Plastic Fan Heater Assembly for Low-Noise Lightweight Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fan heaters are bulky, heavy, noisy, and expensive due to their metallic construction, which makes them difficult to transport and manufacture, and the separate integral fan blades complicate secure mounting and increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A fan heater design using lightweight plastic materials for the fan assemblies, which are securely attached to form an integral unit with a tubular supporting casing and electric unit, minimizing weight, vibration, and noise, while simplifying assembly and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metallic materials are used for fan blades, then strength and durability are improved, but weight increases making the heater bulky and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, fundamentally altering the density and weight characteristics while maintaining structural integrity through appropriate plastic material selection and design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts plastic fan blades that are lighter and cheaper than metal alternatives, accepting that plastic may have different durability characteristics but gaining significant advantages in weight and cost reduction
2Strength
If metallic fan blades are used, then structural integrity is improved, but vibration and noise increase during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, which has different vibrational characteristics and damping properties, thereby reducing the vibration and noise generated during fan operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts plastic fan blades that inherently produce less vibration and noise compared to metal blades, accepting potential differences in durability while gaining significant advantages in noise reduction
3Manufacturing precision
If separate integral fan blades are manufactured, then manufacturing precision is improved, but assembly complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fan blade assembly into multiple separate blades that can be manufactured independently and then assembled together, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing assembly complexity compared to creating a single integral structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs universal mounting structures and connecting members that can accommodate multiple blade configurations, allowing the same assembly mechanism to work for different fan blade arrangements and reducing overall system complexity
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 design results in a lighter, quieter, and more cost-effective fan heater that is easier to manufacture and transport, with reduced vibration and noise, achieving efficient air heating and delivery.
Implementation Method 1
the heating element is electrically conducted to generate heat
Implementation Method 2
the fan is rotatably mounted with in the receiving cavity in such a manner that when it is activated, it will rotate to draw air from the air inlet, and force air out from the air outlet via the heating element
Data Source
AI summary
A fan heater includes a heater body, an electric unit, a plurality of fan assemblies, and a heating element. Each of the fan assemblies is mounted with the adjacent fan assembly to form a fan unit within the receiving cavity, wherein the fan unit is operatively coupled with the electric unit for being driven to rotate by the electric unit. The heating element is mounted within the receiving cavity in a vicinity of the air outlet, and electrically connected with the electric unit for being heated up at an elevated temperature, wherein the fan assemblies are adapted to draw air flowing from an air inlet to an air outlet via the heating element, so as to heat up the air drawn by the fan unit, and deliver the heated air to a predetermined heating zone from the air outlet.