Hotplate Base Reinforcement to Reduce Spring-Induced Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hobs face challenges in maintaining durability and preventing deformation under external forces, particularly during transport, while also requiring high rigidity and flexibility to return to their initial position.
Innovation Solution
The hob device incorporates a reinforcement unit with a rod-like shape, aligned parallel to the side edge of the base surface element, to significantly reduce deformation caused by spring forces, and a relaxation unit to neutralize mechanical stresses, ensuring stability and durability without increasing production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring element is used to press the heating element against the cooktop plate, then the heating element is securely positioned, but the base element undergoes significant deformation (at least 3.5 mm)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies reinforcement units at specific critical locations of the base element rather than reinforcing the entire base. These localized reinforcement units provide sufficient structural support to reduce deformation to below 3.5 mm while maintaining the spring element's pressing function and avoiding excessive reinforcement that would increase complexity or cost.
2Loss of substance
If the base element is made thinner to reduce material consumption and cost, then production costs are reduced, but the base element becomes more prone to deformation under external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses base elements with thinner walls in general but adds localized reinforcement units at specific high-stress areas. This creates non-uniform wall thickness distribution where the base element has thin walls for cost efficiency except at critical locations where reinforcement is needed to prevent deformation under spring forces and external loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement units create a composite structure combining the base element material with reinforcement material (such as metal inserts or strengthened sections) at specific locations. This composite approach allows the majority of the base to use lighter, cheaper materials while critical areas gain enhanced strength and deformation resistance.
3Shape
If reinforcement units are added to reduce deformation, then the base element maintains its shape better, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement units are implemented in a partial manner, only where structurally necessary based on stress analysis. This selective approach provides adequate deformation control without adding reinforcement throughout the entire base element, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity to only essential areas.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the base element is designed with high rigidity to prevent deformation, then stability is improved, but the ability to return to initial position after deformation (flexibility) is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The base element design combines locally reinforced areas with non-reinforced areas, creating a gradient of rigidity. The reinforcement units provide stability where needed while leaving other areas more flexible, allowing the base element to maintain overall stability while retaining the ability to flex and return to its initial position under dynamic loading conditions.
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 solution provides a long-lasting, rigid, and flexible design that maintains the intended positions of components under external forces, ensuring high functionality and comfort while minimizing production costs and material consumption.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring element (18) designed to press at least one heating element (20) at least partially against a cooktop surface (22), wherein the reinforcement unit (16) is designed to at least substantially reduce any deformation caused by a spring force of the spring element (18)
Implementation Method 2
the reinforcement unit (16) is designed to at least substantially reduce any deformation caused by a spring force of the spring element (18)
Implementation Method 3
a relaxation unit (42) designed to neutralize mechanical stresses of the base surface element (14)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
In order to provide a generic hob device with improved properties in terms of a long-lasting design, a hob device (10) with an outer housing unit (12) is proposed, which has at least one base surface element (14) and a reinforcement unit (16), which is intended to reinforce the base surface element ( 14) to reinforce.