Cooking Hob Duct Unit Segmentation for Compact Cooling Air Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hob designs face challenges in achieving a compact and efficient cooling system that prevents overheating while maintaining a durable and high-performance operation, particularly in induction hobs, where the cooling air direction and heat dissipation are critical for electronic components.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a duct unit composed of multiple duct elements that form a channel to direct cooling air from a blower unit to a heat sink, featuring a printed circuit board as a channel element for electrical connectivity and insulation, allowing for efficient heat dissipation and compact assembly with minimal air loss and flexible configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a duct unit with multiple duct elements is used to direct cooling air from the blower unit to the heat sink, then the cooling efficiency and heat dissipation performance are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need to assemble multiple duct elements together

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidduct assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The duct unit is divided into multiple duct elements (first duct element, second duct element, third duct element) that can be assembled together to form the complete cooling air channel. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance while maintaining effective cooling air direction from the blower unit to the heat sink.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the duct unit is designed with multiple separate duct elements, then the flexibility of configuration and ease of assembly are improved, but the potential for air loss at connection points increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidcooling air loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The multiple duct elements are designed to be connected together to form substantially continuous cooling air channels, merging the separate elements into a unified flow path. This reduces air loss at connection points while maintaining the assembly flexibility and ease of configuration that separate elements provide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the heat sink is arranged at a distance from the blower unit outlet, then the layout flexibility and compact design are improved, but the cooling air delivery efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelayout flexibilityVSAvoidcooling air delivery efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The duct unit extends in multiple spatial dimensions to bridge the distance between the blower unit outlet and the heat sink. By utilizing three-dimensional space effectively, the duct elements can reach components positioned at various locations and orientations, maintaining cooling efficiency while providing layout flexibility for compact hob designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the duct unit uses multiple separate duct elements, then the adaptability to different hob configurations is improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembly time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration adaptabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The duct system is segmented into multiple standardized duct elements that can be manufactured using efficient processes and then assembled. This segmentation enables modular manufacturing that can reduce overall production costs and assembly time compared to manufacturing a single complex duct structure, while maintaining high adaptability to different hob configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 configuration enables a compact, durable, and high-performance hob with efficient cooling, preventing overheating and allowing for simple assembly and low costs, while maintaining a high degree of flexibility and effective heat dissipation.

Implementation Method 1

a blower unit (16), which is provided to provide cooling air to the heat sink (12) in at least one operating state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

at least one heat sink (12), which is provided for cooling at least one structural unit (14)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Sink: Heat Sink

Data Source

PatentEP3144596B1Cooking hob
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3144596B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3144596B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3144596B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention is based on a household appliance device (10) with at least one heat sink (12) which is provided for cooling at least one structural unit (14), with a blower unit (16) which is provided for the purpose of cooling the heat sink (12 ) Provide cooling air, and with a duct unit (18), which is intended to direct the cooling air starting from the fan unit (16) at least in the direction of the heat sink (12). In order to provide a generic household appliance device with improved properties in terms of a compact design, it is proposed that the duct unit (18) has at least one first duct element (20) and at least one second duct element (22), which is different from the first duct element (20), which in at least in an assembled state together with the first channel element (20) at least partially forms a channel at least substantially.