Rear-Edge Cooktop Airflow Segmentation for Heating Element Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking hob cooling systems are inefficient in cooling heating elements located at the rear of the hob, as the air flow from the fan, which has been heated by both electronic components and heating elements, does not effectively dissipate heat from these elements.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with air circulation means under the heating surface at the rear edge of the hob, featuring a ventilation duct and inlet air deflection means that redirect airflow to exclusively cool the heating elements, with rear and side air exhaust openings to enhance heat dissipation, ensuring efficient cooling of both electronic components and heating elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If single air flow path is used for both electronic components and heating elements, then system complexity is reduced, but cooling efficiency of heating elements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system segments the air flow path into two distinct paths using deflection means: one path directs air through the ventilation duct to electronic components, while the other path directs air over heating elements to rear exhaust openings. This segmentation improves heating element cooling efficiency while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection means creates local quality differences in the air flow distribution: air is locally directed to different destinations based on the cooling needs of different components. Electronic components receive cooled air through the ventilation duct, while heating elements receive air flow over their surfaces, with each area optimized for its specific cooling requirements.
2Temperature
If air flow is directed only to electronic components, then electronic component cooling is improved, but heat dissipation from heating elements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air circulation system segments the cooling function: one segmented flow cools electronic components through the ventilation duct, while another segmented flow carries heat from heating elements to rear exhaust openings. This segmentation ensures both cooling effectiveness and efficient heat energy removal from the hob.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the heat generated by heating elements, which would otherwise be a harmful byproduct, into a beneficial cooling effect by directing air flow over the heating elements and exhausting the heated air through rear openings. This transforms the heat problem into an active cooling mechanism that improves overall heat dissipation efficiency.
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 cooling system significantly improves the efficiency of heat dissipation from the heating elements at the rear of the hob by directing airflow specifically towards them, enhancing overall cooling performance without imposing installation constraints.
Implementation Method 1
a fan, located at the rear edge of the cooktop and allowing air to circulate towards the front edge of the cooktop
Implementation Method 2
The cooling systems are designed to conduct the heat produced by the heating elements intended for cooking and by the electronic components in the electronic boards managing the operation of the cooking appliances to the outside of the hob
Data Source
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AI summary
A cooktop includes at least one heating element (3), and a cooling system comprising air-circulation means (9) arranged at a rear edge (10b) of said cooktop (1). The cooling system further comprises: - a ventilation duct (15) extending from the circulation means (9), the airflow from the circulation means (9) entering said ventilation duct (15); - inlet air deflection means (18) located between the circulation means (9) and the ventilation duct (15), and designed to divide the airflow from the circulation means (9) and to reverse the direction of the airflow; and - at least one rear air discharge opening, said at least one heating element (3) being placed between said at least one air discharge opening (90c) and the inlet air deflection means (18).