Bayonet Lock Table Fire Seal Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Table fires, especially those using ethanol, pose a safety risk due to the potential for fuel leakage and fire when accidentally knocked over, and existing designs often compromise on safety for aesthetic appeal.

Innovation Solution

A table fire design featuring a cylindrical tank with a bayonet lock mechanism that securely closes with a rotary and axial movement, ensuring a tight seal, combined with a capillary-active wick system and spirally interlocking flow guide elements for enhanced safety and visual appeal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a simple opening is provided in the cover for wick access, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but ethanol may escape if the table fire is knocked over

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidfuel containment safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible membrane closes the opening in the cover instead of a rigid structure. This membrane allows the wick to pass through while providing safety by preventing fuel leakage when the table fire is knocked over, as the membrane can deform to close the opening completely during accidental tipping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If a tight sealing mechanism is used to prevent fuel leakage, then safety is improved, but the closing operation becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel containment safetyVSAvoidclosing operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A conical sealing surface is provided on the cover that mates with a complementary conical surface on the tank opening. This curved geometry enables automatic tight sealing through a simple rotating closing motion, where the conical surfaces guide the membrane into full contact with the sealing surface, ensuring fuel containment without complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The membrane is designed to be dynamically responsive to the closing motion and accidental tipping forces. During normal closing, the membrane deforms to seal against the conical surface. During accidental tipping, the membrane dynamically deforms to close the opening completely, providing adaptive safety without requiring complex active mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the bayonet lock and sealing components are made visible for functional clarity, then operation is easier to understand, but the visual appearance is spoiled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional clarityVSAvoidvisual appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The bayonet lock mechanism and sealing components are nested within the cover structure itself. The conical sealing surface is integrated into the cover's internal geometry, and the membrane is positioned within the cover opening. This nesting hides all functional components from external view while maintaining their full functionality, achieving aesthetic appearance without sacrificing operational clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 design prevents fuel leakage and fire risk upon accidental knocking over while maintaining a visually appealing and easy-to-use mechanism, enhancing safety and minimizing fuel evaporation.

Implementation Method 1

The bayonet lock is designed in such a way that when the bayonet lock is closed, the cover performs a rotary movement and at the same time an axial movement towards the tank and thereby clamps a seal arranged on the cover, ie for example a sealing ring, between the cover and the tank.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Fastener: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 2

through which a capillary-active metal or ceramic element in the form of a wick protrudes when the table fire is in operation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP2626625B1Table fire
Publication Date: 2014.05.14 WMF WURTTEMBERGISCHE METALLWARENFABRIK AG
  • EP2626625B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2626625B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2626625B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a tabletop fireplace (1) that can be fueled with ethanol. A key feature of the invention is that the tabletop fireplace (1) has a cylindrical tank (2) for the liquid fuel, which can be tightly closed with a lid (3) via a bayonet fitting (4). A seal (5) is arranged on the lid (3), and the bayonet fitting (4) is designed such that when the bayonet fitting (4) is closed, the lid (3) rotates and moves axially towards the tank (2), thereby clamping the seal (5) between the lid (3) and the tank (2). This ensures particularly safe handling of the tabletop fireplace (1).