Patent Application
20080290090
The present application claims the benefit of priority of European Patent Application No. 06015511.6 filed Jul. 25, 2006. The entire text of the priority application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The disclosure relates to a pressure cooker.
A pressure cooker with which the cooking material can be cooked in a cooking space under increased pressure and thereby also under increased temperature is known per se.
The object of the disclosure is to improve a known pressure cooker.
With a pressure cooker normally various mechanical components are provided with which the cooking space can be opened and closed. In this respect the mechanical elements are used, for example, to open and close apertures in the lid of the pot to facilitate a pressure build-up by heating the pot and/or to carry out a pressure relief.
In this respect, slides are used, for example, to actuate various elements such as pressure valves.
In this respect, it has proved to be disadvantageous that slides must often comprise various components so that the play or the tolerances of the various components add up. In other respects, the number of functions which can be set with a slide is limited. With the pressure cooker an operating element is provided which comprises a rotating shaft. With a rotating shaft additional functions can be actuated and furthermore with a rotating shaft very high precision is obtained so that production tolerances or play are not important or of only insignificant importance.
The operating element with the rotating shaft is coupled to a handle. This handle protrudes sideways from the pressure cooker. In this way the situation is obtained in which the operation of the rotating shaft can take place outside of the region above the pressure cooker, because in this region a hazardous region can arise due to heated air.
To protect the operating element mechanically it is advantageously accommodated, at least partly, in the handle.
In order to bypass the above mentioned hazardous region, it is advantageous if the rotating shaft extends from a region at the side of the cooking space to a region above the cooking space. To the side of the cooking space there is also a region which is arranged higher than the lid or the upper end of the cooking space, but which lies to the side of the cooking space or the lid when viewed from above.
The rotating shaft is preferably fitted with an actuating element and this actuating element is preferably arranged at the end of the handle. Through the arrangement at the end of the handle, the actuating element is situated at the maximum possible distance from the pressure cooker which can be hot and thus ensures a high level of safety when handling the pressure cooker.
The actuating element is in this regard preferably arranged fully to the side of the cooking space.
The rotating shaft preferably has at least two, three, four or even more predefined rotary positions. These are situated within one full rotation and more preferably within just one half, third or quarter rotation of the rotating shaft. Through the various rotary positions various settings of the pressure cooker can be realized, such as for example various cooking levels or an opening of the cooking space for pressure relief or similar action. The rotary positions can for example be predefined by end stops and/or latching positions. When rotating the rotating shaft, predefined rotary positions may for example be provided from which a rotation of the rotating shaft requires a greater torque than a rotation from another position and/or wherein the rotating shaft on its own can enter the predefined rotary positions from a position adjacent to the predefined rotary positions. On rotating the rotating shaft via a predefined rotary position a noticeable latching can be felt.
The various predefined rotary positions can comprise a zero position, at which pressure build-up is not possible, and one or more various cooking levels. Also one or more rotary positions for pressure relief are possible. The rotary position for two or more cooking levels can be arranged on different sides of the zero position or on the same side of the zero position. In the latter case the two cooking levels can be reached by rotation from the zero position in the same direction whereas otherwise a rotation from the zero position must occur in different directions.
The rotation of the rotating shaft is possible without a limit stop, i.e. the rotating shaft can be rotated through many rotations in the same direction. On the other hand, it is also possible to limit the rotation by limit stops. In this case then only rotations up to, for example, a half, third or quarter rotation are possible. Preset rotary settings with associated functions such as the zero setting, cooking levels or pressure relief positions are advantageously provided at the limit-stop positions.
The rotation of the rotating shaft is advantageously possible such that the rotating shaft is not linearly displaced as would be the case with a screw which is rotated.
Preferably one, two, three or more cams are provided on the pressure cooker. Together with a cam follower it is thus possible to set the various mechanical elements of the pressure cooker.
For the mechanical elements found on a pressure cooker cams are particularly advantageous, because corresponding cam followers must normally be tensioned against the cams, which can occur with spring forces, which are however normally already present with pressure gauges or similar devices. Therefore, cams can be particularly effectively employed to exploit the rotational movement of the rotating shaft in pressure cookers.
