A spoiler type temperature monitoring module and method suitable for use in a refrigeration appliance

Abstract

This invention relates to a turbulence-type temperature monitoring module and method suitable for refrigeration equipment. The module includes a long strip-shaped shell with an air outlet slot and a fan shroud on its lower surface. A fan and a sweeping mechanism are installed within the slot. Multiple through holes are distributed along the length of the shell's side, housing temperature and flow rate sensors. The air outlet slot and through holes are connected by a slot, with a movable baffle and a reset elastic element at the slot. The sweeping mechanism can adjust the position of the baffle by squeezing it. The control unit operates in two modes: in anti-direct-blow mode, the sweeping mechanism presses the baffle at a fixed angle to open the slot, the fan runs at low speed to create weak convection, and the temperature sensor monitors abnormal trends; in diagnostic mode, the sweeping mechanism swings to release the baffle and reset the slot, the fan speeds up and sweeps, and after the flow rate reaches the standard, multi-point sampling is triggered to diagnose abnormalities based on spatial distribution. Mode switching is achieved through mechanical linkage, and flow rate triggering ensures sampling effectiveness. It combines space-friendly design with blind-zone monitoring capabilities, making it suitable for installation in refrigeration equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of smart retail technology, and more specifically, to a turbulent temperature monitoring module suitable for refrigeration equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In retail settings such as large supermarkets, temperature control of refrigeration equipment is a crucial aspect. The following are some critical flaws in currently commonly used solutions:

[0003] 1. Single-point / few-point sensor solution: Install 1-2 temperature sensors on the top or side wall of the refrigerator compartment. Due to the obstruction of items, natural stratification of cold air, and disturbance from opening the door, it is difficult to reflect the true temperature of the obstructed area or the far end, often resulting in the situation of "normal display, but internal deterioration".

[0004] 2. Multi-sensor array solution: While deploying multiple temperature probes within the space improves coverage, it results in complex wiring, occupies valuable space, and since the sensors themselves do not alter the airflow distribution, temperature differences caused by stagnant air layers can still lead to measurement distortion. Furthermore, multi-point wired connections increase installation difficulty and failure rate, hindering future additions.

[0005] 3. Fan circulation + temperature measurement solution: Some high-end refrigerators use forced convection fans, which improves temperature uniformity, but cannot determine when convection is sufficient and sampling is effective. Furthermore, continuous strong winds may accelerate the loss of water from fruits and vegetables, and there is a lack of protection mechanisms for items that are susceptible to direct wind.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a temperature monitoring solution that occupies little space, can actively disturb airflow, can reliably judge the penetration effect, and can be flexibly installed, in order to solve the problems of blind spots and layering errors, while also taking into account the protection needs of items that are susceptible to direct airflow. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a turbulent temperature monitoring module suitable for refrigeration equipment, in view of the above-mentioned defects of the prior art.

[0008] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve its technical problem is:

[0009] A turbulence-type temperature monitoring module suitable for refrigeration equipment is constructed, comprising a long strip-shaped housing installed along the length of the inner top of the refrigeration space;

[0010] It also includes an air outlet slot and a wind hood located on the lower surface of the housing. A fan and a sweeping mechanism are installed within the air outlet slot. The sweeping mechanism drives the air outlet to oscillate downwards and left and right. The wind hood separates the lower area and the side area of ​​the housing. Multiple transverse through-holes are distributed along the length of the side of the housing. Each through-hole contains a temperature sensor, and any one of the through-holes contains a flow rate sensor. The air outlet slot communicates with the multiple through-holes via a slot. A movable baffle and a return spring for resetting the movable baffle are slidably installed at the slot. The movable baffle has a through-slot. The sweeping mechanism also adjusts the position of the movable baffle by pressing it.

[0011] The housing houses a control unit, which is connected to the fan, the air-sweeping mechanism, the flow rate sensor, and the temperature sensor. The control unit is configured to execute a diagnostic mode and an anti-direct-blow mode triggered by flow rate feedback.

