Tabletop Fireplace Cavity Design for Steady Flame and Base Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tabletop fireplaces lack a defined airflow system for supplying combustion air, leading to turbulent flames and soot buildup, and the base heats up excessively during prolonged use, posing safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a receiving pot with a cavity below the burner unit, allowing airflow to supply combustion air from below, creating a decorative space that acts as a thermal insulator and prevents heat transfer to the base, while using a protective ring to stabilize the flame and prevent soot formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the base plate is used to house the burner unit directly, then the structure is simple, but the base plate heats up excessively during prolonged use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidbase plate temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The base is segmented into multiple functional components: a base plate for structural support, a receiving pot with cavity for burner housing and airflow, and a decorative space for insulation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while preventing heat accumulation in the base plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving pot acts as an intermediary component between the burner unit and the base plate. It provides a thermal barrier and airflow pathway that prevents direct heat transfer to the base plate, solving the overheating problem while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If no defined airflow system is provided, then the device structure is simple, but turbulence occurs leading to unsteady flame and soot buildup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow system complexityVSAvoidflame stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cavity in the receiving pot is pre-configured to guide airflow from the base plate area up through the burner unit. This preliminary arrangement of airflow paths ensures that combustion air is supplied in an organized manner before reaching the burner, preventing turbulence and soot formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Volume of moving object

If the receiving pot has the same diameter as the glass body, then the structure is compact, but no decorative space is available and thermal insulation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall compactnessVSAvoidthermal insulation performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving pot is designed with a smaller diameter than the glass body, creating a localized decorative space between them. This space is filled with decorative material that provides thermal insulation. The local differentiation in dimensions allows both compactness and insulation performance to coexist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This design results in a steady, soot-free flame and prevents overheating of the base, ensuring safety and maintaining a solid appearance with moderate weight.

Implementation Method 1

a cavity is formed under the receiving pot in which at least predominantly the burner unit is received... air can be guided past the burner unit in such a way that the flame generated by the burner unit is supplied with air from below

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Implementation Method 2

a decorative space is created which can be filled with decorative material and simultaneously serves as a thermal insulator. This allows the receiving pot to reach higher temperatures during operation of the burner unit without these temperatures being transferred to components of the table fireplace

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP4685400A1Tabletop fire
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 EDM ADVISORS GMBH
  • EP4685400A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4685400A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4685400A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a table fireplace (1) for use as a domestic decoration and/or heater, comprising a base (10) and a glass body (11), wherein a burner unit (12) is received in the base (10) and the glass body (11) is placed on the base (11) and encloses the burner unit (12). According to the invention, the base (10) has a receiving pot (13) with an upper receiving plate (13a) and a circumferential wall (13b) extending below it, wherein a cavity (14) is formed under the receiving pot (13) in which the burner unit (12) is received at least predominantly, and wherein a decorative space (15) is formed which extends between the circumferential wall (13b) and the glass body (11) and which is filled with a decorative material (16).