Electric Range Air Guide Expansion Protrusion to Reduce Heat Leakage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Electric ranges using induction heating face issues with overheating due to leakage of heated air from the air guide into the range, which can damage components and reduce performance.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an air guide with expansion protrusions and coupling projections that securely couple to a base bracket, creating a sealed structure to prevent heated air leakage, enhancing cooling efficiency and preventing overheating of internal components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the air guide is designed to cool heat generation elements, then cooling efficiency is improved, but heated air may leak into the electric range causing overheating of components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidheated air leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air guide is divided into a first air guide portion and a second air guide portion with different functions. The first portion guides air horizontally to cool heat generation elements, while the second portion redirects air vertically outward, preventing heated air leakage into the electric range interior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The expansion protrusion acts as an intermediary sealing structure between the air guide and base bracket. It fills gaps and creates a sealed connection that prevents heated air from leaking through the coupling interface while maintaining the airflow path for cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the air guide and base bracket are coupled to prevent leakage, then heated air leakage is suppressed, but the coupling structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidcoupling structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The expansion protrusion is integrated directly into the air guide structure, merging the sealing function with the air guiding function. This eliminates the need for separate sealing components while achieving both leakage prevention and simplified coupling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The expansion protrusion automatically seals the gap between the air guide and base bracket through its own geometric shape and elastic deformation, without requiring additional sealing materials or complex fastening mechanisms. The structure self-adjusts to create a tight seal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If the air guide structure is simplified for easy manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but sealing performance may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair guide fabricationVSAvoidsealing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The expansion protrusion utilizes geometric parameter changes (expansion in cross-sectional area) to achieve sealing. This approach uses simple dimensional variations rather than complex materials or multi-step manufacturing processes, maintaining ease of manufacture while ensuring reliable sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively suppresses the leakage of heated air, reducing the risk of overheating and operational errors, thereby improving the performance and longevity of electric range components.

Implementation Method 1

an air blowing fan, and an air guide communicating with the air blowing fan, surrounding the heat sink and forming a flow path of air cooling the heat sink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a heat sink being mounted onto the printed circuit board, an air blowing fan being mounted onto the base bracket and discharging air toward the heat sink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Sink: Heat Sink

Implementation Method 3

The air guide may further comprise an expansion protrusion protruding from the first air guide portion in a lengthwise direction of the air guide or in a direction across the lengthwise direction in the manner of expanding a cross section of the air guide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical Containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP4096358A1Electric range
Publication Date: 2022.11.30 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4096358A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4096358A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4096358A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An electric range of one embodiment may include a case, a cover plate being coupled to an upper side of the case, and allowing an object to be placed thereon, an air blowing fan discharging air, and an air guide communicating with the air blowing fan, and forming a flow path of air. The air guide comprises a first air guide portion communicating with the air blowing fan, and guiding the air discharged from the air blow fan substantially horizontally, and an expansion protrusion protruding from the first air guide portion in a lengthwise direction of the air guide or in a direction across the lengthwise direction in the manner of expanding a cross section of the air guide.