Temperature detection device

Abstract

To provide a temperature detection with a simple structure capable of remarkably improving heat resistance while suppressing an increase in cost compared to conventional products.SOLUTION: In a temperature sensor 30, a temperature detection element 42 is fixed to a position inside a lower cylindrical portion 40 of a heat collecting member 28 and close to a lower surface of a plate-like portion 38, and a plurality of lead wires 44 are led out through the inside of the lower cylindrical portion 40. The inside of the lower cylindrical portion 40 is filled with a filler 46 mainly composed of ceramic powder. The filler 46 positions a first portion 44(1) of the lead wire 44 so that core wires 44a and the lower cylindrical portion 40 are separated from each other and the core wires 44a are separated from each other. An inner wall surface of a support shaft 24 is in close proximity to or in sliding contact with an outer peripheral surface of the lower cylindrical portion 40. An outer wall surface of the support shaft 24 comes close to or slides on an inner peripheral surface of a holder 32. The inner wall surface and the outer wall surface of the support shaft 24 guide the heat collecting member 28 and the holder 32 in a vertical direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature detection device that detects the temperature of the bottom surface of a cooking utensil placed on a gas burner of a cooking heater.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a temperature detection device that is installed and used in an inner space surrounded by a gas burner of a cooking heater having a gas burner arranged in a ring shape.

[0003] For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 by the applicant of the present application, there is a temperature detection device including a sensor device unit that detects the temperature of a cooking utensil by contacting the bottom surface of the cooking utensil placed on the cooking heater, and a support shaft that is fixed to the cooking heater and supports the sensor device unit so as to be able to project into and out of the inner space of the cooking heater.

[0004] The sensor device unit includes a heat collecting plate that abuts against the bottom surface of the cooking utensil, a temperature sensor fixed to the back surface side of the heat collecting plate, a holder that houses the temperature sensor and its lead wire inside a cylindrical shape and has an upper end portion of the cylindrical shape fixed to the lower surface side of the heat collecting plate in a liquid-tight manner, and a spring member that is provided inside the holder and biases the heat collecting plate and the holder in the projecting direction with respect to the upper end portion of the support member. The support shaft has an outer wall surface that is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the holder, and is structured to guide the holder in the projecting and retracting directions with the outer wall surface.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a cylindrical cover that covers the side surface of the holder with a predetermined space concentrically is attached to the sensor device unit. The cover is a heat insulating cover that prevents the hot air of the gas burner from directly hitting the heat collecting plate or the like, and the lower end portion of the cover is fixed near the lower end portion of the holder.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] Many cooking heaters equipped with a temperature detection device are provided with a safety device that automatically extinguishes the gas burner when the temperature of the bottom surface of the cooking utensil placed on the cooking heater exceeds a reference temperature. In the case of a cooking heater with general heating power, the reference temperature is set to about 290°C. Also, since the maximum temperature of the inner space surrounded by the gas burner is assumed to be about 350°C, conventional temperature detection devices were designed to withstand use in an environment of 350°C. However, in the case of a cooking heater with stronger heating power, since the maximum temperature of the inner space of the gas burner can reach 500 to 600°C, it is required to improve the heat resistance of the temperature detection device.

