Turkish Coffee Pot Snap-Fit Support for Thermal Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing coffeepot designs for automatic coffee machines, particularly those used for preparing Turkish coffee, face issues with the pot support detaching from the body due to expansion and shrinkage differences caused by heat, leading to instability during the cooking and cleaning processes.

Innovation Solution

A coffeepot design featuring a support in the form of a truncated cone with lateral concave surfaces, assembled to the body using a snap-fit process without requiring heat treatment or adhesion, incorporating a ring channel and flange for enhanced stability and a flexible joint edge with cut-outs for secure mounting, ensuring the support remains firmly attached to the body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the support is manufactured separately from the body and assembled by interference-fit process, then the support provides structural support and stability, but the support detaches from the body due to thermal expansion and shrinkage differences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport stabilityVSAvoidsupport attachment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support is divided into multiple segments with cut-outs that allow independent movement and flexibility. This segmentation enables the support to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the body without detaching, while maintaining structural stability during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure incorporates variable parameters through the cut-outs in the flange, allowing the geometric configuration to change dynamically. These cut-outs enable the support to expand and contract with temperature changes, preventing detachment while maintaining attachment reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the support is assembled to the body by heat treatment and tight-fit process, then the support provides firm attachment, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport attachment reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure with cut-outs in the flange performs self-adjustment during thermal cycles. The cut-outs allow the support to automatically accommodate expansion and contraction without requiring external intervention or complex manufacturing processes, simplifying production while maintaining reliable attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If the support is designed as a rigid structure, then the support provides stable support during cooking, but the support cannot accommodate thermal expansion differences and detaches during cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport stabilityVSAvoidthermal adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support flange incorporates dynamic elements through cut-outs that allow the structure to adapt its configuration. During cooking, the support maintains stability, but during thermal expansion and cleaning, the cut-outs enable the support to flex and adjust, preventing detachment while preserving cooking stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 snap-fit assembly provides a stable and secure connection between the support and body, preventing detachment and loosening, regardless of thermal expansion differences, ensuring reliable operation and easy cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

the support is manufactured separately from the body and assembled to the body by a snap-fit process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the body of the coffeepot is heated by the heater and the body expands a little by the effect of the heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 3

The dimensions of the coffeepot body expanded during the cooking process shrink by contact with cold water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Data Source

PatentEP2312977B1A coffeepot
Publication Date: 2014.11.12 ARCELIK AS
  • EP2312977B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2312977B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2312977B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a coffeepot (1) used in automatic coffee machines, particularly suitable for cooking Turkish coffee, consisting of a body (2) wherein the cooking process is performed, a support (3) providing the coffeepot (1) to fit on the surface whereon it is disposed and carrying the body (2) and of a ring (8) mounted around the body (2), wherein the support (3) part is assembled to the body (2) by a snap-fit process.