Air Gap Insulator for Cooking Appliance Rear Wall Heat Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional home cooking appliances face challenges in managing heat transfer to adjacent combustible back walls during high-temperature operations, leading to increased temperatures and potential non-compliance with industry standards, which necessitates costly designs and increased airflow.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an air gap insulator between the rear wall and the exhaust channel of the appliance to reduce heat transfer from the exhaust air to the rear wall, thereby minimizing temperature exposure to adjacent surfaces and potentially eliminating the need for a minimum clearance between the appliance and combustible back walls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional designs use greater airflow and louder fans to manage heat, then heat dissipation improves, but noise increases and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an air gap as an intermediary thermal insulation layer between the exhaust channel and the rear wall. This air gap acts as a thermal barrier that reduces heat transfer to the rear wall, thereby reducing the need for high-velocity airflow and loud fans for cooling purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful hot exhaust air into a beneficial thermal insulation source by positioning the exhaust channel adjacent to the rear wall. The hot air in the exhaust channel creates a thermal barrier that prevents external ambient air from cooling the rear wall excessively, while the air gap controls this thermal interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If conventional appliances require rear wall spacing from combustible back walls, then safety compliance improves, but installation flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety complianceVSAvoidinstallation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The air gap serves as a thermal intermediary layer that isolates the combustible rear wall from the hot exhaust channel. This allows the appliance to be installed closer to combustible surfaces while maintaining safety compliance, as the air gap prevents excessive heat transfer to the rear wall.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the thermal parameters of the rear wall system by introducing the air gap, which fundamentally alters the heat transfer characteristics. This allows the appliance to meet safety temperature requirements even with reduced clearance to combustible surfaces, thereby improving installation flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If costly designs and door construction are used to increase airflow through the appliance, then heat management improves, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat managementVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The air gap provides a simple, low-cost thermal barrier that reduces heat transfer to the rear wall. This eliminates the need for costly complex door constructions and airflow management systems, achieving effective heat management through a simple structural modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The air gap is a simple structural feature that can be easily manufactured and integrated into the appliance design. It provides effective thermal insulation without requiring expensive materials or complex manufacturing processes, making it an economical solution for heat management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The air gap insulator effectively reduces heat transfer to the rear wall and adjacent surfaces, enhancing compliance with industry standards while improving user comfort and reducing noise by minimizing hot air exposure.

Implementation Method 1

an air gap insulator disposed between the rear wall and the air flowing in the exhaust channel and forming an air gap between the rear wall and the exhaust channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

The temperature differences in the air in the space protected by the conventional low back trim kit enables a convection of air to be established in a vertical direction from the fan outlets upward into the low back trim kit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS10156366B2Home appliance having an air gap insulator

Publication Date: 2018.12.18 BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORP

AI summary

A home cooking appliance includes a housing having a rear wall, a cooking compartment in the housing, an exhaust channel that exhausts air from the cooking compartment, and an air gap insulator disposed between the rear wall and the air flowing in the exhaust channel and forming an air gap between the rear wall and the exhaust channel.