It is also advantageous for example to provide rocker elements, which interact with the respective cams, because with rocker elements of this nature relatively flat constructions are possible, because then a cam does not need to press directly on that part which is to be adjusted, but rather this is realised mechanically via a rocker in an opposing movement.
Due to the rotation of the rotating shaft it is for example possible to set the maximum specified pressure of the pressure cooker. Above the maximum specified pressure or above a predetermined multiple value (for example 1.5 times the specified pressure) the pressure cooker starts to vent the pressure. In this way a further rise in pressure is prevented.
Furthermore, the release pressure for a time acquisition can for example also be set by the rotation of the rotating shaft. In this respect, a time acquisition is released by a certain release pressure, which signifies that the time acquisition then begins or terminates. Through rotation of the rotating shaft this release pressure can be selected such that various cooking levels for example can be set.
Through rotation of the rotating shaft it is also possible to open the pressure cooker to relieve pressure or to close it. Variously large pressure relief rates can be achieved through different rotary settings.
Apart from the rotation of the rotating shaft, it is also advantageously possible to displace the rotating shaft linearly. In this manner further functions can be actuated with one and the same operating element.
For example, it is possible to open or close the pressure cooker also or instead of the rotational movement by a linear displacement in order to relieve the pressure. The aperture made available by a linear displacement and the aperture made available by a rotation of the rotating shaft can be of different sizes so that through one or the other action different discharge cross-sections are provided to facilitate a fast or slow pressure relief of the pressure cooker.
A variously fast pressure relief is however also possible by a rotation into various rotary positions or through a displacement into various linear actuating positions.
Through rotation and/or displacement of the rotating shaft the pretension of a pressure valve pretensioned with an elastic element, such as a spring, can be varied. Generally pressure valves have elastic elements which deform during a rise in pressure. In this way a pressure valve or a pressure acquisition can be realized. This pretension can be varied by rotation of the rotating shaft to vary the reaction of the respective pressure valve or pressure acquisition device to pressure changes.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment the pressure measurement device comprises an electronic evaluation device. With this device various parameters can be acquired, such as for example the pressure, or the attainment of one or more pressure levels or the exceeding or undercutting of one or more pressure levels or similar parameters.
The pressure measurement device has advantageously a measuring element which can be displaced by the pressure, wherein the electronic evaluation device acquires the position of the movable measuring element for the determination of the pressure. In this version it is possible through mechanical adjustment of the pretension of the movable measuring element to vary the specified pressure from which the electronic evaluation device detects the attainment of a specified pressure.
If this type of movable measuring element should become jammed, it is advantageous if it can be brought externally into an idle position. The idle position is that position which the measuring element normally assumes when no pressure is present in the pressure cooker.
The rotating shaft can be advantageously formed straight. It can then be manufactured from or in one piece, which is advantageous here. It can however also have one or more bending or flexible points, so that the rotational movement can also be transferred around a kink or curve. This facilitates greater freedom in the design of the handle and the arrangement of the elements to be adjusted.
The rotating shaft can be produced just from one material or also from two, three or more materials. It can, for example, have one or more surround-molded metal bars (metal and plastic). The metal bar(s) can have a square cross-section in order to ensure reliable torsional strength of the molded-on plastic. Furthermore, the shaft can be provided with protection against wear, for example a metal cap, at points susceptible to wear (bearing, cam follower, etc.).
As is known, a pressure cooker has an operating element for opening and closing the pressure cooker. With the lid still closed on the pressure cooker, this aperture is used to open or close the cooking space to the external room in order to be able to relieve the pressure in a controlled manner.
The pressure cooker has means by which the pressure can be relieved in at least two specified, different pressure relief rates.
Also a pressure cooker can be provided which has means with which the pressure can be relieved at a predetermined pressure relief rate, and further at a second pressure relief rate, which can however be specified by the user and which can be set up to larger values than the predetermined pressure relief rate.