[0008] When the environmental temperature of the temperature detection device of Patent Document 1 reaches 500 to 600°C, this high temperature acts on the two lead wires in the holder, and the insulating tube or the like covering the core wire melts, and there is a concern that it may malfunction due to a short circuit between the core wires or contact between the core wire and a metal part. This problem is difficult to solve even if the material of the insulating tube or the like is made of polyimide resin, which is said to have the highest heat resistance among synthetic resins.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above background art, and an object thereof is to provide a temperature detection device having a simple structure that can significantly improve heat resistance while suppressing a small increase in cost compared to conventional products.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The present invention is a temperature detection device installed and used in an inner space surrounded by a gas burner of a cooking heater having a gas burner arranged in a ring shape, a contact-type sensor device that detects the temperature of the bottom surface of a cooking utensil placed on the cooking heater, and a cylindrical support shaft fixed at a position below the inner space of the cooking heater and supporting the sensor device so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The sensor device includes a heat collecting member which is a metal member formed by integrating a plate-like portion having an upper surface that abuts against the bottom surface of the cooking utensil and a lower cylindrical portion that extends downward from the lower surface of the central portion of the plate-like portion, a temperature sensor having a temperature detection element and a plurality of lead wires connected to the temperature detection element, a holder which is a cylindrical body made of metal, and a spring member sized to fit inside the holder. In the assembled state, the temperature sensor is fixed such that the temperature detection element is positioned inside the lower cylindrical portion and close to the lower surface of the plate-like portion, and the plurality of lead wires are drawn out inside the support shaft through the inside of the lower cylindrical portion. The inside of the lower cylindrical portion is filled with a filler mainly composed of ceramic powder. The first portions of the plurality of lead wires inside the lower cylindrical portion are positioned by the filler in a state where the core wire, which is an electrically conductive portion, is separated from the lower cylindrical portion and the core wires are separated from each other. The second portions of the plurality of lead wires inside the support shaft are movably accommodated inside the support shaft together with the first portions. The upper end of the holder is liquid-tightly fixed to the lower surface side of the plate-like portion and accommodates the lower cylindrical portion inside. The spring member is installed inside the holder to bias the heat collecting member and the holder upward with respect to the upper end of the support shaft. The lower end of the lower cylindrical portion of the heat collecting member is accommodated inside the upper end of the support shaft. The upper end of the support shaft is accommodated inside the lower end of the holder. The inner wall surface of the support shaft is close to or in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower cylindrical portion of the heat collecting member, and the outer wall surface of the support shaft is close to or in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the holder. The heat collecting member and the holder are guided in the vertical direction by the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface, which is a temperature detection device.

[0011] The sensor device is a cylindrical body in which a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion are concentrically continuous, and has a cover member in which a through-hole is formed at a specific position. In the assembled state, in the cover member, the small-diameter portion is fixed to the side peripheral surface of the holder, the large-diameter portion is arranged so as to provide a predetermined space concentrically so as to cover the side peripheral surface of the holder, and the upper end portion of the large-diameter portion is spaced apart from the peripheral edge portion of the plate-like portion so that the boiled juice flowing from the plate-like portion of the heat collecting member can flow inward, and it is preferable that the through-hole is arranged at a position where the boiled juice flowing into the inside of the large-diameter portion can be discharged.

[0012] Further, it is preferable that the upper surface of the plate-like portion of the heat collecting member is formed as a flat surface capable of surface contact with the bottom surface of the cooking utensil. Further, it is preferable that the lead wire is obtained by coating the core wire with an insulating coating material.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] In the temperature detection device of the present invention, a plurality of lead wires connected to the temperature detection element are drawn out through the inside of the lower cylindrical portion of the heat collecting member, and the core wires of the first portion of the lead wire (the portion inside the lower cylindrical portion) are positioned in an appropriate state by the filling agent inside the lower cylindrical portion. The filling agent is mainly composed of ceramic powder having extremely high heat resistance and does not soften or melt in an environment of several hundred degrees Celsius. Therefore, even if the environmental temperature of the temperature detection device becomes extremely high (for example, 500 to 600 ° C) and this high temperature acts on the first portion of the lead wire to melt the insulating coating material, problems such as contact between the core wire and the metal lower cylindrical portion and short circuit between the core wires are prevented, and it can be used safely without problems thereafter.

[0014] In addition, the conventional product (the temperature detection device of Patent Document 1) has a structure in which the holder is guided in the vertical direction on the outer wall surface of the support shaft. However, in the case of the temperature detection device of the present invention, the holder is guided in the vertical direction on the outer wall surface of the support shaft, and further, the lower cylindrical portion of the heat collecting member is guided in the vertical direction on the inner wall surface of the support shaft. Therefore, when the sensor device moves, it is less likely to tilt than the conventional product and can move very smoothly. Furthermore, since the lower cylindrical portion of the heat collecting member and the holder are made of metal with excellent durability, they are less likely to deform or break even when repeatedly sliding on the inner or outer wall surface of the support shaft.

