Induction Heating Relief Unit Power Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heating devices, particularly induction cooking devices, face challenges in maintaining a long service life for their power units due to high heat output and prolonged operation, which can lead to overload and damage from power losses, necessitating complex cooling measures.

Innovation Solution

A heating device circuit with a relief unit that partially takes over power from a primary power unit, utilizing a secondary power unit to alleviate load, especially during high heat output operations, and includes a sensor unit for temperature monitoring to adjust power distribution dynamically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a single power unit supplies high power to heating elements during high heat output operations, then the heating performance is improved, but the power unit experiences overload and high temperatures leading to reduced service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating powerVSAvoidservice life of power unit
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the power supply function into multiple power units (first power unit and second power unit) that can independently supply power to different heating elements. This segmentation allows the system to distribute the total power load across multiple units, preventing any single unit from experiencing excessive overload and high temperatures that would reduce its service life, while still achieving the required total heating power output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a single power unit operates continuously at high load, then the heating output is maintained, but complex cooling measures are required to prevent damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating outputVSAvoidcooling measures
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the power supply into multiple power units that can operate in parallel or sequentially, the patent reduces the continuous high load on any single unit. This load distribution naturally decreases the thermal stress and power losses in each individual power unit, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for complex cooling systems while maintaining the required total heating output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit can periodically switch between different power units or distribute the load in a periodic manner, allowing each power unit to have intermittent rest periods. This periodic operation reduces the average thermal load and power losses in each unit, decreasing the requirement for complex continuous cooling measures while maintaining the necessary average heating output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If power is distributed to multiple heating elements simultaneously, then the overall heating capacity is improved, but the load on each power unit increases requiring load management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall heating capacityVSAvoidload management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the power units with multi-functionality, where each power unit can independently supply power to different heating elements and can also be selectively activated based on the total power demand. The control unit manages the load distribution by selectively enabling or disabling power units, providing a simple load management mechanism that scales the overall heating capacity without requiring complex dynamic load balancing across multiple simultaneously active units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This solution extends the service life of power units by reducing the risk of overload and the need for complex cooling, ensuring efficient and gentle operation by dynamically managing power distribution based on sensed parameters.

Implementation Method 1

the relief unit is provided with a switching unit which is provided to bring about the transfer of power by exchanging the power to be delivered by the power units

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPower exchange:

Implementation Method 2

the heating device circuit has a sensor unit for detecting a parameter with which the relief unit is operatively connected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP1931177B1Heating device connection
Publication Date: 2015.05.27 BOSCH SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP1931177B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1931177B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1931177B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a heating device circuit, in particular for an induction cooking appliance, with at least one first power unit (46) which is provided for supplying power to a heating element (18; 36). In order to achieve gentle operation and a long service life of the power unit, it is proposed that the heating device circuit has a relief unit (82) which is provided to relieve the first power unit (46) by at least partially taking over power in at least one operating mode.