Illuminated Rotary Knob With Removable Collar State Indication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users of cooking appliances face challenges in reliably determining the operative state of heating units due to issues like unfavorable viewing positions and soiled surfaces, leading to risks of fire and explosion, and service personnel find it difficult to maintain illuminated rotary knobs when they malfunction.
Innovation Solution
An illuminated releasable rotary knob with a transparent collar around a non-transparent handle, where the illuminating device is located inside the knob, allowing for external installation and control, using different colored lights to indicate the operational state and incorporating a detection unit for rotation, enabling easier maintenance and safer operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the illuminated indicator is used to show the operative state, then the user convenience is improved, but the reliability of ascertaining the operative state deteriorates when the indicator escapes from the user's eye or is heavily soiled
Solution Approach 1:
The knob is divided into functionally independent parts: the handle (4) for user manipulation, the hub (5) for mechanical connection, and the collar (10) for visual indication. This segmentation allows the collar with illuminated markings to be independently positioned and illuminated, ensuring that the indication function remains reliable even if other parts are soiled or mispositioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar (10) is made of transparent or translucent material with illuminated markings that change color or brightness to indicate different operative states. This optical indication method ensures high visibility and reliability, as the color-coded information remains discernible even when viewed from unfavorable positions or under varying ambient light conditions.
2Illumination intensity
If the illuminating device is integrated inside the knob, then the illumination effectiveness is improved, but the ease of maintenance deteriorates when the illumination device malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The knob assembly is segmented into maintenance-accessible components. The collar (10), handle (4), and hub (5) can be separated, and the collar can be removed from the front side of the panel. This segmentation enables service personnel to access and replace the illuminating device without disassembling the entire knob or accessing the back side of the panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar (10) is designed to be self-removable from the front side of the panel, allowing users or service personnel to easily replace the illuminating device without requiring specialized tools or access to the back of the panel. This self-service design significantly improves maintenance ease while maintaining effective illumination.
3Illumination intensity
If the collar is made from transparent material, then the illumination visibility is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar (10) can be manufactured from transparent, translucent, or opaque materials depending on the specific application requirements. This parameter flexibility allows manufacturers to choose from a range of standard materials and manufacturing processes, balancing illumination visibility needs with manufacturing complexity and cost considerations.
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 allows users to reliably identify the operative state of heating units, reducing fire and explosion risks, and facilitates easy maintenance by allowing the knob to be removed and reinstalled externally, enhancing user safety and satisfaction.
Implementation Method 1
an illuminating device (7) adapted to illuminate the cavity (6)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an illuminated releasable rotary knob for use in an appliance, in particular in a cooking appliance comprising a panel which includes a regulator shaft; and a control unit which has an electrical connection for supplying electric power. The knob comprises non-transparent handle, a hub for releasably receiving the shaft, a cavity, an illuminating device for illuminating the cavity, a connector for receiving the electrical connection and a transparent indicator which receives the illumination from the cavity.