KR101897009B1 - Pressure cooker having safety function - Google Patents

Abstract

A pressure cooking apparatus having a safety function according to the present invention includes a power input unit for receiving external power input, a heating unit for heating a cooking container in the pressure cooker using external power input through the power input unit, A microcomputer for controlling the heating operation of the heating unit, a pressure sensing element for switching the state when the pressure inside the cooking vessel exceeds the reference pressure, and a line between the power input unit and the heating unit, And may further comprise a blocking element configured to reversibly switch its own state without intervention of the microcomputer section to turn the line on or off.

Description

[0001] PRESSURE COOKER HAVING SAFETY FUNCTION [0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a pressure cooker capable of heating while keeping the inside of the cooker container at a high pressure by sealing the cooking container, and more particularly, to a pressure cooker having a safety function.

The use of a pressure cooker for heating a food to a high temperature by heating the cooking vessel in a state in which the upper part of the pot type cooking vessel is hermetically closed is made higher than the atmospheric pressure in the cooking vessel.

An example of such a pressure cooker is a pressure cooker.

On the other hand, such a pressure cooker has various safety devices in order to prevent a danger that the pressure rises excessively to cause the cooking device to explode in advance.

For example, when a steam outlet communicating with the inside of the cooking vessel is formed, and the steam outlet is closed with a weight, when the pressure inside the cooking vessel rises, the weight is pushed up to release the pressure by itself .

Further, a structure is employed in which the steam outlet is closed with an electrically operated actuator, and the actuator is operated based on the output signal of the pressure sensor for measuring the pressure inside the cooking vessel to open the steam outlet.

In addition, when a temperature sensor is provided and the temperature inside the cooking vessel is measured to be higher than the reference temperature, it is determined that the pressure inside the cooking vessel has abnormally increased and the steam outlet is immediately opened.

However, even if there are a plurality of safeguards of such a steam discharge method, in the case where the steam outlet is clogged by a foreign object, the actuator is broken, or the microcomputer unit malfunctions, the steam can not be properly discharged, Can be placed.

Therefore, there is a need for a structure for stopping the heating and for shutting down the dangerous situation, as well as discharging the steam when the inside of the cooking vessel is overpressurized. In addition, a safety device that can operate by itself without being controlled by the microcomputer is needed.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a safety device that can stop the heating operation by itself when the internal pressure of the cooking container becomes abnormally high without controlling the microcomputer.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pressure type cooking apparatus having a safety function, the apparatus comprising: a cooking vessel which is hermetically sealed and can be maintained at a high pressure; A power input unit receiving AC power; A rectifier for converting the AC power from the power input unit to DC power; A heating driver for controlling supply of the DC power; A heating unit for heating the cooking vessel by the DC power; And a microcomputer controlling the operation of the heating driving unit according to a user's operation or a predetermined heating algorithm, wherein the pressure sensing element is switched when the pressure inside the cooking vessel exceeds a reference pressure; And a blocking element for allowing or blocking the supply of the DC power to the heating section in accordance with the switching of the state of the pressure sensing element.

In addition, the blocking element may be arranged to connect or disconnect a line between the power input section and the rectifying section.

The microcomputer may further include a DC voltage supply unit for generating an operating voltage of the microcomputer unit, and the switching device may be arranged to connect or disconnect a line capable of allowing or blocking power input to the DC voltage supply unit.

The blocking element may be a relay for turning on or off the contact by a driving voltage applied or interrupted according to the switching of the state of the pressure sensing element.

Further, the pressure sensing element may be operated to change the position of a predetermined connecting member when the pressure inside the cooking container changes, and the switching device may be a switch whose contact is turned on or off according to a change in position of the connecting member .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pressure type cooking apparatus having a safety function, the apparatus being arranged to allow or block the supply of the direct current power to the heating unit upon switching on or off And a safety switch which is switched on or off when the pressure inside the cooking container exceeds a reference pressure.

