Terminal Block Air-Cooling Passage for Electric Range Heat Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric cooking ranges face challenges in effectively managing heat dissipation and protecting electrical components from high temperatures, leading to potential damage and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a spacer bracket with a passageway that draws air from a gap between the mounting feet and the bottom panel, directing it upward to cool the electrical terminal block and wires, preventing overheating and ensuring continuous airflow for heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the terminal block is positioned behind the back panel near the heating elements, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but the terminal block is exposed to high temperatures causing overheating and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
A bracket with a passageway is introduced as an intermediary structure between the terminal block and the hot environment. The passageway allows cooling air to flow through and around the terminal block, acting as a thermal mediator that protects the electrical component from direct exposure to high temperatures while maintaining its functional positioning behind the back panel
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal block is extracted from the direct high-temperature zone by positioning it within the bracket structure that has a dedicated passageway for cool air flow. This separates the terminal block from the harmful thermal environment of the heating elements while maintaining electrical connectivity
2Temperature
If cooling air flow is established through the bracket passageway, then terminal block cooling is achieved, but additional structural components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the terminal block, creates a protective enclosure, and incorporates a passageway for cooling air flow. By combining support and cooling functions into a single component, the design reduces overall system complexity despite adding cooling capability
3Quantity of substance
If the bottom panel is spaced apart from mounting feet to create a gap, then air intake for cooling is enabled, but the lower frame structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lower frame is segmented into mounting feet and a bottom panel that are spaced apart to create cooling gaps. This segmentation allows cool air to be drawn in from below while maintaining structural integrity and simplifying the overall frame design compared to a fully enclosed structure
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 solution effectively cools the electrical components, preventing damage from high temperatures and maintaining the efficiency of the cooking range by ensuring a continuous supply of cooling air, thereby extending the lifespan of the electrical components and improving operational performance.
Implementation Method 1
air is drawn from the gap into the passageway and advanced upwardly along the passageway
Data Source
AI summary
An electric cooking range includes an oven having an electric baking element and a back panel positioned behind the oven. A spacer bracket is positioned between the back panel and an electrical terminal block. A bottom panel is positioned below the bracket and spaced apart from a number of mounting feet so as to create a gap between the bottom panel and the mounting feet. The bracket has a passageway positioned over an opening formed in the bottom panel such that when the baking element is energized, air from the gap is drawn into the passageway and advanced upwardly along the passageway.