Heating apparatus for heating liquid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heating devices for liquids face issues with preheating time, temperature stability, energy wastage, and structural complexity due to high thermal inertia of materials like cast aluminum, and sealing problems in plastic-metal interfaces, leading to inefficient heat transfer and potential leakage.

Innovation Solution

A heating apparatus with a sealed body featuring a spiral sealing rib and hollow pipe structure, where the sealing rib contacts the heating body, enhancing heat exchange efficiency and reducing thermal inertia, combined with a thick-film heating circuit and electric connector for improved heat distribution and reduced fabrication complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If cast aluminum is used as the heating body, then thermal conductivity is improved, but thermal inertia increases leading to longer preheating time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidpreheating time
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from cast aluminum to 304 stainless steel, which has lower thermal inertia and faster response time, while maintaining adequate thermal conductivity for heating applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The heating body uses a composite structure combining 304 stainless steel with food-grade plastic coating, achieving both efficient heat transfer and safety requirements for food contact surfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If cast aluminum is used as the heating body, then thermal conductivity is improved, but device weight and bulk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoiddevice weight
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from cast aluminum to 304 stainless steel, which has lower density and lower thermal inertia, achieving both efficient heat transfer and reduced weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If plastic runner is used to line the stainless tube, then installation is facilitated, but sealing problems occur leading to liquid leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses food-grade plastic material that is chemically compatible and physically compatible with stainless steel, ensuring both ease of installation and reliable sealing without chemical reactions or degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

Solution Approach 2:

The heating body uses a composite structure combining 304 stainless steel with food-grade plastic coating, achieving both efficient heat transfer and safety requirements for food contact surfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If sealing rings are used to seal the plastic-metal interface, then sealing is achieved, but pressure resistance and long-term reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing capabilityVSAvoidpressure resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the sealing ring component entirely by designing a seamless integrated structure where the plastic coating is directly applied to the stainless steel surface, eliminating the plastic-metal interface that required sealing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating body uses a composite structure combining 304 stainless steel with food-grade plastic coating merged into a single integrated component, eliminating separate sealing elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

5Stability of the object's composition

If preheating time is extended to maintain constant output temperature, then temperature stability is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidliquid supply speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the thermal inertia parameter by using 304 stainless steel instead of cast aluminum, enabling the system to reach operating temperature faster while maintaining stable output temperature during operation

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

The apparatus achieves faster preheating, stable temperature output, reduced energy wastage, and continuous temperature control with a simpler structure, preventing liquid leakage and vaporization, suitable for applications requiring precise temperature control.

Implementation Method 1

a heating body (2), and a water outlet (4b)... the heating body (2) are connected with each other sealedly... liquid from the water inlet (4a) is constrained by the sealed water passage (4), flows along the sealed water passage (4), and then runs out of the water outlet (4b)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3412986B1Heating apparatus for heating liquid
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 FOSHAN VIOMI ELECTRICAL TECH
  • EP3412986B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3412986B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3412986B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A heating apparatus (100) for heating liquid comprises a sealed frame (1), a heating body (10), a water inlet (14), and a water outlet (11). The sealed frame (1) and the heating body (10) are sealedly connected, and the two enclose and form a cavity within. The cavity is provided with a sealed body (2), and the sealed body (2) and the heating body (10) enclose and form a sealed water passage (8) having a certain degree of capacity. The sealed water passage (8) is connected to the exterior separately by means of the water inlet (14) and the water outlet (11). Liquid that enters from the water inlet (14) is limited and sealed within the sealed water passage (8), and flows along the sealed water passage (8) and, at the end, out of the water outlet (11). The heating apparatus (100) reduces the pre-heating time in start-up, continuously discharges water at a stable temperature. Additionally, the present invention avoids the problem of gasification and non-continuous water discharge as a result of water leakage caused by the gap between a liquid passage and a heater having a thick stainless steel film.