A slow pressure relief is for example advantageous to prevent the cooking material, in which an internal pressure has built up during the cooking process, being impaired in its consistency due to a too rapid pressure relief. Here a slower pressure relief is advantageous to give the cooking material opportunity to slowly reduce the high internal pressure without being subjected to a change in consistency.
This depends however on the type of cooking material, so that the choice of different pressure relief speeds is advantageous.
The various pressure relief rates can for example be set by a single aperture which is opened or closed to a varying extent. The various pressure relief rates cannot therefore be set by the user, but are rather specified by the constructions of the pressure cooker, for example by different limit-stop positions, latching positions or similar feature of the operating element.
The various pressure relief rates can be achieved however also through different apertures. For example, a second aperture can be provided for the pressure relief. With the two apertures it is possible to open just one or both apertures to facilitate variously rapid pressure relief. The two apertures can have the same or different discharge resistances. The discharge resistance is decisive for the pressure relief rate.
It is also possible that both apertures have different discharge resistances (for example due to different minimum discharge cross-sectional areas), because then an even larger variation in the pressure relief times is possible. The fastest pressure relief is obtained with pressure relief through both apertures, a medium speed pressure relief is obtained with pressure relief through the aperture with the lowest discharge resistance and the slowest pressure relief is obtained with pressure relief through the aperture with the greatest discharge resistance.
In an advantageous embodiment the discharge resistance of at least one of the two apertures or also both apertures is influenced by the pressure in the pressure cooker. If the pressure is high, then the discharge resistance is also high and if the pressure is low, then the discharge resistance reduces. In this way a consistent pressure relief can be obtained. In this respect for example, pressure reduction valves or similar devices can be used which are positioned between the cooking space and the discharge aperture, so that with a pressure in the cooking space above the specified pressure always the same pressure is applied to the discharge aperture. Also other valves or components which change the cross-sectional area can be used for a consistent pressure relief.
The discharge resistances can be set through the choice of various discharge cross-sections.
The pressure cooker can for example be designed such that a pressure of 1 bar overpressure reduces to 0.04 bar overpressure in a specified time between 10 seconds and 2 minutes. Also at least one of the apertures can be formed such that the pressure between the above values reduces in not more than 15 to 5 seconds. With two differently arranged apertures with different cross-sectional areas both fast and also slow pressure relief can be obtained. The pressure figures (from 1 bar to 0.04 bar) are only given here for a definition of the pressure relief rates or discharge resistances. With the same pressure relief rates or discharge rates pressure relief from for example 0.04 to 0.01 bar or from 0.5 to 0.1 bar is possible.
The greater pressure relief rate can advantageously only be set when the pressure has dropped below a specified overpressure (e.g. 0.04 bar). This ensures that no large quantities of hot steam are emitted in a short time which could lead to scalding. A slower pressure relief rate can however be set at any pressure to undercut the predetermined overpressure in order to then change to the greater pressure relief rate.
Both apertures are preferably operated with one and the same operating element.
One aperture can for example be closed by the operating element, in that the operating element presses with a mechanically strong part, such as for example a rotating shaft or a cam arranged on it, onto an elastic sealing element which then on its part closes an aperture on the pressure cooker. If the rotating shaft is not round, then the aperture can be released or closed in different positions.
One of the apertures can also be provided with a pressure valve so that a pressure reduction on reaching a maximum pressure occurs through the aperture. The pretensioning of an elastic element, such as a spring of this pressure valve, can be defined by the operating element.
The first and/or the second aperture is provided in a removable lid of the pressure cooker. The lid is provided at the upper end of the cooking space so that normally only gas exits through the apertures, but not liquid or similar material.
A pressure cooker comprises a pressure acquisition device. With this pressure cooker a mechanical part is provided which comprises a part which is moved by the pressure. Furthermore, an electronic part is provided which acquires the position of this movable part in order to be able to determine the pressure.
The mechanical part of the pressure acquisition device can be adjusted such that the relationship between the pressure and the position of the movable part can be changed.
