time, namely, measures for preventing the cover from opening the cover and exploding the pot are not arranged in the related art, so that great potential safety hazards exist.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the cooking appliance 100 includes the float 30, the position-limiting member 40 and the control assembly 50, the float 30 may change with the change of the pressure in the cooking cavity 110, and the control assembly 50 may control the position of the position-limiting member 40 according to the position of the float 30, so that when the pressure in the cooking cavity 110 is high, the position-limiting member 40 is in a locking position for limiting the movement of the container cover 20, and when the pressure in the cooking cavity 110 is low, the position-limiting member 40 may move back to an unlocking position for releasing the limitation of the container cover 20.

From this, can make container lid 20 can uncap and can not uncap the operation when cooking utensil 100 has lower pressure, can effectively avoid the high pressure to uncap the explosion pot danger that causes like this, can realize automatic adjustment according to cooking utensil 100's pressure to container lid 20's restriction condition moreover, need not artificially to judge the adjustment, reach the effect of preventing staying, it is very convenient to use.

According to the cooking appliance 100 provided by the embodiment of the invention, by arranging the floater 30, the limiting piece 40 and the control assembly 50, the limiting piece 40 can be automatically switched between the limiting position for limiting the cooking cover and the releasing position for releasing the limitation on the cooking cover along with the change of the pressure in the cooking cavity 110, the cover opening requirement of the cooking appliance 100 under low pressure can be met, the cover opening operation can not be carried out under high pressure, the cover opening risk caused by high pressure in the cooking appliance 100 can be effectively solved, the cover can be safely opened and closed, the safety is improved, and the service performance is excellent.

It will be appreciated that the control assembly 50 controlling the position of the stop 40 may have a variety of configurations, and that, taking the embodiment shown in figures 1 to 9 as an example, the control assembly 50 may comprise a responsive element 51, a master 52 and a drive means 53, the responsive element 51 being configured to be sensitive to the proximity of the float 30. In other words, the responsive element 51 has a response range, and when the float 30 moves into the response range, the responsive element 51 can respond, and when the float 30 moves outside the response range, the float 30 no longer responds. Wherein the response range can be flexibly set.

Referring to fig. 1 to 9, a response element 51 may be provided to the container cover 20, and a master controller 52 may be connected to the response element 51. The driving device 53 is connected to the master controller 52 and controlled by the master controller 52. The driving means 53 drives the limiting member 40 in the locked position when the float 30 moves into the response range of the response element 51 and drives the limiting member 40 in the unlocked position when the float 30 moves out of the response range of the response element 51.

That is, when the float 30 is adjacent to the response element 51 so as to be within the response range, the response element 51 will generate a response and act on the master controller 52, and the master controller 52 can drive the limiting member 40 to move to the locking position, so that the container cover 20 can be limited; when the float 30 moves away from the responsive element 51 so as to be outside the response range, the responsive element 51 no longer responds, and at this time, the driving device 53 can drive the limiting member 40 to move to the unlocking position, so that the container cover 20 is released from the limitation. Therefore, the control component 50 can realize the response control of the limiting member 40 according to the position of the float 30, and the control is sensitive and reliable.

The structure associated with the float 30 and the control assembly 50 is further described below in connection with some embodiments.

Optionally, in some embodiments of the present invention, the float 30 may include the first magnet 31, and the response element 51 may include a magnetic resistor, which may respond according to the distance between the magnetic resistor and the first magnet 31, and the response is sensitive and reliable, so as to more reliably ensure that the position-limiting member 40 is in the locked position when the cooking cavity 110 is under high pressure. For example, in some specific examples of the present invention, the response element 51 includes a reed switch, and the reed switch has a good matching performance with the first magnet 31, and the reed switch has a good response performance.

