The present disclosure relates, in general, to cooking appliances, and
more specifically, relates to an apparatus and method for optimization of fuel consumption.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Currently, fuel is getting costlier day by day and it becomes important
to introduce fuel consumption optimization techniques in any process to make the overall process more cost-effective and efficient. Cooking in commercial kitchens is a regular activity and is normally handled manually when it comes to managing fuel regulation. As a result, in some cases, it takes more time to cook a portion of food if the fuel supply is set too low while in some cases more fuel is consumed if the fuel supply is set too fast or in excess than the actual amount of fuel which is needed to cook the food. This way, the overall fuel consumption in the cooking process is more and it requires optimization.
[0003] Cost and lack of awareness about the efficient operation in commercial
kitchens are the major factors of concern. The need to control the heat intensity at
a cooking stove is desired since often the user does not know that a lot of heat
escapes and the food is often burned by the high intensity of the flame, and often
people cause fires in the kitchen because of a lack of attention.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a means that can save
fuel during the cooking process and prevent the burning of food thereby conserving scarce resources.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0005] An object of the present disclosure relates, in general, to cooking
appliances, and more specifically, relates to an apparatus and method for optimization of fuel consumption.
[0006] Another object of the present disclosure is to provides an apparatus
that automatically controls the supply of fuel for efficient operation.

[0007] Another object of the present disclosure is to provides an apparatus
that reduces fuel consumption.
[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to provides an apparatus
that performs accurate analysis of fuel consumption as per food items for further
optimization.
[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provides an apparatus
that prevents burning of food.
[0010] Another object of the present disclosure is to provides an apparatus
that conserves scarce resources and reduces environment pollution.
[0011] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus
that can be user friendly.
SUMMARY
[0012] The present disclosure relates, in general, to cooking appliances, and
more specifically, relates to an apparatus and method for optimization of fuel consumption.
[0013] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for
automated control of fuel for use in food preparation, the apparatus including a rack to support cooking utensils, a fuel flow sensor coupled to a fuel supply line of a fuel source, the fuel flow sensor measures the fuel flow attributes from the fuel source, a temperature sensor measures temperature attributes maintained for cooking food in the cooking utensils, a regulation valve coupled to the fuel supply line of the fuel source to control flow of fuel; and a controller coupled to the fuel flow sensor, the temperature sensor and the regulation valve, the controller configured to receive, from the fuel flow sensor, the fuel flow attributes, receive, from the temperature sensor, the temperature attributes of the cooking utensils, analyze the fuel flow attributes to extract a set of values for the fuel flow attributes; and analyze the temperature attributes to extract a set of values for the temperature attributes, wherein based on the determination of the extracted set of values from the fuel flow sensor and the temperature sensor, the controller configured to operate the regulation valve to control the supply of fuel for food preparation.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the controller compares the extracted
set of values from a pre-defined set of values stored in the memory, to open or close the valve to control the flow of fuel.
[0015] According to an embodiment, the controller records set of parameters
such as fuel consumed, temperature maintained and the likes for analysis of further optimization.
[0016] According to an embodiment, the apparatus can include a display unit
that displays any or a combination of temperature value and fuel flow value on real¬time basis.
[0017] According to an embodiment the display unit is any or a combination
of any or a combination of liquid crystal display (LCD) and light emitting diode (LED).
[0018] According to an embodiment, the temperature sensor attached with the
cooking utensil manually at start of cooking for accurate measurement of cooking temperature.
[0019] According to an embodiment, the fuel source is a gas cylinder.
[0020] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for automated
control of fuel for use in food preparation, the method includes receiving, at a
computing device, from a fuel flow sensor, a fuel flow attributes, the fuel flow
sensor coupled to a fuel supply line of a fuel source, the fuel flow sensor measures
the fuel flow attributes from the fuel source, receiving, at the computing device,
from a temperature sensor, a temperature attributes of the cooking utensils, the
temperature sensor measures temperature attributes maintained for cooking food in
the cooking utensils, analyzing, at the computing device, the fuel flow attributes to
extract a set of values for the fuel flow attributes; and analyzing, at the computing
device, the temperature attributes to extract a set of values for the temperature
attributes, wherein based on the determination of the extracted set of values from
the fuel flow sensor and the temperature sensor, the computing device configured
to operate the regulation valve to control the supply of fuel for food preparation.
[0021] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive
subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description

