CN210330308U

CN210330308U - A anti-overflow device and cooking utensil for cooking utensil

Info

Publication number: CN210330308U
Application number: CN201822006785.XU
Authority: CN
Inventors: 吕华
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: Zhejiang Supor Electrical Appliances Manufacturing Co Ltd; SEB SA
Priority date: 2018-11-30
Filing date: 2018-11-30
Publication date: 2020-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-30

Abstract

The utility model discloses an anti-overflow device and cooking utensil for cooking utensil, anti-overflow device includes anti-overflow probe and control module. The overfill prevention probe includes a conductive member. The conductive part comprises a detection section and a connection section, wherein at least the outer surface of the detection section is provided with uneven lines, and the capacitance value of the conductive part changes along with the contact or the approach of the detection section to a medium in the cooking utensil. The control module is electrically connected with the conductive member via the connection section, and determines whether to perform the anti-overflow operation according to a change in a capacitance value of the conductive member. According to the utility model discloses an anti-overflow device can reduce the size of anti-overflow probe under the circumstances of the detection effect of guaranteeing the anti-overflow probe to realize the miniaturization of anti-overflow probe.

Description

A anti-overflow device and cooking utensil for cooking utensil

Technical Field

The utility model relates to an anti-overflow device and cooking utensil for cooking utensil.

Background

At present, a plurality of cooking appliances such as electric cookers or electric pressure cookers on the market are generally provided with an anti-overflow probe so as to realize the anti-overflow function. The existing anti-overflow probe is usually arranged in an upper cover, one part of the probe extends into an inner pot, foam in a cooking cavity is close to the probe during cooking, so that the capacitance value of the probe is changed, the foam state is judged, and the heating process is controlled according to the judgment result, so that the anti-overflow effect is realized.

Because the detection effect of the anti-overflow probe is usually in positive correlation with the area of the foam and the probe close to contact, in order to ensure the reliability of the judgment of the anti-overflow probe, the existing anti-overflow probe is usually large in cross section area or too long in size extending out of the upper cover, so that the whole use of the product is influenced in product assembly and vision.

Accordingly, there is a need to provide an overflow prevention device for a cooking appliance and a cooking appliance to at least partially solve the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In the summary section a series of concepts in a simplified form is introduced, which will be described in further detail in the detailed description section. The inventive content does not imply any attempt to define the essential features and essential features of the claimed solution, nor is it implied to be intended to define the scope of the claimed solution.

In order to at least partially solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention discloses an overflow preventing device for a cooking appliance, the overflow preventing device including an overflow preventing probe and a control module. The overfill prevention probe includes a conductive member. The conductive part comprises a detection section and a connection section, wherein at least the outer surface of the detection section is provided with uneven lines, and the capacitance value of the conductive part changes along with the contact or the approach of the detection section to a medium in the cooking utensil. The control module is electrically connected with the conductive member via the connection section, and determines whether to perform the anti-overflow operation according to a change in a capacitance value of the conductive member.

Preferably, the conductive member is a cylinder, and the detection section and the connection section are respectively located at both ends of the cylinder.

Preferably, the cylinder has an end face at one end of the detection section, and the ridges are provided on a side surface and/or the end face of the cylinder.

Preferably, the outer surface of the connecting section is also provided with said texturing.

Preferably, the texture is embossed or sandblasted.

Preferably, the anti-overflow device further includes a detection circuit electrically connected to the connection section and the control module, respectively, the detection circuit generating a detection signal by detecting a change in capacitance value of the conductive member, and the control module determining whether to perform the anti-overflow operation based on the detection signal.

Preferably, the overflow prevention probe further comprises an insulating member including a detection portion covering an outer surface of the detection section.

Preferably, the insulating member further includes a connecting portion connected to the detecting portion such that the insulating member has a hollow cylindrical shape having a flange extending radially outward at one end, the conductive member is fitted around the inside of the insulating member, and the connecting portion is used to connect the insulating member and the conductive member in the cooking appliance.

