Counter balanced lid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Newer condensing boilers extract too much heat from combustion gases, making it difficult for them to function effectively and complicating maintenance due to increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
A counter-balanced lid system for boilers, featuring a cantilevered air moving device and a hinge, which offsets the weight of the lid to ease its opening and includes air intake housing for cooling, facilitating easier inspection and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blowers are used to force ventilate condensing boilers, then the boiler can function effectively, but the device complexity increases and becomes difficult to maintain and service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a counterbalance weight mechanism to the lid assembly that offsets the weight of the lid and air moving device. This mechanical counterbalance system simplifies the opening operation and reduces the complexity of the support structures needed, thereby addressing the device complexity issue while maintaining reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid assembly is segmented into separate functional components: the lid itself, the air moving device, the air intake housing, and the counterbalance mechanism. This segmentation allows for independent maintenance and servicing of each component, reducing overall maintenance difficulty while preserving boiler functionality.
2Device complexity
If the air moving device is mounted directly on the lid, then the structure is simplified, but the weight of the lid increases and becomes difficult to open
Solution Approach 1:
A counterbalance weight is integrated into the lid assembly through a cantilever mechanism. This counterbalance offset's the combined weight of the lid and air moving device, making the lid easy to open and close while maintaining a simplified structural arrangement where the air moving device remains mounted on the lid.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterbalance mechanism uses a cantilever extension that projects outward from the lid, utilizing spatial arrangement in another dimension to achieve weight offset without adding vertical height or complicating the basic mounting structure.
3Loss of energy
If heat is extracted from combustion gases in condensing boilers, then energy efficiency improves, but the boiler becomes more complex and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The air moving device is segmented as a separate, removable component mounted on the lid rather than being integrated into the main boiler body. This segmentation isolates the air moving device as a discrete unit that can be easily accessed, removed, and serviced without disturbing the heat extraction components, thereby reducing maintenance complexity while preserving energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid assembly acts as an intermediary platform that carries the air moving device separately from the main boiler structure. This intermediary arrangement provides easy access to the air moving device for maintenance while keeping the heat extraction system intact and operational.
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 counter-balanced lid system simplifies the opening of the boiler, reduces heat loss, and maintains components at lower temperatures, enhancing efficiency and longevity while improving the maintenance environment.
Implementation Method 1
A weight of the counter balance is configured to offset at least a portion of a weight of the lid to ease pivoting of the lid into an open position
Implementation Method 2
The air moving device is configured to generate a flow of air
Data Source
AI summary
A lid for a heat generating device in which the heat generating device has a body with a combustion chamber disposed therein. The lid includes an air moving device, an air intake housing, and a hinge. The air moving device is configured to generate a flow of air. The air intake housing is disposed between the lid and the air moving device. The air intake housing extends out from the lid to cantilever the air moving device out from the lid. The hinge is disposed between the lid and the body and proximal to the air intake housing. The hinge is configured to provide a pivot for the lid. A weight of the air moving device counter balances at least a portion of a weight of the lid to ease pivoting of the lid into an open position.