[0015] In addition, in the case of the temperature detection device of the present invention, compared with the conventional product, when assembling, a step of filling a filler into the lower cylindrical portion is added, but it is not a very laborious step. In addition, although the structure of some members is slightly changed, it is not necessary to greatly change the conventional assembling process. Therefore, the temperature detection device of the present invention can be assembled efficiently like the conventional product, and the cost increase can be kept small.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the temperature detection device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the temperature detection device 10 of this embodiment is installed and used in the inner space 16 surrounded by the gas burner 12 of the cooking heater 14 having a gas burner 12 arranged in a ring shape.

[0018] The cooking heater 14 supports a cooking utensil 18 such as a pot with a support member 20, and the temperature detection device 10 detects the temperature of the bottom surface 18a of the cooking utensil 18. When the temperature of the bottom surface 18a exceeds a reference temperature (for example, 290°C), a safety device (not shown) operates and the gas burner 12 is automatically extinguished. Also, in the case of a cooking heater 14 with extremely strong heating power, it is assumed that the maximum temperature in the inner space 16 will be higher than normal (for example, 500 to 600°C).

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the temperature detection device 10 includes a contact-type sensor device 22 that detects the temperature of the bottom surface 18a of the cooking utensil 18, and a cylindrical support shaft 24 that is fixed at a position below the inner space 16 of the cooking heater 14 and supports the sensor device 22 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The support shaft 24 is erected substantially vertically by fixing a part in the middle of the length direction to the attachment part 14a of the cooking heater 14. Further, the support shaft 24 is provided with a stopper part 26 which is a ridge formed in an outward flange shape at the upper end part of the cylindrical shape. Note that the support shaft 24 shown in FIG. 2 has a structure in which the stopper part 26 is integrally formed on the cylindrical main body, but the stopper part 26 may be provided by attaching a separate ring-shaped member to the cylindrical main body.

[0020] The sensor device 22 is composed of a heat collecting member 28, a temperature sensor 30, a holder 32, a spring member 34, and a cover member 36.

[0021] The heat collecting member 28 is a metal member formed by integrating a plate-like portion 38 having an upper surface that abuts against the bottom surface 18a of the cooking appliance 18 and a lower cylindrical portion 40 that extends downward from the lower surface of the central portion of the plate-like portion 38. The upper surface of the plate-like portion 38 is a flat surface that can be in surface contact with the bottom surface 18a so as to be able to be well thermally coupled to the bottom surface 18a of the cooking appliance 18. Further, the length of the lower cylindrical portion 40 is set to a length such that the lower end portion is accommodated inside the upper end portion of the support shaft 24. Note that the heat collecting member 28 may be formed by integrally forming the plate-like portion 38 and the lower cylindrical portion 40, or may be formed by joining separately manufactured plate-like portion 38 and lower cylindrical portion 40 together into one body.

[0022] The temperature sensor 30 has a temperature detection element 42 such as a thermistor and two lead wires 44 connected to the temperature detection element 42. The temperature detection element 42 is fixed at a position close to the back surface of the plate-like portion 38 inside the lower cylindrical portion 40, and the lead wires 44 are drawn out inside the support shaft 24 through the inside of the lower cylindrical portion 40.

[0023] The lead wire 44 has a structure in which a core wire, which is an electrically conductive portion, is covered with an insulating coating material such as an insulating tube. The first portion 44(1) of the lead wire 44 inside the lower cylindrical portion 40 is positioned by a filler 46 mainly composed of ceramic powder filled inside the lower cylindrical portion 40 so that the core wire and the lower cylindrical portion 40 are separated from each other and the core wires are separated from each other. The second portion 44(2) inside the support shaft 24 is movably accommodated inside the support shaft 24 together with the first portion 44(1).

[0024] Here, in order to clearly show the detailed structure of the temperature sensor 30 and the attachment structure to the heat collecting member 28, an example of the procedure for attaching a plurality of members constituting the temperature sensor 30 to the heat collecting member 28 will be described.

[0025] First, as shown in FIG. 3(a), a temperature detection element 42 to which two core wires 44a (for example, bare wires such as Jument wires) are connected and two insulating coating materials 44b (for example, insulating tubes made of a polyimide resin with high heat resistance) are prepared, and the insulating coating material 44b is attached to the core wire 44a. The insulating coating material 44b is longer than the lower cylinder portion 40 of the heat collecting member 28, and the core wire 44a is longer than the insulating coating material 44b.