Preferably, the wall thickness T of the detection portion of the insulating member satisfies: t is more than or equal to 2mm and less than or equal to 4 mm.

Preferably, the overflow preventing device further comprises an isolation circuit for insulating and isolating the conductive member, wherein the isolation circuit comprises a power isolation circuit for isolating a power supply for supplying power to the detection circuit and/or a communication isolation circuit for isolating communication between the power supply and the detection circuit.

The utility model discloses another aspect still provides a cooking utensil, cooking utensil includes a kind of deep pot body, lid and as above anti-overflow device. The cover body is arranged on the cooker body in an openable and closable manner and comprises a lining and an inner cover connected with the lining. The anti-overflow device is arranged on the cover body.

Preferably, the conductive member is mounted on the liner via the insulating member, and an outer surface area of a section of the detection portion extending beyond the inner lid satisfies: 350mm²≤S≤1696mm²。

Preferably, the outer surface of the conductive member has no insulating member, and the area of the outer surface of the conductive member extending beyond the detection section of the inner lid satisfies: 189mm²≤S≤1275mm²。

According to the utility model discloses an anti-overflow device and cooking utensil set up unevenness's line through the surface at the conductive parts of anti-overflow probe, can make the anti-overflow probe of this application compare the surface area with the anti-overflow probe of same volume and increase about 20% -100% to can reduce the size of the anti-overflow probe of this application under the condition that realizes same anti-overflow effect, and then realize the miniaturization of anti-overflow probe.

Drawings

The following figures of the embodiments of the present invention are used as part of the present invention for understanding the present invention. There are shown in the drawings, embodiments and descriptions of the invention, which are used to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, there is shown in the drawings,

fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a cooking appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an overflow preventing probe and its surrounding components of the cooking appliance shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an electrically conductive member of a cooking appliance according to a preferred embodiment, in which the electrically conductive member before embossing and the electrically conductive member after embossing are respectively shown.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an electrically conductive member of a cooking appliance according to another preferred embodiment, in which the electrically conductive member before knurling and the electrically conductive member after knurling are respectively shown.

Fig. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a power isolation circuit and a communication isolation circuit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without one or more of these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in order to avoid obscuring embodiments of the present invention.

In the following description, a detailed structure will be presented for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. It is apparent that the implementation of the embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the specific details familiar to those skilled in the art. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, however, other embodiments of the invention are possible in addition to these detailed descriptions.

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a cooking appliance provided with an overflow prevention device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of simplicity, only a portion of the cooking appliance is shown. It can be understood, according to the utility model discloses a cooking utensil can be for electric rice cooker, electric pressure cooker, soybean milk machine or other cooking utensil, and according to the utility model discloses a cooking utensil except having the function of cooking rice, can also have various functions such as cooking congee, a kind of deep pot hot water, boiling soybean milk. The following describes in detail the cooking utensil and the overflow preventing device according to the present invention, taking an electric rice cooker as an example.

As shown in fig. 1, the cooking appliance 200 includes a pot body 210 and a lid 220. The pot body 210 has a cavity of a cylindrical shape for receiving the inner pot 212, and the inner pot 212 can be freely put into or taken out of the cavity to facilitate cleaning of the inner pot 212. The upper surface of the inner pot 212 has a circular opening for containing a material to be heated, such as rice, soup, etc., into the inner pot 212. The cover body 220 includes an inner liner 221 and an inner cover 222 detachably coupled to the inner liner 221. The pot body 210 generally has therein a heating means for heating the inner pot 212.

