CN211243018U

CN211243018U - Food processor with good use experience

Info

Publication number: CN211243018U
Application number: CN201921286567.4U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王旭宁; 周伟生; 杨乐; 苏荣清
Original assignee: Joyoung Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hangzhou Jiuchuang Home Appliances Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-08-08
Filing date: 2019-08-08
Publication date: 2020-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-08

Abstract

The utility model relates to a use and experience good cooking machine. The valve body subassembly of current cooking machine needs manually operation, influences and uses experience. The utility model discloses a frame and cooking cup, cooking cup include cup and lid, and the lid closes on the cup, is equipped with heating element on the cup, sets up the exhaust hole on the lid, is equipped with valve body assembly in the exhaust hole, and heating element adjusts cooking intracavity temperature, and when cooking intracavity temperature risees, valve body assembly opens to make the cooking chamber lead to with external space through the exhaust hole. Set up the valve body subassembly of control exhaust hole switching on the lid for the open-close state in exhaust hole can carry out automatic switch-over according to the temperature variation in cooking chamber, has both satisfied that cooking chamber carries out the culinary art of differentiation under the different temperature condition and handles, promotes to eat material taste, and still convenient operation need not the bare-handed operation of user, ensures safety in utilization and convenience, promotes to use and experiences.

Description

Food processor with good use experience

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a food processing field, concretely relates to cooking machine.

Background

The cooking machine includes built-in motor's frame and installs the cooking cup on the frame, the cooking cup includes cup and lid, and the lid closes on the cup and encloses to close and form the cooking chamber, be equipped with heating element and crushing sword on the cup, the motor shaft orders about crushing sword rotatory, implements cutting stirring operation to eating the material, and heating element produces the heat, implements heating operation to eating the material. When cutting stirring operation, arrange the chamber and need completely cut off with external space and avoid the gassing, ensure to eat the material taste, when heating operation, arrange the chamber and need lead to with external space and maintain atmospheric pressure, ensure arranging the smooth outer row of intracavity steam, guarantee safe in utilization, but the valve body subassembly on the cooking machine that has now needs manual operation, both can influence the use because of the troublesome poeration and experience, still can touch the valve body subassembly when heating operation and take place the condition of scalding, there is the potential safety hazard.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In order to solve the not enough of prior art, the utility model provides a use food processor who experiences sets up the valve body subassembly of control exhaust hole switching at the lid top, ensures that the exhaust hole realizes automatic switching according to cooking intracavity temperature variation, both convenient operation, still ensures safe in utilization.

The utility model discloses a following mode realizes: the utility model provides a use food processer who experiences, includes built-in motor's frame and installs the cooking cup on the frame, the cooking cup includes cup and lid, and lid closes on the cup and encloses and close and form the cooking chamber, be equipped with heating element and crushing sword on the cup, the motor shaft orders about crushing sword rotatory, set up the exhaust hole on the lid, be equipped with the valve body subassembly in the exhaust hole, heating element adjusts cooking intracavity temperature, and when cooking intracavity temperature risees, the valve body subassembly is opened to make the cooking chamber lead to with external space through the exhaust hole. Set up the valve body subassembly of control exhaust hole switching on the lid for the open-close state in exhaust hole can carry out automatic switch-over according to the temperature variation in cooking chamber, has both satisfied that cooking chamber carries out the culinary art of differentiation under the different temperature condition and handles, promotes to eat material taste, and still convenient operation need not the bare-handed operation of user, ensures safety in utilization and convenience, promotes to use and experiences. When cooking intracavity temperature is higher, valve body assembly opens to make the cooking chamber communicate with each other through exhaust hole and external space, when cooking intracavity temperature is lower, valve body assembly closes, so that the cooking chamber is isolated with external space.

Preferably, the valve body assembly comprises a valve cover, the valve cover is sealed and covered on the upper port of the exhaust hole, and the valve cover is heated and tilted and separated from the exhaust hole so as to open the valve body assembly. The valve cover plays a role in plugging the exhaust hole, has the characteristic of thermal deformation, and seals and plugs the exhaust hole when the temperature in the cooking cup is low, so that the valve body assembly is in a closed state; when the temperature in the cooking cup is higher, the valve cover is heated and deformed and is separated from the exhaust hole, and the valve body assembly is in an opening state.

