Sensor positioning device for creating thermal maps of cooking equipment

Abstract

Sensor positioning device for the creation of thermal maps of cooking equipment. One aspect of the invention relates to a positioning device (1) for sensors (2), in which: the mold (3) has an opening (8) and an internal molding surface (6) where measurement points (7) are located, spaced apart from each other; the positioning device (1) comprises a rigid three-dimensional assembly (9) formed of a main conduit (10) and a plurality of cable paths (11) extending inside the mold (3), each cable path (11) having: a first end (11a) communicating with the main conduit (10), and a second end (11b) open; at least one of the measurement points (7) is located within a distance (D) of the second end (11b) of a cable tray (11), said distance (D) being such that 0.1 ≤ (D) ≤ 8 centimetres, preferably close to 2 centimetres.Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Sensor positioning device for creating thermal maps of cooking equipment. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The technical field of the invention is preferably that of thermal mapping of cooking equipment.

[0002] The present invention relates to a device intended to facilitate the positioning of sensors for example used to carry out such thermal mapping of cooking tools, and in particular for the thermal mapping of molds intended for the manufacture of parts in plastic or composite materials. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] During the manufacture of plastic or composite parts, resin and possibly a reinforcing material are introduced into the cavity of a mold where they are subjected to a temperature increase intended to solidify the resin, for example by polymerization in the case of thermosetting resins. This process is referred to as curing these materials, and the molds used are also designated as curing tools for plastic or composite parts.

[0004] This cooking is usually carried out by placing the mold in a heating device, such as an autoclave, a drying oven or a furnace.

[0005] Due to the complex shapes and variations in thickness that the molds may have, it is necessary to calibrate the heating means so as to homogenize the internal temperature of the mold cavity.

[0006] To perform this calibration, it is necessary to know the surface temperature at numerous positions within the mold cavity. This calibration is carried out by positioning numerous temperature sensors, generally thermocouples, against the internal surface of the mold, and then performing an empty heating test of the mold.

[0007] Thermocouples are usually temporarily secured at specific points against the inner surface of the mold using adhesive tape, with numerous pieces of tape applied along the thermocouple cables and against the inner surface of the mold. This positioning of the temperature sensors is done manually, making it a lengthy and tedious process. Furthermore, there is always a risk that the operator performing this task may incorrectly position the measuring head of one or more of these sensors.

[0008] There is therefore a need for a solution that allows temperature sensors to be installed more simply and quickly, while avoiding any risk of positioning error against the internal surface of the mold.

[0009] This need is even more pronounced if the mold has to be mapped several times or if the first mapping has to be optimized after one or more manufacturing of composite parts following the thermal mapping, for example during a change of heating method. Summary of the invention

[0010] The invention offers a solution to the problems mentioned above by providing a sensor positioning device, for example for the production of thermal maps of cooking equipment, said device comprising a rigid assembly formed of a plurality of cable paths attached to a main conduit in a branched manner, that is to say that from the main conduit, the same cable path can divide into several branches, which can in turn divide.

[0011] One aspect of the invention relates to an assembly comprising a mold and a positioning device for sensors, in which: • the mold has an opening and an internal molding surface where measurement points are located, spaced apart from each other; • the positioning device comprises a rigid three-dimensional assembly consisting of a main conduit and a plurality of cable paths extending inside the mold, each cable path having: • a first end communicating with the main conduit, and • a second end opening out; • at least one of the measurement points is located less than a distance D from the second end of a cable tray, said distance D being such that 0.1 < D < 8 centimetres.

[0012] By its branched configuration, the positioning device advantageously allows the measuring head of the sensors housed within said positioning device to be pre-positioned near the measurement points where a measuring head is to be positioned. Its rigidity advantageously prevents it from being deformed by the weight of the sensors it houses and thus maintains this pre-positioning indexing for the measuring head of the sensors. The distance D is advantageously minimal for positioning the second end of a cable tray in the immediate vicinity of a measurement point, but it is nevertheless sufficient to allow the operator to have a length of cable outside the positioning device to position the measuring head of a sensor against the internal molding surface at a measurement point.