In a further embodiment, the pressure sensing element further comprises: a holding member configured to allow the steam generated in the cooking vessel to flow therethrough; A pin member which is mounted so as to be able to move up and down within the fixing member and to be raised by the steam pressure, and at least a part of which is made of a conductive material; And at least two terminal members that are brought into contact with the conductive region of the pin member when the pin member rises and are energized.

The pin member includes an upper pin which can be raised and lowered inside the fixing member and protruded to the upper portion of the fixing member by a steam pressure and a lower pin which is disposed at a lower portion of the upper pin, And a lower pin which is brought into contact with the at least two terminal members when the pins are raised.

Further, the upper pin may function to prevent the pressure locking state of the lid covering the cooking container from being released when the upper pin protrudes to the upper portion of the fixing member.

According to the pressure type cooking apparatus having the safety function according to the present invention, when the pressure inside the closed cooking vessel rises excessively, the heating function is stopped to further increase the pressure inside the cooking vessel .

Further, it is possible to provide a safety device that can operate by itself without being controlled by the microcomputer.

Therefore, it is possible to ensure the safe operation of the pressure cooking apparatus even when the steam outlet is clogged, when an operation error of the actuator of the steam outlet occurs, or when the microcomputer is in an error state.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a pressure cooker having a safety function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an embodiment of a structure for interrupting power at transient pressure. FIG.
3 is a view for explaining another embodiment of a structure for interrupting power at transient pressure.
4 is a view for explaining another embodiment of a structure for interrupting power at transient pressure.
FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged view showing an embodiment of a pressure sensing element applicable to various embodiments of the present invention, in which a pressure sensing element is installed in a lid of a pressure cooker. FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pressure sensing assembly of a pressure cooker according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a state diagram showing a general state before the pressure sensing assembly of the pressure cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention is driven.
8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the upper pin of the pressure sensing assembly of the pressure cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention is raised, and Fig.
9 is a state view showing a state in which the lower pin of the pressure sensing assembly of the pressure cooker according to the embodiment of the present invention is raised and the terminal member is in contact with the lower pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a pressure cooker having a safety function according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the invention only and is not intended to be limiting.

1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a pressure cooker having a safety function according to the present invention. Referring to the drawings, a pressure cooker 100 having a safety function according to the present invention is configured to heat a cooking vessel 15 that can be hermetically closed and maintain the inside thereof at a high pressure, A heating unit 140 for heating the cooking vessel 15 by DC power, a heating unit 140 for heating the cooking vessel 15 by direct current power, And a microcomputer 150 for controlling the operation of the heating driving unit 130 by a user's operation or a predetermined heating algorithm.

In particular, the power input unit 110 is configured to receive AC power supplied from a commercial power supply.

The rectifying unit 120 converts AC power from the power input unit 110 into DC power. The rectification section 120 may be, for example, full-wave rectified or half-wave rectified, and may include a bridge diode circuit.

The heating unit 140 can operate as the rectified DC power is supplied. The heating unit 140 may be operated by a method of transferring the heat generated by the heating unit itself to the cooking container, a method of applying electromagnetic energy to the cooking container 15 to heat the cooking container 15 by itself, And a method of directly applying electromagnetic energy to the food so that the food is heated by itself.

The heating driving unit 130 applies the DC power generated by the rectifying unit 120 to the heating unit 140. At this time, the heating driving unit 130 controls the ON or OFF timing of the DC power applied to the heating unit 140, or changes the magnitude of the voltage or current of the DC power applied to the heating unit 140, Can be controlled.

The microcomputer unit 150 can control the operation of the heating driver 130 by a user's operation or by a previously stored heating algorithm.

The pressure cooking apparatus according to the present invention includes a pressure sensing element 152 whose state changes when the pressure inside the cooking vessel 15 exceeds a reference pressure, And a blocking element 154 for blocking the application of DC power to the unit 140.

The pressure sensing element 152 can sense the pressure inside the cooking vessel 15. The pressure sensing element 152 can be switched between an electrical state or a physical state according to the sensed pressure.

