Tealight Cup Base with Radial Grooves for Tilt Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tealight cups with non-flat bases often cause tealights to tilt, leading to inefficient burning as the melted flammable mass concentrates at the lowest point, resulting in early extinguishing of the flame when the tealight is positioned inclined.
Innovation Solution
A tealight cup design featuring a flat central area with bulges around it, connected by radial grooves to the outer edge, which maintains a higher level of melted flammable mass and prevents concentration at the lowest point, ensuring consistent burning even when tilted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the base of the tealight cup is made non-flat (conical or with depressions) to facilitate flow of melted flammable mass towards the wick, then the burning efficiency is improved, but the tealight becomes unstable when positioned on an inclined surface, causing the flame to extinguish prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into multiple functional zones: a flat central area for stability, circumferential grooves for mass collection, and radial channels for directed flow. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function, resolving the contradiction between facilitating mass flow and maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the base have different geometric properties tailored to their functions: the central area is flat and elevated for stability, while the circumferential regions have grooves and channels to guide mass flow. This local differentiation allows the base to simultaneously provide stability and facilitate flow.
2Shape
If the cup is tilted on an uneven surface, then the melted flammable mass concentrates at the lowest point, but this causes loss of contact between the wick and the flammable mass, leading to early extinguishing
Solution Approach 1:
The flat central area creates an equipotential zone where the wick remains in constant contact with the flammable mass regardless of the cup's orientation. The radial channels ensure that mass flows into this central zone from all directions, maintaining the burning process even when tilted.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial channels act as intermediaries that transport the melted flammable mass from the circumferential grooves to the central flat area where the wick is located. This intermediary structure ensures continuous supply of fuel to the wick even when the cup is inclined.
3Productivity
If shallow radial grooves are formed in the base to guide flammable mass to the wick, then the burning efficiency is improved, but the grooves occupy volume that could be used for storing flammable mass
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into storage zones (circumferential grooves) and transport zones (radial channels). The grooves provide substantial storage volume, while the channels are minimized to essential pathways, optimizing the balance between storage capacity and flow guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions have different depths and functions: the circumferential grooves are deeper for mass storage, while the radial channels are shallower for flow guidance. This local differentiation maximizes storage volume while maintaining effective mass transport.
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 design ensures efficient use of flammable mass and prevents premature extinguishing by maintaining a higher level of liquid in the central area, where the wick is located, enhancing burning parameters and stability.
Implementation Method 1
The radial grooves serve to guide the flammable mass from the outer edge of the base to the central depression where a wick is secured
Implementation Method 2
The cap and the recess are shaped so that, between the surface of the cap and the recess there is formed a capillary gap, through which the melted flammable mass flows towards a wick
Data Source
AI summary
A tealight cup for holding a combustible candle has a a side wall, a base with a flat central area, at least two bulges positioned around the flat central area, wherein the bulges have a height (h) of at least 10% of the height (H) of the side wall and are positioned around the flat central area circumferentially along a common circumference and have a total volume equal to at least 10% of the volume of the part of the cup from the base to the height (h) of the bulges.