Cooktop appliance with a hinged temperature sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas cooktop appliances face challenges in measuring cooking utensil temperatures due to sensors being compromised by heated air, complex assembly, spillage, and lack of robustness in harsh cooking environments.
Innovation Solution
A cooktop appliance design featuring a grate with rotatably mounted temperature sensors that can move between elevated and lowered positions, shielded from direct heating and positioned to accurately measure utensil temperatures while being easy to clean and maintain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor passes through the gas burner to contact the cooking utensil, then the temperature measurement is achieved, but the assembly and cleaning of burner parts becomes greatly complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is extracted from the gas burner assembly and relocated to the grate structure. The sensor now passes through the grate rather than the burner, separating the sensing function from the combustion system. This allows the burner to be assembled, disassembled, and cleaned independently without the sensor complicating these operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The grate serves as an intermediary structure that supports the temperature sensor while maintaining its measurement function. The sensor is mounted on the grate finger and positioned to contact the cooking utensil bottom, using the grate as a mounting platform rather than integrating it directly into the burner assembly.
2Measurement precision
If openings in the gas burner accommodate the sensor, then the sensor can contact the cooking utensil, but spills can pass through the gas burner
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor mounting function is extracted from the gas burner openings. Instead of passing through burner openings, the sensor is relocated to the grate structure, eliminating the need for burner modifications that would create spill pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The grate structure, which naturally supports cookware and contains spills, is utilized as the sensor mounting platform. This converts the grate's spill-containing function into a beneficial feature that protects the sensor area while maintaining measurement capability.
3Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is positioned to contact the cooking utensil, then accurate temperature measurement is achieved, but the sensor is exposed to harsh cooking environment conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The grate finger acts as an intermediary mounting structure that positions the sensor for accurate measurement while providing a more protected environment compared to direct burner integration. The sensor is sheltered by the grate structure while maintaining contact with the cookware bottom.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is designed with rotational freedom on the grate finger, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. This enables the sensor to maintain optimal contact with the cooking utensil bottom while accommodating variations in cookware placement and orientation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the temperature sensor is mounted on the grate finger with rotational freedom, then the sensor can adapt to different utensil positions, but the sensor mounting complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is mounted with rotational freedom on the grate finger, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation. This simple rotational degree of freedom enables the sensor to adapt to different cookware positions without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or multiple mounting configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooktop appliance defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical direction, the lateral direction, and the transverse direction are mutually perpendicular. The cooktop appliance includes a top panel with a gas burner disposed on the top panel. A terminal block is positioned on the top panel adjacent to the burner. The cooktop appliance also includes a grate with a plurality of fingers removably positioned above the gas burner. The plurality of fingers include a sensor finger. A temperature sensor is rotatably mounted to the sensor finger of the plurality of fingers of the grate whereby the temperature sensor is movable along the vertical direction between an elevated position and a lowered position.