Preferably, the vent hole is completely covered by the vertical projection of the valve cover, a slot is arranged on the peripheral area of the vent hole on the top surface of the cover body, and the end part of the valve cover is inserted into the slot so as to plug the vent hole on the bottom surface of the valve cover. The slot plays the effect of rigid coupling location to the valve gap, ensures that the upper port of exhaust hole can be sealed off completely to the valve gap, ensures the leakproofness between valve gap and the exhaust hole.

Preferably, the valve cover is of a double-layer metal structure and comprises an upper iron sheet and a lower copper sheet. The iron sheet and the copper sheet have different deformation quantities under the heated state, and when the iron sheet and the copper sheet are superposed, fixedly connected and synchronously heated, the thermal expansion amplitude of the copper sheet is larger than that of the iron sheet, so that the valve cover is upwards tilted and separated from the upper port of the exhaust hole, and the purpose that the valve cover is automatically opened under the heated condition is realized.

Preferably, valve body subassembly includes the ball valve of shutoff at exhaust hole upper port, and cooking chamber intensifies and produces the steam that drives the ball valve suspension, and the ball valve separates with exhaust hole upper port to make valve body subassembly open. The ball valve utilizes self gravity whereabouts and shutoff exhaust hole to make cooking chamber isolated with external space, when cooking chamber leads to the atmospheric pressure to rise because of heating formation steam, steam can push the ball valve and overcome self gravity and with exhaust hole upper end mouth separation, so that cooking chamber and external space intercommunication, both made things convenient for steam to arrange outward, still need not manual operation, facilitate the use convenience.

Preferably, the upper port of the exhaust hole extends upwards to form a U-shaped guide groove, the groove bottom wall of the guide groove is communicated with the upper port of the exhaust hole, and the ball valve vertically ascends and descends along the guide groove. The guiding groove is the U-shaped, and the guiding groove bottom plays the supporting effect to the globe valve, and matches with globe valve bottom profile, promotes sealing performance through increasing area of contact, and the lateral wall of guiding groove and globe valve go up and down to play the guide effect, both played the effect of restriction globe valve displacement range, still ensured that the globe valve can utilize self gravity to fall back to guiding groove bottom and shutoff exhaust hole.

Preferably, the valve body assembly comprises a silica gel sheet which is sealed and covers the exhaust hole, the cooking cavity is heated and generates steam which drives the silica gel sheet to deform, and the silica gel sheet is separated from the exhaust hole so that the valve body assembly is opened. The silica gel piece covers the last port in exhaust hole, ensures that cooking chamber and external space are isolated, when cooking chamber leads to the atmospheric pressure to rise because of heating formation steam, steam can push the silica gel piece deformation and break away from with exhaust hole last port for cooking chamber and external space lead to even, both made things convenient for steam to arrange outward, still need not manual operation, facilitate the use convenience.

Preferably, the middle part of the silica gel sheet is fixedly connected with the cover body, and the periphery of the silica gel sheet is sealed and covered on the exhaust hole. The middle part of the silica gel sheet is fixedly connected with the cover body, so that the periphery of the silica gel sheet can move within a limited range, and the periphery can deform under the action of steam, thereby controlling the opening and closing state of the exhaust hole.

Preferably, the top of the cover body is provided with an upper cover, a noise reduction cavity communicated with the external space is formed between the upper cover and the cover body in a surrounding mode, and the valve body assembly is arranged in the noise reduction cavity. The upper cover plays the effect of sheltering from exhaust hole and valve body subassembly, both played the guard action to the valve body subassembly, effectively reduced exhaust noise and the outer effect of arranging the temperature of steam in addition, promotes to use and experiences and safety in utilization.

Preferably, the top wall of the noise reduction cavity is provided with an air outlet communicated with the external space. Arrange the intracavity steam and loop through exhaust hole and venthole and arrange outward, both effective steam temperature that reduces prevents the condition of scalding, effectively reduce exhaust noise in addition, promote to use and experience.

