Vehicle Heater Evaporator Assembly With Embedded Ignition Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing evaporator assembly units for vehicle heaters face challenges in achieving simple and compact designs while ensuring improved combustion and ignition characteristics, often compromising fuel distribution and evaporation efficiency due to recesses for ignition elements.

Innovation Solution

The evaporator assembly unit embeds an electrically excitable ignition element and evaporating heating element within the material of the evaporator medium carrier's bottom wall, eliminating recesses and enhancing fuel distribution and evaporation surface area, with a design that allows for uniform thermal interaction and efficient air inlet for ignition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the ignition element passes through the porous evaporator medium in a recess, then the ignition element can be positioned to ignite the fuel/air mixture, but the fuel distribution characteristic deteriorates and the evaporator medium surface area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveignition characteristicVSAvoidfuel distribution and evaporator surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The ignition element is repositioned from a vertical passage through the evaporator medium into the bottom wall of the evaporator medium carrier. This dimensional relocation allows the ignition element to function effectively while preserving the continuous porous structure of the evaporator medium, eliminating the need for disruptive recesses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom wall of the evaporator medium carrier serves as an intermediary structure that houses the ignition element. This intermediate component allows the ignition element to be positioned optimally for ignition while maintaining the integrity and continuous surface area of the porous evaporator medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If recesses are formed in the porous evaporator medium for the ignition element, then the ignition element can be embedded, but the manufacturing complexity and device structure are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveignition element positioningVSAvoidevaporator medium structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ignition element is extracted from the porous evaporator medium structure and relocated to the bottom wall of the evaporator medium carrier. This separation eliminates the need to form complex recesses in the evaporator medium, simplifying both the evaporator medium structure and the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the ignition element passes through the evaporator medium carrier and porous evaporator medium, then the ignition element can be positioned in the combustion chamber, but the risk of damage increases and the design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveignition functionalityVSAvoiddamage risk to ignition element

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom wall of the evaporator medium carrier serves as a protective cushioning structure that surrounds and protects the ignition element. This pre-arranged protective enclosure shields the ignition element from potential damage during operation while maintaining its ignition functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The ignition element is nested within the bottom wall structure of the evaporator medium carrier. This nested configuration provides mechanical protection to the ignition element while maintaining a compact and integrated design that reduces overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 approach results in improved combustion and ignition characteristics, enhanced fuel evaporation efficiency, and a compact, damage-resistant design by eliminating recesses and ensuring uniform thermal interaction and air supply for efficient ignition.

Implementation Method 1

a porous evaporator medium (18) provided on one side (26) of the bottom wall (14)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

an evaporation support heating element (36), which is in contact with the front side (32) of the porous evaporator medium (18), so that the evaporation of fuel from this is supported

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

an electrically excitable ignition element (34) embedded in the material of which the bottom wall (14) is made

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 4

the evaporation of fuel from this is supported

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS9297529B2Evaporator assembly unit, especially for a vehicle heater

Publication Date: 2016.03.29 EBERSPAECHER CLIMATE CONTROL SYST GMBH & CO KG

AI summary

An evaporator assembly unit, especially for a vehicle heater, includes an evaporator medium carrier (12) with a bottom wall (14), a porous evaporator medium (18) provided on one side of the bottom wall (14) and an electrically excitable ignition element (34). The ignition element is embedded in the material of which the bottom wall (14) is made.