[0012] In the anti-direct-blow mode, the air-sweeping mechanism maintains a fixed angle. At this time, the air-sweeping mechanism squeezes the movable baffle to open the slot and makes the control fan run at the first wind speed, generating only a weak convection that is sufficient to disturb the airflow in the upper part of the cold storage area but does not blow directly onto sensitive goods; the temperature sensor performs periodic temperature monitoring, and when an abnormal temperature trend is detected, it switches to a diagnostic mode with a higher wind speed.

[0013] In diagnostic mode, the air-sweeping mechanism remains in an oscillating state, contacting the movable baffle. The movable baffle is reset and closes the slot under the action of the return spring. The fan speed is controlled to gradually increase from the first speed to the second speed, and the air-sweeping mechanism performs downward air sweeping. When the airflow intensity detected by the flow velocity sensor reaches the preset effective threshold, the multi-point temperature sensor array is triggered to sample and obtain spatial temperature distribution data to diagnose abnormal locations.

[0014] The monitoring module of the present invention includes a sweeping mechanism comprising multiple crossbars, multiple air guide vanes, a linkage network, and a driving mechanism disposed at the opening of the air outlet slot. The lower end of the air guide vane is hinged to the crossbars, and the upper end is hinged to the linkage network frame. The driving mechanism is used to drive the linkage network frame to move laterally.

[0015] The monitoring module of the present invention includes two transverse guide rails in the air outlet slot, and a guide rail slidably connected to the linkage frame at the lower end of the guide rails; the driving mechanism includes a drive motor mounted on the guide rails, and a longitudinal cam is provided at the movable end of the drive motor. The cam includes a first protrusion that pushes the movable baffle and a second protrusion that drives the linkage frame to move.

[0016] In the monitoring module of the present invention, the movable baffle, the fan and the linkage frame are arranged sequentially from top to bottom; the fan is mounted on the guide rail plate, with the air inlet direction facing the movable baffle and the air outlet direction facing the inner wall of the air outlet slot.

[0017] The monitoring module of the present invention comprises a wind shield consisting of four oblique air guide plates arranged in a ring.

[0018] A method for monitoring temperature in a cold storage space using the above-mentioned monitoring module, comprising:

[0019] In the anti-direct-blow mode, it operates with low wind speed and limited air sweeping, and uses a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature trend of the cold storage area.

[0020] When a local temperature deviation or an overall heating rate exceeding a set threshold is detected, switch to diagnostic mode;

[0021] In diagnostic mode, the fan speed is increased and the sweep range is expanded, and the lateral backflow intensity is detected by the through-hole flow velocity sensor; when the airflow intensity reaches the preset effective threshold, the multi-point temperature sensor array is triggered to sample.

[0022] Identify anomalous areas that are blocked or far from the cold source based on spatial temperature distribution.

[0023] The method of the present invention, wherein the step of operating at low wind speed and limited sweeping, and monitoring the temperature trend of the cold storage area using a temperature sensor, includes:

[0024] The control cam rotates to the anti-direct-blow fixed angle, so that the first protrusion presses the movable baffle to open the slot, while the second protrusion stops the air guide vane at the preset initial angle;

[0025] The fan is controlled to run at the first wind speed, and part of the airflow is diverted through the slot to the through-hole area to form a weak convection but avoids blowing directly on the goods below;

[0026] The temperature sensor samples in the first cycle and calculates the rate of temperature change at each point and the temperature difference between adjacent sensors.

[0027] The method of the present invention, wherein switching to diagnostic mode when a local temperature deviation or an overall heating rate exceeding a set threshold is detected includes:

[0028] When the temperature change rate of any sensor exceeds the first threshold, or when the temperature difference continues to increase for multiple consecutive cycles, an abnormal trend is determined, and the system switches to diagnostic mode.

[0029] The method of the present invention, wherein increasing the fan speed and expanding the sweeping range, and detecting the lateral backflow intensity through a through-hole flow velocity sensor, includes:

[0030] The control cam rotates continuously, the first protrusion disengages from the movable baffle, and the return spring closes the baffle in the slot; the second protrusion drives the linkage frame to move back and forth horizontally, causing the air guide vane to swing left and right to sweep air.