The utility model has the advantages that: set up the valve body subassembly of control exhaust hole switching on the lid for the open-close state in exhaust hole can carry out automatic switch-over according to the temperature variation in cooking chamber, has both satisfied that cooking chamber carries out the culinary art of differentiation under the different temperature condition and handles, promotes to eat material taste, and still convenient operation need not the bare-handed operation of user, ensures safety in utilization and convenience, promotes to use and experiences.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic partial sectional view of a food processor according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an assembling structure of the valve body assembly according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of the valve cover according to the second embodiment when the valve cover is tilted;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing an assembling structure of the valve body assembly according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing an assembly structure of a valve body assembly according to the fourth embodiment;

in the figure: 1. the device comprises a base, 2, a cup body, 21, a crushing cutter, 3, a cover body, 31, a valve body assembly, 311, a valve cover, 3111, an iron sheet, 3112, a copper sheet, 312, a slot, 313, a spherical valve, 314, a guide groove, 315, a silica gel sheet, 32, an exhaust hole, 33, an upper cover, 34, an air outlet hole, 35 and a noise reduction cavity.

Detailed Description

The essential features of the invention will be further explained below with reference to the drawings and the detailed description of the invention.

The first embodiment is as follows:

this embodiment provides a use and experience good cooking machine.

A cooking machine as shown in fig. 1, by built-in motor's frame 1 and install the cooking cup on frame 1 and constitute, the cooking cup includes cup 2 and lid 3, and lid 3 lid closes on cup 2 and encloses and close and form the cooking chamber, be equipped with heating element and crushing sword 21 on cup 2, the motor shaft orders about crushing sword 21 rotatory, set up exhaust hole 32 on the lid 3, be equipped with valve body assembly 31 on the exhaust hole 32, heating element adjusts cooking intracavity temperature, perhaps, when the cooking machine is in high-speed processing state, crushing sword can produce heat equally with the friction of eating the material and make cooking intracavity temperature rise, and when cooking intracavity temperature rose, valve body assembly 31 opened to make the cooking chamber lead to even with external space through exhaust hole 32.

In this embodiment, the motor is installed in frame 1 with the motor shaft mode of putting that erects, and cooking cup detachably installs on frame 1 for the motor shaft passes through the shaft coupling and orders about crushing sword 21 rotatory in the cooking intracavity. The shaft coupling includes that the rigid coupling is at the lower antithetical couplet axial region on motor shaft top and with the overhead antithetical couplet axial region of smashing the linkage of sword 21, arrange the vertical installation of cup on frame 1 for overhead antithetical couplet axial region matches with the lower antithetical couplet axial region and pegs graft, and then ensures that the motor drives and smashes sword 21 rotation, cuts the edible material of arranging the intracavity and smashes.

In this embodiment, be equipped with heating element in the cooking cup, but be equipped with the coupling structure of plug electricity even between cooking cup bottom and 1 top of frame, after the cooking cup installation targets in place, heating element receives the power and the production heat energy that passes through the coupling structure transmission, heats the culinary art to the edible material of cooking intracavity.

In this embodiment, arrange the cup and include cup 2 and lid 3, the top of cup 2 is equipped with uncovered rim of a cup, and the sealed lid of lid 3 closes on the rim of a cup, and existing effect promotes the joint strength between cup 2 and lid 3, prevents that lid 3 from appearing the condition that breaks away from with cup 2 when arranging quick-witted operation, ensures safe in utilization, and it is excessive to prevent the edible material that splashes through the gap between cup 2 and lid 3 in addition effectively, ensures to use and experiences.

In this embodiment, the lid 3 is provided with an air vent 32, so that the cooking cavity can be communicated with the external space through the air vent 32. Be equipped with manually operation's valve body assembly 31 on current lid 3, realize exhaust hole 32 switching through manually operation, can ensure that steam is arranged outward smoothly when heating assembly heats cooking intracavity and eat the material, effectively prevent cooking chamber and take place the condition that cooking chamber damage and steam outwards jetted because of inside steam pressure is too high, ensure that the atmospheric pressure of cooking intracavity is the same with external atmospheric pressure, guarantee safe in utilization, can also smash sword 21 and cut exhaust hole 32 and close when smashing edible material, prevent to eat material and external air contact and form a large amount of bubbles, the material quality is eaten in the influence. However, the manually operated valve assembly 31 is troublesome to operate and easy to scald, and a user easily has a safety risk in use due to forgetting to operate the valve assembly 31, thereby affecting the use experience. For this reason set up on the exhaust hole 32 and can carry out automatic switch-over's valve body assembly 31 according to cooking intracavity temperature, both need not the bare-handed operation of user, facilitate the use, effectively avoid the unable outer condition of arranging of cooking intracavity steam in addition, ensure safe in utilization, effectively avoid again eating the condition that material and outside air contacted and produced a large amount of foams when smashing the stirring, promote edible material processing quality.