With further reference to fig. 1, the cooking appliance 200 further includes a spill guard 100, the spill guard 100 being disposed in the lid 220. The detection principle of the anti-overflow device 100 according to the present invention is a capacitance sensing principle, that is, when the medium (such as foam) in the inner pan 212 of the cooking utensil 200 approaches or contacts the detection part (such as the conductive part 110 in the present application, which will be described in detail later), the capacitance value thereof is caused to change, and the change is converted into a detectable digital signal, so as to determine whether to perform the anti-overflow operation.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the overfill prevention device 100 includes an overfill prevention probe 140, a detection circuit, and a control module electrically connected to the detection circuit. The overfill prevention probe 140 includes a conductive member 110. The conductive member 110 is cylindrical, for example, a cylinder, and is disposed in a vertical direction. The conductive member 110 is preferably made of a metal material such as stainless steel. The conductive member 110 is at least partially hollow in its axial direction, for example, in the illustrated embodiment, the conductive member 110 is entirely hollow in its axial direction, and in other embodiments not shown, the conductive member 110 may be provided to be hollow partially in its axial direction (for example, half of its axial direction). It should be noted that the reference to "the conductive member 110 is entirely hollow in the axial direction thereof" does not mean that the hollow portion penetrates the conductive member 110 in the axial direction of the conductive member 110, and may have a closed end surface. In the present invention, it is preferable that the end surface of the conductive member 110 facing the inner pot 212 is closed, and the end surface of the other end is open.

Further, the conductive member 110 includes a detection section 111 and a connection section 112 at both ends of the cylinder thereof, respectively. The sensing section 111 of the conductive member 110 is a portion extending into the inner pot 212 through the inner lid 222, and the connection section 112 is connected to a sensing circuit. As described above, the detection end surface 111a at the end where the detection section 111 is located is closed, and the connection end surface 112a at the end where the connection section 112 is located is open.

In order to increase the surface area of the conductive member 110, the outer surface of the conductive member 110 is provided with an uneven texture 113. The texture 113 may be a vertical embossing as shown in fig. 3, or may be a rolled texture as shown in fig. 4, or those skilled in the art may also set other forms of textures according to actual needs, such as a texture formed by etching or sandblasting, etc. Wherein the vertical embossing and the rolling pattern may be formed by rolling on the outer surface of the conductive member 110 using an embossing machine or a roller press, respectively. Wherein at least one of the side surface and the detection end surface 111a of the conductive member 110 is provided with the grain 113, preferably, both the side surface and the detection end surface 111a of the conductive member 110 are provided with the grain 113. It is understood that the texture of the side surface of the conductive member 110 may be set to be the same as or different from the texture of the detection end surface 111a by those skilled in the art according to actual needs.

In one implementation, the anti-overflow probe further includes an insulating member 120 covering the outside of the conductive member 110. The insulating member 120 is preferably made of an insulating material such as plastic, glass, ceramic, or the like. Specifically, the shape of the insulating member 120 substantially matches the shape of the conductive member 110, i.e., the insulating member 120 is substantially cylindrical. The insulating member 120 includes a detection portion 121 and a connection portion 122. The sensing part 121 is a part that extends into the inner pot 212 through the inner lid 222 to be in contact with the medium in the inner pot 212. The sensing part 121 covers the outer surface of the sensing section 111 so that a user does not directly contact the conductive member 110, thereby securing safety.

The outer surface of the sensing part 121 constitutes a sensing surface, wherein the capacitance value of the conductive member 110 can be changed as the sensing surface contacts the medium in the cooking utensil 200, thereby forming a capacitive sensing device. When the medium inside the cooking appliance 200 approaches or contacts the detection surface, the capacitance value of the conductive member 110 changes. The detection circuit is electrically connected to the conductive member 110, and the detection circuit generates a detection signal by detecting a change in capacitance value of the conductive member 110. The control module communicates with the detection circuit to receive the detection signal and determines whether an overflow phenomenon occurs in the inner pan 212 of the cooking appliance 200 according to the detection signal, thereby performing an overflow prevention operation.

The above-described method of determining whether to perform the anti-overflow operation according to the change in the capacitance value of the conductive member 110 can improve the detection sensitivity, reduce the probability of erroneous determination, and reduce the cost.