[0013] In addition to the characteristics just mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the assembly according to one aspect of the invention may have one or more complementary characteristics from among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations: • the distance D is such that 0.5 < D < 5 centimeters, preferably such that 1 < D < 3 centimeters and more preferably such that 1.5 < D < 2.5 centimeters. • from the main conduit, at least one cable path divides into several cable paths, which advantageously allows increasing the branching of the positioning device and providing a second exiting end near a large number of measurement points. • at least one cable tray is assembled or is one piece with the main conduit. • at least part of the main conduit is housed in the mold opening, preferably in a sealed manner, which allows for example to keep the positioning device in place thanks to the mold opening and / or to provide a seal between the main conduit and the mold opening. • at least one cable track is in contact against the internal molding surface, which advantageously allows the positioning device to be directly wedged in the mold and thus ensures better pre-positioning indexing for the sensor measuring head. • The positioning device includes at least one stiffener extending between two cable trays or between a cable tray and the main conduit, and mechanically connecting them, which advantageously improves the overall rigidity of the positioning device, for better pre-positioning indexing for the sensor measuring head. • the positioning device includes at least one support piece having a first end assembled or in one piece with a cable track and a second end in contact against the internal molding surface, which advantageously allows the positioning device to be wedged in the mold. • Each cable tray has flanks connecting its first end to its second end, and at least one cable tray has one or more openings in at least one of its flanks, which advantageously reduces the mass of the positioning device and provides additional exit ports for sensors within the cable trays, in addition to their second exiting end. • at least one of the measurement points is located less than a distance D from one of the openings provided in a side, said distance D being such that 0.1 < D < 8 centimeters, which advantageously allows pre-positioning for the measuring head of a sensor while having sufficient cable length for its installation. at least one opening in a cable tray is equipped with one or more covers, which advantageously allow the sensors to be kept in the cable tray and to be made more rigid at the level of said opening. at least one opening in a cable tray is in the form of a longitudinal entry slot, which advantageously allows one or more sensors to be slid through this slot, for example by temporarily spreading the lips elastically. at least one cover has one or more openings, which advantageously allows the mass of said cover to be reduced and provides additional outlets for sensors within the cable trays, in addition to their second open end. The mold is a mold for manufacturing parts made of plastic or composite materials. Measurement points are locations where one wishes to measure a temperature, for example with a thermocouple. The positioning device is mostly made of metal, preferably steel or aluminum. when in use, the mold is heated to a maximum heating temperature T, and the positioning device is predominantly made of a polymer material whose glass transition temperature is at least 10 °C higher than said maximum heating temperature T, which advantageously allows it not to be damaged when the mold is heated, at least part of the positioning device is a product resulting from additive manufacturing, which advantageously allows the manufacture of a positioning device that can have a complex three-dimensional architecture. The positioning device is mostly made of polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) or a mixture thereof, which advantageously allows it to be manufactured by additive manufacturing and to retain its rigidity if the mold is heated. Each cable tray has a maximum width L such that 3 mm < L < 20 mm, preferably such that 5 mm < L < 15 mm, and more preferably such that 8 mm < L < 12 mm, which advantageously allows for sufficient width to guide sensors, but without adding weight. usefully the positioning device. • at least one cable tray has a visible marking on one of its sides.

[0014] The invention and its various applications will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] The figures are presented for illustrative purposes only and are in no way limiting of the invention.

[0016] [Fig.1] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a mold equipped with a positioning device according to the invention into which sensors are introduced.

[0017] [Fig.2] is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a mold equipped with a positioning device according to the invention in which sensors are introduced.

[0018] [Fig.3] is an enlarged view of the part circled in [Fig.2].

[0019] [Fig.4]-[Fig.12] illustrate different variants of cable trays given as examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Unless otherwise specified, the same element appearing on different figures has a unique reference.

[0021] As shown in [Fig.1] and [Fig.2], the positioning device 1 of the invention is designed to house sensors 2 in a mold 3.

[0022] The mold 3 is, for example, a mold 3 for manufacturing parts made of plastic or composite materials. It may comprise several parts 3a, 3b.

[0023] Each sensor 2 comprises a measuring head 4 and a cable 5 connected to the measuring head 4, the free end of which is intended to be connected to an electrical or electronic device 13. These sensors 2 may, for example, be thermocouples, the cable 5 then usually being referred to as a "angel wire" due to its very small diameter.

