Induction Heating Element with Insulating Member for Carafe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot beverage dispensers using electrical resistive heating coils pose safety risks due to high temperatures and inefficiencies, as they can cause burns and waste energy through heat loss.
Innovation Solution
A non-ferromagnetic, heat-resistant transparent carafe with an induction heating assembly and insulating member, where an induction heating element is thermally isolated from the carafe bottom, and a control circuit regulates power to maintain safe and efficient heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If electrical resistive heating coils are used to heat the hot plate, then the beverage can be kept warm, but the hot plate becomes hot to the touch and can cause burn injury
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into separate components: the induction heating element (coil) and the carafe body are thermally decoupled. The heating element is positioned within the carafe but thermally isolated by an insulating member, allowing the beverage to be heated while the carafe exterior remains cool to the touch.
Solution Approach 2:
An insulating member is introduced as an intermediary between the induction heating element and the carafe body. This intermediary component allows thermal energy to be transferred to the beverage through the bottom of the carafe while preventing excessive heat from reaching the carafe walls and exterior surfaces that users may touch.
2Productivity
If the hot plate is maintained at high temperature for heating, then heating efficiency is improved, but heat is lost to the air when the carafe is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The induction heating element is contained within the carafe itself, allowing the carafe to heat its own contents directly without requiring an external hot plate. This eliminates the need to maintain a large hot plate surface at high temperature, reducing heat loss to the surrounding air when the carafe is not being heated.
3Use of energy by moving object
If induction heating is used to heat the container, then heating efficiency is improved, but the container must be heated above desired temperature which is dangerous to touch
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the heating function from the container body by positioning the induction heating element separately within the carafe and thermally isolating it. This allows efficient induction heating of the beverage while the carafe body remains at a safe temperature for handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating member serves as a thermal intermediary that allows the induction heating element to operate at high temperatures for efficient heating while preventing this heat from transferring to the carafe body, keeping the container safe to touch.
4Illumination intensity
If glass carafe is used for transparency, then visual determination of contents is enabled, but the glass becomes hot and potentially dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented from the glass carafe body, with the induction heating element positioned separately and thermally isolated. This allows the glass to maintain its transparency for visual monitoring while avoiding direct heating that would make it dangerous to handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating member acts as a thermal intermediary between the heating element and the glass carafe, allowing the glass to remain at safe temperatures while still enabling visual determination of beverage levels and characteristics through its transparent property.
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 safer and more energy-efficient method for keeping beverages warm by preventing overheating and reducing heat transfer, ensuring the carafe remains comfortable to touch while maintaining beverage temperature.
Implementation Method 1
an induction module including an induction wave generator for generating electromagnetic waves that pass through the bottom of the carafe to induce electrical eddy currents in the induction heating element that elevate the temperature of the induction heating element above the temperature of the carafe body
Implementation Method 2
induce electrical eddy currents in the induction heating element
Implementation Method 3
an insulating member interposed between the bottom of the carafe body and the bottom of the induction heating element to thermally insulate the bottom of the carafe body from the induction heating element, and said insulating member reducing the passage of heat from the induction heating element through the bottom of the carafe body
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage warming assembly (8) with a non-ferromagnetic, transparent heat carafe (10) having an induction heating assembly (38) attached to the bottom (24) by a threaded fastener (46) formed of a generally planer, induction ferromagnetic heating element (42) with a top and a bottom, and an insulating member (44) interposed between the carafe bottom (24) and the bottom of the induction heating element (42) to thermally insulate the bottom (24) from he induction heating element (42), to enable relative movement between the induction heating element (42) and the bottom (24) and to seal a fastener hole (48) against leaks. Different levels of heating are achieved by connecting a high frequency voltage signal from a generator (64) to different inputs along the length of the coil induction coil (40) in response to actuation of heating level selection switches (59, 60, 62). An AC power circuit breaker (70) removes power in response to actuation of a power switch (56) or when an input current detector (72) senses a current level that exceeds a preselected level.