Interlocking J-Plate Panel for Convective Surface Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial work environments, such as commercial kitchen oven hoods, often have outer surfaces that become excessively heated, posing a risk of burns to workers due to the lack of effective cooling mechanisms for the surfaces of heated enclosures.
Innovation Solution
The self-cooling panel design incorporates a series of 'J' plates arranged in a vertically extending chain with clinker-built and carvel-built configurations, creating a cooling air conduit that induces convective internal airflow, aspirating ambient air and enhancing temperature differential between the hot interior and outer surfaces, making the outer surface cooler and safer to touch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the panel uses a solid wall structure to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but the outer surface temperature increases causing burn hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is segmented into multiple 'J' shaped plates arranged in an interlocking pattern, creating a hollow cavity structure. This segmentation allows ambient air to be drawn through the structure while maintaining overall structural integrity through the interlocking design of the plates.
Solution Approach 2:
Ambient air acts as an intermediary cooling medium that flows through the hollow cavity formed by the J-plates. The air absorbs heat from the inner surface and carries it away, cooling the outer surface without requiring direct thermal contact with a cooling source.
2Temperature
If the panel uses a hollow cavity structure with J-plates to enable convective cooling, then outer surface temperature is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is divided into repeating modular J-plate units that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process while creating the necessary hollow cavity structure for convective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The J-plate configuration creates a self-sustaining convective cooling system where the temperature differential between the hot inner surface and cool outer surface automatically drives air flow through the structure, eliminating the need for external fans or powered cooling mechanisms.
3Productivity
If the panel uses interlocking J-plates in a clinker-built fashion to create air conduits, then convective cooling is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The panel consists of standardized J-plate modules that can be pre-manufactured and then quickly assembled on-site. Each module is identical and designed to interlock with its neighbors, simplifying the assembly process despite the complex cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural function and cooling function are merged into a single integrated J-plate structure. The same interlocking plates that provide structural support also create the hollow cavity necessary for convective cooling, eliminating the need for separate cooling components.
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 self-cooling panel effectively reduces the outer surface temperature of heated enclosures by utilizing convective airflow, creating a safe touchable surface while maintaining a modular design for versatile applications.
Implementation Method 1
The convective air flow through the panel's interior advantageously enhances the temperature differential between the hot air within the exhaust hood making the panel's exposed outer wall relatively cool and safe to touch
Data Source
AI summary
A self cooling panel having a longitudinally inner wall; a longitudinally outer wall having a first plurality of “J” plates, each plate among the first plurality of “J” plates having a stem section, an upper end, a lateral end, and an oppositely lateral end, and a vertically ported tail section; first screw and eye combinations interconnecting each plate among the first plurality of “J” plates so that the upper end of each plate's stem section is positioned at the distal end of the tail section of one of the other plates among the first plurality of “J” plates, or so that the distal end of each plate's tail section is positioned at the upper end of the stem section of one of the other plates among the first plurality of “J” plate; and second screw and eye combinations interconnecting the longitudinally inner and outer walls, the second screw and eye combinations positioning the upper end of the stem section of each plate among the first plurality of “J” plates longitudinally outwardly from the panel's longitudinally inner wall.