For example, the pressure sensing element 152 can be configured to turn the circuit on or off by moving the conductive contact when a pressure greater than a predetermined reference pressure is applied. Alternatively, the pressure sensing element 152 may have a connecting member 158 that moves in any direction when pressure is applied. Further, the pressure sensing element 152 may include a light emitting element / light receiving element pair in which light can be received or intercepted as the connection member 158 moves.

The blocking element 154 is for blocking the application of DC power to the heating part 140. In particular, the blocking element 154 is disposed to control the line between the power input section 110 and the rectifying section 120. The blocking element 154 may be a relay whose connection state is switched depending on the presence or absence of an electromagnetic signal. In addition, the blocking element 154 may be a switch to which the connection state is switched when the mechanical force acts on itself or when the acting force is released.

The pressure cooker including such components operates as follows.

First, the user inserts a predetermined food into the cooking container 15, closes the cooking container 15, and controls the microcomputer 150 to start the heating operation.

The cooking vessel 15 may take any form and may contain food for heating and cooking. In addition, the open portion of the cooking vessel 15, that is, the upper portion can be sealed by a lid or the like. When the food contained in the cooking container 15 is heated while the lid is covered and the inside of the cooking container 15 is sealed, water contained in the food is evaporated and water vapor is generated. The pressure is increased.

On the other hand, if the steam inside the cooking vessel is not properly discharged through the steam outlet that can be placed in the cooking vessel or the lid, the pressure inside the cooking vessel may excessively rise.

When the pressure rises excessively, the pressure sensing element 152 is switched over by the excessive pressure.

The switching element 154 operates according to the state change of the pressure sensing element 152, so that the AC power from the power input unit 110 can be cut off. As a result, the operation of the heating unit 140 is stopped, so that the pressure inside the cooking vessel can be prevented from further rising.

In the conventional pressure cookers, the pressure measurement value inside the cooking container sensed by the pressure sensor is input to the microcomputer, and the microcomputer operates in such a manner that the operation of the heating driver is lowered or stopped according to the pressure measurement value.

In contrast, the pressure cooker according to the present invention is configured such that the pressure sensing element 152 directly operates the cutoff element 154 to immediately stop all components of the pressure cooker.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an embodiment of a structure for cutting off electric power under transient pressure in a pressure cooker according to the present invention. FIG. According to the present embodiment, the power input unit 110 includes a power plug 111 connected to the commercial AC power and a noise filter circuit 112 for eliminating the high frequency noise included in the input commercial AC power.

The DC voltage supply unit 124 may be an SMPS (switching mode power supply) and generates the operating voltage of the microcomputer unit 150.

The blocking element 154 is a relay which turns on or off the circuit as a predetermined voltage is applied or cut off and is arranged to directly turn on or off the line between the noise filter circuit 112 and the rectifying part 120.

The pressure sensing element 152 is configured to switch the state when the pressure inside the cooking container 15 exceeds a predetermined reference pressure to switch the circuit. By switching the pressure sensing element 152, 154 to turn on or off the application of the voltage.

According to this structure, the AC power applied to the rectifying unit 120 can be directly controlled by the pressure inside the cooking vessel.

3 is a view for explaining another embodiment of a structure for interrupting power at transient pressure. According to the present embodiment, the blocking element 154 is a switch that can turn the circuit on or off when a mechanical force is applied. The switch 154 is connected to the line between the noise filter circuit 112 and the rectifying part 120 And are arranged to be directly on or off.

The pressure sensing element 152 is configured to vary the position of the predetermined connecting member 158 in response to the pressure inside the cooking container 15. [

In this configuration, when the pressure inside the cooking container 15 rises above the reference pressure, the position of the connecting member 158 changes due to the detection of the pressure sensing element 152, The mechanical force is applied to the switch 154, whereby the line is turned off.

4 is a view for explaining another embodiment of a structure for interrupting power at transient pressure. In this embodiment, the pressure sensing element and the cut-off element are not separately constructed, but the safety switch 156 incorporating the functions of the elements is integrated.

