Heating Element Recesses for Rod Workpiece Thermal Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heating devices are inefficient in providing uniform thermal treatment to rod-shaped workpieces, as they lack effective mechanisms to enhance electrical resistance and thermal coupling.

Innovation Solution

A heating device with a band-shaped metal heating section that includes recesses to increase electrical resistance, and is designed to fit closely around the workpiece, ensuring efficient thermal coupling and uniform heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a solid heating element is used, then mechanical strength is sufficient, but electrical resistance is too low resulting in inefficient heating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidheating element structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element incorporates recesses that create a porous-like structure with reduced cross-sectional area. This increases electrical resistance and heating efficiency without requiring a completely solid complex structure, thus resolving the contradiction between heating efficiency and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element has regions with different cross-sectional areas due to the recesses. The recessed portions have lower cross-sectional area to increase resistance locally, while other regions maintain sufficient structural integrity. This local variation resolves the contradiction by concentrating heating effect where needed while maintaining overall structural adequacy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If the heating section cross-section is reduced to increase electrical resistance, then heating efficiency improves, but mechanical strength decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical resistanceVSAvoidheating section strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is designed with recesses only in specific regions where increased electrical resistance is needed for heating, while other regions maintain full cross-sectional area to ensure sufficient mechanical strength. This localized modification resolves the contradiction between resistance and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element is segmented into regions with different cross-sectional characteristics. The recesses create segmented portions that increase resistance while the continuous material in other areas maintains structural strength, resolving the contradiction through spatial segmentation of functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If a simple heating element geometry is used, then manufacturing is easy, but thermal coupling with the workpiece is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating element fabricationVSAvoidthermal coupling
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element features recesses in specific locations to enhance thermal coupling with the workpiece surface, while maintaining an otherwise simple geometry that is easy to manufacture. The recesses create closer contact areas without requiring complex overall structure, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and thermal coupling effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 improved thermal treatment of rod-shaped workpieces by increasing electrical resistance through recesses and enhancing thermal coupling, resulting in more efficient and uniform heating.

Implementation Method 1

The heating section of the heating device represents an electrical resistance heating element through which an electrical current flows when an electrical voltage is applied between the first contact section and the second contact section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The heating section is provided with at least one recess which reduces an electrically effective cross-section of the heating section in certain regions and thus increases the electrical resistance of the heating section

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 3

the heating section covers at least 80 percent, preferably at least 90 percent, in particular at least 95 percent, of an outer surface of the workpiece over the length that the heating section has in the direction of the axis of extension

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4554327A1Heating device for the thermal treatment of a rod-shaped workpiece
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 ROPEX INDUSTRIE ELEKTRONIK GMBH
  • EP4554327A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4554327A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4554327A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a heating device (1) for the thermal treatment of a rod-shaped workpiece (51), comprising a heating element (2) which has a first electrically conductive contact section (31), a second electrically conductive contact section (32) and a heating section (11) made of a strip-shaped metal material extending between the first contact section (31) and the second contact section (32), wherein the heating section (11) almost completely encloses a cylindrical, in particular circular cylindrical or prismatic, volume (14) extending along an axis of extension (12), wherein the heating section (11) is provided with at least one recess (15) which increases the length of an electrical path (36) between the first contact section (31) and the second contact section (32).