Self-Heating Container Structure for Uniform Long-Lasting Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-heating containers fail to maintain a consistent elevated temperature for an extended duration, often result in uneven heating, and pose challenges in heating depilatory waxes without contamination, especially in outdoor or emergency situations where access to heating equipment is limited.
Innovation Solution
The development of an instant self-heating container design featuring a nested shell structure with a target container and an activator container, where an exothermic reaction is triggered by a piercer, using a reactant and activator to heat contents uniformly and maintain temperature for an extended period, and a disposable depilatory wax dispenser with a controlled exothermic reaction for safe and efficient wax application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external heating means (microwaves, stoves, electricity) are used to heat beverages and food, then the heating effect is reliable, but access to heating equipment is required which limits outdoor or emergency use
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-heating by containing all necessary heating components (reactant, activator, reaction chamber) within the beverage container itself, eliminating the need for external heating equipment and enabling use in outdoor or emergency situations
2Loss of energy
If bulk wax is heated in a container for multiple applications, then the heating cost is reduced, but contamination from double dipping occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a disposable single-use container that is discarded after one application, eliminating contamination risks from double-dipping while the small size ensures rapid heating and the disposable nature prevents cross-contamination between customers
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a small single-use container is used for depilatory wax, then contamination is prevented, but the heating time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into separate compartments (beverage chamber, reaction chamber, activator chamber) that allow the heating reaction to occur independently and rapidly, enabling small single-use containers to be heated quickly without contamination risks
4Speed
If quick-lime and water reaction is used for instant heating, then heated contents are available quickly, but the reaction completes very quickly causing contents to cool down
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters of the exothermic reaction by using different reactant-activator combinations and controlling reaction conditions to extend the duration of heat generation while maintaining rapid initial heating, allowing contents to remain hot for an extended period
5Speed
If quick-lime exothermic reaction is used for heating, then instant hot contents are achieved, but the reaction is extremely hot causing dangerous temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The system modifies the reaction parameters by selecting reactant and activator combinations that produce a controlled exothermic reaction with lower peak temperatures, and by designing the reaction chamber to distribute heat evenly, preventing dangerous overheating while maintaining fast heating
6Speed
If quick-lime and water combination is used for instant heating, then heated contents are produced quickly, but the hot slurry can leak out causing burns
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into separate sealed chambers (reactant chamber, activator chamber, beverage chamber) that prevent mixing and leakage of the reaction slurry, allowing rapid exothermic heating without the risk of hot material leaking out and causing burns
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 solution provides a long-lasting, uniform heating solution for beverages and foods, ensuring the hottest contents are dispensed first, while maintaining the temperature for an extended period, and addresses contamination concerns in depilatory wax applications by ensuring rapid and safe heating in a single-use container.
Implementation Method 1
A reactant is disposed in the reaction chamber and a piercer is disposed in the activator container of the first shell. When the piercer is actuated, such as by pushing it down by a user, the bottom of the activator container is pierced thereby placing the activator container in fluid communication with the activator receiving chamber and into the reaction chamber, where the activator combines with the reactant thereby causing an exothermic reaction in the reaction chamber that heats contents to be heated in the target container.
Implementation Method 2
The second shell includes a reaction chamber nested with the target container and an activator receiving chamber nested with the activator container and in fluid communication with the reaction chamber.
Data Source
AI summary
Instant self-heating containers include a combinable reactant and activator used to generate an exothermic reaction for heating contents of the container. One instant self-heating container includes a target container, a pierceable activator container and a reaction chamber. Piercing the activator container causes activator to combine with the reactant and cause an exothermic reaction that heats the target container. The container may be used as depilatory wax dispenser. Another instant self-heating container includes an outer housing containing a contents pouch and a reactant, and capped by a lid having an activator chamber. Rupturing the activator chamber allows activator to combine with the reactant in an exothermic reaction to heat the contents pouch. Another instant self-heating container includes a flexible outer tube containing contents to be heated, a flexible reaction vessel, and a frangible activator vessel. Bending the outer tube causes the activator vessel to rupture and cause an exothermic reaction.