The connecting portion 122 is preferably formed integrally with the detecting portion 121, and is used to attach the insulating member 120 and the conductive member 110 to the cover 220. The insulating member 120 has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape as a whole, and the conductive member 110 is fitted around the hollow inside of the insulating member 120. The insulating member 120 is provided with a flange 123 extending radially outward at one end of the connecting portion 122, and the flange 123 is connected to the inner liner 221.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 2, the wall thickness T of the insulating member 120 satisfies: t is 2mm 4mm, for example, in a preferred embodiment, the wall thickness T of the insulating member 120 may be 2mm or 3mm, etc. Preferably, the outer surface area of the section of the detection portion 121 extending beyond the inner lid 222 satisfies: 350mm²≤S≤1696mm²For example, in a preferred embodiment, the area of the outer surface of the section of the sensing portion 121 extending beyond the inner lid 222 is 400mm²、450mm²、500mm²、550mm²、600mm²、650mm²、900mm²、1200mm²、1500mm²And the like, and the skilled person can set the range according to actual needs. According to the above-mentioned scheme of this application, on the one hand can guarantee the detection effect of anti-overflow probe 140, and on the other hand can reduce anti-overflow probe 140's size to realize anti-overflow probe 140's miniaturization, and then convenience of customers carries out operations such as the washing to the inner cup.

As another implementation, the outer surface of the conductive member 110 may also have no insulating member, such that the conductive member 110 can be directly exposed in the inner pan, such that the medium inside the cooking appliance may directly contact or be close to the outer surface of the conductive member 110. This scheme can improve the sensitivity of detection of the conductive member 110. Preferably, the outer surface area of the conductive part 110 extending beyond the detection section 111 of the inner lid 222 satisfies: 189mm²≤S≤1275mm²For example, in a preferred embodiment, the outer surface area of the conductive member 110 extending beyond the detection section 111 of the inner cover 222 is 250mm²、300mm²、350mm²、400mm²、450mm²、500mm²、550mm²、600mm²、650mm²、900mm²And the like, and the skilled person can set the range according to actual needs.

In this embodiment, in order to ensure safety in use, the overfill prevention device 100 further comprises an isolation circuit that insulates the conductive member 110 to avoid the risk of a user inadvertently touching the conductive member 110 to create an electrical shock.

The isolation circuit includes at least one of a power isolation circuit communication isolation circuit. The power isolation circuit isolates a power supply for supplying power to the detection circuit, and the communication isolation circuit isolates communication between the power supply and the detection circuit.

Specifically, the power supply may be isolated by a transformer, and the power supply isolation circuit is briefly described below by taking the transformer as an example with reference to fig. 5. Of course, other methods can be adopted by those skilled in the art according to actual needs.

A power panel of the cooking appliance supplies low-voltage direct current power to a DC-AC circuit on a display panel provided with a detection circuit, and the DC-AC circuit is composed of a switch power chip and peripheral circuits. Under the control of the DC-AC circuit, the electric energy of the primary coil of the transformer is coupled to the secondary coil of the transformer, and the primary coil and the secondary coil of the transformer are not grounded, so that the power supply isolation function is realized; then the voltage is passed through a rectifying circuit, a filter circuit, a three-terminal voltage-stabilizing integrated circuit and a filter circuit to finally obtain a 5V (or 3.3V) direct-current power supply, and the direct-current power supply is provided for a detection circuit.

The communication isolation circuit is used for isolating the communication between the display panel provided with the detection circuit and the power panel, and the isolation mode can adopt a photoelectric coupler or other modes.

In this way, the corresponding power supply and communication circuit on the display panel can be isolated, so that safety can be ensured when the user's hand directly touches the conductive member 110.

As shown in fig. 1-3, the overfill prevention device 100 further includes a wire 130 connecting the conductive member 110 and the detection circuit. One end of the connecting section 112 is provided with an axially outwardly extending extension 112 b. The wire 130 is preferably connected to the extension 112b of the connection section 112 by a rivet 131.

According to this application, through set up unevenness's line 113 at conductive part 110's surface, can make the anti-overflow probe 140 of this application compare the surface area with the anti-overflow probe of same volume and increase about 20% -100% to can be under the condition that realizes same anti-overflow effect, reduce the size of the anti-overflow probe 140 of this application, and then realize the miniaturization of anti-overflow probe.

Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Terms such as "disposed" and the like, as used herein, may refer to one element being directly attached to another element or one element being attached to another element through intervening elements. Features described herein in one embodiment may be applied to another embodiment, either alone or in combination with other features, unless the feature is otherwise inapplicable or otherwise stated in the other embodiment.

The present invention has been described in terms of the above embodiments, but it is to be understood that the above embodiments are for purposes of illustration and description only and are not intended to limit the invention to the described embodiments. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many more modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching and are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A spill guard for a cooking appliance, the spill guard (100) comprising:

an overfill prevention probe (140), the overfill prevention probe (140) comprising:

an electrically conductive member (110), the electrically conductive member (110) comprising a detection section (111) and a connection section (112), wherein at least an outer surface of the detection section (111) is provided with an uneven texture (113), and a capacitance value of the electrically conductive member (110) changes as the detection section contacts or approaches a medium in the cooking appliance; and

a control module electrically connected with the conductive member (110) via the connection section (112) and determining whether to perform an anti-overflow operation according to a change in a capacitance value of the conductive member (110).

2. Overfill prevention device according to claim 1, wherein said conductive member (110) is a cylinder, said detection section (111) and said connection section (112) being located at both ends of said cylinder, respectively.

3. Overfill prevention device according to claim 2, wherein said cylinder has an end face at one end of said detection section (111), said ridges (113) being provided on a side surface and/or said end face of said cylinder.

4. Overfill prevention device according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of said connection section (112) is also provided with said ridges (113).

5. The overfill prevention device of claim 1 or 4, wherein said ridges (113) are embossed or sandblasted.

6. The overfill prevention device of claim 1, wherein said overfill prevention device (100) further comprises a detection circuit electrically connected to said connection section (112) and said control module, respectively, said detection circuit generating a detection signal by detecting a change in capacitance of said conductive member (110), said control module determining whether to perform said overfill prevention operation based on said detection signal.

7. The overfill prevention device of claim 1, wherein said overfill prevention probe (140) further comprises an insulating member (120), said insulating member (120) comprising a detection portion (121), said detection portion (121) covering an outer surface of said detection section (111).

8. The overfill prevention device of claim 7, wherein said insulating member (120) further comprises a connecting portion (122) connected to said detection portion (121), such that said insulating member (120) has a hollow cylindrical shape having a flange extending radially outward at one end, said conductive member (110) is fitted inside said insulating member (120), and said connecting portion (122) is used for connecting said insulating member (120) and said conductive member (110) in said cooking appliance.

9. The overfill prevention device of claim 7, wherein the wall thickness T of the detection portion of the insulating member (120) satisfies: t is more than or equal to 2mm and less than or equal to 4 mm.

10. The overfill prevention device of claim 6, further comprising an isolation circuit that insulates said conductive member, said isolation circuit comprising a power isolation circuit that isolates a power source that powers said detection circuit and/or a communication isolation circuit that isolates communication between said power source and said detection circuit.

11. A cooking appliance, characterized in that the cooking appliance (200) comprises:

a pot body (210); and

the cover body (220) is arranged on the cooker body (210) in an openable and closable manner, and comprises a lining and an inner cover connected with the lining; and

the overfill prevention device (100) of any of claims 1-10, said overfill prevention device (100) being disposed on said cover (220).

12. The cooking appliance according to claim 11, wherein the overflow prevention probe (140) further comprises an insulating member (120), the insulating member (120) comprises a detection portion (121), the conductive member (110) is mounted on the inner liner via the insulating member (120), and an outer surface area of a section of the detection portion (121) extending beyond the inner lid satisfies: 350mm²≤S≤1696mm²。

13. The cooking appliance according to claim 11, wherein the outer surface area of the conductive part (110) extending beyond the detection section (111) of the inner lid satisfies: 189mm²≤S≤1275mm²。