Centering base for sealing an insulation cavity of a water heating appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water heating appliances face challenges in maintaining thermal efficiency and reducing heat loss due to insulation material leakage through gaps between the jacket and centering base, leading to inefficient insulation.
Innovation Solution
A water heating appliance design featuring a jacket wall with a terminal portion extending inward at an oblique angle to bias the centering base into a deformed condition, forming a substantially liquid-tight seal with the centering base, preventing insulation material from escaping, and incorporating a labyrinth seal to manage misalignments during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a simple gap between jacket and centering base is used, then assembly is easy, but insulation material leaks out
Solution Approach 1:
The centering base incorporates a flexible flange that can deform elastically to engage with the jacket's terminal portion, forming a seal that prevents insulation material leakage while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations
Solution Approach 2:
The seal interface uses curved surfaces with specific radii (e.g., flange outer surface radius, terminal portion inner radius) that enable smooth engagement and effective sealing, preventing insulation material from escaping through the gap
2Loss of substance
If tight assembly tolerance is required to prevent leakage, then insulation performance improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal design changes the engagement parameters between jacket and centering base, using elastic deformation and curved surface geometry to create an effective seal that accommodates normal manufacturing tolerances without requiring tight assembly precision
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible flange acts as a cushioning element that compensates for potential gaps or misalignments before insulation material can leak, providing a buffer that maintains sealing effectiveness despite manufacturing variations
3Reliability
If the terminal portion extends inward at oblique angle, then seal effectiveness improves, but assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal portion and flange incorporate curved surfaces with specific radii that guide assembly and enable self-alignment, reducing assembly difficulty while maintaining effective sealing through the oblique angle geometry
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 effectively contains insulation material within the insulating volume, enhancing thermal efficiency by minimizing leakage and ensuring consistent insulation performance despite manufacturing tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
the terminal portion biases the centering base into a deformed condition, and wherein the deformed condition defines a substantially liquid tight seal between the jacket wall and the centering base
Data Source
AI summary
A water heating appliance includes a jacket wall, a tank base disposed within the jacket wall, and a centering base disposed under the tank base. The jacket wall engages an outer portion of the centering base to form a substantially liquid tight seal, and the substantially liquid tight seal at least partially prevents a flowable insulating material from traveling in between the jacket wall and the centering base to an exterior of the jacket wall.