Temperature Probe Hub Drainage and Flexible Button Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature probe hubs lack effective mechanisms for fluid removal from probe jacks and do not provide intuitive user interfaces for controlling device functions, such as data presentation and power operations.
Innovation Solution
The temperature probe hub incorporates drains to remove fluid from probe jacks and features a movable filler that actuates control buttons upon compressive force, allowing for fluid expulsion and user-controlled device operations like data presentation and power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If probe jacks are sealed to prevent fluid ingress, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to remove accumulated fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The probe jack assembly is segmented into a sealed upper portion and a drainable lower portion. The drain hole provides a dedicated fluid egress path separated from the electrical contact elements, allowing fluid to be removed from the jack while maintaining the sealed environment necessary for reliable electrical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain hole extracts the fluid removal function from the sealed jack structure. By providing a separate egress path that does not compromise the sealed environment, the system can remove accumulated fluid while maintaining protection against fluid ingress during normal operation.
2Reliability
If a rigid housing is used to prevent material ingress, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional switch mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The filler element acts as a flexible membrane that transmits user pressure through the rigid housing wall to actuate control elements. This eliminates the need for separate switch mechanisms, buttons, or openings in the housing, maintaining both reliability and simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filler serves as an intermediary between the user's external pressure and the internal control elements. It transmits mechanical force through the rigid housing without requiring physical openings or complex switching mechanisms, simplifying the overall device structure.
3Ease of operation
If multiple control buttons are provided for device functions, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The single filler element performs multiple control functions by being positioned to actuate different control elements at different locations. A single component provides access to multiple device functions, eliminating the need for separate buttons, switches, or controls for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple control functions are merged into a single filler element. By strategically positioning the filler, the system combines what would otherwise require multiple separate control mechanisms into one unified component, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
Temperature probe hubs are disclosed. An example temperature probe hub includes a housing and a control button. The housing includes a base. The base has a central portion, a peripheral portion bounding the central portion, and a filler extending between the central portion and the peripheral portion. The filler is configured to move the central portion relative to the peripheral portion in response to a compressive force applied to the filler. The control button is located within the housing. The control button is configured to be actuated in response to movement of the central portion of the housing relative to the peripheral portion of the housing.