Refillable Frost Protection Burner Pot with Cross-Shaped Wick

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional braziers for frost protection in agriculture exhibit unreliable burning behavior, leading to inconsistent energy release and high waste generation, requiring numerous units and resulting in substantial crop losses due to inadequate temperature increase during critical frost periods.

Innovation Solution

A brazier design featuring a refillable candle body with a star or cross-shaped wick and a receiving space within the container, allowing for consistent energy release and reduced waste by retaining molten fuel, even when tilted, and enabling cost-effective reuse by separating the candle body from the container.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional triangular or square wicks are used in burn pots, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the burning behavior is unreliable and energy release is inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveburning behavior consistencyVSAvoidwick structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by using a star-shaped or cross-shaped wick configuration instead of conventional symmetric triangular or square wicks. This asymmetric design creates radially outwardly open sectors that allow molten fuel to flow away when tilted, ensuring consistent burning behavior and energy release throughout the burning period, thereby resolving the reliability issue while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If burn pots are placed densely to ensure sufficient temperature increase during frost periods, then crop protection is improved, but the cost and waste generation increase substantially

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrost protection effectivenessVSAvoidwaste generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discarding and recovering by designing a refillable candle body that can be separated from the container. The candle body can be removed, refilled with fresh fuel, and reused in the same container. This eliminates the need to dispose of entire burn pots after fuel consumption, substantially reducing waste generation while maintaining reliable frost protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If the candle body cross-section matches the container inner cross-section, then the structure is simple, but molten fuel cannot flow away when tilted causing inconsistent energy release

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy release consistencyVSAvoidcandle body structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by designing the candle body cross-section to differ from the container inner cross-section, creating radially outwardly open sectors. This asymmetric configuration allows molten fuel to flow away when the burn pot is tilted, ensuring consistent energy release throughout the burning period while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dimensional aspect by creating radial sectors through the star-shaped or cross-shaped wick configuration. This adds a radial dimension to the fuel flow path, allowing molten fuel to move outward in multiple directions when tilted, ensuring consistent burning behavior regardless of orientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If hundreds of burn pots are required for adequate frost protection, then crop protection coverage is improved, but the cost of purchase, placement, and disposal increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrost protection coverageVSAvoidcost-effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discarding and recovering by enabling the candle body to be separated from the container for refilling and reuse. This allows the same container to be used multiple times with different candle bodies, significantly reducing the total number of units needed and improving cost-effectiveness while maintaining adequate frost protection coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by designing the container as a reusable component that can accommodate multiple candle bodies. The container serves multiple functions: holding different candle bodies, providing structural support, and enabling repeated use across multiple burning cycles, thereby reducing overall costs and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 improved brazier design ensures reliable and consistent energy release over extended periods, reducing crop losses and waste, while allowing for cost-effective maintenance by refilling and reusing the candle body, thus providing enhanced frost protection for agricultural crops.

Implementation Method 1

a wick for the fuel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

ignited wick

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

a refillable candle body which can be melted by the ignited wick

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

a receiving space for molten fuel is formed between the candle body and the container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3794935B1Burner pot
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 ENDER MARKUS
  • EP3794935B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP3794935B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c

AI summary

A combustion pot for protecting agricultural crops against frost, comprising a fuel contained in a container (1) and a wick (3) for the fuel, wherein it is proposed that the container (1) is designed to be refillable by means of a candle body (2) that can be inserted into the container (1), wherein the candle body (2) is provided with a wick (3) extending in a cross shape over the flame-facing surface (2a) of the candle body (2), and by means of a cross-section of the candle body (2) that differs from the clear inner cross-section of the container (1), at least in the area of ​​a sector of the candle body (2) located between two outer wick end edges (3') a receiving space (4) for molten fuel is formed between the candle body (2) and the container (1).