Candleholder Heat-Conducting Ring for Complete Combustion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing candle holders fail to maintain a full flame during the last phase of burning, often leaving residue due to complex designs and sensitivity issues with wick holders, and lack efficient heat transfer and oxygen supply.

Innovation Solution

A candle holder with a heat-conducting ring that allows the wick to rest against a bar, ensuring oxygen supply and melting wax residues, combined with a candle design featuring a tapered foot and stepped base for secure placement, facilitating complete combustion without residue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex wick holder design is used to hold the candle wick, then the candle can be held securely, but the device becomes sensitive and prone to damage, and requires precise positioning that often fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecandle holding reliabilityVSAvoidwick holder complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex wick holder component entirely and replaces it with a simple heat-conducting ring that directly holds the candle. This extraction of the problematic component eliminates the sensitivity and positioning issues while maintaining the candle holding function through the ring's structural simplicity and thermal conductivity properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat-conducting ring serves multiple functions simultaneously: it holds the candle securely, transfers heat to melt wax residues, and provides a stable base for combustion. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate complex wick holder components, reducing overall device complexity while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Temperature

If additional insulation is provided to transfer combustion heat, then heat transfer is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidinsulation structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies heat-conducting properties locally at the critical interface between the flame and the brazier, rather than providing comprehensive insulation throughout the entire device. The heat-conducting ring is positioned specifically where heat transfer is needed, providing localized thermal management that improves temperature efficiency without adding complex insulation structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The heat-conducting ring acts as an intermediary element that directly transfers heat from the flame to the brazier and melted wax. This simple thermal intermediary replaces complex insulation systems, achieving efficient heat transfer through direct thermal conduction rather than through multiple insulating layers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the wick holder is made sensitive to detect candle position, then positioning precision is improved, but the device becomes prone to damage from repeated use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecandle positioning precisionVSAvoidwick holder durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the delicate, damage-prone wick holder with a robust heat-conducting ring designed for repeated use. The ring's simple structure and material properties allow it to withstand repeated candle insertion and removal without the sensitivity issues that cause damage to more complex holders

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat-conducting ring automatically adapts to candle placement through its thermal and structural properties, eliminating the need for sensitive detection mechanisms. The ring self-adjusts to hold the candle securely through its geometry and thermal expansion characteristics, providing durable positioning without complex sensitive components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If openings are provided in the heat-conducting ring for air and wax exchange, then complete burning is achieved, but the ring structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplete combustion reliabilityVSAvoidheat-conducting ring structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat-conducting ring incorporates openings that create a porous-like structure, allowing air and melted wax to pass through freely. This porous configuration enables complete combustion by providing continuous oxygen supply and wax residue removal without requiring complex mechanical structures, as the openings themselves provide the necessary exchange pathways

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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

Ensures the candle burns with a full flame until completion, with no leftovers, through efficient heat transfer and oxygen supply, and easy manufacturing and assembly of the heat-conducting ring.

Implementation Method 1

The heat-conducting ring, against which the burning wick rests, heats the brazier and melts the wax residue that is in it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

There are at least two openings in the side wall of the heat-conducting ring, which reach down to the lateral bottom of the brazier and ensure the exchange of air and wax during the remainder of the burning

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas flow: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The liquid wax penetrates through the openings into the heat-conducting ring to the wick, where it is absorbed and burned

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 4

when a candle burns, the residual wick leans against the heat conducting ring and a wick holder for the wick residue to burn the residual wax is not required

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentEP2189717B1Candleholder for completely burning a candle
Publication Date: 2014.03.12 KUHLE RAPHAEL
  • EP2189717B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2189717B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The holder (1) has a burner pan (2) and a heat-conducting ring (3) with a recess (8), where the heat-conducting ring is attached in the recess with a side wall. Oval shaped openings (4) are provided in the side wall of the heat-conducting ring. The openings allow exchange of air and wax during residual burning. A rotating bar (15) is interiorly attached at the heat-conducting ring, where a wick abuts in a last burning phase of a candle in the bar. The ring is designed as a cylindrical or angular jar. The openings pass over height of the bar.