The safety switch 156 may be a single element that may be configured such that the contact is turned on or off if the pressure inside the cooking vessel 15 exceeds the reference pressure.

The safety switch 156 may be arranged to maintain or release a line connection between the power input 110 and the rectifier 120.

On the other hand, in the above-described embodiments, it is shown and described that the cutoff element is arranged so as to turn on or off the line between the power input part and the rectified part, but the cutoff element may be disposed between other constituent parts. For example, at least one of the DC power output lines of the rectifying section may be turned on or off. Or at least one of the lines connected to the heating unit may be turned on or off.

Hereinafter, an implementation example of a pressure sensing element applicable to various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

The pressure sensing element described below has a structure in which an elastic body (i.e., a spring 40) is disposed so as to resist pressure inside the cooking vessel, and a movable member (that is, a spring 40) connected to the elastic body when the pressure inside the cooking vessel is greater than a resistance force of the elastic body, The pin members 10 and 50) are moved. At this time, contact or separation of the electrical contacts (i.e., the terminal protrusions 70a and 70b) occurs due to the movement of the movable member, whereby the switching on or off operation can be performed.

In particular, the pressure sensing element described below operates in such a manner that the pressure is pushed up by the pressure inside the cooking vessel to bring the contact into contact. Such a pressure sensing element may further comprise the function of a safety device for allowing or inhibiting the rotation of the locking rim, which rotates inside the lid to securely fix the lid to the upper part of the cooking container by means of physical engaging means.

With this additional function, the pressure sensing element is hereinafter referred to as a pressure sensing assembly.

5 and 6, the pressure sensing assembly of the present invention can be applied to a conventional pressure cooker in which the upper portion of the cooking vessel and the lid are closed by rotating the locking rim.

The pressure sensing assembly is constructed such that the fixing members 20 and 25 are mounted on the lid 80 in which the inlet holes 85 are formed and the pin members 10 and 50 are raised and lowered inside the fixing members 20 and 25 .

Specifically, the lid 80 is a component constituting a part of the lid of the rice cooker. On the other hand, an inlet hole 85 is formed in the lid 80, and a diaphragm 60 can be mounted on the inlet hole 85. Accordingly, when steam is introduced through the inflow hole 85, the diaphragm 60 is pushed upward.

In the above configuration, the fixing members 20 and 25 include an upper fixing member 20 and a lower fixing member 25, and the upper fixing member 20 and the lower fixing member 25 are fastened with bolts BT To the mounting portions 25a and 25b. At this time, the terminal members 70 and 71 are disposed on the upper fixing member 20 or the lower fixing member 25. 5, the terminal members 70 and 71 are connected to the connector member 90 through the wire lines L1 and L2. The terminal members 70 and 71 may also include respective terminal protrusions 70a and 70b that face downward (toward the lower pin 50) inside the fixing members 20 and 25. [ In this structure, when the terminal protrusions 70a and 70b are electrically connected, the terminal members 70 and 71 and the wire lines L1 and L2 are connected to each other.

The pin members 10 and 50 are constituted by the upper pin 10 protruding upward from the upper fixing member 20 and the lower pin 50 positioned on the diaphragm 60. [ At this time, the upper pin 10 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface with the outer spring 30, the tip end is supported by the upper inner surface of the upper fixing member 20, and the lower end is supported by the lower outer peripheral surface of the upper pin 10. Accordingly, when the upper pin 10 is raised, the outer spring 30 is contracted and then returned to the original state, thereby moving up and down the upper pin 10.

The lower end of the inner spring 40 is supported on the inner circumferential surface of the upper fin 10 and the lower end of the inner spring 40 is supported on the lower fin 50. [ . Accordingly, when the diaphragm 60 is raised, the inner spring 40 is contracted and then restored to its original state. Here, the lower pin 50 may be entirely or partially formed of a conductive material. The inside of the upper fin 10 and the lower fin 50 is hollow and through holes h1 and h2 may be formed at the front end and the end.

