Oppositely Curling Multi-Wick Assembly for Stable Scented Candles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional candles with multiple wicks face issues of increased manufacturing costs, inconsistent burn environment, and undesirable sooting due to air turbulence, which affect the size and stability of the wax pool and flame height.
Innovation Solution
A candle wick assembly with multiple elongate wicks positioned in parallel and connected by a ladder filament, allowing them to curl oppositely relative to the candle's midplane, increasing the wax pool diameter and scent release while maintaining stability and self-trimming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple spaced-apart wicks are provided to increase the liquid wax pool size, then the wax pool size increases, but the manufacturing cost increases due to multiple wick insertions
Solution Approach 1:
The wick assembly is segmented into multiple elongate wicks (at least three wicks) that are laterally separated and positioned in parallel within the candle body, allowing each wick to contribute to melting wax independently and collectively form a larger liquid wax pool
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple wicks are nested within a single candle body during the pouring process, with the wick assembly positioned centrally in the mold before molten wax is poured, eliminating the need for separate wick insertion steps after pouring
2Area of stationary object
If multiple independent flames are provided to increase the liquid wax pool size, then the wax pool size increases, but air turbulence increases causing flame height to fluctuate significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple elongate wicks are connected to form an integrated wick assembly structure that merges their individual flame sources into a coordinated burning system, reducing air turbulence between separate flames while maintaining multiple fuel sources for a larger wax pool
Solution Approach 2:
Each wick in the assembly is positioned and oriented to create localized burning zones that work together harmoniously, with the wicks arranged in parallel and laterally separated to optimize airflow patterns and reduce overall turbulence
3Area of stationary object
If a single conventional wick is used to produce the necessary heat for the desired liquid wax pool size, then the liquid wax pool size is achieved, but the flame height becomes unreasonably high causing carbon deposits and excess sooting
Solution Approach 1:
The heat generation function is segmented across multiple wicks rather than concentrated in a single wick, distributing the thermal load and preventing any single flame from becoming excessively high and sooty while collectively providing sufficient heat for the desired wax pool size
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 oppositely curling wicks enhance the wax pool size and scent liberation while ensuring consistent burn and reducing sooting, without the need for external support, thus improving the candle's performance and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The combustible candle body is typically a thermoplastic blend of petroleum (paraffin) wax, mineral (montan) wax, synthetic wax (polyethylene or Fischer-Tropsch (FT) waxes) or natural waxes (vegetable or animal waxes). Upon lighting a candle wick, the heat melts the wax which then travels up the wick by capillary action and is vaporized.
Data Source
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AI summary
Multiple candle wicks are provided that may be placed into a candle wax (paraffin) body such that the wicks when lit curl in a direction opposite to the curl direction of an adjacent wick, e.g., adjacent ones of each wick curling in an opposite direction relative to a bisecting midplane of the candle. By such oppositely curling wicks when lit, therefore, the wax pool diameter may thereby be increased which in turn increases the amount of liberated scents from the candle body.