Heating Fan Grille Recesses for Optical Speed Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heating device manufacturing processes require the fan to be exposed for non-contact speed measurement, which is hindered by protective grilles, necessitating assembly and disassembly, complicating the installation and calibration of the fan speed.

Innovation Solution

A method and heating device design where the fan is mounted behind a grid with recesses allowing light signals to pass through for non-contact speed measurement, enabling the grid to be installed before determining the fan speed, and using reflected light signals to determine the fan's speed without disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective grille is placed in front of the fan for safety protection, then the fan is protected from foreign objects, but the fan speed cannot be measured contactlessly because the grille blocks light signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefan protectionVSAvoidfan speed measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The grille is segmented by providing recesses or openings at specific locations where light signals need to pass through. This allows the grille to maintain its protective function while creating light paths for optical measurement of the fan speed without requiring removal of the grille.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recesses in the grille act as intermediaries that allow light signals to pass through the grille structure. These recesses enable the optical measurement system to detect fan speed through the grille without compromising the grille's protective function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the fan is exposed for speed measurement without a grille, then fan speed can be measured contactlessly, but the fan loses protection from foreign objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefan speed measurementVSAvoidfan protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The grille is designed with segmented recesses that are strategically positioned to allow light transmission only at measurement points, maintaining protection at all other areas while enabling optical access for speed measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the grille is installed before determining fan speed, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the fan speed cannot be measured because the grille blocks light signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidfan speed measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The grille with pre-designed recesses is installed before fan speed measurement. The recesses are预先 designed into the grille structure to accommodate light signal transmission, allowing speed measurement to be performed without disassembling or removing the grille, thus maintaining manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of manufacture

If the fan speed is determined after grille installation, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the measurement accuracy may be compromised due to grille interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing processVSAvoidfan speed measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The grille is designed with local variations - recesses or openings at specific locations where light transmission is needed for measurement. This local modification maintains the overall protective quality of the grille while creating specific zones for accurate optical measurement without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables efficient and accurate fan speed determination and calibration during manufacturing, allowing for pre-installation of the grid and active fan operation during measurement, improving manufacturing efficiency and ensuring accurate setpoint speed achievement.

Implementation Method 1

the speed of the blower is determined contactlessly by evaluating the reflection behavior of the blower, wherein at least one light signal is emitted through a recess in the grille in the direction of the blower and/or received through a recess in the grille from the direction of the blower

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3999787B1Method for producing a heating device, and heating device
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 TRUMA GERATETECHNIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3999787B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3999787B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3999787B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing a heating device (1) which has a fan (3) that can be found behind a grating (2) in the interior (10). The fan (3) is installed in the interior (10), and the grating (2) is installed as part of the heating device (1). The rotational speed of the fan (3) is contactlessly ascertained by evaluating a reflection behavior of the fan (3) in that a light signal (50) is emitted through a recess (20) in the grating (2) in the direction of the fan (3) and/or is received through a recess (20) in the grating (2) from the direction of the fan (3). The invention additionally relates to a heating device (1).