Thus for example, a specified pressure can be set, wherein through the setting of the specified pressure the mechanical part of the pressure acquisition device is adjusted such that for the various specified pressures the position of the movable part is in each case the same. This simplifies the measurement for different specified pressures with the exploitation of the whole measurement range that is available.
The mechanical and the electronic parts preferably interact without contacting one another, because this normally facilitates systems which are not susceptible to interference.
Furthermore, the situation is attained in that the electronic part can be removed from the mechanical part, preferably without the use of tools. The removal of the electronic part can occur for cleaning purposes or also for other reasons (see below).
The electronic part comprises preferably also a signal transmitter which can produce a signal depending on the acquired pressure.
The signal transmitter can for example comprise an indicator, such as an LED, a display or an acoustic signal generator, such as a sounder or a loudspeaker or a beeper or similar device.
Furthermore, an embodiment is preferred in which the signal transmitter comprises a device which produces a radio signal. In this respect the acquired pressure can be conveyed by radio to other electronic devices. This can for example be used for the control of the stove on which a pressure cooker is placed in order to ensure the attainment of a specified pressure or range of specified pressure or conformance to the same, but can however also initiate all other possible processes, such as the sending of an e-mail, playing a series of tones or music, a telephone message or similar feature.
The signal transmitter is preferably formed such that a signal is produced with the exceeding or undercutting of one or more specified pressures. These are relatively simply acquired and processed signals so that the electronic part of the pressure acquisition device can be formed as simply as possible, but the essential information can be acquired.
After exceeding or undercutting one or more specified pressures a signal can for example also be output for a preset period. For example after undercutting a specified minimum pressure, such as say 0.04 bar, a signal can still be output for a period of 5 minutes or also more or less, such as for example any period between a half of a minute and 10 minutes, which indicates that the minimum pressure has been undercut.
The signal transmitter can preferably produce a signal continuously or quasi-continuously. Thus the pressure value can be acquired continuously or quasi-continuously. The pressure can be output absolutely, i.e. in pressure units or relative to a specified value. The latter can for example occur in percentage figures.
A signal of this nature, which is produced in very short time intervals, such as every second or every tenth of a second or similar period, is also regarded as quasi-continuous.
The pressure acquisition device is preferably coupled to a time measurement device. In this way the time that a certain pressure is present can be acquired.
The mechanical part can preferably be reset externally for the case when it has become jammed.
A pressure cooker has a time measurement device. When cooking with a pressure cooker generally only the control of the time is available, because in the closed pressure cooker with pressure built up a control of the cooking state is only possible by relieving the pressure and opening the pressure cooker. Consequently, it is advantageous if the pressure cooker itself comprises a time measurement device, because the control of the time is simplified.
It is particularly advantageous if the time measurement device is coupled to a pressure acquisition device. This coupling can for example be arranged such that a time measurement is initiated with the exceeding of a set specified pressure. For pressure cooking generally only the time at the specified pressure or at the highest pressure is relevant, because here the cooking takes place the quickest. Thus, generally the time from reaching this specified pressure is sufficient for the acquisition of the required cooking time.
The specified pressure at which the time measurement is initiated is preferably selectable, wherein this definition preferably occurs mechanically and/or electronically. If for example the pretension of an elastic element is mechanically adjusted such as a spring with a pressure acquisition device, then also the specified pressure is changed at which the time measurement is initiated. However an electronic adjustment of the specified pressure is also possible in that the pressure is acquired electronically and the threshold, at which the time measurement is initiated, is set differently electronically.
The time measurement can also be initiated manually wherein the time measurement device preferably comprises an actuation device. This actuation device can be for example a button or similar feature.
Furthermore, preferably setting means are provided with which a time span can be set. Here it is possible for example to set the previously determined cooking time, such as a time span of 5 minutes or a similar period. This type of time span can for example be given in the operating instructions, in cook books or similar items.
The time measurement device calculates the remaining time of this time span from initiation of the time measurement and can preferably indicate it. However it would also be possible to indicate the expiry of a time span of this nature without indicating the remaining time. For better information for the user, it is however advantageous to indicate the remaining time.