of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The following drawings form part of the present specification and are
included to further illustrate aspects of the present disclosure. The disclosure may
be better understood by reference to the drawings in combination with the detailed
description of the specific embodiments presented herein.
[0023] FIG. 1A illustrate an exemplary functional component of a cooking
appliance, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. IB illustrate an exemplary view cooking appliance attached with
temperature sensor, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrate an exemplary method for automated control of fuel
for use in food preparation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the
disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. If the specification states a component or feature "may", "can", "could", or "might" be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
[0027] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that
follow, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0028] The present disclosure relates, in general, to cooking appliances, and
more specifically, relates to an apparatus and method for optimization of fuel consumption. The present disclosure relates to automatic control of fuel supply

based on the food to be cooked. The apparatus can include a flow sensor to detect the fuel flow, a temperature sensor to detect the temperature maintained to cook the food and a controller to regulate the fuel flow automatically through a control valve depending on the temperature setting which can be set by the operator as per the food items. Fuel consumption can be recorded inside the controller to analyse the pattern for further optimization as per the possibilities. The present disclosure can be described in enabling detail in the following examples, which may represent more than one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 1A illustrate an exemplary functional component of a cooking
appliance, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 1A, cooking appliance 100 (also referred to as
apparatus 100, herein) can be configured for optimization of fuel consumption in commercial kitchens. The apparatus 100 can include a fuel flow sensor 102, a temperature sensor 104, a fuel regulation valve 106, a controller 108 and a display unit 110. The apparatus 100 can regulate the fuel flow automatically depending on the temperature setting which can be performed by an operator/user based on food items.
[0031] In an embodiment, the apparatus 100 adapted for use in food
preparation can include one or more burners coupled to fuel supply line 114 of a fuel source 112. The apparatus 100 can include a rack to support cooking utensils 118. The one or more burners can be coupled to the regulation valve 106 to control the flow of fuel in one or more burners. The fuel flow sensor 102 configured in apparatus 100 and coupled to the fuel supply line 114. The fuel flow sensor 102 can measure the fuel flow attributes from the fuel source 112 and provide the data to controller 108 on a real-time basis. The fuel source 112 can be, for example, a gas cylinder. The fuel flow from the fuel source 112 can be controlled by the regulation valve 106 operatively coupled to the controller 108.
[0032] In another embodiment, temperature sensor 104 configured to
measure the temperature attributes maintained for cooking the food in the cooking utensil. The temperature sensor 104 can be attached with the cooking utensil 118 manually at the start of cooking for accurate measurement of cooking temperature

as illustrated in FIG. IB where the temperature can be set by a user through the
display unit 110. Each item of food requires different temperatures to cook. The
temperature attributes from temperature sensor 104 can be sent to controller 108.
[0033] The controller 108 can be operatively coupled to the fuel flow sensor
102, temperature sensor 104 and the regulation valve 106, the controller 108 coupled to a memory 116, the memory 116 storing instructions executable by the controller 108 to receive from the fuel flow sensor 102 the fuel flow attributes and receive from the temperature sensor 104 the temperature attributes maintained for cooking the food in the cooking utensil 118. The controller 108 can analyze the fuel flow attributes to extract a set of values for the fuel flow attributes. The controller 108 can analyze the temperature attributes to extract a set of values for the temperature attributes.
[0034] Based on the determination of the extracted set of values, the
controller 108 configured to operate the regulation valve 106 to control the supply of fuel from the fuel source 112 for food preparation. For example, the controller 108 based on the determination of the extracted set of values from the temperature sensor 104 and the fuel flow sensor 102 configured to operate the valve to regulate the fuel flow as per the food item to be selected by the operator. The controller 108 can record a set of parameters such as fuel consumed, temperature maintained and the likes for analysis in case of further optimization as per the possibilities. The controller 108 can compare the extracted set of values from a pre-defined set of values stored in the memory 116 to open or close the valve 106 to control the flow of fuel.
[0035] In another embodiment, the display unit 110 can be configured to
display the temperature and fuel flow value on the real-time basis. The operator can
enter the food item and other parameters like temperature to be maintained from the
display unit 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the display unit 110 can be any or
a combination of liquid crystal display (LCD) and light-emitting diode (LED).
[0036] For example, the proposed apparatus 100 can include the flow sensor
102 to detect the fuel flow, the temperature sensor 104 to detect the temperature maintained to cook the food and the controller 108 to regulate the fuel flow

