Pivotable Heat Shield for Cooktop Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooktops face challenges in passing the UL 858 temperature test due to thermal shortcuts caused by warm exhaust air recirculating into the cooling air inlet, leading to reduced cooling efficiency and increased risk of overheating, and existing heat shields are prone to damage and require precise height adaptation.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable heat shield attached to the burner box, which can be locked in a transport position and self-pivots into an operational position, creating a variable height to separate cooling and warm exhaust air effectively, allowing for easy installation and use with different cooktop receptacle heights, and is designed to minimize damage during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid heat shield is attached to the burner box, then thermal shortcut is prevented, but the heat shield is prone to damage during transport and requires precise height adaptation
Solution Approach 1:
The heat shield is made pivotable rather than rigidly fixed, allowing it to be locked in a protective horizontal position during transport and automatically pivot to a vertical operational position during use. This dynamic design prevents damage while maintaining thermal separation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat shield function is separated into two distinct positions: a protected horizontal transport position and an operational vertical position. The locking mechanism segments the transport phase from the operational phase, allowing the heat shield to be protected during transport while functioning effectively during operation.
2Reliability
If a rigid heat shield of fixed height is used, then thermal separation is effective, but it requires precise height adaptation to different receptacle heights
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable heat shield can automatically adjust its vertical position to adapt to different receptacle heights. When the cooktop is inserted into a receptacle, the heat shield pivots down to the appropriate height, eliminating the need for precise pre-adaptation to specific receptacle dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable design allows the same heat shield to universally adapt to different receptacle heights and configurations, making the cooktop compatible with various standard receptacles without requiring custom heat shield dimensions for each application.
3Strength
If the heat shield is locked in transport position, then damage during transport is prevented, but additional assembly steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The heat shield automatically pivots from the protected horizontal transport position to the operational vertical position through its own weight or a spring mechanism, without requiring manual intervention. This self-service action simplifies the assembly process while maintaining protection during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat shield is pre-positioned in the protected horizontal transport position during manufacturing and shipping. The locking mechanism is pre-configured to automatically release and allow pivoting during installation, eliminating the need for complex assembly steps while ensuring protection during transport.
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 pivotable heat shield ensures effective separation of cooling and warm air, facilitating easy installation and reducing the risk of thermal shortcuts, while being cost-effective and durable, enabling the cooktop to pass the UL 858 temperature test.
Implementation Method 1
a first sub space (116) adjacent to the cooling air inlet (108) and a second sub space (117) adjacent to the warm air outlet (109), wherein the heat shield (202) separates the first sub space (116) and the second sub space (117)
Implementation Method 2
The heat shield (202) is pivotably attached to the burner box (205). Further, the heat shield (202) is lockable in a transport position by a lock. Additionally, the heat shield (202) is self-pivotable from the transport position after unlocking or releasing the lock
Data Source
AI summary
A cooktop includes a burner box, a heat shield pivotably attached to a bottom of the burner box, a lock for locking the heat shield in a transport position, wherein the heat shield is self-pivotable from the transport position to an operational position after unlocking the lock, and when in the operational position the heat shield is pivoted further from the bottom of the burner box than in the transport position.