Fryer Electrode Assembly for High-Gain Oil Conductivity Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrode systems for measuring cooking medium quality in fryers are not suitable for commercial use due to material limitations, mechanical fragility, contamination susceptibility, and non-compliance with food safety regulations, and they struggle to generate sufficient signal gain in high-resistance cooking media.
Innovation Solution
A durable electrode unit with a specific size, geometry, and construction, including a stainless steel electrode plate, PTFE insulator, and steel guard ring, is designed to provide high electrode gain, with a signal conditioning circuit to measure conductivity and filter noise, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations and effective operation in commercial fryers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a small electrode is used to avoid interfering with fry baskets, then the electrode can be mounted below cooking medium level, but the electrode cannot generate sufficient signal gain to resolve cooking medium quality differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the electrode, specifically using a plate geometry with optimized dimensions (e.g., 0.5 inch thickness, 2 inch width, 4 inch length) and spacing (e.g., 0.125 inch gap) to maximize output signal while maintaining compact size suitable for fryer installation below the cooking medium level
2Ease of manufacture
If known electrode materials are used, then the electrode can be constructed, but the materials cannot withstand cooking oil temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and resist mechanical damage from cleaning and operator equipment abuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction with a stainless steel electrode plate (providing mechanical strength and temperature resistance), PTFE insulator (providing electrical insulation and chemical resistance), and steel guard ring (providing structural support), creating a composite assembly that withstands commercial fryer conditions including 450°F temperatures and mechanical cleaning
3Device complexity
If an interdigitated pattern of conductors with very small spacing is used, then the electrode can be created, but the electrode is too fragile for use in a commercial fryer and too susceptible to contamination from food particles
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using the conventional interdigitated pattern with small spacing that creates fragility, the patent inverts the approach by using a simple plate geometry with larger dimensions and spacing, which inherently provides mechanical strength and resistance to food particle contamination while still enabling conductivity measurement
4Volume of moving object
If the electrode is positioned close to grounded metal objects in the cooking vessel, then the electrode can be mounted in the cooking vessel, but the readouts from the electrodes are affected by the proximity of grounded metal objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a PTFE insulator as an intermediary material between the electrode plate and the cooking vessel wall, providing electrical insulation that prevents interference from grounded metal objects while allowing the electrode to be positioned close to the vessel for optimal measurement geometry
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 a reliable, durable, and accurate measurement of cooking medium quality, enhancing signal gain while minimizing noise and contamination issues, ensuring compliance with food safety standards and effective operation in commercial fryer environments.
Implementation Method 1
The electrode is energized with an excitation voltage signal, and the resulting current flows from the energized electrode through the cooking medium to ground. The measured value of this current corresponds to the cooking medium quality
Data Source
AI summary
A fryer measures cooking medium quality, and includes a cooking vessel configured to store a cooking medium, an electrode plate completely immersed in the cooking medium, an insulator comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the insulator is fixed to the electrode plate, and a second side of the insulator is attached to a wall of the cooking vessel, a guard ring fixed to the cooking vessel and surrounding the electrode plate and insulator. The guard ring extends further away from the wall of the cooking vessel than the electrode plate. A size of a gap between the guard ring and the electrode plate is based on a height, a width, and a thickness of the electrode plate and substantially defines a gain of the electrode. A signal conditioning circuit measures the conductivity of the cooking medium applied to the electrode.