Shape-Memory Oven Gasket for High-Temperature Door Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional oven gaskets fail to maintain a seal between the oven door and body at high temperatures, leading to heat and gas loss due to door expansion and reduced resilience over time, especially during self-cleaning cycles.

Innovation Solution

An oven gasket with an inner layer made of shape memory alloy that expands when heated to maintain compression and seal between the door and oven body, and contracts upon cooling, ensuring a consistent seal even during high-temperature operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional gasket is used to seal the gap between the door and oven body, then the gasket provides initial sealing, but the gasket loses compression and sealing effectiveness when the door expands at high temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidadaptation to door expansion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket incorporates a shape memory alloy layer that changes its physical parameters (expansion/contraction) in response to temperature changes. When heated during self-cleaning cycles, the shape memory alloy expands to compensate for door expansion, maintaining continuous compression and sealing effectiveness throughout the temperature cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The gasket is constructed as a composite structure with multiple layers including a shape memory alloy layer combined with other materials. This composite construction allows the gasket to exhibit both the compliance needed for initial sealing and the thermal expansion characteristics needed to maintain sealing at high temperatures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the gasket is compressed to maintain seal, then sealing is improved, but the gasket resiliency decreases over time due to creep

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidgasket lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The shape memory alloy layer automatically recovers its compressed state after thermal cycling by expanding when heated and contracting when cooled. This self-recovery mechanism eliminates the need for manual replacement and compensates for creep deformation that would otherwise accumulate over time, extending the gasket's service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The gasket utilizes periodic thermal cycling during oven operation (particularly self-cleaning cycles) to activate the shape memory alloy's expansion and contraction. This periodic action allows the gasket to repeatedly recover from compression and maintain resiliency throughout its operational lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If the door is latched during self-cleaning cycles, then the door remains closed, but door expansion creates gaps that compromise the seal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor closure during cleaningVSAvoidseal integrity at high temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is designed to utilize thermal expansion of the shape memory alloy layer to compensate for door expansion. As the door and gasket heat up during self-cleaning, the shape memory alloy expands at a rate that maintains continuous contact and sealing pressure, preventing gap formation despite door movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

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 gasket effectively maintains a tight seal during high-temperature operations, preventing heat and gas loss and extending its lifespan by adapting to the door's expansion, thus improving the overall sealing performance.

Implementation Method 1

The gasket includes an inner layer made of shape memory alloy that expands when heated to maintain compression and seal between the door and oven body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory alloy expansion: Shape Memory Alloy

Implementation Method 2

the inner layer comprising a shape memory alloy configured to expand with heating so as maintain a seal between the door and the oven body as the door expands from such heating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 3

The inner layer is also configured to contract with cooling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory alloy contraction: Shape Memory Alloy

Data Source

PatentUS9377203B2Expanding oven gasket for an oven appliance

Publication Date: 2016.06.28 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

An oven gasket is provided for improved sealing between the door and oven body of an oven appliance as the oven is heated. The oven gasket expands when heated so as to help improve sealing. The expansion of the gasket provides additional compression of the gasket and closes gaps that might otherwise form due to expansion of the oven door as the oven heats. The gasket can be effective even at high temperature oven operation such as e.g., during a cleaning cycle.