In this embodiment, the action of the valve body assembly 31 is related to the temperature in the cooking cavity. When heating element during operation, arrange intracavity temperature and rise and surpass and predetermine the temperature, valve body subassembly 31 is opened to make arrange chamber and external space intercommunication, ensure to arrange intracavity atmospheric pressure and external space atmospheric pressure balanced, ensure safe in utilization. When heating element stop work, arrange the intracavity temperature and fall back and be less than preset the temperature, valve body subassembly 31 is closed to make arrange the chamber isolated with external space, ensure to eat the material and can not produce the condition of a large amount of foams because of contacting with the outside air when being smashed, effectively promote to use and experience.

Example two:

compared with the first embodiment, the present embodiment provides a specific structure of the food processor.

As shown in fig. 2, the valve body assembly 31 includes a valve cover 311, the valve cover 311 is sealed on the upper port of the exhaust hole 32, and the valve cover 311 is heated to be tilted and separated from the exhaust hole 32, so that the valve body assembly 31 is opened. Valve gap 311 can take place the function of specific deformation according to self temperature variation for valve gap 311 can effectively control the state of leading to of exhaust hole 32, and then control the state of leading to between cooking chamber and external space, both ensure the safety in utilization in cooking chamber, still ensure the processing quality of eating the material.

In this embodiment, the valve cover 311 can realize deformation switching according to the temperature change thereof. Specifically, when the temperature of the valve cover 311 is low, the valve cover 311 is closely attached to the periphery of the upper port of the exhaust hole 32 through the periphery of the bottom surface, and the sealing performance between the valve cover 311 and the exhaust hole 32 is ensured by the structural strength of the valve cover 311 itself. When the temperature of the valve cover 311 is high, the valve cover 311 deforms and separates from the periphery of the upper port of the exhaust hole 32, so that the upper port of the exhaust hole 32 is open and exposed, and the balance between the air pressure in the cooking cavity and the external air pressure is ensured. When the temperature of the valve cover 311 is changed in an ascending and descending manner, the matching state between the valve cover 311 and the exhaust hole 32 is correspondingly changed.

In this embodiment, the vertical projection of the valve cover 311 completely covers the exhaust hole 32, the contour of the upper port of the exhaust hole 32 is matched with the contour of the bottom surface of the valve cover 311, and the size of the bottom surface of the valve body is greater than that of the upper port of the exhaust hole 32, so that not only can the valve cover 311 completely cover the upper port of the exhaust hole 32 be ensured, but also the periphery of the bottom surface of the valve cover 311 can be matched and attached with the periphery of the upper port of the exhaust hole 32 to form an annular attaching surface, and the sealing performance between the valve cover 311 and the cover body 3 is. The radial cross-sectional profile of the exhaust hole 32 is circular, and the bottom surface of the valve cover 311 is circular.

In this embodiment, the top surface of the cover 3 is provided with a slot 312 at the peripheral area of the exhaust hole 32, and the end of the valve cover 311 is inserted into the slot 312, so that the bottom surface of the valve cover 311 closes the exhaust hole 32. The slot 312 is disposed on the top surface of the cover 3 and located in the peripheral area of the exhaust hole 32, the notch of the slot 312 is disposed toward the exhaust hole 32, and during installation, one side of the valve cover 311 is horizontally inserted into the slot 312, so that the valve cover 311 can be sealed and covered on the upper port of the exhaust hole 32. In addition, the slot 312 plays a vertical limiting role for the valve cover 311, so as to ensure that the valve cover 311 deforms in a preset area above the exhaust hole 32, and ensure that the valve body is sealed and covered on an upper port of the exhaust hole 32 when the valve body recovers deformation. Specifically, the side portion of the valve cover 311 is clamped in the slot 312 in an interference fit manner, so that the valve cover is convenient to disassemble and assemble, and the connection stability of the valve cover and the slot is effectively improved.

