Spiral Heater Ventilation Fan Layout for Rapid Bathroom Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilation fan units with heaters have a weak heating effect due to their structure and location, leading to inadequate rapid heating in bathrooms.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation fan unit with a snail-shaped casing and a spiral heater positioned parallel to the circulating fan's rotation axis, combined with an air guiding plate and temperature protection devices, to enhance heat exchange and airflow heating efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional heater structure is used in the ventilation fan unit, then the device complexity is reduced, but the heating effect is weak and rapid heating cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spiral-shaped heater and a snail-shaped casing instead of conventional straight or simple curved structures. The spiral configuration increases the heater surface area and optimizes airflow heating efficiency, enabling rapid heating while maintaining a compact form factor that integrates well within the ventilation unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the spiral heater in a three-dimensional arrangement within the snail-shaped casing, utilizing spatial optimization to maximize heat exchange efficiency. The heater is arranged parallel to the circulating fan's rotation axis, creating an efficient heating zone that rapidly warms airflow without requiring additional device complexity.
2Productivity
If the heater is positioned in a conventional location within the frame, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the heating effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into distinct functional components: the spiral heater element, the snail-shaped casing, and the air guiding plate. This segmentation allows for modular assembly where each component can be manufactured separately and then assembled together, improving ease of manufacture while achieving effective heating through optimized component placement and configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The snail-shaped casing acts as an intermediary structure between the spiral heater and the airflow path. It guides and concentrates airflow through the heating zone, ensuring efficient heat transfer from the heater to the air, thereby improving heating effectiveness without complicating the overall assembly process.
3Productivity
If airflow is generated without sufficient heating, then the productivity of air circulation is improved, but cold airflow causes user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral heater is positioned upstream in the airflow path, performing preliminary heating action on the air before it reaches the user area. The snail-shaped casing ensures that airflow is directed through the heating zone, guaranteeing that air circulation is maintained while preventing cold airflow discomfort by pre-heating the air in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating function is concentrated in a specific localized zone created by the spiral heater and snail-shaped casing configuration. This local quality enhancement ensures that the airflow is heated effectively in the heating zone while maintaining high circulation efficiency, preventing cold airflow from reaching the user area.
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 rapid and uniform heating of air, preventing cold airflow and ensuring user comfort by improving heat exchange and incorporating safety features like temperature protection and adjustable airflow.
Implementation Method 1
a heating portion including a spiral heater mounted at the air exit of the snail-shaped casing
Implementation Method 2
The circulating fan 400 generates airflow toward the third portion 50 having the heater 500... the air is exhaled via the air outlet 21 after the air is heated
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilation fan unit with a heater, including: a frame with an opening provided at the underside of the frame; a cover having an air outlet and an air inlet provided at the opening of the frame; a snail-shaped casing with an air exit provided in the frame; a circulating fan enclosed in the snail-shaped casing; and a heating portion including a spiral heater mounted at the air exit of the snail-shaped casing, wherein the heating portion is communicated with the circulating fan through the air exit, wherein an axis of a spiral shape of the heater is in parallel with a rotation axis of the circulating fan, wherein the rotation axis of the circulating fan is located obliquely above the axis of the spiral shape of the heater.