Heatable Connector Preventing Ice Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors in fluid line systems, such as those in motor vehicle conveyor chains, fail to prevent ice formation when connecting heated hoses as they lack a heating mechanism, leading to potential freezing issues.
Innovation Solution
A connector with a sealed housing containing a heating element, electrically insulated from the fluid flow, and a thermally conductive heating lance that distributes heat to prevent ice formation, ensuring both fluid and electrical separation while maintaining efficient heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a connector is used to connect heated hoses without a heating mechanism, then the connector structure remains simple, but ice formation occurs in the connector at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated directly into the connector body, merging the heating function with the connection function. This allows the connector to actively prevent ice formation while maintaining structural simplicity, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and freezing prevention capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A thermally conductive housing acts as an intermediary between the heating element and the fluid medium. The housing distributes heat uniformly across the connector body and to connected components, effectively preventing ice formation while keeping the heating mechanism compact and integrated.
2Reliability
If a heating element is added to the connector, then ice formation is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated directly into the connector body, merging the heating function with the connection function. This allows the connector to actively prevent ice formation while maintaining structural simplicity, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and freezing prevention capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector serves multiple functions: mechanical connection, fluid guidance, and active heating. By making the connector multi-functional, the design avoids adding separate heating devices, thus preventing ice formation without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
3Power
If the heating element is directly exposed to the fluid, then heating efficiency is maximized, but electrical insulation and sealing become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
A thermally conductive housing acts as an intermediary between the heating element and the fluid medium. The housing distributes heat uniformly across the connector body and to connected components, effectively preventing ice formation while keeping the heating mechanism compact and integrated.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed housing encloses the heating element, providing electrical insulation and fluid sealing while allowing thermal energy to pass through. This thin-walled sealed structure maintains heating efficiency by minimizing thermal resistance while ensuring complete electrical and fluid isolation.
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
Prevents ice buildup within the connector by effectively heating the fluid and distributing heat to connected components, ensuring reliable operation even at low temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
the connector (100) includes at least one heating element (1) for heating the medium to be heated
Implementation Method 2
a thermally conductive heating lance that distributes heat to prevent ice formation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A fluid inlet tube (200) has a stainless steel heating prong (10) to warm the liquid in the connector (100). Electrical connections (8,9) heat an element (1) which is in good thermal contact with the prong in the inlet duct (22) and the outlet (4) to a hose connection tube (5).