The time measurement device can preferably be removed. This occurs preferably without using tools. Thus, once the cooking process has been initiated by heating the pressure cooker, the appropriate specified pressure has been reached and the time measurement has been initiated, it is possible for example, to remove the time measurement device to be able to follow the time measurement from a place other than in the vicinity of the pressure cooker. For example, the room in which the pressure cooker is being heated can be left and a user can continue to follow the time measurement.
In this respect it is in particular advantageous if at least the time measurement remains functional for the case where the time measurement device has been removed.
The time measurement device can then also be replaced during the cooking process and preferably detects the new pressure position, processes it and issues an updated signal.
The time measurement device can also be formed such that it detects when it is not placed on the pressure cooker. It then does not issue any signals representing a pressure. The time measurement device can however also retain the last signal output before being removed.
The time measurement device is preferably formed such that it can produce a termination signal after the expiry of the set time span. The set time span can preferably also be corrected or defined while the time measurement is running. If for example 3½ minutes have already expired from a set time span of 5 minutes, the remaining time can for example be adjusted to 2½ minutes or 2 minutes or set to another time value. In this respect possible adjustment by in each case 1 minute and/or 1 second is advantageous.
If for example the temperature and the pressure in the pressure cooker reduce during the cooking process, the necessary cooking time can be increased in this manner.
The termination signal can be indicated visually or acoustically. It is also possible to pass the termination signal to a radio signal generation device, which conveys a termination signal by radio. The termination signal can for example be received by a stove which then terminates the heating of the pressure cooker. Also the termination signal can be in a telephone call, e-mail, electronic message, the playing of a series of tones or music or similar feature.
A non-rechargeable or rechargeable battery, a fuel cell, solar cell, Seebeck element, or an element which exploits the steam energy can be used for the power supply of the time and/or pressure measurement device.
Furthermore, preferably means are provided with which a termination signal is output for a preset time.
Preferred embodiments are illustrated in the drawings. In this respect the following are shown:
At the end of the handle 4 (far right in
The lid 3 can be rotated on the pot 2 for opening and closing the pot, wherein this can occur by rotating the handle parts 7 and 8 relative to one another.
The lid 3 has at its edge sections 10 bent inwards which are arranged between unformed regions 9. With these sections 10 the lid can be held on the pot according to a type of bayonet connection.
An electronic part 6 is integrated into the handle 4. This is preferably removable.
In
Whereas the handle part 7 is permanently arranged on the pot 2, for example with a screw or similar feature, the handle 4 can be released from the lid 3 without the use of tools. This simplifies cleaning, both of the lid 3 and also of the handle 4.
As can be seen in the illustration in
The lid 3 has a number of apertures 21 to 24 in the indentation 13. The number of apertures 21 to 24 need not necessarily be arranged in an indentation 13.
The indentation 13 is also used to arrange the handle 4 deeper in the lid 3 so that the pressure cooker 1 overall has a lower assembled height. Also the shape of the lid can act with the indentation as a centering aid for placing on the handle 4.
The function of the various apertures 21 to 24 is explained below.
In
A shaft 15 is connected to the actuating element 5, wherein the joint here can be formed in various ways. For example, a joining technique with a screw, latching hook or similar component is possible. It is also possible to form the shaft 15 and the actuating element 5 as one piece.
The shaft 15 has a constriction 16 at its end to simplify the bearing support of the shaft 15. This constriction 16 is however not necessary.
On its upper side (in the indentation 13) the lid 3 has a hook 17 and an aperture 18 of the handle 4 can be engaged in this hook 17, wherein the handle 4 then can be swiveled around the hook 17 downwards in the horizontal with a swivel movement. A displaceable hook 19 in the handle 4 can latch into an aperture 20 of the lid 3. In this way the handle 4 and the lid 3 are firmly joined together. The lid 3 and handle 4 can be separated from one another by moving the hook 19 in
In
As can be seen in
The hook 19 is arranged on a part 23 of the handle 4 which protrudes downwards. In this way it is possible to arrange the handle 4 around a corner of the lid 3 to facilitate a good locking of the handle 4 or of the part 8 on the lid 3.