[0026] Next, a heat collecting member 28 is prepared. As shown in FIG. 3(b), with the plate-shaped portion 38 facing downward, the lower cylinder portion 40 is erected, and a liquid filling agent 46L is filled into the lower cylinder portion 40. The filling agent 46L is a liquid obtained by mixing ceramic powder such as aluminum oxide as the main component, a binder such as metal alkoxide, other additives, and a solvent such as alcohol. For example, the tip of the nozzle 48a of the filling device 48 is deeply inserted to the bottom inside the lower cylinder portion 40, and the filling agent 46L is discharged from the discharge port 48b provided at the tip. Then, the nozzle 48a is gradually pulled up in accordance with the discharge rate of the filling agent 46L to fill a specified amount of the filling agent 46L. In this way, it is possible to appropriately fill a specified amount of the filling agent 46L while preventing the generation of bubbles inside the filling agent 46L.

[0027] When the lower cylinder portion 40 is filled with the filling agent 46L, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the temperature detection element 42 with the insulating coating material 44b attached to the core wire 44a is deeply inserted into the lower cylinder portion 40 and immersed in the filling agent 46L. Then, a part of the filling agent 46L flows upward so as to fill the space around the insulating coating material 44b and the temperature detection element 42, and the liquid level rises to the position of the open end of the lower cylinder portion 40. Then, when left under predetermined conditions, the filling agent 46L hardens into a solid filling agent 46, and each member is fixed inside the lower cylinder portion 40.

[0028] Next, as shown in FIG. 4(b), a coated electric wire in which two core wires 44c are coated with a predetermined insulating coating material 44d and an insulating coating material 44e having a hole through which the coated electric wire can be inserted (for example, a glass braided tube or the like having excellent flexibility and flame retardancy) are prepared. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), after the tip of the core wire 44c of the coated electric wire is joined to the tip of the core wire 44a by a method such as welding, the insulating coating material 44e is attached to protect the joined portion, and the temperature sensor 30 attached to the heat collecting member 28 is assembled. In this state, in the temperature sensor 30, the temperature detection element 42 is fixed at a position close to the plate-like portion 38 by the filler 46, and the first portion 44(1) of the two lead wires 44 is positioned in a state where the core wire 44a and the lower cylindrical portion 40 are separated from each other and the core wires 44a are separated from each other.

[0029] The holder 32 is a cylindrical body made of metal. As shown in FIG. 2, the entire circumference of the upper end portion 32a is liquid-tightly fixed to the lower surface side of the plate-like portion 38 of the heat collecting member 28, and the lower cylindrical portion 40 is accommodated inside. The upper end portion 32a of the holder 32 has a cylindrical end portion that opens outward and is flanged, and the peripheral edge portion of the plate-like portion 38 is folded over the entire circumference of the upper end portion 32a and caulked in a liquid-tight state. Further, the length of the holder 32 is set to a length that allows the upper end portion of the support shaft 24 to be accommodated inside the lower end portion. Furthermore, a stepped portion 32b is provided by making the lower end portion slightly smaller in diameter.

[0030] The spring member 34 is a coil spring installed inside the holder 32, and biases the heat collecting member 28 and the holder 32 upward with respect to the upper end portion of the support shaft 24. Specifically, the lower end portion of the spring member 34 abuts against the upper end surface of the support shaft 24, and the upper end portion of the spring member 34 biases the lower surface of the plate-like portion 38.

[0031] The cover member 36 is a cylindrical body in which the large-diameter portion 36a and the small-diameter portion 36b are concentrically continuous, and is a metal member having a through-hole 36c formed at the boundary between the large-diameter portion 36a and the small-diameter portion 36b. The cover member 36 is fixed such that the small-diameter portion 36b is on the circumferential surface of the lower end portion of the holder 32, and the large-diameter portion 36a is arranged with a predetermined space concentrically so as to cover the circumferential surface of the holder 32. The upper end portion of the large-diameter portion 36a is spaced apart from the peripheral edge portion of the plate-shaped portion 38 so that the cooked juice flowing from the plate-shaped portion 38 of the heat collecting member 28 can flow inside. And the through-hole 36c is arranged at a position where the cooked juice flowing into the inside of the large-diameter portion 36a can be discharged.