In this embodiment, the valve cover 311 is a two-layer metal structure, and includes an upper iron sheet 3111 and a lower copper sheet 3112 (as shown in fig. 3). Iron sheet 3111's the thermal deformation range that is less than copper sheet 3112, when iron sheet 3111 and copper sheet 3112 are heated in step, copper sheet 3112's deformation range is greater than iron sheet 3111's the range that is heated, and iron sheet 3111 bottom surface and copper sheet 3112 top surface laminating rigid coupling, when cooking intracavity heat transmits to valve gap 311 through exhaust hole 32 on, copper sheet 3112 perks up under iron sheet 3111 restriction, make copper sheet 3112 bottom surface periphery and exhaust hole 32 upper end mouth periphery break away from, realize that valve body subassembly 31 opens automatically. Because the iron sheet 3111 and the copper sheet 3112 are fixed in relative position, the deformation direction of the valve cover 311 is unique and controllable, and the opening and closing of the valve cover 311 are stable and controllable.

In this embodiment, the top of the cover body 3 is provided with an upper cover 33, a noise reduction cavity 35 communicated with the external space is formed by enclosing the upper cover 33 and the cover body 3, and the valve body assembly 31 is arranged in the noise reduction cavity 35. And the top wall of the noise reduction cavity 35 is provided with an air outlet 34 communicated with the external space. The upper cover 33 covers the top surface of the cover body 3 and encloses a noise reduction chamber 35 that surrounds the valve body assembly 31. When using, the vertical projection dislocation set of venthole 34 and exhaust hole 32 for the passageway through buckling links to each other between cooking chamber and external space, and the effect of making an uproar falls in the loss along the way when existing effect increase noise transmission, still effectively promotes the heat loss of steam on the way of arranging outward, guarantees the safety in utilization through reducing the outer temperature of steam. In addition, the valve body assembly 31 is arranged in the noise reduction cavity 35, the valve body assembly 31 is protected, and the deformation of the valve cover 311 is limited.

Other structures and effects of this embodiment cooking machine all are consistent with the embodiment, and no longer repeated.

Example three:

compared with the second embodiment, the present embodiment provides a specific structure of the food processor.

As shown in fig. 4, the valve body assembly 31 includes a ball valve 313 that closes the upper port of the exhaust hole 32, the cooking cavity heats up and generates steam that drives the ball valve 313 to suspend, and the ball valve 313 separates from the upper port of the exhaust hole 32, so that the valve body assembly 31 is opened. Ball valve 313 both can utilize self gravity shutoff exhaust hole 32 to go up the port for cooking chamber and external space keep apart, can also break away from exhaust hole 32 and go up the port under cooking intracavity high-pressure steam's the blowing effect, make cooking chamber and external space to lead to even, realize the purpose of valve body subassembly 31 according to the automatic switching of cooking intracavity temperature variation with this.

In this embodiment, the upper port of the exhaust hole 32 extends upward to form a U-shaped guide groove 314, the bottom wall of the guide groove 314 communicates with the upper port of the exhaust hole 32, and the ball valve 313 is vertically lifted along the guide groove 314. The notch of the guiding groove 314 is arranged upward, and the bottom is communicated with the upper port of the exhaust hole 32. The groove wall of the guide groove 314 is flared, which not only can guide the ball valve 313, but also can form a ventilation channel with the groove wall of the guide groove 314 when the ball valve 313 is blown away, thereby ensuring that steam is discharged out smoothly. The groove bottom wall of the guide groove 314 is arc-shaped and is matched and attached with the bottom surface of the ball valve 313, and the sealing performance is improved by increasing the contact area.

In this embodiment, the ball valve 313 and the guide groove 314 are both disposed in the noise reduction cavity 35, and the upper cover 33 limits the ball valve 313, prevents the ball valve 313 from being separated from the guide groove 314, and ensures the stability of the valve body assembly 31 in use.

This embodiment other structures and the effect of cooking machine all are unanimous with embodiment two, no longer describe repeatedly.