On the underside of the handle 4 a seal 30 is arranged, which at least encloses the aperture 33 and the pressure valve 34 such that gas emitted there is output to the left at an aperture 31 of the seal 30 in
As can be seen in
The shaft 15 is illustrated simplified in
On the surface labelled with 25 a colored or a symbolic marking or a text can be applied. It can thus be indicated that with a fully extended actuating element 5 the lid 3 of the pot 2 can be removed by rotation. The marking can for example be green or a symbol which symbolises the opening of the lid. The marking or the appropriate text is then only visible when the actuating element has been pulled out so far that the lid can be rotated.
A plan view onto the lid 3 is illustrated in
The lid 3 has four apertures, wherein the apertures 21 and 23 lie on the central axis of the indentation 13 and the apertures 24 and 22 however lie adjacent to the central axis. The aperture 23 is significantly smaller than the aperture 24. Gas from the cooking space can be emitted through these two apertures. The other apertures are closed such that an emission of gas is not possible.
The aperture 21 is intended for the pressure indicator 32, the aperture 23 for closure with the element 33 from
In
The shaft 15 has one or more cams 42. A section perpendicular to the section of
In
The aperture 23 is however open in the central position (refer to
A rotation of the shaft 15, starting in
Also when the rotation to the right or left is to realise two different cooking levels, then the cams 42 are the same or symmetrical, i.e. the sealing of the aperture 23 is the same also for different cooking levels. However, with different cooking levels also different levels of pressure can be exerted on the elastic element 40. The cams 42 can thus also be different.
The piston 47 extends upwards through an aperture in the plate 41. The piston 47 has a constriction 101 which will be explained in more detail with reference to
At the upper end of the piston 47 a pot-type structure 52 is formed into which a spring 50 can be inserted from above. The spring 50 is here guided between the upper end of the piston 47 and the pot-type structure 52. The pot-type structure 52 is in turn guided in an inverse pot-type structure 58.
The upper end of the spring 50 is arranged around a tubular section 51 so that the spring 50 is held in its position. This section 51 comprises an upper hole in the handle 8. A pin, nail, needle or similar item with which pressure can be exerted on the piston 47 from above if it should become jammed can be inserted through this aperture or this tubular section 51.
The upper end of the spring 50 rests on the inner end, located at the top, of the pot-type structure 58.
In
Furthermore, a component 48 is illustrated in
In
The piston 47 has a part 55, positioned to the right in
The upper pot-type structure 58, which presses up against the spring 50, has protuberances 60 in the section in
A pin 65 is arranged on the upper end of the arm 56. This can be moved up and down in a space 67 depending on the movement of the piston 47. As well as this pin 65, a position detector 66 is arranged. If the pin 65 is for example ferromagnetic or is made of an easily magnetised material, then a modified Hall voltage or similar effect can be used in the detector 66 for the detection of the position of the pin 65. Any other type of position detection of the pin 65 is possible. For example, it can also change the capacitance of a capacitor in the detector 66, wherein this change is acquired for acquiring the pressure.
The detector 66 and the pin 65 operate without contact. The detector 66 is part of the electronic part 6 which is preferably removable. An indentation is provided for this in the upper side of the handle 8.
The pressure acquisition device from
As can be seen in the three-dimensional drawing in
The rocker is supported for rotation about an axle 61, wherein the axle is located between the cam follower 54 and the end 59. The rocker is formed such that it can act upon the pot-type structure 58 at two oppositely located sides.
