Vacuum heat-insulating container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum heat-insulating containers fail to fully exhibit their heat insulation properties and are prone to damage due to thermal expansion differences between the inner and outer cylinders, leading to joint breakage when integrally joined at the opening.
Innovation Solution
The container design features an outer cylinder with a first annular wall and an inner cylinder with a second annular wall, both facing each other, with an elastic sealing member made of low heat transfer material, positioned between them to prevent heat conduction and accommodate thermal expansion without damage, and optional restraining members to maintain clearance and reduce friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the inner cylinder and outer cylinder are integrally joined together at the opening, then the structural strength is improved, but heat conduction from the inner cylinder to the outer cylinder occurs, reducing heat insulation performance
Solution Approach 1:
An annular sealing member made of elastic body with low heat transfer coefficient is introduced as an intermediary between the inner and outer cylinders. This sealing member prevents direct thermal conduction while maintaining the sealed connection, thus resolving the contradiction between structural strength and heat insulation performance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the inner cylinder and outer cylinder are integrally joined together at the opening, then the structural integrity is improved, but thermal expansion differences cause breakage of the joint part, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed with elastic properties that allow it to change its physical parameters (shape, volume) in response to thermal expansion. This enables the joint to accommodate dimensional changes of the inner cylinder without breakage, maintaining reliability under thermal stress while preserving structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member is designed as a dynamic component that can elastically deform to accommodate thermal expansion differences between the inner and outer cylinders. This dynamic adaptation prevents breakage of the joint part while maintaining structural integrity under varying temperature conditions.
3Loss of energy
If a sealing member made of low heat transfer material is used between the inner and outer cylinders, then heat insulation performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The annular sealing member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides heat insulation, seals the vacuum space, and accommodates thermal expansion. This multi-functionality improves heat insulation performance while avoiding the need for additional separate components, thus not increasing device complexity.
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 enhances heat insulation by preventing heat transfer and deformation of the sealing member under thermal stress, thereby maintaining the integrity of the joint and improving the container's thermal management capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing member is made of a material having a lower coefficient of heat transfer than the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder... the heat of the inner cylinder can be prevented from being conducted to the outer cylinder
Implementation Method 2
When the inner cylinder undergoes thermal expansion and the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder moves toward radially outside... the sealing member elastically deforms, and is therefore not damaged
Implementation Method 3
The sealing member is made of an elastic body... being made of an elastic body, the sealing member elastically deforms, and is therefore not damaged, under the shear stress exerted thereon
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a vacuum heat-insulating container (1) including an outer cylinder (2) having a bottom and an inner cylinder (3) having a bottom and disposed inside the outer cylinder (2), with a vacuum space (8) formed between the outer cylinder (2) and the inner cylinder (3). The inner cylinder (3) and the outer cylinder (2) are disposed such that an opening plane (3d) of the inner cylinder (3) is located outward of an opening plane (2d) of the outer cylinder (2). The outer cylinder (2) has a first annular wall (2e). The inner cylinder (3) has a second annular wall (3e). The vacuum heat-insulating container (1) further includes an annular sealing member (5) that is made of an elastic body having a lower coefficient of heat transfer than the outer cylinder (2) and the inner cylinder (3), and that is squeezed between the first annular wall (2e) and the second annular wall (3e) so as to seal the vacuum space (8).