As shown in fig. 2, 5 and 8, optionally, the container cover 20 may have a float mounting hole 201, the float 30 further includes a float body 32, the float body 32 is movably mounted to the float mounting hole 201, and the first magnet 31 is connected to the float 30. This increases the bulk of the float 30 and makes installation easier. Alternatively, the weight of the float 30 may be set according to the maximum pressure of the openable cover or the minimum pressure of the openable cover so that the float 30 can float up when the pressure in the cooking chamber 110 reaches a prescribed value. Wherein the weight of the float 30 can be realized by adjusting the weight of the float body 32 or the weight of the first magnet 31.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 1, the upper end of the float body 32 has a float groove 321, and the first magnet 31 may be provided in the float groove 321. This makes it possible to mount first magnet 31 more reliably. As shown in fig. 1, the first magnet 31 may be embedded in the float groove 321 without protruding, and of course, it is also possible to make the first magnet 31 protrude from the float groove 321 according to the requirement, which is also within the protection scope of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the lower portion of the float body 32 may be provided with a sealing member 33, as shown in fig. 5, when the float 30 is at the high position, the sealing member 33 may seal the float mounting hole 201, thereby improving the sealing performance of the cooking appliance 100 and enhancing the pressure maintaining performance of the cooking appliance 100. The mounting structure of the sealing member 33 on the float body 32 is not particularly limited, and alternatively, as shown in fig. 5, the sealing member 33 may be fitted over the lower portion of the float body 32, and the mounting is more reliable.

Further, the lower part of the floater body 32 can be provided with a clamping groove, the sealing element 33 can be provided with an inward convex part which protrudes inwards, and the inward convex part can be clamped in the clamping groove, so that the installation reliability of the sealing element 33 is further improved, and the sealing element 33 is effectively prevented from falling off after the floater 30 moves up and down for a plurality of times.

As shown in fig. 2, the cooking appliance 100 may further include a float base 60, the float base 60 being connected with the container cover 20 and located at the float mounting hole 201. The float base 60 has a stepped hole 61 therein, the stepped hole 61 includes a first hole section 611 and a second hole section 612, and the outer circumferential surface of the float body 32 is formed with a support portion 322. When the float 30 is in the low position, the support 322 may be supported on the bore wall between the first bore section 611 and the second bore section 612. This allows the float 30 to be stably positioned at this location during periods of low pressure, and the stepped bore 61 provides some guidance for movement of the float 30.

As shown in fig. 2, as an alternative embodiment, the float body 32 may be formed as a stepped bar, i.e., a thick bar and a thin bar, and the support 322 may be formed as a shoulder between the thick bar and the thin bar, at which time the structure of the float body 32 more matches the structure of the stepped hole 61 and the installation of the float 30 is more reliable. Of course, the structure of the support portion 322 is not limited thereto, and other structures are also possible, for example, the support portion 322 may also be formed by a flange provided on the outer peripheral surface of the float body 32.

Among them, in the embodiment having the sealing member 33 and the float base 60, for example, as shown in fig. 5, when the float 30 is at the high position, the sealing member 33 can be sealed on the float base 60, i.e., on the lower portion of the stepped hole 61, and the sealing effect is good. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 5, the sealing member 33 may have an outward convex part, and when the float 30 is at the high position, the convex part may stop against the float base 60, and the sealing effect is good.

Referring to fig. 1 to 9, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the container cover 20 may include an outer cover 21, an inner cover 22, and a mounting bracket 23, the inner cover 22 being connected to the outer cover 21, the inner cover 22 being located at an inner side of the outer cover 21, where the inner side of the outer cover 21 is a side of the outer cover 21 facing the cooking chamber 110. A float mounting hole 201 may be provided at the inner cover 22. The mounting bracket 23 may be provided between the outer cover 21 and the inner cover 22, the float 30 being located below the mounting bracket 23, and the responsive element 51 may be mounted to the mounting bracket 23. Therefore, the response element 51 can be substantially built in the container cover 20, the influence of moisture and the like in the cooking chamber 110 on the response element 51 can be reduced, and the service life of the response element 51 can be prolonged.