The shaft 15 also has a projection which protrudes into an indentation 98 of a part 80 which will be explained in more detail with reference to
Different cooking levels can be set by different cams 53 on the shaft 15. Different cooking levels imply different specified pressures. Depending on the preselected cooking level or the preselected specified pressure the element 65 always reaches the same position during a pressure build-up in the cooking space, so that for the detector 66, irrespective of the cooking level, always only one specified position of the element 65 signifies that the specified pressure has been reached. If a large cam is positioned at the cam follower 54 through the rotation of the rotating shaft 15, then the pot-type structure 58 is moved very substantially downwards whereupon the pretension is substantially increased by the spring 50. Now a high pressure is required to bring the element 65 into the position at which the detector 66 detects the attainment of the specified pressure. With a smaller cam 53 this position is attained already with a lower pressure.
In this way the pressure at which the reaching of a specified pressure is to be defined can be varied by rotating the rotating shaft 15, wherein the position of the element 65 at which the reaching of a specified pressure is to be defined is however always the same. In this way the electronic system of the sensor 66 can be designed as simple as possible.
For the aperture 21 (refer to
A pressure relief valve 34 is schematically illustrated in
At its upper end the plunger 84 is enclosed by a pot-type structure 83 which is enclosed from above by a pot-type structure 71. Both pot-type structures can move with respect to one another.
Between these two pot-type structures a spring 87 is arranged which presses the two structures apart. Consequently, the plunger 84 is pretensioned downwards by the spring 87. The tension however depends on the position of the upper pot-type structure 71. This structure is guided by pins or a ring protruding from the upper side of the handle 8. Whereas the spring 87 pretensions the upper pot-type structure 71 upwards, the ends 75 of a rocker 70 (refer to
As illustrated in
The rocker 70 with the cam follower 73 is adjusted by the rotation of the shaft 15 with the cam 74. In this way the pretension of the spring 87 of the pressure relief valve can be set. If the rotating shaft 15 is in such a position that the rocker is substantially deflected, it presses the upper pot-type structure 71 far downwards with the ends 75. Consequently, through the force of the spring 87 the plunger 84 is moved downwards so that the aperture 24 is closed. If an increased pressure builds up in the cooking space, then this pressure presses against the plunger 84 and therefore against the force of the spring 87. If the pressure becomes too great, then the pressure can move the plunger so far away that the aperture 24 is at least slightly released so that the overpressure can reduce. The gas emitted here leaves the region between the lid 3 and the handle 4 through the aperture 31 of a seal 30 (refer to
As illustrated schematically in a drawing depicting a section through the rocker 70 in
This position corresponds to the central position mentioned above.
By rotation of the rotating shaft from this central position to the right or left the cam follower 73 is brought into contact with the cam 74 at the end of line 90 or 92. The lines 90 and 92 have different lengths, which signifies that the position of the cam follower 73 has rather different distances to the center of rotation of the shaft 15. In this way various deflections of the rocker 70 are possible. In this way different pretensions of the spring 87 are set and thus different pressures specified at which the pressure valve 34 releases the aperture 24. The pressure at which the pressure valve 34 opens can, for example, be x times (about 1.5 times) the specified pressure. The specified pressure can be that pressure at which the pressure acquisition initiates a time measurement.
The upper pot-type structure 72 can also be pretensioned downwards with a spring in the space 88 (e.g. in the form of a leaf spring; not illustrated). Consequently, the plunger 84 is pretensioned downwards via the spring 87 in order to have a certain minimum pretension downwards for the plunger 84 independently of the rocker, so that the aperture 24 is closed with a lack of pressure in the cooking space or with low pressure in the cooking space.
Protuberances 81, as can be seen in
In
The sliding part 80 has a flat part 97 and an end part with a chamfer 95. This chamfer engages under the protuberance 81 of the lower pot-type structure 83. If the sliding part 80 illustrated in
The lower pot-type structure 83 has two opposing protuberances 81 which are both operated by the sliding element 80.
The movement of the sliding element 80 is caused by a linear movement of the shaft 15. Through the linear movement of the shaft 15 the pressure valve 34 can thus be opened such that pressure relief is in any case possible through the aperture 24.
The sliding part 80 encloses the upper pot-type structure 71 and the lower pot-type structure 83 in a type of ring shape. In this way a sliding of the sliding structure 80 too far to the left at the front in
Through the displacement of the sliding part 80 a fast pressure relief can be achieved also at high pressure.