automatically through the control valve 106 depending on the temperature setting
which is set by the operator as per the food items. Fuel consumption can be recorded
inside the controller 108 to analyse the pattern for further optimization as per the
possibilities.
[0037] The controller 108 may include a microprocessor or other devices
capable of being programmed or configured to perform computations and
instruction processing in accordance with the disclosure. Such other devices may
include microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSP), complex programmable
logic device (CPLD), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application-specific
assimilated circuits (ASIC), discrete gate logic, and/or other assimilated circuits,
hardware or firmware in lieu of or in addition to a microprocessor.
[0038] The memory 116 can include programmable software instructions that
are executed by the processor. The processor may be embodied as a single processor
or a number of processors. The processor and a memory may each be, for example
located entirely within a single computer or other computing device. The memory,
which enables storage of data and programs, may include random-access memory
(RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory and any other form of readable
and writable storage medium.
[0039] The embodiments of the present disclosure described above provide
several advantages. The one or more of the embodiments provides apparatus 100
that automatically controls the supply of fuel for efficient operation, reduces fuel
consumption and performs accurate analysis of fuel consumption as per food items
for further optimization. The apparatus 100 prevents the burning of food, conserves
scarce resources and reduces the environment pollution. Further, the apparatus 100
can be user-friendly.
[0040] FIG. 2 illustrate an exemplary method for automated control of fuel
for use in food preparation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 2, the method 200 can be implemented using a
computing device, which can include one or more controllers. The method 200
includes at block 202, the computing device can receive, from a fuel flow sensor, a

fuel flow attributes, the fuel flow sensor coupled to a fuel supply line of a fuel
source, the fuel flow sensor measures the fuel flow attributes from the fuel source.
[0042] At block 204, the computing device can receive from a temperature
sensor, a temperature attributes of the cooking utensils, the temperature sensor measures temperature attributes maintained for cooking food in the cooking utensils.
[0043] At block 206, the computing device can analyze the fuel flow
attributes to extract a set of values for the fuel flow attributes. At block 208, the computing device can analyze the temperature attributes to extract a set of values for the temperature attributes. At block 210 based on the determination of the extracted set of values from the fuel flow sensor and the temperature sensor, the computing device configured to operate the regulation valve to control the supply of fuel for food preparation.
[0044] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the apparatus 100 of
the disclosure may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, it will be clear that the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, as described in the claims.
ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0045] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that automatically
controls the supply of fuel for efficient operation.
[0046] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that reduces fuel
consumption.
[0047] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that performs accurate
analysis of fuel consumption as per food items for further optimization.
[0048] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that prevents burning of
food.

[0049] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that conserves scarce
resources and reduces environment pollution.
[0050] The present disclosure provides an apparatus that can be user friendly.

We Claim:

1. An apparatus (100) for automated control of fuel foruse in food preparation,
the apparatus comprising:
a rack to support cooking utensils (118);
a fuel flow sensor (102) coupled to a fuel supply line (114) of a fuel source (112), the fuel flow sensor (102) measures the fuel flow attributes from the fuel source;
a temperature sensor (104) measures temperature attributes maintained for cooking food in the cooking utensils (118);
a regulation valve (106) coupled to the fuel supply line (114) of the fuel source (112) to control flow of fuel; and
a controller (108) coupled to the fuel flow sensor (102), the temperature sensor (104) and the regulation valve (106), the controller configured to:
receive, from the fuel flow sensor (102), the fuel flow
attributes;
receive, from the temperature sensor (104), the temperature
attributes of the cooking utensils;
analyze the fuel flow attributes to extract a set of values for
the fuel flow attributes; and
analyze the temperature attributes to extract a set of values
for the temperature attributes, wherein based on the determination
of the extracted set of values from the fuel flow sensor and the
temperature sensor, the controller configured to operate the
regulation valve (106) to control the supply of fuel for food
preparation.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (108) compares
the extracted set of values from a pre-defined set of values stored in the
memory to open or close the valve to control the flow of fuel.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (108) records set of parameters pertaining to fuel consumed, temperature maintained and the likes for analysis of further optimization.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein apparatus (100) comprises a display unit (110) that displays any or a combination of temperature value and fuel flow value on real-time basis.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the display unit (110) is any or a combination of any or a combination of liquid crystal display (LCD) and light emitting diode (LED).
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor (104) attached with the cooking utensil (118) manually at start of cooking for accurate measurement of cooking temperature.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel source (112) is a gas cylinder.
8. A method (200) for automated control of fuel for use in food preparation, the method comprising:
receiving (202), at a computing device, from a fuel flow sensor, a fuel flow attributes, the fuel flow sensor coupled to a fuel supply line of a fuel source, the fuel flow sensor measures the fuel flow attributes from the fuel source;
receiving (204), at the computing device, from a temperature sensor, a temperature attributes of the cooking utensils, the temperature sensor measures temperature attributes maintained for cooking food in the cooking utensils;
analyzing (206), at the computing device, the fuel flow attributes to extract a set of values for the fuel flow attributes; and

analyzing (208), at the computing device, the temperature attributes to extract a set of values for the temperature attributes, wherein based on the determination of the extracted set of values from the fuel flow sensor and the temperature sensor, the computing device configured to operate the regulation valve to control (210) the supply of fuel for food preparation.