Removable Lamp Mounting for Heating Device Reflector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating devices for thermoplastic preforms waste energy due to non-directed electromagnetic radiation and require replacing both lamp and reflector when the lamp fails, leading to unnecessary waste and cost.
Innovation Solution
A heating device design where the reflector is detachably attached to the lamp, allowing for the lamp to be replaced independently, with holding members securing the lamp to the reflector at a fixed distance and preventing rotation, ensuring efficient energy reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the reflector is permanently attached to the lamp, then the structural integrity and stability of the heating device is improved, but the cost and waste increase when the lamp fails as the entire assembly must be replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device is divided into separable components: the lamp assembly and the reflector assembly. The lamp can be detached from the reflector using a release mechanism, allowing the lamp to be replaced while the reflector remains in place for reuse. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural integrity during operation while enabling selective replacement of only the failed component.
2Device complexity
If the lamp and reflector are permanently assembled, then the device complexity is reduced, but the maintenance cost and time increase when lamp replacement is required
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the lamp and reflector is made dynamic rather than static. A release mechanism allows the assembly to transition between a fixed state during operation (maintaining simplicity) and a separable state during maintenance (enabling easy lamp replacement). This dynamic connection resolves the contradiction between assembly simplicity and repair ease.
3Loss of substance
If the lamp is replaced independently from the reflector, then the cost and waste are reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the need for a release mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
A release mechanism acts as an intermediary between the lamp assembly and the reflector. This intermediary component enables the separation of the two parts when needed, while maintaining their connection during normal operation. The release mechanism adds minimal complexity compared to the benefits of reflector reuse and waste reduction.
4Loss of energy
If the lamp is positioned at a fixed distance from the reflector, then the energy reflection efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to positioning constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp positioning system is pre-configured to automatically place the lamp at the optimal fixed distance from the reflector during assembly. This preliminary positioning ensures maximum energy reflection efficiency without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms during operation. The positioning constraints are built into the design rather than added as complex control systems.
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
Enables cost-effective maintenance by reusing the reflector with multiple lamps, reducing waste and optimizing energy consumption by maintaining efficient radiation directionality.
Implementation Method 1
arrange a reflector near the tubular bulb to reflect the light radiation back towards the preform
Implementation Method 2
halogen lamps that emit heating electromagnetic radiation, for example infrared radiation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention concerns a heating device (14) comprising; a tubular lamp (16) comprising two free end sections (32); at least one reflector (34) that extends longitudinally at a predefined transverse distance (D) from the lamp (16); two holding members (46) for holding the lamp (16) in a transverse position relative to the reflector (34), each holding member (46) being attached to the reflector (34); characterised in that each free end section (32) of the lamp (16) is removably mounted on each holding member (46) by reversibly interlocking a portion of the free end section (32) of the lamp with a housing (54) of complementary shape in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.