[0024] The positioning device 1 of the invention can be provided for different types of sensors and / or for identical sensors for the same type of measurement. The measurements could, for example, be temperature, pressure, or any other measurement, particularly physical.

[0025] The positioning device 1 of the invention is intended to guide the cable 5 of the sensors 2 to certain fixed and defined positions inside the mold 3, located on the internal molding surface 6 at a distance from each other and where a measurement is to be carried out using said sensors 2. These positions are designated as measurement points 7.

[0026] By measuring point 7, we therefore mean a location situated on the internal surface 6 of the mold 3 where it is desired to measure a physical parameter using a sensor 2.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the physical parameter is a temperature value, and the sensor 2 is a thermocouple. However, the invention can be easily adapted to other types of physical parameters and sensors 2. The positioning device 1 of the invention can thus be used to perform thermal mapping of cooking equipment, but also any other type of mapping of a mold 3 made by placing sensors 2 inside it.

[0028] The positioning device 1 of the invention has orifices 8 allowing the measuring head 4 and part of the cable 5 of each sensor 2 to protrude out of the positioning device 1 in the mold 3, so as to allow an operator to position the measuring head 4 of a sensor 2 on each measuring point 7, against the internal surface 6 of the mold 3.

[0029] The positioning device 1 comprises a rigid three-dimensional assembly 9, designed to house at least partially the cable 5 of each sensor 2, and formed of a main conduit 10 and a plurality of cable paths 11.

[0030] By rigid it is understood that the positioning device 1 of the invention has sufficient rigidity to keep its shape when it guides sensors 2 and houses the cables 5 of said sensors 2, even when the mold 3 is subjected to heating, for example for the baking of a part made of plastic or composite material.

[0031] Optionally, this rigidity can also allow the cable channels 11 to be elastically deformed temporarily to introduce the cables 5 of the sensors 2, for example when the cable channels 11 have an introduction slot 18 for said cables 5 as will be described later.

[0032] Each cable tray 11 has a first end 1a communicating with the main conduit 10 and at least one second end 11b that can be one of the aforementioned openings 8. Each cable tray 11 has sides 14 connecting its first end 1a to its second end 11b. A cable tray 11 may have several open ends.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, from the main conduit 10, at least one cable tray 11 branches into several secondary cable trays 11, these secondary cable trays 11 being in turn able to branch into several tertiary cable trays 11, and so on. When a cable tray 11 branches into several cable trays 11, the latter preferably have a width less than that of the cable tray 11 from which they originate. Thus, the positioning device 1 is branched, somewhat like a root system, to provide a second end 11b near a large number of measurement points 7.

[0034] A cable tray 11 can be assembled with the main conduit 10, by any known assembly system. Being removable, the cable tray 11 can be disassembled, for example in order to reduce the size of the positioning device 1 for storage before use.

[0035] A cable tray 11 can also be in one piece with the main conduit 10, which avoids any loss of time and any risk of positioning error related to assembly.

[0036] In use, the positioning device 1 is housed inside the mold 3 so that most of the measuring points 7, preferably all of them, are located near an orifice 8 of the positioning device 1, at a distance D for example between 0.1 and 8 centimeters.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the distance D is such that 0.5 < D < 5 centimeters, preferably such that 1 < D < 3 centimeters, and more preferably such that 1.5 < D < 2.5 centimeters. Indeed, the preferred distance for D is approximately 2 centimeters.

[0038] It should be noted that this distance D is measured from the center of an orifice 8 to the center of the measurement point 7 associated with it.

[0039] For this setup, the mold 3 is opened, then the positioning device 1 is placed inside it before the mold 3 is closed. At least a portion of the main conduit 10 is then housed in an opening 12 of the mold 3, preferably in a sealed manner. This opening 12 can, for example, be a pre-existing opening 12 in the mold 3, for example, intended for polymer injection into it, or be an opening 12 solely intended for the passage of the main conduit 10. It is indeed necessary to be able to connect the free end of the sensors 2 to an electrical or electronic device 13 located outside the mold 3 in order to receive and process the measurements obtained by them.