[0032] As described above, the sensor device 22 is composed of the heat collecting member 28, the temperature sensor 30, the holder 32, the spring member 34, and the cover member 36, and moves in the vertical direction with respect to the support shaft 24. The upward movement is caused by the elastic force of the spring member 34 acting on the heat collecting member 28, so that the sensor device 22 moves upward, and the stepped portion 32b of the holder 32 is locked to the stopper portion 26 of the support shaft 24, and further movement is not possible. The amount of movement when the sensor device 22 moves downward against the elastic force of the spring member 34 is limited to the position where the spring member 34, which is a coil spring, is compressed to the maximum. During normal use, when the cooking utensil 18 is placed on the support member 20 of the cooking heater 14, the sensor device 22 moves to the position where the plate-shaped portion 38 of the heat collecting member 28 is pushed down by the bottom surface 18a of the cooking utensil 18.

[0033] The inner wall surface of the upper end portion of the support shaft 24 is close to or in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower cylinder portion 40, and the outer wall surface of the upper end portion (the outer wall surface of the stopper portion 26) is close to or in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the holder 32. By the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface, the heat collecting member 28 and the holder 32 are each guided in the vertical direction, and the sensor device 22 can move smoothly in the vertical direction without tilting. Note that the second portion 44(2) of the lead wire 44 inside the support shaft 24 is movably accommodated inside the support shaft 24, so that it does not prevent the vertical movement of the sensor device 22.

[0034] In addition, the cover member 36 of the temperature detection device 10 functions to insulate heat so that hot air at a high temperature (e.g., 500 to 600 °C) does not directly hit members such as the holder 32, and to reduce the influence of heat on the first portion 44(1) of the lead wire 44. Further, the cover member 36 is structured such that the heat received by the large-diameter portion 36a is released from the small-diameter portion 36b toward the lower end portion of the holder 32. The lower end portion of the holder 32 is relatively far from the plate-like portion 28 of the heat collecting member 28, and since the heat released from the cover member 36 is less likely to be transmitted to the temperature detection element 42, the difference ΔT between the actual temperature T1 of the bottom portion 18a of the cooking utensil 18 and the temperature T2 detected by the temperature detection element 42 becomes small, and there is an advantage that temperature can be detected with high accuracy. Also, since the cover member 36 is provided with through-holes 36c through which the cooking juice can be discharged, an air flow is generated between the cover member 36 and the holder 32 through the through-holes 36c, and the heat applied to the first portion 44(1) is further reduced as the holder 32 is cooled.

[0035] Also, the cooking juice discharged from the through-holes 36c will flow down along the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 36b. However, since the upper end portion of the support shaft 24 is housed inside the lower end portion of the holder 32, the cooking juice flowing down along the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion 36b cannot enter the boundary portion where the support shaft 24 and the holder 32 slide, or the boundary portion where the support shaft 24 and the lower cylinder portion 40 slide. Therefore, no obstacle will occur to the vertical movement of the sensor device 22 due to the influence of the cooking juice.

[0036] As described above, in the temperature detection device 10, since the plurality of lead wires 44 of the temperature sensor 30 are drawn out through the inside of the lower cylindrical portion 40 of the heat collecting member 28, the heat of the holder 32 is blocked by the lower cylindrical portion 40 from directly transferring to the lead wires 44. Also, the core wire 44a of the first portion 44(1) of the lead wire 44 (the portion inside the lower cylindrical portion 40) is positioned in an appropriate state by the filling agent 46 inside the lower cylindrical portion 40. The filling agent 46 is mainly composed of ceramic powder with extremely high heat resistance and does not soften or melt in an environment of several hundred degrees Celsius. Therefore, even if the ambient temperature of the temperature detection device 10 becomes extremely high (for example, 500 to 600 °C) and this high temperature acts on the first portion 44(1) to melt the insulating coating material 44b, problems such as the core wire 44a coming into contact with the metal lower cylindrical portion 40 or the core wires 44a short-circuiting are prevented, and it can still be used safely without any problems thereafter. Note that the second portion 44(2) of the lead wire 44 (the portion inside the support shaft 24) is located at a position relatively far from the gas burner 12 and does not become so hot, so a special protection structure using the filling agent 46 is not necessary.

