Olympic Torch Flame Holding Body with Catalytic Combustion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Olympic and Paralympic torches with windshield portions to protect flames from wind and rain compromise dramatic impact and increase weight, as they are ineffective against sideways wind and rain, and obstruct the view of the flame.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a flame holding body with a catalyst for catalytic combustion, a gas discharge port with specific mesh openings, and a three-dimensional shape to maintain combustion stability and visibility, eliminating the need for a windshield, and using a dual intake pipe system for optimized gas-air mixtures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a windshield portion is added to protect the flame from wind and rain, then the flame protection is improved, but the weight and size of the torch increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame protectionVSAvoidtorch weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the windshield portion from the torch structure and replaces it with a flame holding body that uses catalytic combustion to maintain flame stability. This extraction eliminates the weight and size issues associated with windshields while preserving flame protection through a different mechanism - the catalytic converter maintains combustion even under wind and rain conditions without requiring physical shielding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a windshield portion is added to protect the flame from wind and rain, then the flame protection is improved, but the dramatic impact of the flame is reduced due to obstruction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame protectionVSAvoidflame visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the windshield portion that obstructed the flame view and replaces it with a flame holding body that provides protection through catalytic combustion rather than physical shielding. This allows the flame to remain fully visible while still being protected from wind and rain, as the catalytic mechanism works without requiring enclosing structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a windshield portion is added to protect the flame from rain from above, then the flame protection from above is improved, but the protection from sideways wind and rain is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame protection from aboveVSAvoidprotection against all wind and rain directions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical windshield structure with a chemical/catalytic system. The flame holding body uses catalytic combustion to maintain flame stability regardless of wind direction or rain intensity. This substitution allows the system to handle all directional wind and rain effects without requiring complex multi-directional shielding structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Illumination intensity

If the gas-air mixture ratio is adjusted for a colored flame, then the dramatic impact is improved, but the flame power is reduced making it vulnerable to extinction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflame color visibilityVSAvoidflame power

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates different combustion zones with different gas-air mixture ratios. The main burner produces a colored flame with reduced power for dramatic effect, while the flame holding body uses a different mixture ratio optimized for stability and resistance to wind and rain. This local differentiation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.

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

The solution ensures the flame is not extinguished by wind or rain, maintains dramatic impact, and reduces the torch's weight and size by eliminating the need for a windshield, while providing enhanced light emission for increased visibility.

Implementation Method 1

the flame holding body includes a catalyst that produces catalytic combustion of gas. Catalytic combustion is an event that occurs when a fuel such as gas acts on a catalyst heated to a predetermined temperature or more

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalytic combustion: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

the flame holding body preferably has a gas discharge port formed by a mesh having openings of 0.01mm or more and 2 mm or less in size. Such a mesh prevents rainwater that may reach the gas discharge port of the flame holding body from entering the gas discharge port, due to the surface tension of the rainwater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Data Source

PatentEP3719386B1torch

Publication Date: 2023.08.16 SHINFUJI BURNER CO LTD

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AI summary

A torch includes a main burner (11) that produces a flame; a flame holding body (12) configured to maintain the combustion state of the main burner (11) if the flame produced by the main burner (11) is about to be extinguished; and a gas supply pipe (13) configured to feed combustion gas from a gas container (17) filled with the combustion gas to the main burner (11) and the flame holding body (12).