Vapor Heating Composition for Stable Start-Up and Endurance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vapor heating implements face challenges in the start-up and endurance of vapor generation, as they struggle to maintain optimal water content and exothermic performance.

Innovation Solution

A vapor heating implement is designed with a heating unit comprising an exothermic layer containing an oxidizable metal, water, and a water-retention agent, along with a water-retention sheet, where the water content is optimized between 40-80 parts by mass for the metal, and the water-retention agent content is between 0.3-20 parts by mass, ensuring efficient heat generation and vapor production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If water content is increased to improve vapor generation, then vapor quantity increases, but heat generation efficiency decreases and endurance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevapor quantityVSAvoidendurance of vapor heating
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the water content parameter to a specific range (40-80 parts by mass per 100 parts of oxidizable metal) to achieve the best balance between vapor generation quantity and endurance. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the precise value that maximizes both vapor output and heating duration without excessive water that would reduce heat generation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If water-retention agent content is increased to maintain water content, then vapor generation endurance improves, but heat generation rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevapor generation enduranceVSAvoidheat generation rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies the water-retention agent content within a precise range (0.3-20 parts by mass per 100 parts of oxidizable metal) to balance water retention capability with heat generation rate. This parameter control ensures sufficient water is retained for extended vapor generation while preventing excessive water retention that would suppress the exothermic reaction and reduce heat generation power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If exothermic composition is optimized for heat generation, then heat generation rate increases, but water content control becomes difficult reducing vapor generation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat generation rateVSAvoidvapor generation quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The water-retention sheet acts as an intermediary component that regulates water content in the exothermic composition. It maintains optimal water levels during the exothermic reaction, ensuring both high heat generation rate and sufficient vapor generation quantity by mediating between the oxidizable metal and the surrounding environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the water content parameter in the exothermic composition to a specific range (8-45 parts by mass per 100 parts of oxidizable metal) to achieve simultaneous improvement in heat generation rate and vapor generation quantity, resolving the contradiction through precise parameter control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 optimized composition achieves exothermic temperatures between 38-70°C, with a sufficient quantity of vapor generation, enhancing both the heat generation rate and the endurance of the vapor heating process.

Implementation Method 1

an exothermic layer having an exothermic composition and a water-retention sheet, wherein the exothermic composition containing an oxidizable metal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

heat generation rate and the endurance of the vapor heating process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExothermic reaction: Exothermic Reaction

Implementation Method 3

a water-retention sheet containing a polymer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 4

water-retention sheet that is disposed to be adjacent to the unit for generating vapor heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 5

sufficient quantity of vapor generation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 6

moist heat is useful in more effectively transferring heat to the human body, as compared with dry heat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2796117B1Vapor heating implement
Publication Date: 2016.11.09 KAO CORP
  • EP2796117B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2796117B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2796117B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A vapor heating implement satisfies: (A) the content of water in the heating implement is equal to or higher than 40 parts by mass and is equal to or lower than 80 parts by mass for 100 parts by mass of the oxidizable metal; (B) the content of the water-retention agent in the exothermic composition is equal to or higher than 0.3 parts by mass and is equal to or lower than 20 parts by mass for 100 parts by mass of the oxidizable metal; (C) the content of water contained in the exothermic layer (121A) is equal to or higher than 8 parts by mass and is equal to or lower than 45 parts by mass for 100 parts by mass of the oxidizable metal; and (D) the content of water contained in the water-retention sheet (121C) is from 15 to 30 mass% of the maximum water absorption of the water-retention sheet.