Conduit for a liquid dispenser, method of producing it and use thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating systems for liquid dispensers face sub-optimal heat transfer due to movement of heating coil windings away from the tube, and variants with sleeves may loosen over time, leading to unreliable heating device attachment.
Innovation Solution
The heating device is fixed to the tube via an injection-molded part that surrounds the tube, ensuring a reliable and secure connection using a carrier for the heating wire, which is wound around the carrier and positioned between the tube and the injection-molded part, facilitating uniform heat distribution and preventing overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a heating coil is inserted into an annular recess and filled with insulating material, then thermal insulation is provided, but heat transfer becomes sub-optimal due to movement of windings away from the tube
Solution Approach 1:
The heating coil is pre-formed on a mandrel with a specific geometry that ensures optimal contact with the tube surface. The mandrel creates predetermined contact points that maintain heating wire proximity to the tube, preventing movement away from the heating surface while still allowing insulating material to be applied for thermal insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary substance or structure is introduced between the heating coil and the tube to maintain optimal thermal contact. This intermediary ensures that the heating wire remains in close proximity to the tube surface, facilitating efficient heat transfer while allowing the insulating material to perform its thermal insulation function.
2Reliability
If a sleeve with heating coil is used, then thermal insulation and mechanical support are provided, but the attachment may loosen over time
Solution Approach 1:
The heating coil, insulating material, and tube are merged into a single integrated structure. The heating coil is applied directly to the tube surface with insulating material applied over it, creating a unified assembly that eliminates separate sleeves and reduces the risk of loosening while maintaining thermal insulation and mechanical support.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible heating element in the form of a thin film or coated wire is used, which can conform to the tube surface and maintain intimate contact. This flexible structure is combined with flexible insulating material to create a compliant assembly that adapts to thermal expansion and contraction, preventing loosening over time.
3Reliability
If heating wire is wound directly on the tube, then secure attachment is achieved, but uniform heat distribution and overheating prevention are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The heating coil is designed with varying winding densities or resistance values in different sections to achieve uniform heat distribution. The mandrel geometry creates local variations in wire spacing that compensate for heat loss patterns, ensuring consistent temperature along the tube surface while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the heating wire or its arrangement are changed along the length of the tube to optimize heat distribution. This may include varying wire diameter, winding spacing, or resistance to compensate for thermal gradients, ensuring uniform temperature while maintaining secure mechanical attachment.
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 provides a reliable and secure attachment of the heating device to the tube, ensuring effective heat transfer and preventing contamination by maintaining a tight relation between the heating element and the tube, thus effectively preventing retrograde contamination and ensuring efficient heating.
Implementation Method 1
The injection-moulded part ensures a relatively tight relation between the heating device and the tube, which facilitates a good transfer of heat
Implementation Method 2
the heating device includes a resistive heating part, which resistive heating part includes a wound heating wire
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a conduit (13) for a liquid dispenser which includes a tube (20) for carrying liquid and a heating device for heating at least a section of the tube (20). The heating device includes a part (31) for fixing the heating device to the tube (20). The part (31) is a part injection-moulded over the tube (20) along at least a section of a length of the tube (20). The invention also relates to a method of producing said conduit and to a use thereof.