[0031] Control the fan speed to gradually increase from the first speed to the second speed, and increase it step by step, with each step running stably for at least 3-5 seconds;

[0032] The flow velocity at each point is collected in real time by the flow velocity sensor at the through hole, and the average or minimum flow velocity at the current sweeping angle is calculated.

[0033] When the average flow velocity reaches the preset effective threshold and lasts for 2-3 seconds, it is determined that the convection has fully penetrated and triggers synchronous sampling of the multi-point temperature sensor array.

[0034] The method of the present invention, wherein identifying abnormal areas that are blocked or far from the cold source based on spatial temperature distribution includes:

[0035] Based on the sampled data, the spatial temperature gradient and local deviation are calculated. If the temperature in a certain area deviates from the overall average by more than the set tolerance, it is determined that there is a local anomaly at that location.

[0036] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0037] 1. Actively eliminate blind spots: Through the sweeping turbulence and flow velocity triggering mechanism, ensure that the convection has sufficiently penetrated the obstruction area during sampling, and solve the measurement distortion problem caused by the static air layer and dead angle.

[0038] 2. Adaptive Mode: The anti-direct-blow mode features a slotted design to create an air circulation channel, allowing for pressure relief and minimal disturbance to protect items susceptible to direct airflow; the diagnostic mode features a closed slot to enhance penetration and achieve precise positioning, balancing preservation and monitoring reliability.

[0039] 3. High efficiency through mechanical linkage: A single motor synchronously controls the air sweeping and baffle opening and closing via a cam, simplifying the drive structure, improving the reliability of the action, and reducing the complexity of control.

[0040] 4. Space-friendly and easy to deploy: The top-mounted elongated design does not occupy the effective volume of the shelves, and the wireless independent power supply makes it easy to retrofit existing refrigeration equipment at low cost.

[0041] 5. Fault diagnosis is possible: The flow rate feedback is used to determine the airflow sealing performance, and the hardware status is incorporated into the monitoring system to improve system maintainability. Attached Figure Description

[0042] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort:

[0043] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of a turbulent temperature monitoring module suitable for refrigeration equipment in a refrigeration space, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view along the width of a turbulence-type temperature monitoring module suitable for refrigeration equipment, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0045] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, a clear and complete description will be provided below in conjunction with the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0046] Example 1:

[0047] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a turbulence-type temperature monitoring module suitable for refrigeration equipment includes a long strip-shaped housing 1. The housing 1 is detachably installed in the front area of ​​the top of the refrigeration space 2 by means of magnetic attraction or snap-fit ​​structure, and is arranged along the length of the refrigeration compartment. The housing 1 is made of food-grade plastic in one piece, and the interior is a hollow cavity to accommodate the control unit, power supply and wiring.

[0048] The lower surface of the housing 1 is provided with a downwardly recessed air outlet groove 101, and a slot 113 communicating with it is provided above the air outlet groove 101; a fan 103 is fixed in the air outlet groove 101. The fan 103 is a low-voltage DC fan with a power between 0.5-2W to meet the requirements of low noise and low energy consumption; the wind shroud 102 is connected to the outer periphery of the air outlet groove 101 and is composed of multiple oblique air guide plates spliced ​​in a ring to form a downward and outward expanding flared structure; the lower edge of the wind shroud 102 is lower than the lower edge of the through hole 104, thereby physically isolating the downward main jet from the side through hole area and preventing high-speed airflow from directly scouring the through hole 104;

[0049] The air-sweeping mechanism is located in front of the opening of the air outlet slot 101 and includes multiple parallel crossbars 105, multiple air guide vanes 106, a linkage frame 107, and a drive mechanism. The crossbars 105 are fixed at the opening of the air outlet slot 101. The air guide vanes 106 are long strip-shaped thin plates, with their lower ends hinged to the crossbars 105 one-to-one via rotating rings, and their upper ends hinged to the linkage frame 107 via rotating rings (both hinge positions have a certain amount of room for movement), allowing the air guide vanes 106 to swing around the lower hinge point. Two guide rail plates 108 are arranged along the length direction inside the air outlet slot 101. The guide rail plates 108 are perpendicular to the crossbars 105, and the lower surface of the guide rail plates 108 is machined with sliding guide rails 109. The two ends of the linkage frame 107 are slidably engaged with the guide rails 109 and can move laterally under the guidance of the guide rails 109.

