Ceramic Heater Terminal Layout With Asymmetric Long Groove
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ceramic heaters with a 2-zone design restrict the degree of freedom in arranging multiple terminals, making it difficult to collectively arrange them effectively.
Innovation Solution
A ceramic heater design featuring a disc-shaped ceramic plate with embedded inner and outer resistance heating elements, a cylindrical shaft, and a long hole that forms a groove, allowing terminals to be collectively arranged in a larger division area, increasing the arrangement flexibility and enabling easier bundling of wires and thermocouple insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a slit divides the shaft inside area into two equal division areas, then the structural symmetry is maintained, but the degree of freedom in arranging multiple terminals is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The long groove is designed to be asymmetric in the shaft inside area, creating two unequal division areas. This asymmetric configuration allows one division area to be significantly larger, providing sufficient space to collectively arrange multiple terminals (inner circumferential side terminals and outer circumferential side terminals) without the spatial constraints imposed by equal division. The asymmetric design directly resolves the contradiction by prioritizing terminal arrangement flexibility over structural symmetry.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple terminals are collectively arranged in one division area, then the degree of freedom of arrangement increases, but the risk of electrical insulation failure may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The long groove acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates the collective arrangement of multiple terminals while maintaining electrical insulation. The groove provides a dedicated pathway and spatial organization that separates different terminals, allowing them to be grouped in one division area without compromising insulation. The groove structure mediates between the need for terminal consolidation and the requirement for electrical isolation.
3Ease of operation
If the long hole extends from the shaft inside area to the outer circumferential portion, then thermocouple insertion is enabled, but the structural integrity of the ceramic plate may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The long hole serves multiple functions: it provides a pathway for thermocouple insertion to enable temperature measurement, and simultaneously acts as a structural feature that maintains ceramic plate integrity. By integrating these functions into a single design element, the long hole enables operational ease while preserving structural strength, avoiding the need for separate components that might further compromise the ceramic structure.
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 enables the collective arrangement of multiple terminals with increased flexibility, maintaining electrical insulation and preventing ceramic plate cracks, while allowing for efficient temperature sensing and reduced risk of damage during assembly.
Implementation Method 1
inner circumferential side resistance heating element which is embedded in an inner circumferential portion of the ceramic plate; an outer circumferential side resistance heating element which is embedded in an outer circumferential portion of the ceramic plate
Data Source
AI summary
A ceramic heater includes a ceramic plate in which inner circumferential side and outer circumferential side resistance heating elements are built in; and a cylindrical shaft joined to a rear surface of the ceramic plate. A long hole is provided along a direction deviated from the diameter direction of the ceramic plate, and extends from a start point of a shaft inside area to a terminal position of the outer circumferential portion of the ceramic plate. A portion of the long hole forms a long groove, the portion passing through the shaft inside area. Terminals of the resistance heating elements are collectively provided in one of two division areas which are in the shaft inside area and divided by an axial line of the long groove, the one being a first division area having a larger area.