Dry-Well Sensor Container for Leak-Safe Refrigerator Temperature Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor mounting containers for refrigerators and freezers, which use ballast liquids to simulate product temperatures, face issues such as increased costs due to submersible temperature sensors, potential liquid leakage, and reduced storage capacity due to specific positioning requirements.
Innovation Solution
A sensor container design that includes a main body with dry wells to house temperature sensors, surrounded by a ballast liquid, preventing direct contact with air or liquid, and featuring a fill port for easy liquid management, allowing for multiple sensor sizes and positions without submersion or leakage risks, and mounted in a way that minimizes space interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are submersed in ballast liquid to approximate product temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to protective equipment and heat conductive mediums required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (ballast liquid) that mediates between the air environment and the temperature sensor. The liquid is placed in a container that thermally couples to the sensor, allowing the sensor to measure temperature indirectly through the liquid without being submersed. This resolves the contradiction by achieving accurate temperature measurement while keeping the sensor dry and simple.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are positioned in specific locations to approximate product temperature, then measurement precision is improved, but the available storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensing system from the storage space by placing the sensor and ballast liquid in a separate container that is positioned in the air stream rather than occupying product storage volume. This segmentation allows the sensing function to be performed without reducing the available storage capacity for products.
3Measurement precision
If ballast liquid is used to surround temperature sensors, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to potential liquid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature sensor from direct contact with the ballast liquid while maintaining the liquid's thermal coupling function. The sensor is placed in a separate compartment or mounted on the exterior of the liquid-containing container, eliminating the leakage risk associated with submersed sensors while preserving the measurement accuracy benefits of ballast liquid coupling.
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 solution provides accurate temperature measurement approximating product thermal response without submersion or leakage, while maintaining usable storage space and simplifying customer interaction with sensors.
Implementation Method 1
By placing the temperature sensor(s) in contact with ballast liquid instead of in direct contact with refrigerated air in the cooled cabinet, a better approximation of temperature of the products stored in the cabinet can be provided
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator for storing products includes a sensor container configured to position at least one temperature sensor within a refrigerated interior in a cabinet of the refrigerator. The sensor container includes a main body portion enclosing a hollow interior space configured to receive a ballast liquid, and a plurality of dry wells which each extend generally horizontally between a closed end within the hollow interior space and an open end. The temperature sensors positioned in the dry wells are surrounded by ballast liquid but are not in direct contact with refrigerated air within the cabinet or the ballast liquid. The temperature measurements therefore approximate the thermal response of products (such as blood) stored in the cabinet without necessitating submersible sensors or a risk of liquid leaks. The temperature measurements may be sent to elements such as a chart recorder, and a display and alarm device associated with the refrigerator.