[0050] The drive mechanism includes a drive motor and a cam 111; the motor is fixedly mounted on one end of the guide rail plate 108, and the cam 111 is fixed on the output shaft of the motor and arranged longitudinally; the outer contour of the cam 111 includes a first protrusion 111a and a second protrusion 111b with different heights: the first protrusion 111a is used to press the movable baffle 112 at a specific angle, and the second protrusion 111b is used to drive the linkage frame 107;

[0051] The slot 113 is formed on the upper side wall of the air outlet slot 101, connecting the air outlet slot 101 with the side area where the through hole 104 is located; the movable baffle 112 is a plate-shaped structure, and a through slot 1120 is provided on the movable baffle 112 for opening and closing the slot 113. It is slidably installed at the opening of the slot 113, and the reset elastic element 114 is provided at its end to provide the torque for the movable baffle 112 to normally close the slot 113; the movable baffle 112, the fan 103 and the linkage frame 107 are distributed from top to bottom. The fan 103 is installed on the guide rail plate 108, with its air inlet direction facing the movable baffle 112 and its air outlet direction facing the rear inner wall of the air outlet slot 101, so that the airflow is turned backward and discharged downward in the slot, reducing the direct impact on the movable baffle 112;

[0052] The side of the housing 1 has multiple transverse through holes 104 spaced apart along its length. The axis of the through holes 104 is approximately horizontal or slightly inclined downward. A temperature sensor 115 is installed in each through hole 104, and a flow rate sensor 116 is also installed in at least one through hole 104. The temperature sensor 115 can be an NTC or PT1000, and the flow rate sensor 116 can be a hot-film or miniature differential pressure type. The sensitive areas of the temperature sensor 115 and the flow rate sensor 116 in the same through hole 104 are closely adjacent in the axial direction, with a spacing of less than 5 mm, to ensure that they measure the same local air mass.

[0053] The control unit (such as MCU) is integrated inside the housing 1 and is electrically connected to the fan, motor, sensor and wireless communication module; the power supply unit can be a rechargeable battery or an external low-voltage DC interface, and the wireless module supports low-power communication protocols such as BLE or LoRa.

[0054] Example 2: Workflow and Control Logic

[0055] After the module is powered on, it enters the initialization phase, records the initial readings of each temperature sensor 115 as the static temperature baseline, and enters the anti-direct-blow mode by default.

[0056] (a) Anti-direct-blow mode

[0057] Control unit 117 controls the motor to rotate, so that cam 111 is at the anti-direct-blow fixed angle; at this time, the first protrusion 111a just presses against the movable baffle 112, overcoming the torque of the reset elastic member 114, so that the movable baffle 112 rotates around the pivot to open the slot 113; at the same time, the second protrusion 111b pushes the linkage frame 107 to the initial position, so that the air guide vane 106 is kept at a small tilt angle;

[0058] The fan 103 operates at a first low wind speed. Part of the airflow in the air outlet duct 101 is diverted through the slot 113 into the side area where the through hole 104 is located, forming a weak convection. This airflow is not enough to directly blow on the wind-sensitive goods such as fruits and vegetables below, but it can disturb the static air layer in the upper part of the cold storage area and promote the mixing of cold and heat. The temperature sensor 115 samples at a first sampling period (e.g., 5-10 minutes), and the control unit 117 calculates the temperature change rate (the amount of temperature change per unit time) at each point and the temperature difference between adjacent sensors.