[0040] In order for the positioning device 1 to perform a pre-positioning indexing for the measuring head 4 of the sensors 2, it is preferable that it be wedged inside the mold 3, resting against its internal surface 6.

[0041] Thus, a cable tray 11 can be in contact against the internal surface 6, preferably over a majority of its length, the cable tray 11 then being able to have a side 14 substantially conforming to the shape of the internal surface 6 against which it is in contact.

[0042] For this purpose, the positioning device 1 may also include support pieces 15, each having a first end 15a assembled or in one piece with another element of the positioning device 1, for example a cable tray 11 or a stiffener 16 (see below), and a second end 15b intended to also be in contact with the internal surface 6.

[0043] In order to prevent the positioning device 1 from deforming, it may include stiffeners 16, each extending between two elements of the positioning device 1 to mechanically connect them, for example the cable trays 11, the main conduit 10 and the support pieces 15 if present. These stiffeners 16 may be assembled or form a single piece with these elements.

[0044] Cable trays 11 may have one or more openings 17 in at least one of their sides 14 (cf. [Fig.5], [Fig.7], [Fig.8], [Fig.9], [Fig. 12]).

[0045] Some of these openings 17 can constitute one of the orifices 8 described previously and intended to be located at a distance D for example between 0.1 and 8 centimeters from a measurement point 7.

[0046] It should be noted that this distance D is measured from the center of an opening 17 to the center of the measurement point 7 associated with it.

[0047] These openings 17 can also be used to reduce the mass of the cable trays 11, and / or to allow the introduction of the cables 5 into the cable trays 11.

[0048] Cable trays 11 can take several forms.

[0049] Generally, a cable tray 11 in the sense of the invention is a device allowing the passage of one or more cables 5, it is therefore a hollow device in which one or more cables 5 can be put in place and removed manually, in particular for the purpose of guiding the path of said cable 5 along a path delimited by internal walls of said cable tray 11.

[0050] Thus, the cable trays 11 can, for example, be in the form of profiles, electrical trunking (see [Fig.4]), rigid conduits, supports equipped with flexible tabs (see [Fig. 12]), wire mesh structures, honeycomb structures, mesh structures (see [Fig.9]), openwork structures (see [Fig.8]), etc. They can have a circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal or other cross-section.

[0051] In order to allow the introduction of a cable through one of their sides, in addition to the openings 17 which can constitute orifices 8 in the sense of the invention, the cable trays 11 may for example also have a longitudinal slot 18 (see [Fig.10] and [Fig.11]), an open face equipped with one or more covers 20, removable (see [Fig.4], [Fig.5], [Fig.7] and [Fig.8]) or pivotally mounted (see [Fig.6]), or any other cable retention element which can for example be found in commercially available cable trays 11.

[0052] The main conduit 10 may have the same characteristics as the cable trays 11. It is preferably in the form of a hollow part of revolution open at its two ends.

[0053] The positioning device 1 can be made mostly of metal, preferably steel or aluminum.

[0054] It can also be made mostly of polymer, preferably of a material thermoplastic whose glass transition temperature is at least 10 °C higher than said maximum heating temperature T to which the mold 3 is heated when used for molding or for carrying out heating tests.

[0055] It can be manufactured entirely or partially by additive manufacturing. In this case, it is preferably manufactured mainly from polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) or a mixture thereof.

[0056] In general, the constituent material of the positioning device 1 can be chosen according to the heating temperature range of the mold 3 in which it will be used.

[0057] Similarly, the overall dimensions of the positioning device 1 depend on the dimensions of the mold 3 in which it is to be positioned and the location of the various measuring points 7. It is therefore not possible to give here a preferred length for the cable trays 11.

[0058] In the event that certain measuring points 7 are difficult to access, the positioning device 1 can be adapted accordingly, or several positioning devices 1 can be used. In the latter case, the shape of their respective main conduit 10 can, for example, be adapted so that they can be housed in the same opening 12 of the mold 3.

[0059] The width of the cable trays 11 is preferably chosen so that the cable trays 11 are sufficiently rigid to guide the cables 5 and have sufficient internal volume to accommodate said cables 5.

[0060] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each cable track 11 has a maximum width L such that 3 mm < L < 20 mm, preferably such that 5 mm < L < 15 mm, and more preferably such that 8 mm < L < 12 mm.

