Heating appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly process of existing heating appliances is complex and inefficient due to the numerous components and assembly steps required for the temperature sensor, leading to bottlenecks and reduced production efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A simplified assembly process for a heating appliance is achieved by incorporating a movable probe with a stop-limiting portion and an elastic support, which allows for pre-fixation between the probe, heating part, and elastic support, reducing the number of components and assembly steps, and utilizing a modular structure for the temperature sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple components (limiting clamp spring, sleeve, thermistor module, housing) are used to ensure temperature sensor functionality, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and assembly process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the limiting clamp spring, sleeve, and thermistor module into an integrated temperature sensor assembly. The limiting clamp spring is assembled with the housing and abuts against the coil disc to limit the housing upwardly, while the thermistor module is mounted in the housing with the sleeve providing support. This merging reduces the number of separate assembly steps and components while maintaining the temperature measurement accuracy through the integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the thermistor module, acts as a limiting element through the limiting clamp spring, and interfaces with the coil disc. The limiting clamp spring simultaneously limits the housing upwardly and provides elastic support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the housing is passed through the through hole of the coil disc and multiple components are assembled, then the temperature sensor can be properly positioned and limited, but the assembly process becomes complicated and involves many steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition stabilityVSAvoidassembly steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The limiting clamp spring is pre-assembled with the housing before the housing is installed through the coil disc. The spring is configured to abut against the coil disc and limit the housing upwardly, ensuring proper positioning is established in advance. This preliminary assembly of the limiting mechanism with the housing reduces the number of steps required during final installation and improves position stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the limiting clamp spring is assembled with the housing to limit the housing upwardly and the thermistor module is limited downwardly, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but the assembly process involves bottleneck processes and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature measurement accuracyVSAvoidassembly efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the limiting clamp spring assembly with the housing assembly into a single integrated unit. The spring is assembled with the housing and configured to limit the housing upwardly, while the thermistor module is mounted in the housing with the sleeve providing support and limiting the module downwardly. This merging allows the entire temperature sensor assembly to be installed as one unit through the coil disc, eliminating bottleneck processes and improving assembly efficiency while maintaining measurement precision through the integrated limiting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution simplifies the assembly process, reduces the number of components, and enhances assembly efficiency by allowing the movable probe to be assembled independently of the main assembly line, thereby avoiding bottlenecks and improving production efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic support extending into the mounting hole and supported by the limiting block, the elastic support supporting the movable probe and providing a force to press the stop-limiting portion to the panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3812657B1Heating appliance
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA ELECTRICAL HEATING APPLIANCES MFG CO LTD
  • EP3812657B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3812657B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3812657B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A heating appliance, comprising: a panel (100) provided with a through hole (110); a heating part (200) located below the panel (100) and provided with a mounting hole (210) and a limiting block (212) protruding into the mounting hole (210); a movable probe (300) inserted into the through hole (110) and capable of moving along the through hole (110), the movable probe (300) being provided with a stop limiting portion (312), the stop limiting portion (312) being located below the panel (100) and configured to be abutted against the panel (100) to limit the movable probe (300) out of the through hole (110); and an elastic support (400) extending into the mounting hole (210) and supported by the limiting block (212), the elastic support (400) supporting the movable probe (300) and providing force to press the stop limiting portion (312) to the panel (100). The heating appliance has good contact temperature measurement effect to cookware, less assembly step, and simple and convenient assembly operations, and greatly improves the assembly efficiency of products, and can prevent the bottleneck problem in the assembly of the heating appliance.