Alternatively, the mounting bracket 23 and one of the outer cover 21 and the inner cover 22 may be separate pieces or a single piece that are coupled together. In other words, the mounting bracket 23 may be connected to the outer cover 21 and be a separate piece from the outer cover 21 and assembled together by the assembly structure, or the mounting bracket 23 may be a unitary piece with the outer cover 21; still alternatively, the mounting bracket 23 may be connected to the inner lid 22 and be a separate piece from the inner lid 22 and assembled together by an assembly structure, or the mounting bracket 23 may be a unitary piece with the inner lid 22. The assembling structure here may be, but is not limited to, an adhesive structure, a snap structure, a welding structure, or the like.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the mounting bracket 23 may be provided with a groove 230, and when the float 30 is in the high position, the upper portion of the float 30 may be inserted into the groove 230; when the float 30 is in the low position, the upper portion of the float 30 can be removed from the recess 230. The groove 230 is provided to position the float 30 and to ensure the stroke of the float 30 in a compact structure.

The structure of the limiting member 40 and the driving device 53 will be further described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to fig. 1 to 9, in some embodiments of the present invention, the limiting member 40 may include a second magnet 41, the driving device 53 may include an electrical coil, the electrical coil may be connected to the main controller 52, and the main controller 52 may control the current in the electrical coil to flow in the opposite direction when the float 30 moves into the response range of the response element 51 and when the float 30 moves out of the response range of the response element 51, so that the magnetic field formed by the electrical coil attracts or repels the second magnet 41.

That is, the flow of the current in the energized coil may be controlled by the main controller 52, and may be in the forward direction or in the reverse direction (if the clockwise direction is defined as the forward direction, the counterclockwise direction is defined as the reverse direction, and vice versa); when the float 30 moves within the response range of the response element 51, the current in the energized coil may flow in the forward direction or in the reverse direction; if the current is in the forward direction, the current in the energized coil flows in the reverse direction when the float 30 moves out of the response range of the response element 51, and if the current is in the reverse direction, the current in the energized coil flows in the forward direction when the float 30 moves out of the response range of the response element 51; since the magnetic pole direction of the second magnet 41 is fixed, when the current flow direction in the energized coil changes, the magnetic pole of the magnetic field formed by the energized coil will also change; if the current in the energizing coil flows in the forward direction (or the reverse direction), the magnetic pole of the magnetic field formed by the energizing coil is the same as that of the second magnet 41, that is, the adjacent ends are different poles, the magnet will move towards the energizing coil under the action of attraction, when the current flow in the energizing coil changes, the magnetic field formed by the energizing coil will exchange between the N pole and the S pole, at this time, the magnetic field formed by the energizing coil is opposite to the same pole of the second magnet 41, a repulsive force will be generated, and the second magnet 41 will move away from the energizing coil under the repulsive force.

Alternatively, the second magnet 41 may be moved from the unlock position to the lock position by an attractive force, or may be moved from the unlock position to the lock position by a repulsive force. For example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 9, the energized coil is disposed above the stopper 40, and the second magnet 41 can move upward by an attractive force and downward by a repulsive force. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the current-carrying coil may be disposed below the stopper 40 so that the second magnet 41 can move downward by an attractive force and upward by a repulsive force.

In the above structure, the driving device 53 and the limiting member 40 have reliable action relationship, the driving device 53 is easy to control and has strong driving force to the limiting member 40, and the whole structure occupies a small space and is easy to arrange and install.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the movement of the limiting member 40 can also be realized by the driving device 53 and the gravity of the limiting member 40. Specifically, the main controller 52 may control the energizing coil to be energized to form a magnetic field to drive the stopper 40 to move upward to the lock position when the float 30 moves into the response range of the response element 51 and to de-energize the energizing coil to cause the stopper 40 to fall down to the unlock position under the action of gravity when the float 30 moves out of the response range of the response element 51.

That is, when the float 30 moves to a response range of the response element 51, the main controller 52 may control the energization of the energization coil so that the energization coil may form a magnetic field, and the second magnet 41 may move upward to the lock position under the action of the magnetic field; when the float 30 moves out of the response range of the response element 51, the main controller 52 can control the current in the energizing coil to be not energized, at this time, the magnetic field formed by the energizing coil disappears, the second magnet 41 loses the acting force of the magnetic field, and the float 30 can fall to the unlocking position under the action of the self gravity.