[0037] Also, the conventional product (the temperature detection device of Patent Document 1) has a structure in which the holder is guided in the vertical direction on the outer wall surface of the support shaft. However, in the case of the temperature detection device 10, the holder 32 is guided in the vertical direction on the outer wall surface of the support shaft 24, and further, the lower cylindrical portion 40 of the heat collecting member 28 is guided in the vertical direction on the inner wall surface of the support shaft 24. Therefore, when the sensor device 22 moves, it is less likely to tilt than the conventional product and can move very smoothly. Moreover, since the lower cylindrical portion 40 of the heat collecting member 28 and the holder 32 are made of metal with excellent durability, they are not easily deformed or broken even when repeatedly sliding on the inner wall surface or the outer wall surface of the support shaft 24.

[0038] Also, in the case of the temperature detection device 10, compared with the conventional product, an additional step of filling the lower cylinder portion 40 with the filler 46 is added during assembly, but this is not a very laborious step. In addition, although the structures of some members are slightly changed, it is not necessary to greatly change the conventional assembly process. Therefore, the temperature detection device 10 can be assembled efficiently in the same manner as the conventional product, and the cost increase can be kept small.

[0039] Note that the temperature detection device of the present invention is not limited to the above first embodiment. For example, the temperature detection device 10x of the modified example shown in FIG. 6 is obtained by replacing the cover member 36 of the temperature detection device 10 with a cover member 50 having a different structure. The cover member 50 is a cylindrical body that covers and insulates the side circumferential surface of the holder 32, and has the same basic function as the above cover member 36. However, in the case of the cover member 50, an attachment portion 50a is provided by bending the upper end portion of the cylindrical body inward, and the attachment portion 50a is fixed to the side circumferential surface of the upper end portion of the holder 32. Further, the cover member 50 is not provided with a through hole corresponding to the through hole 36c of the cover member 36.

[0040] When the above cover member 36 is used, there is a possibility that the cooking juice flows into the inside of the large-diameter portion 36a and the outer circumferential surface of the inner holder 32 becomes dirty. However, when this cover member 50 is used, there is an advantage that the outer circumferential surface of the holder 32 can be prevented from being soiled by the cooking juice. However, the upper end portion of the holder 32 is relatively close to the plate-like portion 28 of the heat collecting member 28, and the heat from the cover member 50 is easily transmitted to the temperature sensing element 42. Therefore, the difference ΔT between the actual temperature T1 of the bottom portion 18a of the cooking appliance 18 and the temperature T2 detected by the temperature sensing element 42 becomes slightly larger compared with the above cover member 36. Therefore, in order to detect the actual temperature T1 with high accuracy, it is preferable to measure the difference ΔT by conducting experiments or the like in advance so that the detected temperature T2 can be appropriately corrected. Note that it is also preferable to correct the detected temperature T2 in the same manner when the above cover member 36 is used, and thereby the accuracy of temperature detection can be further improved.

[0041] Further, the cover member may be omitted if necessary. The temperature detection device 10y of the modified example shown in FIG. 7 is obtained by simply removing the cover member 36 from the temperature detection device 10. Even when the cover member 36 is omitted, the first portion 44(1) of the lead wire 44 is safely protected by the filler 46 mainly composed of ceramic powder. Also, even if the cooking juice runs down the outer peripheral surface of the holder 32, it does not enter the inside from the upper end portion of the shaft 24, so there is no obstacle to the vertical movement of the sensor device 22 due to the influence of the cooking juice.

[0042] The upper surface of the plate-like portion of the heat collecting member is preferably a flat surface that can be in surface contact with the bottom surface 18a like the plate-like portion 38 described above, so that it can be well thermally coupled to the bottom surface 18a of the cooking utensil 18. However, if the intended thermal coupling can be obtained, it may be a gently curved convex surface.

