Hot Water Tank Deflection Device Using Segmented or Film-Hinged Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hot water tanks face challenges in production complexity and efficiency, particularly in designing a deflection device that minimizes turbulence while being easy to manufacture.

Innovation Solution

The deflection device is constructed from either two identical parts or a single part with a film hinge, allowing for simplified production using a single mold and easy assembly, with preferred materials being plastic and production methods including injection molding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex deflection device is used to minimize turbulence, then the heat transfer medium distribution is improved, but the production complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer medium distributionVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deflection device is segmented into two identical halves that can be manufactured separately using a single mold and then assembled together. This segmentation allows for simpler individual components while achieving the overall function of turbulence minimization through the combined structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Two identical deflection device halves are merged together to form the complete deflection device. This merging approach maintains the effectiveness of turbulence reduction while enabling simpler manufacturing of individual halves using a single mold, thereby reducing production complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a complex deflection device is used to minimize turbulence, then the heat transfer medium distribution is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer medium distributionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The deflection device is divided into two identical halves that can be manufactured separately using a single mold. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex multi-cavity molds or slides, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining the turbulence minimization function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

One half of the deflection device is copied to create the other half, both manufactured using the same single mold. This copying approach reduces tooling costs and simplifies manufacturing processes while ensuring consistency in the turbulence reduction performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If a complex deflection device is used to minimize turbulence, then the heat transfer medium distribution is improved, but the assembly difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer medium distributionVSAvoidassembly difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The deflection device is segmented into two identical halves that can be assembled together in a simple manner. This segmentation reduces assembly difficulty compared to manufacturing a single complex piece, as the identical halves can be easily aligned and joined using standard fastening methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3553412B1Hot-water tank
Publication Date: 2020.12.02 VIESSMANN GRP GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3553412B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a hot water storage tank comprising a container (1) which, at a point in its bottom region (1.1), is formed by a supply pipe (2) for the heat transfer medium to be stored, wherein this pipe terminates in a deflection device (3) arranged inside the container (1) and provided for the distribution of the heat transfer medium. According to the invention, the deflection device (3) is optionally formed from two identical individual parts or from a single individual part having a film hinge in the center.