Accordingly, the power-on coil does not need to be energized when the float 30 moves out of the response range, and the position can be moved by the gravity of the second magnet 41, thereby achieving the power-saving effect.

Here, the force for controlling the movement of the second magnet 41 to the lock position may be an attractive force or a repulsive force between the magnetic field formed by the energized coil and the second magnet 41. For example, when the energized coil is located above the second magnet 41, the magnetic field formed by the energized coil may be opposed to the opposite poles of the magnetic field formed by the second magnet 41 to apply an attractive force to the second magnet 41 so that the second magnet 41 may move upward. For another example, when the energized coil is located below the second magnet 41, the magnetic field formed by the energized coil and the magnetic field formed by the second magnet 41 may be in the same polarity to apply a repulsive force to the second magnet 41, so that the second magnet 41 may move upward.

Referring to fig. 1 to 9, according to some embodiments of the present invention, an electrical coil may be installed in the container cover 20, which is convenient. Further, in order to reduce the electrical coil damage, the electrical coil can be built in the container cover 20 to reduce the contact of steam and electrical coil, can also avoid human body mistake to touch the electrical coil and cause dangers such as electric shock simultaneously, security and reliability promotion.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the master controller 52 may be disposed on the container lid 20, which facilitates not only the connection between the master controller 52 and the response element 51, but also the connection between the master controller 52 and the power-on coil. Alternatively, the main controller 52 may be built in the container cover 20, and the main controller 52 may be a main control circuit board formed by a circuit and the like, which is convenient to manufacture and reliable in operation. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, for example, in some embodiments of the present invention not shown, the main controller 52 may also be mounted to the cooking container 10 or physically separated from the cooking container 10 and the container cover 20, and the main controller 52 may be coupled to the energizing coil and response element 51.

As shown in fig. 1 and 3, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the position-limiting member 40 may further include a base 42 in addition to the second magnet 41, and the second magnet 41 may be disposed on the base 42. This can increase the volume of the stopper 40, and facilitate mounting.

In combination with some alternative embodiments of the present invention, when the position-limiting member 40 is in the locking position, two ends of the position-limiting member 40 can be respectively engaged with the container cover 20 and the cooking container 10; when the retaining member 40 is in the unlocked position, the retaining member 40 can be disengaged from at least one of the container lid 20 and the cooking container 10. That is, when the stopper 40 is in the locking position, the stopper 40 has a portion that is engaged with the container cover 20 and a portion that is engaged with the cooking container 10; when the position-limiting member 40 is located at the unlocking position, the position-limiting member 40 may be engaged with the container cover 20 to disengage from the cooking container 10, or the position-limiting member 40 may be engaged with the cooking container 10 to disengage from the container cover 20, or the position-limiting member 40 may be disengaged from both the container cover 20 and the cooking container 10.

For example, as shown in fig. 5, when the position-limiting member 40 is in the locking position, the upper end of the position-limiting member 40 is engaged with the container cover 20, and the lower end is engaged with the cooking container 10, so that the position-limiting member 40 can lock the container cover 20 to the cooking container 10; as shown in fig. 3 and 9, when the stopper 40 is in the unlocking position, the stopper 40 may be disengaged from the lid 20 and engaged with the cooking vessel 10, so that the stopper of the lid 20 is released.