[0061] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one cable tray 11 has a visible marking on one of its sides 14 (not shown). This marking can be indicated directly on the cable tray 11 by adding a reference number and / or directly formed into the structure of the cable tray 11. The marking can be digital or by any other means facilitating the identification and more precise positioning of the cable trays, including sensors. Such a marking can be embossed, recessed, colored, or in any other way that allows it to be distinguished on said cable tray 11. This marking can, for example, allow the position of a sensor 2, a cable 5, or a measuring point 7 to be located, or to identify such a sensor 2, cable 5, or measuring point 7.

[0062] The method of using the positioning device 1 is very simple and very quick to implement.

[0063] First, the mold 3 must be opened and the positioning device inserted into it. Positioning 1, ensuring that each orifice 8 of the positioning device 1 intended to be positioned near a measuring point 7 is correctly positioned where it should be. This positioning can be considerably facilitated if the positioning device 1 has an overall external shape corresponding to the internal shape of the mold, with numerous bearing areas for securing the positioning device 1 against the internal surface 6 of the mold 3. The main conduit 10 is preferably positioned at an opening 12 of the mold 3.

[0064] In a second step, the sensors 2 are housed in the cable trays 11 and the main conduit 10. For this installation, the sensors 2 can be slid into the cable trays 11 and the main conduit 10, for example through the main conduit 10 or the second end 11b of the cable trays 11. However, particularly because of the very high flexibility that the cables 5 of these sensors 2 can exhibit, it is preferable and generally easier to insert them directly into the cable trays 11, for example through an open face or an insertion slot provided longitudinally in the cable trays 11. If covers 20 are provided for the cable trays 11, they must then be put in place.

[0065] In a third step the measuring head 4 of each sensor 2 can be immobilized at a measuring point 7, for example by fixing a piece of adhesive tape 21 on the cable 5 in the immediate vicinity of said measuring head 4 (see [Fig.3].

[0066] Finally, as a last step, it is simply a matter of closing the mold 3 and connecting each sensor 2 to an electrical or electronic device 13. The mold 3 is then ready to be mapped.

[0067] Although described through a number of examples, variants and embodiments, the positioning device 1 according to the invention includes various variants, modifications and improvements which will be obvious to a person skilled in the art, it being understood that these variants, modifications and improvements are part of the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. An assembly comprising a mold (3), characterized in that it further comprises a positioning device (1) for sensors (2), in which: - the mold (3) has an opening (12) and an internal molding surface (6) in which measuring points (7) are located, spaced apart from each other; - the positioning device (1) comprises a rigid three-dimensional assembly (9) formed of a main conduit (10) and a plurality of cable paths (11) extending inside the mold (3), each cable path (11) having: • a first end (1a) communicating with the main conduit (10), and • a second end (11b) protruding; - at least one of the measuring points (7) is located at a distance (D) from the second end (11b) of a cable path (11), said distance (D) being such that 0.1 < (D) < 8 centimeters.

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance (D) is such that 0.5 < (D) < 5 centimeters, preferably such that 1 < (D) < 3 centimeters and more preferably such that 1.5 < (D) < 2.5 centimeters.

3. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, from the main conduit (10), at least one cable path (11) divides into several cable paths (11).

4. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one cable tray (11) is assembled or one piece with the main conduit (10).

5. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the main conduit (10) is housed in the opening (12) of the mold (3), preferably in a sealed manner.

6. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one cable track (11) is in support contact against the internal molding surface (6).

7. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning device (1) comprises at least one stiffener (16) extending between two cable trays (11) or between a cable tray (11) and the main conduit (10), and mechanically connecting them.

8. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning device (1) comprises at least one support piece (15) having a first end (15a) assembled or in one piece with a cable track (11) and a second end (15b) in support contact against the internal surface (6) of the molding.

9. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each cable tray (11) has flanks (14) connecting its first end (1a) to its second end (11b), and in that at least one cable tray (11) has one or more openings (17) in at least one of its flanks (14).

10. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each cable tray (11) has a maximum width (L) such that 3 mm < (L) < 20 mm, preferably such that 5 mm < (L) < 15 mm, and more preferably such that 8 mm < (L) < 12 mm.

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