5 and 7, the pressure sensing assembly of the pressure cooker of the present invention having the above structure is configured such that the pin members 10 and 50 are fixed to the fixing members 20 and 20 in a general state (no or low pressure inside the cooking vessel) 25).

In this state, when the internal pressure is raised (that is, when the pressure in the cooking container becomes high), steam is introduced through the inlet hole 85 of the lid 80 to push up the diaphragm 60. 8, when the diaphragm 60 is raised to a predetermined height, the diaphragm 60 pushes the lower pin 50 upward (the spring 30 having a relatively weak elasticity contracts first) (10) protrudes to the upper portion of the upper fixing member (20). When the upper pin 10 protrudes upward, the tip of the upper pin 10 can physically suppress the rotation of the lock rim. Accordingly, it is impossible to rotate the lid lever connected to the lock rim, so that the pressure locking state of the lid of the cooker can be prevented from being released.

6, when a pressure overflow phenomenon occurs in which the pressure inside the cooking container becomes higher than the reference value, the diaphragm 60 is raised to its maximum value (at this time, the spring 40 is contracted) The lower pin 50 is lifted up and the conductive material of the lower pin 50 comes into contact with the terminal protrusions 70a and 70b. Thereby, the terminal projections 70a and 70b can be energized with each other.

That is, when a pressure overflow phenomenon occurs in the inside of the cooking container, the diaphragm 60 rises to its maximum value and the lower pin 50 moves upward to a position for energizing the terminal protrusions 70a and 70b which were in the OFF state. When the pressure and the force are generated, the lower pin 50 is raised to be in the switch-on state, so that the operating voltage is applied to the relay arranged to block power supply to the heating unit, for example, through the connector member 90 So that it is possible to completely cut off power to the cooking device.

Thus, the present invention can prevent the opening of the lid by restricting the rotation of the lock rim by raising the upper fin 10 in a state where steam is left in the cooking container or overpressure. When the overpressure phenomenon occurs in the cooking vessel, the lower pin 50 rises to directly energize the terminal members 70 and 71 (without the control of the microcomputer) to directly control the operation voltage of the relay, It is possible to completely stop the heating operation of the apparatus, thereby assuring the safety performance of the apparatus.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and the scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted according to the claims. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the essential characteristics thereof, It is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto.

Claims (4)

In a pressure cooker having a safety function,
A power input unit receiving external power as input;
A heating unit for heating the cooking container in the pressure cooker using the external power inputted through the power input unit;
A microcomputer for controlling a heating operation of the heating unit;
A pressure sensing element for switching the state when the pressure inside the cooking vessel exceeds a reference pressure; And
And a blocking element disposed on a line between the power input unit and the heating unit and configured to switch the state of the pressure sensing element reversibly without intervention of the microcomputer unit to turn the line on or off A pressure cooker having a safety function. The method according to claim 1,
The pressure cooker may further include:
A rectifying unit for converting the external power input through the power input unit into direct current power and providing the direct current power to the heating unit; And
And a DC voltage supply unit for generating an operating voltage of the microcomputer from the DC power,
Wherein the cutoff device cuts off power input to the DC voltage supply unit by blocking the line. The method according to claim 1,
The pressure cooker may further include:
Further comprising a locking rim which rotates in a lid covering the cooking container to fix the lid in a state in which the upper portion of the cooking container is hermetically closed,
The pressure-
An upper pin configured to rise as the pressure inside the cooking container rises and to suppress rotation of the lock rim;
Terminal protrusions configured to turn on or off a circuit for controlling application of a voltage to operate the blocking element, wherein the circuit is not connected to the microcomputer; And
And a lower pin configured to energize the terminal protrusions by abutting the terminal protrusions when the pressure inside the cooking container exceeds the reference pressure. Cooking device. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the pressure sensing element is operated to change a position of a predetermined connecting member when a pressure inside the cooking vessel changes,
Wherein the blocking element is a switch whose contact is turned on or off according to a change in the position of the connecting member.

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