[0059] When the temperature change rate of any sensor exceeds the first threshold, or the temperature difference between adjacent sensors continues to increase for several consecutive cycles and the difference exceeds the set tolerance, it is determined that there is an abnormal trend, and the control unit 117 automatically switches to diagnostic mode.

[0060] (II) Diagnostic Model

[0061] When the motor switches to continuous left and right deflection mode, the cam 111 rotates accordingly; the first protrusion 111a quickly disengages from the movable baffle 112, and the reset elastic element 114 quickly drives the movable baffle 112 to reset, closing the slot 113; the second protrusion 111b rotates with the cam 111, pushing the linkage frame 107 to move back and forth on the guide rail 109, and through the hinge point at the upper end of the air guide 106, it drives the air guide 106 to swing around the lower hinge point, realizing the periodic sweeping of the air outlet in the left and right direction, covering the horizontal area of ​​the cold storage area;

[0062] The fan 103 starts with the first wind speed and gradually increases to the second wind speed according to the set step size. After each step, it runs stably for several seconds to adapt to the transition process of airflow establishment. The flow velocity sensor 116 at the through hole 104 collects the flow velocity at each point in real time, and the control unit 117 calculates the average flow velocity or minimum flow velocity under the current sweeping angle.

[0063] The preset effective threshold is calibrated based on full-load conditions and represents the minimum return velocity at which airflow can penetrate a typical stack of materials to reach the far end. When the average flow velocity reaches this threshold and remains stable for a period of time, it is determined that the convection has fully penetrated the target area, and the control unit 117 triggers all temperature sensors 115 to sample synchronously.

[0064] (III) Anomaly Identification and Output

[0065] Based on the synchronously sampled multi-point temperature data, the control unit 117 calculates the spatial temperature gradient (the rate of change along the length and height directions) and the local deviation of each point relative to the regional average. If the temperature of a certain area deviates from the overall average by more than the set tolerance, it is determined that there is a local anomaly at that location, and the anomaly type, location range, and temperature deviation value are sent through the wireless module 118. If the flow velocity is still far below the threshold at the highest wind speed during the diagnosis process, an air path anomaly indicator is added, indicating that the active baffle seal or the air sweeping mechanism may be malfunctioning.

[0066] It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make improvements or modifications based on the above description, and all such improvements and modifications should fall within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A turbulence-type temperature monitoring module suitable for refrigeration equipment, characterized in that, It includes a long, narrow shell that is installed along the length of the inner top of the refrigerated space; It also includes an air outlet slot and a wind hood located on the lower surface of the housing. A fan and a sweeping mechanism are installed within the air outlet slot. The sweeping mechanism drives the air outlet to oscillate downwards and left and right. The wind hood separates the lower area and the side area of ​​the housing. Multiple transverse through-holes are distributed along the length of the side of the housing. Each through-hole contains a temperature sensor, and any one of the through-holes contains a flow rate sensor. The air outlet slot communicates with the multiple through-holes via a slot. A movable baffle and a return spring for resetting the movable baffle are slidably installed at the slot. The movable baffle has a through-slot. The sweeping mechanism also adjusts the position of the movable baffle by pressing it. The housing houses a control unit, which is connected to the fan, the air-sweeping mechanism, the flow rate sensor, and the temperature sensor. The control unit is configured to execute a diagnostic mode and an anti-direct-blow mode triggered by flow rate feedback. In the anti-direct-blow mode, the air-sweeping mechanism maintains a fixed angle. At this time, the air-sweeping mechanism squeezes the movable baffle to open the slot and makes the control fan run at the first wind speed, generating only a weak convection that is sufficient to disturb the airflow in the upper part of the cold storage area but does not blow directly onto sensitive goods; the temperature sensor performs periodic temperature monitoring, and when an abnormal temperature trend is detected, it switches to a diagnostic mode with a higher wind speed. In diagnostic mode, the air-sweeping mechanism remains in an oscillating state, contacting the movable baffle. The movable baffle is reset and closes the slot under the action of the return spring. The fan speed is controlled to gradually increase from the first speed to the second speed, and the air-sweeping mechanism performs downward air sweeping. When the airflow intensity detected by the flow velocity sensor reaches the preset effective threshold, the multi-point temperature sensor array is triggered to sample and obtain spatial temperature distribution data to diagnose abnormal locations.

