Thermal Appliance Insulation Retainers to Prevent External Hotspots

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thermal appliances, such as ovens and hot water heaters, experience external hotspots due to air gaps and contact between insulation and the enclosure, which can exceed safe surface temperature limits and pose safety risks.

Innovation Solution

The use of retainers or standoffs to maintain continuous contact between insulation and the heating compartment, preventing air gaps and contact with the enclosure, thereby reducing or eliminating hotspots by ensuring continuous insulation contact with the heating compartment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If air gaps are formed between insulation and heating compartment, then insulation effectiveness is reduced, but manufacturing simplicity is improved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat lossVSAvoidinsulation structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces retainers as intermediary components that mediate between the insulation and heating compartment. These retainers actively maintain continuous contact, preventing air gaps from forming. The retainers serve as a mechanical intermediary that ensures thermal continuity without requiring complex insulation structuring, thus resolving the contradiction between energy loss prevention and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If insulation contacts the enclosure, then structural simplicity is improved, but external hotspot formation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulation structureVSAvoidexternal hotspot

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The retainers act as intermediary components that control the interaction between insulation and enclosure. They maintain the insulation away from the enclosure surface while ensuring continuous contact with the heating compartment. This intermediary positioning prevents direct insulation-enclosure contact that would cause external hotspots, while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different spatial qualities to the insulation: continuous contact with the heating compartment (hot side) and separation from the enclosure (cold side). This local quality differentiation ensures proper thermal management - the insulation effectively transfers heat from the heating compartment while preventing heat transfer to the enclosure, thus eliminating external hotspots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If continuous contact between insulation and heating compartment is maintained, then thermal efficiency is improved, but risk of enclosure contact increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat lossVSAvoidenclosure heating

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The retainers serve as intermediary elements that decouple the insulation from direct contact with the enclosure while maintaining continuous contact with the heating compartment. This intermediary positioning allows the insulation to perform its thermal function efficiently without creating harmful thermal pathways to the enclosure, thus resolving the contradiction between thermal efficiency and enclosure protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively reduces or eliminates external hotspots, ensuring the surface temperatures of thermal appliances remain within safe limits, enhancing consumer safety and compliance with safety codes.

Implementation Method 1

High temperature insulation can be positioned adjacent to the sides, top, back, and bottom of the heating compartment or heating tank. The high temperature insulation is used to control the flow of heat from the sides, top, and bottom of the heating compartment or heating tank to the outside of the enclosure or cabinet.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS9989262B2Appliance thermal management systems

Publication Date: 2018.06.05 OWENS CORNING INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL LLC

AI summary

A thermal appliance is provided. The thermal appliance includes a heating compartment inside of an enclosure, with insulation disposed between the heating compartment and enclosure. Retainers or standoffs are also included in the thermal appliance to prevent air gaps from forming between the insulation and the heating compartment, and to prevent the insulation from making contact with the enclosure.