Heated Cup Holder Structure for Uniform Temperature Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The Peltier element used as a heater in existing drinking container holders can cause an uneven temperature distribution, with the inner surface of the holder becoming excessively hot in localized areas, posing discomfort to users.
Innovation Solution
A drinking container holding device with a resin holder, a sheet-like thermal conductor, a sheet-like heating element, and a thermal insulator is designed to uniformly heat the container by diffusing heat through the thermal conductor and insulator, preventing excessive temperature increases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a Peltier element is used as a heater to heat the inner case, then the drinking container can be heated efficiently, but the inner surface of the holder body becomes overly hot in localized areas causing user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
A thermal conductor sheet is introduced as an intermediary layer between the Peltier element (heater) and the inner case. This mediator distributes the heat generated by the concentrated Peltier element across a wider area of the inner case, preventing localized excessive heat while maintaining overall heating efficiency. The thermal conductor acts as a heat diffusion medium that transforms point-source heating into area-wide heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal conductivity parameter by introducing a material with high thermal conductivity (the thermal conductor sheet) between the heater and the inner case. This parameter change allows heat to spread more uniformly across the contact surface, converting the thermal field distribution from concentrated to distributed, thereby resolving the localized overheating issue.
2Temperature
If the heating element is made larger to cover more area, then heat distribution becomes more uniform, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat diffusion function from the heating element itself and separates it into a distinct component (the thermal conductor sheet). Instead of making the heater larger, the solution extracts the excessive heat concentration problem and addresses it through a separate thermal management layer, allowing the heater to remain compact while achieving uniform heat distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of the Peltier element combined with a thermal conductor sheet having different thermal conductivity properties. This composite arrangement allows the system to leverage the high heating efficiency of the Peltier element while using the thermal conductor's superior heat spreading capability to achieve uniform temperature distribution, without increasing the overall device size.
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 device achieves uniform heating of the drinking container while limiting high temperatures in localized areas, ensuring user comfort and reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating unnecessary components.
Implementation Method 1
a sheet-like heating element arranged outside the thermal conductor
Implementation Method 2
a sheet-shaped thermal conductor arranged outside the holder and having a higher thermal conductivity than the holder
Implementation Method 3
a thermal insulator covering the sheet-like heating element outside the sheet-like heating element
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a drinking container holding device that is configured to heat the drinking container. The drinking container holding device includes a plastic holder configured to hold a drinking container on the inner side of the holder, a sheet-like heat transfer element located on the outer side of the holder and having a higher thermal conductivity than the holder, a sheet heating element located on the outer side of the heat transfer element and smaller than the heat transfer element, and an insulating element covering the sheet heating element on the outer side of the sheet heating element.