[0043] The lead wire of the sensor element is preferably one in which the core wire, which is an electrically conductive portion, is covered with an insulating coating material like the lead wire 44 described above. If the core wire is covered, it can be easily assembled by the procedure shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. The insulating coating material may be an insulating tube that covers the core wire or an insulating film that adheres to the surface of the core wire. However, if the conditions are met, it is also possible to omit the insulating coating material 44b of the first portion 44(1) and protect the core wire 44a only with the filler 46, and the same operational effects can be obtained even if the insulating coating material 44b is omitted.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0044] 10, 10x, 10y Temperature detection device 12 Gas burner 14 Cooking heater 14a Attachment portion 16 Inner space 18 Cooking utensil 18a Bottom surface 20 Support member 22 Sensor device 24 Support shaft 26 Stopper portion 28 Heat collecting member 30 Temperature sensor 32 Holder 34 Spring member 36, 50 Cover member 36a Large-diameter part 36b Small-diameter part 36c Through-hole 38 Plate-like part 40 Lower cylindrical part 42 Temperature detection element 44 Lead wire 44(1) First part 44(2) Second part 44a, 44c Core wire 44b, 44d, 44e Insulation coating material 46, 46L Filler

Claims

1. A temperature detection device that is installed and used in an inner space surrounded by the gas burner of a cooking heater having a gas burner arranged in a ring shape, a contact-type sensor device that detects the temperature of the bottom surface of a cooking utensil placed on the cooking heater, and a cylindrical support shaft that is fixed at a position below the inner space of the cooking heater and supports the sensor device so as to be movable in the vertical direction, the sensor device includes a heat collecting member that is a metal member in which a plate-shaped portion having an upper surface that abuts against the bottom surface of the cooking utensil and a lower cylindrical portion that extends downward from the lower surface of the central portion of the plate-shaped portion are integrated, a temperature sensor having a temperature detection element and a plurality of lead wires connected to the temperature detection element, a holder that is a metal cylindrical body, and a spring member sized to fit inside the holder, in the assembled state, the temperature sensor is fixed at a position where the temperature detection element is close to the lower surface of the plate-shaped portion inside the lower cylindrical portion, and a plurality of the lead wires are drawn out inside the support shaft through the inside of the lower cylindrical portion, the inside of the lower cylindrical portion is filled with a filler mainly composed of ceramic powder, and a first portion of the plurality of lead wires inside the lower cylindrical portion is positioned by the filler in a state where the core wire, which is an electrically conductive portion, and the lower cylindrical portion are separated from each other, and the core wires are separated from each other, a second portion of the plurality of lead wires inside the support shaft is movably accommodated inside the support shaft together with the first portion, the holder is liquid-tightly fixed to the lower surface side of the entire peripheral edge of the upper end portion and accommodates the lower cylindrical portion inside, and the spring member is installed inside the holder so as to bias the heat collecting member and the holder upward with respect to the upper end portion of the support shaft, the lower end portion of the lower cylindrical portion of the heat collecting member is accommodated inside the upper end portion of the support shaft, the upper end portion of the support shaft is accommodated inside the lower end portion of the holder, the inner wall surface of the support shaft is close to or in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower cylindrical portion of the heat collecting member, the outer wall surface of the support shaft is close to or in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the holder, and the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface guide the heat collecting member and the holder in the vertical direction. A temperature detection device characterized by this.

2. The sensor device is a cylindrical body in which a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion are continuously concentric, and has a cover member in which a through-hole is formed at a specific position. In the assembled state, the cover member has the small-diameter portion fixed to the side peripheral surface of the holder, and the large-diameter portion is arranged so as to provide a predetermined space concentrically so as to cover the side peripheral surface of the holder. The upper end portion of the large-diameter portion is spaced apart from the peripheral edge portion of the plate-shaped portion so that the boiled juice flowing from the plate-shaped portion of the heat collecting member can flow inside, and the through-hole is arranged at a position where the boiled juice flowing into the inside of the large-diameter portion can be discharged. The temperature detection device according to claim 1. **Claim 3** The upper surface of the plate-shaped portion of the heat collecting member is formed as a flat surface that can be in surface contact with the bottom surface of the cooking utensil. The temperature detection device according to claim 1 or 2. **Claim 4** The lead wire is one in which the core wire is covered with an insulating coating material. The temperature detection device according to claim 1 or 2.

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