Cooktop Temperature Probe for Gas Burner Heat Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in precisely heating cooking utensils with gas burners, as they need constant monitoring and adjustment to maintain temperature, and smaller utensils are not suitable for the upper operating range of gas burners.
Innovation Solution
A temperature probe system for cooktop appliances that includes a probe body with a temperature sensor, fixed and extension arms for mounting on a cooking utensil, and a controller to communicate with the cooktop appliance, allowing for automatic adjustment of gas burner output based on the utensil's size, enabling precise temperature maintenance and appropriate heat range operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gas burner is used for heating cooking utensils, then the heating output can be adjusted, but it requires constant user monitoring and manual adjustment to maintain precise temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service operation by automatically maintaining the desired temperature through electronic control. The microprocessor controller continuously monitors the temperature sensor input and adjusts the gas valve accordingly, eliminating the need for constant user monitoring and manual adjustment while preserving the gas burner's adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback control mechanism where the temperature sensor continuously measures the actual temperature in the cooking utensil and sends this information to the microprocessor controller. The controller then adjusts the gas valve to maintain the desired temperature, creating a closed-loop system that automatically compensates for temperature variations.
2Productivity
If the gas burner operates at high heat output, then heating speed increases, but smaller cooking utensils cannot be properly heated due to excessive heat
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the gas burner output based on real-time temperature feedback and utensil size detection. The microprocessor controller modifies the heating power continuously to match the specific thermal requirements of different utensil sizes, enabling both fast heating for large utensils and controlled low-power heating for small utensils.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of the gas burner based on detected utensil characteristics. When a small utensil is detected, the controller limits the maximum heat output to prevent overheating, while allowing full power for larger utensils, thus adapting the heating parameters to match the utensil size and maintaining both productivity and adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If automated temperature control is implemented, then user effort is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microprocessor controller serves multiple functions: it processes temperature sensor data, detects utensil size through the temperature probe positioning, controls the gas valve, and provides user interface management. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional controller, the system achieves automated temperature control with reduced user effort while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
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 allows for automated and precise temperature control of cooking utensils, ensuring appropriate heat output for utensil size, reducing user effort and ensuring safe and efficient cooking.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor extending from the probe body
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature probe for a cooktop appliance includes a probe body and a temperature sensor extending from the probe body. The temperature probe also includes a first arm and a second arm configured to mount on a cooking utensil. The temperature probe further comprises a controller configured to communicate with a controller of the cooktop appliance and to transmit a signal to the controller of the cooktop appliance corresponding to a size of the cooking utensil.