Condensate Water Level Sensing in Refrigerated Cabinets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerated sales cabinets lack an effective system to monitor the condensate water level in the water collecting container, leading to potential overflow and slipping hazards without an alarm system to indicate when maintenance is required.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring system comprising sensors, such as conductive or ultrasonic sensors, coupled with a processing device to detect water presence and level, generating alerts when the water level reaches a predetermined threshold, ensuring timely maintenance and preventing overflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no water level monitoring system is installed, then the cabinet structure remains simple, but water overflow occurs causing slipping hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical water level monitoring mechanisms with electronic sensors (conductive or ultrasonic) coupled with a processing device. This substitution maintains monitoring reliability while reducing mechanical complexity, as the sensors electronically detect water presence and level without moving mechanical parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary devices between the water collecting container and the monitoring system. These sensors act as mediators that detect water conditions and transmit information to the processing device, enabling reliable monitoring while keeping the overall system structure simple and modular.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If water level monitoring is implemented, then overflow prevention is achieved, but additional sensors and processing devices are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring function into distinct modular components: water presence detection sensors, water level sensors, and a processing device. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function efficiently, preventing overflow through coordinated operation while keeping individual components simple and the overall system manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing device serves multiple functions: it receives signals from both water presence sensors and water level sensors, processes this information, determines when water should be pumped out, and controls the pumping operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control devices, minimizing system complexity while achieving comprehensive overflow prevention.
3Loss of time
If continuous water level monitoring is performed, then timely maintenance alerts are generated, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring where the processing device checks water level sensor data at regular intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action generates timely maintenance alerts when water reaches critical levels while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring, as the sensors and processing device remain in low-power states between measurement cycles.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively monitors the water level, providing alerts to prevent overflow and ensuring safety by allowing for timely maintenance, enhancing reliability and accuracy without requiring mechanical changes to the cabinet or water collecting container.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor is a conductive sensor
Implementation Method 2
at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor is an ultrasonic sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A system for monitoring a water collecting container includes a first sensor operable to detect if water is present within the water collecting container, a second sensor operable to determine a level of water within the water collecting container, and a processing device operably coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor.