Cooking Vessel Liquid Level Sensing With an Open Swiveling Lid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances require the lid to be closed to measure the liquid level, limiting their universal use and complicating cleaning and maintenance, especially in applications where the lid is often open.
Innovation Solution
Attaching at least part of the non-contact measuring device to the lid allows for liquid level detection when the lid is open, using a reflector to direct radiation between the emitter and sensor, which can be positioned on the outside or inside of the lid, enabling measurement without internal components, thus facilitating easier access and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the measuring device is attached to the inside of the container, then the liquid level can be measured, but the cleaning and maintenance becomes difficult and the inner wall cannot be smooth and undercut-free
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring device is extracted from the interior of the container and attached to the exterior surface. This allows the interior to remain smooth and undercut-free for easy cleaning, while the measuring device performs its function from the outside, eliminating the contradiction between measurement capability and ease of maintenance.
2Measurement precision
If the lid must be closed to measure liquid level, then the measurement can be performed, but the appliance cannot be used universally for processes requiring open lid
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring device is designed to function with the lid in any position (open, closed, or partially open) by attaching it to the exterior of the lid. This allows the appliance to maintain liquid level measurement capability while accommodating various cooking processes that require different lid positions, achieving universal applicability.
3Area of stationary object
If the measuring device is positioned away from the pivot axis, then the measurement range is increased, but the movement distance increases making measurement less stable
Solution Approach 1:
The system compensates for the increased movement distance of the measuring device by dynamically adjusting measurement parameters such as the angle of incidence and detection thresholds. This allows the device to maintain measurement stability even when positioned away from the pivot axis to increase measurement coverage.
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
Enables universal use of cooking appliances by allowing liquid level measurement with the lid open, improving maintenance and cleaning efficiency, and enabling precise portioning during cooking processes like pasta cooking without the need to close the lid.
Implementation Method 1
a non-contact measuring device for determining the liquid level in the pan... which was reflected on the liquid surface
Implementation Method 2
Another embodiment that is optimized in terms of maintenance and loading of the measuring device provides for attaching a reflector to the cover. This reflector reflects a measuring beam coming to and/or from the liquid surface.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The appliance has a crucible (10) that is filled with a liquid e.g. oil, and a swiveling lid (18) that is utilized to close the crucible. A contactless measurement device is utilized for measuring a level of the liquid in the crucible. A part of the contactless measurement device is mounted on the lid such that the measurement device captures the level of the liquid when the lid is open. The measurement device is arranged with a transmitter (24) and a sensor (26) is arranged on the lid. A set of reflectors is mounted on the lid. An independent claim is also included for a method for measurement of a level of liquid in a crucible of a cooking appliance.