Example four:

As shown in fig. 5, the valve assembly 31 includes a silicon sheet 315 for sealing the air vent 32, the cooking cavity is heated and generates steam for driving the silicon sheet 315 to deform, and the silicon sheet 315 is separated from the air vent 32, so as to open the valve assembly 31. Silica gel piece 315 both can utilize self gravity overlap joint at lid 3 top surface, plays the purpose of shutoff exhaust hole 32 upper port for cooking chamber and external space keep apart, can also take place deformation and break away from with exhaust hole 32 upper port under cooking intracavity high-pressure steam's the blowing effect, make cooking chamber and external space lead to even, realize the purpose of valve body subassembly 31 according to the automatic switching of cooking intracavity temperature variation with this.

In this embodiment, the middle portion of the silicone sheet 315 is fixedly connected to the cover body 3, and the periphery of the silicone sheet is sealed and covered on the exhaust hole 32. The middle part of the bottom surface of the silicon sheet 315 extends downwards to form a connecting piece, the periphery of the exhaust hole 32 is provided with a connecting hole, and the connecting piece is inserted and fixedly connected in the connecting hole, so that the silicon sheet 315 is fixedly connected on the top surface of the cover body 3, and the silicon sheet 315 is ensured to deform along a preset path. After the installation is in place, the periphery of the bottom surface of the silicon sheet 315 is lapped on the top surface of the cover body 3 and completely seals the upper port of the exhaust hole 32, so that the sealing performance of the silicon sheet 315 is ensured.

It can be understood that the silicone sheet 315 may also be fixedly connected to the cover 3 through the side portion, as long as the silicone sheet 315 is positioned.

Claims

1. The utility model provides a use cooking machine who experiences, includes built-in motor's frame and installs the cooking cup on the frame, the cooking cup includes cup and lid, and lid closes on the cup and encloses and close and form the cooking chamber, be equipped with heating element and crushing sword on the cup, the motor shaft orders about crushing sword rotatory, a serial communication port, set up the exhaust hole on the lid, be equipped with valve body assembly in the exhaust hole, heating element adjusts cooking intracavity temperature, and when cooking intracavity temperature risees, valve body assembly opens to make the cooking chamber lead to with external space through the exhaust hole.

2. The food processor with good use experience according to claim 1, wherein the valve body assembly comprises a valve cover, the valve cover is covered on the upper port of the exhaust hole in a sealing mode, and the valve cover is heated to be tilted and separated from the exhaust hole so that the valve body assembly is opened.

3. The food processor with good use experience according to claim 2, wherein the vent hole is completely covered by a vertical projection of the valve cover, a slot is formed in the peripheral area of the vent hole on the top surface of the cover body, and the valve cover is inserted into the slot through the end part, so that the vent hole is blocked by the bottom surface of the valve cover.

4. The food processor with good use experience according to claim 2, wherein the valve cover is of a double-layer metal structure and comprises an upper iron sheet and a lower copper sheet.

5. The food processor with good use experience according to claim 1, wherein the valve body assembly comprises a ball valve which is plugged at the upper port of the exhaust hole, and the food processing cavity is heated and drives the ball valve to be separated from the upper port of the exhaust hole, so that the valve body assembly is opened.

6. The food processor with good use experience according to claim 5, wherein the upper port of the exhaust hole extends upwards to form a U-shaped guide groove, the groove bottom wall of the guide groove is communicated with the upper port of the exhaust hole, and the ball valve vertically ascends and descends along the guide groove.

7. The food processor with good use experience according to claim 1, wherein the valve body assembly comprises a silicon sheet which is sealed and covers the exhaust hole, and the food processing cavity is heated and drives the silicon sheet to deform and separate from the exhaust hole so as to open the valve body assembly.

8. The food processor with good use experience according to claim 7, wherein the middle part of the silicon sheet is fixedly connected with the cover body, and the periphery of the silicon sheet is sealed and covered on the exhaust hole.

9. The food processor with good use experience according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an upper cover is arranged on the top of the cover body, a noise reduction cavity communicated with an external space is formed between the upper cover and the cover body, and the valve body assembly is arranged in the noise reduction cavity.

10. The food processor with good use experience according to claim 9, wherein the top wall of the noise reduction cavity is provided with an air outlet communicated with an external space.