The present invention is not particularly limited to the fitting structure of the limiting member 40 with the container cover 20 and the cooking container 10, and an existing fitting structure or a modified structure of the existing fitting structure may be adopted. For example, as shown in fig. 1-9, in some embodiments of the present invention, the container lid 20 may have a lid mating groove 202, the cooking container 10 may have a container mating groove 101, the container mating groove 101 may correspond in position to the lid mating groove 202, and the container mating groove 101 is opposite to an opening of the lid mating groove 202; as shown in fig. 6, when the limiting member 40 is in the locking position, two ends of the limiting member 40 respectively extend into the cover body engaging groove 202 and the container engaging groove 101; as shown in fig. 3 and 9, when the retaining member 40 is in the unlocking position, the retaining member 40 can be moved out of the cover engagement slot 202 and into the container engagement slot 101. Therefore, the limiting member 40 is reliably matched with the container cover 20 and the cooking container 10, the limiting member 40 cannot be separated from the cooking container 10 in the moving process, and the limiting member 40 works reliably.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the following fitting structure may be provided: when the stopper 40 is in the unlocking position, the stopper 40 moves out of the container fitting groove 101 and into the lid fitting groove 202. That is, in connection with some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the retaining member 40 may be moved out of one of the lid mating groove 202 and the container mating groove 101 and into the other.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the cooking container 10 may have a container lock, the container cover 20 may have a cover lock, the container cover 20 may be rotatable between a cover locking position (sometimes also referred to as a cover closing position) and a cover opening position (sometimes also referred to as a cover opening position) along a circumferential direction of the cooking container 10 relative to the cooking container 10, when the container cover 20 is in the cover locking position, the cover lock and the container lock may be engaged with each other, so that the container cover 20 may be locked on the cooking container 10, the container cover 20 may be more stably located at a position for closing the cooking cavity 110, the container cover 20 may be prevented from being accidentally opened under a high pressure of the cooking cavity 110, and cooking safety may be improved; when the container cover 20 is in the uncapped position, the cover lock portion may be disengaged from the container lock portion, so that the rotational lock of the container cover 20 is unlocked, and at this time, the container cover 20 is still in a state of covering the cooking chamber 110, and the container cover 20 may be opened when there is an uncapping demand, so that the cooking chamber 110 may be opened.

The limiting member 40 can limit the rotation of the container cover 20 to the uncapping position when the container cover 20 is in the capping position. That is, when the container cover 20 is in the locking position, the limiting member 40 can move between the locking position and the unlocking position under the driving of the driving device 53, and if the limiting member 40 is in the locking position, as shown in fig. 4 and 6, the container cover 20 is locked with respect to the cooking container 10 and cannot rotate from the locking position to the unlocking position, and at this time, the container cover 20 cannot be opened not only by steam pressure but also by human power; when the limiting member 40 is located at the unlocking position, the limiting function of the container cover 20 is released, and at this time, although the container cover 20 cannot be opened under the action of steam, the user can open the cover as required, so that the use requirement is well met.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the cooking container 10 may include: an outer shell 11, an outer pot 12 and an inner pot 13. Specifically, the outer pot 12 may be fixed in the housing 11, and optionally, the housing 11 and the outer pot 12 may be an integral piece or may be a split connection piece; the container closure may be located in the outer pot 12 with the inner pot 13 disposed within the outer pot 12, the inner pot 13 defining a cooking cavity 110. The container cover 20 can rotate between a locking position and an uncovering position relative to the outer pot 12, when the container cover 20 is located at the locking position, the outer pot 12 can limit the container cover 20, so that the container cover 20 cannot be automatically opened under the steam pressure; when the container cover 20 is in the uncapped position, the outer pot 12 releases the restriction of the container cover 20.

Wherein, the limiting member 40 cooperates with the housing 11 and the container cover 20 to limit the rotation of the container cover 20 when the limiting member is located at the locking position. That is, when the container cover 20 is in the locking position and the retaining member 40 is in the locking position, the retaining member 40 is engaged with both the container cover 20 and the housing 11, so that the container cover 20 can be locked to the housing 11 by the retaining member 40. Therefore, the cover 20 can not be automatically opened under the action of steam pressure through the limiting action of the outer pot 12, and the cover 20 can not rotate relative to the outer pot 12 and the shell 11 under the action of external force through the matching of the shell 11 and the limiting part 40, so that the cooking cover can be stably positioned at a closed position, and the safety and the smoothness of the cooking process are better ensured.

The specific structure of the lid locking portion and the container locking portion is not particularly limited in the present invention, for example, the lid locking portion may be an inwardly protruding tooth, and the container locking portion may be an outwardly protruding tooth, and as the container lid 20 rotates relative to the cooking container 10, the two teeth may move from a position not corresponding to each other up and down to a position corresponding to each other up and down, so as to achieve the upper and lower limit.