Through the linear displacement of the rotating shaft also unlocking of the lid 3 should be achieved such that the lid 3 can be rotated with respect to the pot 2 and removed. This must not however occur with pressure in the pot, because this can lead to the sudden release of large quantities of steam and consequently to a high risk of injury.
In order to prevent this movement of the rotating shaft and thus also that of the slider 80 if there is pressure in the pot, a keyhole type of aperture 99 is provided in the slider 80. This aperture 99 interacts with the piston 47 of the pressure acquisition device 35. The piston 47 of the pressure acquisition device 35 has a constriction 101 (refer also to
Through the part 100 of the aperture, which is extended as a type of elongated hole, in the sliding part 80 it is however ensured that with a high pressure in the cooking space a very fast pressure relief is always possible. The movement of the operating element up to a maximum pulled-out position in which the lid 3 can be removed from the pot 2 is only possible after a specified minimum pressure has been undercut.
A pressure relief also with high pressure, but through a much smaller aperture, i.e. aperture 23, is achieved through the central position explained with reference to
At high pressure a slow pressure reduction can be obtained therefore through the central position of the shaft 15 or of the actuating element 5. By pulling out the actuating element 5 or the shaft 15, the large aperture 24 can be released so that pressure can be quickly reduced. The actuating element can be pulled out to various extents so that variously large cross-sectional areas are provided for the pressure relief, thus giving different pressure relief rates which can be set by the user. With a valve on the aperture 24 completely open a pressure relief rate is given defined by the construction. With the apertures 23 and 24 various pressure relief rates are thus defined by the construction, whereas due to the adjustment of the degree of opening of the valve on the aperture 24, a variable pressure relief rate is given which can however assume values which are larger than the pressure relief rate given by the aperture 23.
In
After the time t1 the pressure rises again along the curve 105. This need not occur linearly as it appears in
This green signal can be a continuous indication or also flashing. This signal occurs for a predetermined time, such as for example 5 minutes and thereafter the indicator goes out.
In
Furthermore, a display 110 is provided in which the time span or a residual time of this time span is indicated. The display can be background-lit to improve the ease of reading.
The reference numerals 111, 112 identify the visual indicators, such as for example LEDs which can have various colours. Both visual indicators 111, 112 can also be integrated into one element which can light up in various colours in order to indicate the pressurised state or unpressurised state.
The LEDs can also protrude upwards from the electronic part 6 so that the visual signal can be easily seen from a direction to the side adjacent to the pot so that an operating person does not need to access the possibly hot and therefore hazardous region above the pot to read the signal. In this respect small domes can be provided for the LEDs or by the LEDs.
In
The electronic part 6 can be removed from the pressure cooker 1. The detector 66 and the pin 65 (in
Using the detector 66 the position of the pin 65 is acquired in the electronic part 6 and thus a pressure or a specified pressure detected. The result of this detection is passed to a signal transmitter 113. This is connected to an acoustic output unit 116 of the visual output unit 110 (and/or indicators 111, 112) via a connection 115 and/or to an antenna 117 via a lead 118. Also only an antenna or only a visual indicator or only an acoustic indicator or any combination of these can be provided.
With the antenna 117 radio signals about the pressure or about time information or the information that a time span has expired or any other relevant information can be transmitted.
With the buttons 120, 121 or a further button a time measurement can also be initiated manually, for example by pressing the two buttons 120, 121 simultaneously.
The support for the constriction 16 of the shaft 15 is illustrated in
In
The arrangement of the pivot bracket 130 in the handle part 8 is illustrated in
The handle part 7 from
In
In
The locking element 140 is pretensioned in a direction to the position in which the shaft is locked, e.g. by a spring element. From this position it is only on closing the pot 2 with the lid 3 that it moves out, because it abuts the limit-stop element 144 on rotation of the lid 3 so that with the lid 3 in place and brought into the cooking position (refer to
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06015511.6 | Jul 2006 | EP | regional |
