Gas Cooktop Grate-Mounted Temperature Sensor for Thermal Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gas cooktop appliances face challenges in measuring cooking utensil temperatures due to sensors being compromised by heat from gas burners, leading to assembly complexities, spill issues, and sensitivity to contaminants and cleaning environments.
Innovation Solution
A gas burner assembly with a grate featuring thermally isolated temperature sensors mounted on sensor fingers, which are protected from direct heat and spills, allowing for accurate temperature measurement 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 and presses against the cooking utensil, then the sensor can measure the utensil temperature, 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 mounted separately on the grate structure. This separation allows the burner to be assembled and cleaned independently without the sensor passing through it, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining temperature measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor finger acts as an intermediary component that carries the temperature sensor. This mediator allows the sensor to be positioned in contact with the cooking utensil without being integrated into the gas burner structure, simplifying both assembly and cleaning procedures.
2Ease of operation
If openings in the gas burner accommodate the sensors, then the sensors can be positioned, but spills can pass through the gas burner
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is extracted from the gas burner structure and mounted on the grate instead. This eliminates the need for openings in the gas burner to accommodate sensors, thereby preventing spills from passing through the burner while still allowing sensor positioning near the cooking utensil.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor mounting location is shifted from the horizontal plane of the gas burner to the vertical structure of the grate. This dimensional change allows the sensor to be positioned effectively without creating openings in the gas burner that would allow spills to pass through.
3Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is mounted on the sensor finger, then the sensor can contact the cooking utensil, but the sensor is exposed to direct heat and spills
Solution Approach 1:
A protective coating or shell is applied to the temperature sensor and sensor finger assembly. This protective layer shields the sensitive electronics from direct exposure to heat and spills while allowing the sensor to maintain contact with the cooking utensil for accurate temperature measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor finger is designed with thermal isolation features that protect the temperature sensor from direct heat exposure before the heat can damage the sensor. This preemptive protection measures ensures the sensor remains robust against thermal and spill exposure while maintaining measurement capability.
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 robust and durable temperature measurement capabilities, shielding sensors from direct heat and spills, enabling reliable cooking control and easy maintenance, including dishwasher safety.
Implementation Method 1
The temperature sensor is thermally isolated from the sensor finger
Data Source
AI summary
A gas burner assembly includes a gas burner and a grate with a plurality of fingers positioned above the gas burner. The plurality of fingers include a sensor finger. The gas burner assembly also includes a temperature sensor mounted to the sensor finger of the plurality of fingers of the grate. The temperature sensor is thermally isolated from the sensor finger.