Heating device comprising a housing for a thermal cell

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern heating devices often have complex internal arrangements where all components, including heat generators, are housed in a single hermetically sealed unit, making them less efficient in terms of insulation and accessibility, and operationally cumbersome, especially in tight spaces.

Innovation Solution

The design separates the heat cell from other components, housing it in a sealed unit within the heater, allowing only the heat cell to be hermetically sealed, while other components are housed in a less sealed, more accessible compartment, with a locking mechanism for easy operation and improved insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all components are housed in a single hermetically sealed unit, then the housing provides comprehensive protection, but insulation efficiency deteriorates and component accessibility worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing protectionVSAvoidinsulation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first housing part that remains permanently connected to the heating device and a second housing part that can be connected and disconnected. This segmentation allows the heat cell to be isolated in a sealed environment for protection while other components remain accessible, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive protection and insulation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If all components are housed in a single hermetically sealed unit, then the housing provides comprehensive protection, but component accessibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing protectionVSAvoidcomponent accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first housing part that remains permanently connected to the heating device and a second housing part that can be connected and disconnected. This segmentation allows the heat cell to be isolated in a sealed environment for protection while other components remain accessible, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive protection and component accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the housing is operated in tight spaces, then the device can be installed in confined locations, but operational convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidoperational convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The second housing part can be removed horizontally from the first housing part, changing the operational dimension from vertical manipulation to horizontal removal. This allows the housing to be operated in tight spaces where vertical access is limited, while maintaining ease of operation through simple horizontal detachment.

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

4Ease of repair

If the housing is designed for easy disassembly, then maintenance accessibility improves, but structural stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is pre-configured with locking elements that automatically engage when the second housing part is attached to the first housing part. This preliminary arrangement of locking elements ensures that the housing maintains structural stability during operation while allowing easy disassembly for maintenance by simply disengaging the locking mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3268676B1Heating device comprising a housing for a thermal cell
Publication Date: 2020.09.16 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3268676B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3268676B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3268676B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a housing (42) for a thermal cell (16), comprising a fan (32), a burner (28), a heat exchanger (30) and at least one exhaust manifold. The invention further relates to a heating device (10) comprising at least one housing (42) according to the invention.