Alternatively, the cooking container 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be an electric cooker or an electric pressure cooker, etc. For example, as shown in fig. 1 to 9, the cooking appliance 100 may be an electric pressure cooker. While a specific embodiment of the cooking appliance 100 is described below with reference to fig. 1 to 9, it should be understood that the following description is only exemplary for the specific embodiment and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

As shown in fig. 1 to 9, the container cover 20 is provided with a float 30 with a first magnet 31, the float 30 may be a zero-pressure float, a magnetic resistor is installed above the float 30, an electric coil is also installed in the container cover 20, a limiting member 40 is installed at a portion of the cooking container 10 corresponding to a lower portion of the electric coil, the limiting member 40 includes a base 42 and a second magnet 41, and the base 42 may be similar to the float structure. The container cover 20 is provided with a control assembly 50, the control assembly 50 comprises a response element 51, a main controller 52 and a driving device 53, the response element 51 comprises a magnetic resistor, and the driving device 53 comprises an energizing coil.

When the cooking appliance 100 is just started, the pressure in the cooking chamber 110 is small, and fig. 1 to 3 are schematic views showing the initial non-pressurized state of the product. At this time, the first magnet 31 is away from the magnetic resistor, and the energizing coil may be not energized or may be energized with a reverse current, so that the stopper 40 may be positioned at a position where it is not inserted into the container lid 20, as shown in fig. 3.

As the cooking appliance 100 continues to operate, the pressure in the cooking chamber 110 gradually increases, and fig. 4 to 6 show schematic views of the product in a pressurized state. As shown in fig. 5, when the pressure in the cooking cavity 110 is increased to a predetermined pressure, the float 30 floats and approaches the magnetic resistor, at this time, the signal of the magnetic resistor is in an ON state, the main controller 52 controls the forward current flowing in the energizing coil, the magnetic field formed by the energizing coil is opposite to the magnetic pole direction of the second magnet 41 to form an attractive force, the limiting member 40 can be attracted, so that the upper part of the limiting member 40 can be inserted into the container cover 20, as shown in fig. 6, the container cover 20 is locked at this time, the container cover cannot be opened, the requirement that the container cannot be opened after the product is pressurized is met, and the effect of safely closing the container cover is achieved.

When the operation of the cooking appliance 100 is finished, the pressure in the cooking cavity 110 is reduced, and fig. 7 to 9 show schematic views of the product in a pressureless state. As shown in fig. 8, the float 30 falls down to the initial position under the action of gravity, and is away from the magnetic resistor again, at this time, the signal of the magnetic resistor is in an OFF state, the main controller 52 controls the flow direction of the current in the energizing coil to be reverse, so that the magnetic field formed by the energizing coil is the same as the magnetic pole direction of the second magnet 41, a repulsive force is formed, the limiting member 40 is repelled and pushed down, so that the limiting member 40 can move out of the container cover 20 and move into the cooking container 10, as shown in fig. 9, at this time, the user can perform the opening operation, so that the container cover 20 can rotate from the locking position to the uncovering position, and then the container cover is opened, thereby achieving the effect of opening the cover safely.

Therefore, a safe cover opening and closing structure can be formed in the cooking appliance 100, the safety process of the whole process from the beginning to the end of the work of a product is well guaranteed, the serious risks of explosion of the product and mistaken cover opening of a consumer are avoided, and the use is safer and more reliable.

Other configurations and operations of the cooking appliance 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail herein.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, e.g., as meaning either a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral connection; can be mechanically or electrically connected; they may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, or they may be interconnected between two elements. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in specific cases to those skilled in the art.

In the description herein, references to the description of the terms "embodiment," "particular," "example," etc., mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the terms used above do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples without interference or contradiction.

Claims

1. A cooking appliance, comprising:

a cooking container having a cooking cavity formed therein;

a lid which is openably and closably provided to the cooking container to open and close the cooking chamber;

a float mounted to the container lid and movable up and down between a high position and a low position with pressure in the cooking chamber;

a stopper movable between a locking position to restrict opening of the container lid and an unlocking position to release the restriction on the container lid, the stopper being adapted to restrict rotation of the container lid to the uncapping position when the container lid is in the capping position;

a control assembly configured to control the stop in the locked position when the float is in the high position and to control the stop in the unlocked position when the float is in the low position,

when the limiting part is located at the unlocking position, the limiting part is disengaged from at least one of the container cover and the cooking container.

2. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the control assembly comprises:

a response element sensitive to proximity of said float, said response element being disposed in said container cover;

the master controller is connected with the response element;

and the driving device is connected with the master controller, and under the control of the master controller, the driving device drives the limiting piece to be positioned in the locking position when the floater moves to the response range of the response element and drives the limiting piece to be positioned in the unlocking position when the floater moves out of the response range of the response element.

3. The cooking appliance of claim 2, wherein the float comprises a first magnet and the responsive element comprises a magneto-resistor.

4. The cooking appliance of claim 3, wherein the container lid has a float mounting hole, the float further comprising:

the floater mounting hole is formed in the bottom of the floater mounting hole, the first magnet is movably mounted in the floater mounting hole, and the first magnet is connected with the floater.

5. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the upper end of the float body has a float groove, the first magnet being disposed in the float groove.

6. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein a lower portion of the float body is provided with a seal that seals the float mounting hole when the float is in the high position.

7. The cooking utensil of claim 4, wherein the float mounting hole is provided with a float base connected with the container cover, the interior of the float base is provided with a stepped hole comprising a first hole section and a second hole section, the first hole section is positioned above the second hole section, the aperture of the first hole section is larger than that of the second hole section, the peripheral surface of the float body is formed with a supporting part, and when the float is at a low position, the supporting part is supported on the hole wall between the first hole section and the second hole section.

8. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the container lid comprises:

an outer cover;

the inner cover is connected with the outer cover and positioned on the inner side of the outer cover, and the floater mounting hole is formed in the inner cover;

the mounting bracket is arranged between the outer cover and the inner cover, the floater is positioned below the mounting bracket, and the response element is arranged on the mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket is a split part or an integrated part connected with one of the outer cover and the inner cover.

9. The cooking appliance of claim 2, wherein the retaining member comprises a second magnet, and the driving device comprises:

the main controller controls the current in the electrified coil to be opposite in flow direction when the floater moves into the response range of the response element and when the floater moves out of the response range of the response element so that the magnetic field formed by the electrified coil attracts or repels the second magnet.

10. The cooking appliance of claim 2, wherein the retaining member comprises a second magnet, and the driving device comprises:

the electrified coil, the electrified coil with the master controller links to each other, the master controller is in the float remove to when response element's response scope control the electrified coil circular telegram in order to form the magnetic field drive the locating part upwards move to latched position and be in the float moves out make when response element's response scope the electrified coil does not circular telegram so that the locating part falls under the action of gravity to unblock position.

11. The cooking appliance of claim 9 or 10, wherein the electrical coil is mounted to the container lid.

12. The cooking appliance of claim 9 or 10, wherein the retainer further comprises:

the base member, the second magnet is located the base member.

13. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the stop is translatable in an up-down direction.

14. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the lid has a lid mating groove, the cooking container has a container mating groove corresponding to the lid mating groove and opposite in opening, the two ends of the retainer extend into the lid mating groove and the container mating groove, respectively, when the retainer is in the locked position, and the retainer moves out of one of the lid mating groove and the container mating groove and into the other of the lid mating groove and the container mating groove, when the retainer is in the unlocked position.

15. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the cooking container has a container lock and the container lid has a lid lock, the container lid being movable relative to the cooking container along a circumference of the cooking container between a locked position in which the container lock and the lid lock are engaged and an unlocked position in which the container lock and the lid lock are disengaged.

16. The cooking appliance of claim 15, wherein the cooking container comprises:

a housing;

an outer pan secured within the outer shell, the container lock being located in the outer pan, the container lid being rotatable relative to the outer pan between the locked position and the uncapped position;

the inner pot is arranged in the outer pot, the cooking cavity is formed in the inner pot, and the limiting piece is matched with the outer shell and the container cover to limit the container cover to rotate when the limiting piece is located at the locking position.