Heater assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heater assemblies for household appliances have a complicated structure due to independent components like heaters, temperature sensors, and ground terminals, making assembly, disassembly, and maintenance cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A modular heater assembly design where heating terminals, a ground terminal, and a temperature sensor are integrated on a module with a connecting housing, allowing for simplified assembly and disassembly through a receiving portion with interference fits and a locking mechanism, and electrical connections via a mating connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If heater, temperature sensor, and ground terminal are designed as independent plug-in units, then each component can be manufactured separately, but the structure becomes complicated and assembly/disassembly becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heater, temperature sensor, and ground terminal into a single integrated module. The heater and temperature sensor are mounted on the same circuit board, and the ground terminal is integrated into the module housing, creating a unified assembly that reduces structural complexity while maintaining separate manufacturability of the overall module.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater assembly is segmented into distinct functional components (heater element, temperature sensor, ground terminal) that are manufactured separately and then assembled into a modular unit. This allows each component to be manufactured independently using optimal processes while the final assembly provides integration benefits.
2Ease of repair
If heater, temperature sensor, and ground terminal are designed as independent plug-in units, then component replacement is flexible, but assembly and maintenance become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the heater, temperature sensor, and ground terminal into a single module, the patent reduces the number of separate connection points and assembly steps. The module can be installed or replaced as one unit, simplifying maintenance operations while preserving the ability to replace individual components within the module if needed.
3Reliability
If heating terminals and ground terminal are arranged separately, then electrical connections are clear, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by arranging terminals with distinct spatial characteristics - heating terminals are positioned for power connection while the ground terminal is positioned for grounding connection. The receiving portion has correspondingly differentiated structures (e.g., different insertion directions, locking mechanisms, or electrical contact arrangements) that provide clear electrical connection functionality without requiring complex overall terminal arrangement.
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 modular design simplifies the assembly and disassembly process, enhances safety by preventing electrical connections that could cause breakdowns, and improves maintenance efficiency while maintaining a secure and insulated structure.
Implementation Method 1
a heater having a pair of heating terminals
Implementation Method 2
a ground terminal mounted on the second side of the integrated module and grounding the integrated module
Data Source
AI summary
A heater assembly includes a heater having a pair of heating terminals, an integrated module, the heater is mounted on a first side of the integrated module and the heating terminals extend from a second side of the integrated module opposite to the first side, a ground terminal mounted on the second side of the integrated module and grounding the integrated module, and a connecting housing having a receiving portion. The ground terminal is arranged in a row with the heating terminals. The heating terminals and the ground terminal are inserted into the receiving portion through a bottom wall of the receiving portion.