Component of a domestic appliance comprising micro-indentations, pressing tool and manufacturing method for the component
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Solution Overview
Problem
Domestic appliance components made from sheet metal often require embossed structures for stiffness, which can lead to a non-flat surface, making them difficult to clean and increasing material thickness, especially when enameled at high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A regular arrangement of micro-indentations on the sheet metal surface, with depths of at least 40% of the sheet metal thickness, improves stiffness without the need for larger embossed structures, allowing for a smoother surface and reduced thickness, and can be combined with or replace conventional embossed structures for enhanced stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If large embossed structures are provided to increase stiffness, then the component can withstand high temperatures without deformation, but the surface becomes non-flat and difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the traditional large embossed structure into multiple small micro-indentations distributed across the sheet metal surface. Each micro-indentation is dimensioned such that its largest dimension is between 0.1 mm to 5 mm, creating a segmented pattern that collectively provides stiffness enhancement while maintaining surface flatness and cleanability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies micro-indentations with specific dimensional characteristics (depth between 0.01 mm to 0.5 mm, surface dimensions 0.1 mm to 5 mm) to create localized stiffness enhancement. The micro-indentations are arranged in a regular pattern with spacing of 0.5 mm to 10 mm, providing targeted structural reinforcement without affecting the overall surface quality.
2Strength
If large embossed structures are provided to increase stiffness, then the component maintains structural integrity at high temperatures, but the material thickness must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thick material requirements with a segmented pattern of micro-indentations that collectively provide equivalent or superior stiffness. The micro-indentations create a distributed reinforcement pattern that enhances structural integrity without increasing overall material thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the stiffening structure from large-scale embossments to micro-scale indentations with specific dimensional ranges (depth 0.01 mm to 0.5 mm, surface dimension 0.1 mm to 5 mm). This parameter transformation allows stiffness enhancement while maintaining or reducing material thickness.
3Quantity of substance
If the sheet metal thickness is reduced for energy and cost benefits, then production costs decrease, but the component loses stiffness and deforms at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies micro-indentations to the sheet metal surface before the enameling process. This preliminary structuring of the surface creates inherent stiffness that prevents deformation during subsequent high-temperature enameling, allowing use of thinner material without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the material thickness parameter by compensating for reduced thickness through the addition of micro-indentation structures. The cumulative effect of multiple micro-indentations provides equivalent stiffness to thicker material, enabling cost-effective thin-walled designs.
4Shape
If conventional embossed structures are replaced by micro-indentations, then the surface becomes flatter and easier to clean, but the stiffness enhancement mechanism changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stiffness-providing function from large continuous embossed structures into numerous discrete micro-indentations. This segmentation creates a flat overall surface profile while the collective structural effect of all micro-indentations provides the necessary stiffness enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional large embossed features to three-dimensional micro-scale indentations with controlled depth (0.01 mm to 0.5 mm). This dimensional transformation allows the surface to appear flat at macro scale while providing structural reinforcement at micro scale.
Data Source
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AI summary
A component (10) of a domestic appliance, wherein a sheet metal part (12) of the component (10) is formed from a sheet metal (11); characterized in that a regular arrangement of micro-indentations (14) is provided on at least one sheet metal surface (12s1, 12s2) of the sheet metal part (12), each micro-indentation (14) having a depth (d) perpendicular to the sheet metal surface (12s1, 12s2) of not less than 40 % of a sheet metal thickness (t) of the sheet metal part (12) and preferably having dimensions (1, w) along the sheet metal surface (12s1, 12s2) of not more than twice the sheet metal thickness (t), more preferably of not more than once the sheet metal thickness (t).