Insulated Food Thermometer Probe for Extreme-Temperature Battery Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food thermometers face challenges in measuring extreme temperatures beyond 350°C and below -50°C, are vulnerable to heat and corrosive food ingredients, and require a battery that withstands these conditions while maintaining functionality over several years.
Innovation Solution
A food thermometer design with a battery positioned at the tip, surrounded by thermal insulation, using materials like phase-change materials and vacuum or insulating gases to protect the battery from excessive heat and cold, ensuring a slim profile for easy insertion and long-term functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the battery is positioned at the pointed end of the food thermometer to maintain a slim design, then the probe can be inserted easily into food, but the battery is exposed to excessive heat which reduces its operational lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
Thermal insulation material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the battery and the hot environment. This insulation layer acts as a mediator that blocks heat transfer to the battery while allowing the battery to remain positioned at the pointed end of the probe, thus maintaining both the slim design and battery reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The battery is extracted from the main body of the food thermometer and repositioned to the pointed end. This separation allows the battery to be placed in the coolest area (inside the food) while the rest of the thermometer remains outside the food, solving both the insertion requirement and the heat protection requirement
2Reliability
If the battery is surrounded by thermal insulation to protect it from heat, then the battery's operational lifespan is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A thin-walled housing structure is used to enclose the battery with minimal material thickness. This thin-walled design provides thermal insulation protection while maintaining a simple overall structure and avoiding excessive complexity in the insulation system
Solution Approach 2:
The battery is nested within the housing structure that provides thermal insulation. This nested arrangement integrates the insulation function into the existing housing design rather than adding separate insulation components, thus protecting the battery while minimizing increases in device 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 design effectively protects the battery from extreme temperatures, allowing the thermometer to measure a wide range of food preparation temperatures safely and reliably, with a compact, long-lasting power source.
Implementation Method 1
The battery is surrounded by thermal insulation located between the housing and the battery
Implementation Method 2
combined with a phase change material for additional protection against extreme temperatures
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a food thermometer (1) with a housing that includes a pointed end for measuring the temperature inside food being cooked. Inside the housing, there is a battery (5) located at the pointed end of the food thermometer (1). The battery (5) is surrounded by thermal insulation located between the housing and the battery (5). The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a food thermometer (1). Thermal insulation material is placed in a housing part of the food thermometer (1) and heated. The battery (5) is inserted into the heated thermal insulation material. The thermal insulation material is then cooled.