Double-Walled Electric Kettle Structure for Heat Insulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric kettles face issues with heat insulation performance, power consumption, ease of cleaning, assembly complexity, and aesthetic unity, particularly due to limitations in material choices and structural configurations.

Innovation Solution

A cylindrical electric kettle design featuring a double-walled structure with an inner and outer stainless steel body, a heating module partitioning the interior, and an integrated handle with a display, where the heating module is mounted on the inner surface and electric wires pass through the heat insulation space, enhancing heat retention and reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a main body is made of plastic material to facilitate internal structure arrangement, then ease of manufacture is improved, but hygiene and durability deteriorate due to harmful components dissolving in hot water and vulnerability to scratches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidhygiene and durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The main body is divided into two separate components: an inner body made of stainless steel that contacts water, and an outer body made of plastic that provides structural support and housing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the inner body ensures hygiene and durability, while the outer body facilitates ease of manufacture and internal structure arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a main body is made of glass material for hygiene and appearance, then hygiene and appearance are improved, but weight increases making it inconvenient to use and molding becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehygieneVSAvoidmolding ease and weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The main body is divided into an inner body made of stainless steel that contacts water, ensuring hygiene without requiring glass material. The outer body is made of plastic, which is easier to mold and lighter than glass, thus resolving the contradiction between hygiene requirements and manufacturing ease/weight constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a main body is made of stainless steel for hygiene and durability, then hygiene and durability are improved, but heat insulation performance deteriorates causing burns and increased power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehygiene and durabilityVSAvoidheat insulation performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The main body is segmented into an inner stainless steel body for hygiene and durability, and an outer plastic body that provides thermal insulation. The plastic outer body acts as a thermal barrier, preventing heat transfer to the exterior surface, thus avoiding burns and reducing power consumption while maintaining the hygienic stainless steel inner body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Loss of energy

If a vacuum structure is implemented for heat insulation, then heat insulation performance is improved, but assembly workability and aesthetic unity deteriorate due to limitations in handle configuration and electric wire arrangement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat insulation performanceVSAvoidassembly workability and aesthetic unity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a complex vacuum structure, the patent segments the main body into an inner stainless steel body and an outer plastic body with a simple air gap between them. This segmented design provides effective thermal insulation through the plastic material and air gap, while maintaining simple assembly workability and aesthetic unity, as the handle and electric wires can be easily integrated into the outer plastic body without the constraints of a vacuum structure.

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

The design improves heat insulation, reduces power consumption, simplifies assembly and cleaning, and enhances the overall appearance by maintaining a unified aesthetic while ensuring user safety and convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a heat insulation space may be formed between the inner body and the outer body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

water inside the body may be heated by a heating module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule Heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3711635A1Electric kettle
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3711635A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3711635A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3711635A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric kettle includes a body formed in a cylindrical shape having an opened upper surface and an opened lower surface, the body defining a space in which water is contained, an upper body mounted on an upper end of the body and communicating with the opened upper surface of the body, a lid seated on the upper body to open or close the opened upper surface of the body, a heating module inserted and mounted through the opened lower surface of the body to partition an inside of the body vertically and heat water inside the body, and a base on which the lower surface of the body is seated and which transfers power applied from an outside to the heating module when the body is seated. The body includes an outer body forming an outer surface and an inner body forming an inner surface, and the heating module is mounted on the inner surface of the inner body.