Cooling system with stoppered defrost indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for monitoring temperature changes and thawing events in refrigeration systems are complex, lack ease of rotatability and attachability, and fail to accurately measure the duration of temperature increases or cooling interruptions, especially when power is suspended.
Innovation Solution
A device with an elongated compartment containing two phase change materials, a base for rotatable attachment to a wall, and a graduation for measuring liquid levels, allowing for the determination of defrost time periods across multiple temperature intervals by utilizing a planar permeable structure to prevent liquid movement between chambers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a complex design is used to monitor temperature changes and thawing events, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase change materials that transition between solid and liquid states at specific temperature intervals. Each phase change material is contained in a separate chamber, and when the temperature reaches its melting point, it transitions from solid to liquid, causing the liquid level to rise and indicate the duration of temperature exposure through graduated markings.
Solution Approach 2:
The device divides the monitoring function into multiple independent chambers, each containing a phase change material with a specific melting point for different temperature intervals. This segmentation allows the device to track defrost events across multiple temperature ranges simultaneously while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Ease of operation
If a rotatable attachment mechanism is added to allow rotation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a rotatable attachment mechanism that allows the indicator to be rotated to different orientations. This dynamic feature enables the user to position the indicator optimally for viewing or for specific installation locations, improving ease of operation while adding only minimal mechanical complexity through a simple rotation joint.
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 device provides a simple, effective method for measuring defrost time and temperature changes in refrigeration spaces, ensuring food viability by accurately tracking exposure to elevated temperatures during cooling interruptions, even after power restoration.
Implementation Method 1
A device with an elongated compartment containing two phase change materials
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a planar permeable structure to prevent liquid movement between chambers
Data Source
AI summary
A defrost or thaw measuring device has a dumbbell or hourglass-shaped rotatable compartment with a cavity, the cavity being partly filled with at least two phase change materials having different melting points. The measuring device may determine the time period of thawing at two or more temperature intervals in the refrigeration space.