Ceramic Heater Shaft Vertical Grooves Prevent Short-Circuits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conductive films on the internal circumferential wall surface of ceramic heaters with a shaft may come into contact with each other, leading to potential short-circuits and limited capacity for resistance heating elements due to the use of power rods.

Innovation Solution

The ceramic heater features vertical grooves on the internal surface of the ceramic shaft to house conductive films, preventing contact between adjacent films and allowing for increased resistance heating elements by using conductive films instead of power rods, with an optional insulating film to prevent short-circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conductive films are formed on the internal circumferential wall surface of the ceramic shaft, then electrical connection is improved, but adjacent conductive films may come into contact causing short-circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidshort-circuit risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The internal circumferential wall surface of the ceramic shaft is divided into multiple vertical grooves that segment the conductive films into separate regions. This segmentation physically isolates adjacent conductive films, preventing contact and short-circuits while maintaining effective electrical connection between the heating elements and power supply

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If power rods are used to supply power to resistance heating elements, then electrical connection is achieved, but the number of heating elements is limited by the number of rods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidnumber of resistance heating elements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from using discrete power rods (one-dimensional point contact) to conductive films formed in vertical grooves (two-dimensional surface contact). This dimensional change allows multiple heating elements to be connected along the circumferential direction of the shaft, significantly increasing the number of heating elements that can be powered simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This design effectively separates conductive films, preventing contact and allowing for a higher number of resistance heating elements while preventing short-circuits through the use of insulating films, enhancing the ceramic heater's functionality and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a ceramic plate in which resistance heating elements are embedded

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20220030668A1Ceramic heater with shaft

Publication Date: 2022.01.27 NGK INSULATORS LTD

AI summary

A ceramic heater with a shaft includes: a ceramic plate in which resistance heating elements are embedded; a hollow ceramic shaft bonded to a surface on an opposite side of a wafer placement surface of the ceramic plate; multiple vertical grooves provided in an internal circumferential surface of the ceramic shaft in an axial direction; conductive films provided in the multiple vertical grooves, respectively; and connection members that each electrically connect a terminal of the resistance heating elements to a corresponding one of the conductive films.