2. The monitoring module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air-sweeping mechanism includes multiple crossbars, multiple air guide vanes, a linkage mesh, and a drive mechanism disposed at the opening of the air outlet slot. The lower end of the air guide vane is hinged to the crossbar, and the upper end is hinged to the linkage mesh frame. The drive mechanism is used to drive the linkage mesh frame to move laterally.

3. The monitoring module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air outlet slot is provided with two horizontal guide rails, and the lower end of the guide rails is provided with a guide rail that is slidably connected to the linkage frame. The driving mechanism includes a drive motor mounted on the guide rails, and the movable end of the drive motor is provided with a longitudinal cam. The cam includes a first protrusion that pushes the movable baffle and a second protrusion that drives the linkage frame to move.

4. The monitoring module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The movable baffle, the fan, and the linkage frame are arranged sequentially from top to bottom; the fan is mounted on the guide rail plate, with the air inlet direction facing the movable baffle and the air outlet direction facing the inner wall of the air outlet slot.

5. The monitoring module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wind shield is composed of four oblique air guide plates arranged in a ring and spliced ​​together.

6. A method for monitoring temperature in a cold storage space using the monitoring module described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, include: In the anti-direct-blow mode, it operates with low wind speed and limited air sweeping, and uses a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature trend of the cold storage area. When a local temperature deviation or an overall heating rate exceeding a set threshold is detected, switch to diagnostic mode; In diagnostic mode, the fan speed is increased and the sweep range is expanded, and the lateral backflow intensity is detected by the through-hole flow velocity sensor; when the airflow intensity reaches the preset effective threshold, the multi-point temperature sensor array is triggered to sample. Identify anomalous areas that are blocked or far from the cold source based on spatial temperature distribution.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The operation with low wind speed and limited air sweeping, and the use of temperature sensors to monitor the temperature trend in the cold storage area, includes: The control cam rotates to the anti-direct-blow fixed angle, so that the first protrusion presses the movable baffle to open the slot, while the second protrusion stops the air guide vane at the preset initial angle; The fan is controlled to run at the first wind speed, and part of the airflow is diverted through the slot to the through-hole area to form a weak convection but avoids blowing directly on the goods below; The temperature sensor samples in the first cycle and calculates the rate of temperature change at each point and the temperature difference between adjacent sensors.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The step of switching to diagnostic mode when a local temperature deviation or an overall heating rate exceeding a set threshold is detected includes: When the temperature change rate of any sensor exceeds the first threshold, or when the temperature difference continues to increase for multiple consecutive cycles, an abnormal trend is determined, and the system switches to diagnostic mode.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The process of increasing the fan speed and expanding the sweeping range, and detecting the lateral backflow intensity using a through-hole flow velocity sensor, includes: The control cam rotates continuously, the first protrusion disengages from the movable baffle, and the return spring closes the baffle in the slot; the second protrusion drives the linkage frame to move back and forth horizontally, causing the air guide vane to swing left and right to sweep air. Control the fan speed to gradually increase from the first speed to the second speed, and increase it step by step, with each step running stably for at least 3-5 seconds; The flow velocity at each point is collected in real time by the flow velocity sensor at the through hole, and the average or minimum flow velocity at the current sweeping angle is calculated. When the average flow velocity reaches the preset effective threshold and lasts for 2-3 seconds, it is determined that the convection has fully penetrated and triggers synchronous sampling of the multi-point temperature sensor array.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The identification of abnormal areas that are blocked or far from the cold source based on spatial temperature distribution includes: Based on the sampled data, the spatial temperature gradient and local deviation are calculated. If the temperature in a certain area deviates from the overall average by more than the set tolerance, it is determined that there is a local anomaly at that location.

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