Swinging Candle Flame Simulator with Electromagnetic Pivot
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional open candle flame simulation apparatuses have complex structures requiring many components, leading to high production costs and instability, with swinging mechanisms often failing to provide a rigid structure, causing components to come loose.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a casing, connecting rod, flame display, balance weight, swing holder, magnet, and coil, forming pivot structures to create a swinging mechanism driven by an electromagnetic field, reducing the number of parts and simplifying assembly while ensuring the flame display remains secure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional swinging mechanisms are used to simulate candle flame movement, then the flame display can be actuated and swung, but the structure becomes complicated requiring many components and labor force for assembly, substantially increasing production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple swinging functions into a single integrated mechanism. The connecting rod assembly integrates the flame display, balance weight, and swinging motion into one unified structure that pivots about a single axis, eliminating the need for separate complex swinging mechanisms and reducing component count while maintaining realistic flame simulation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical swinging mechanisms with a simplified pivot structure supported by electromagnetic actuation. The coil and magnet assembly provides the necessary actuation forces, allowing the connecting rod to swing realistically without requiring traditional complex mechanical linkages, thereby reducing assembly complexity and production cost
2Ease of operation
If conventional swinging mechanisms are used to simulate candle flame movement, then the flame display can be actuated and swung, but the mechanisms fail to provide rigid structure, leading to components coming loose
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spherical pivot structure at the connection point between the connecting rod and the support structure. This spherical joint provides a rigid yet flexible connection that maintains structural integrity while allowing realistic swinging motion in multiple directions, preventing components from coming loose while enabling natural flame-like movement
Solution Approach 2:
The balance weight attached to the connecting rod provides counterbalancing force that stabilizes the flame display during swinging motion. This counterweight mechanism ensures the flame display returns to its proper position and maintains structural stability, preventing components from becoming loose or misaligned during operation
3Ease of operation
If many components are used in the swinging mechanism, then the flame display can be actuated, but labor force to assemble them together increases, substantially increasing production cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components into integrated assemblies. The connecting rod assembly combines the flame display, support structure, and swinging mechanism into one unit, while the electromagnetic actuation system integrates the coil, magnet, and balance weight into a single functional module, dramatically reducing the number of separate parts that require assembly and reducing labor costs
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 solution minimizes production costs, simplifies assembly, and maintains the flame display's stability during manufacturing, transit, and handling, providing a more realistic simulation of an open candle flame with reduced component complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a coil located adjacent to the magnet for generating an electromagnetic field interacting with a magnetic field of the magnet for driving the connecting rod to turn about the first axis and the second axis
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for simulating an open candle flame having a swing holder located within a casing and engaging with a connecting rod, the connecting rod pivotally and rotatably connecting to the swing holder to form a first pivot structure for allowing the connecting rod to turn about a first axis, the swing holder pivotally and rotatably connecting to the casing to form a second pivot structure for allowing the swing holder and the connecting rod to turn about a second axis. The swinging mechanism of the apparatus is able to minimize the cost and the number of parts, ease and simplify assembly, and insure the flame display stays in place after manufacturing and during transit and handling.