Cooling system with elongated compartment indicator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for monitoring temperature changes and defrosting 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, particularly at multiple temperature intervals.
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 freezing and rotating the compartment to collect melted liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current monitoring solutions are used, then temperature changes can be detected, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase change materials that transition between solid and liquid states at specific temperature thresholds. These materials are contained in separate chambers within the indicator device, and their phase transitions visually indicate when specific temperature intervals are exceeded, providing accurate temperature monitoring through simple visual cues rather than complex electronic sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring device is divided into multiple separate chambers, each containing a phase change material with a different melting point corresponding to different temperature intervals. This segmentation allows the device to monitor multiple temperature ranges simultaneously using simple, discrete visual indicators rather than a complex continuous measurement system
2Measurement precision
If current monitoring solutions are used, then defrost events can be detected, but the ease of operation decreases due to lack of rotatability and attachability
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator device incorporates a rotatable mechanism with a pin joint that allows the device to be freely rotated and positioned in any orientation. This dynamic positioning capability enables the device to be easily attached to various surfaces and viewed from different angles, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining accurate defrost event detection through the phase change material indicators
3Reliability
If current monitoring solutions are used, then cooling interruptions can be detected, but the measurement precision of defrost time period decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is pre-filled with phase change materials calibrated to specific temperature thresholds before deployment. When cooling interruptions occur, these pre-positioned materials transition at predictable temperature points, allowing accurate measurement of defrost time periods without requiring complex real-time calibration or adjustment during operation
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 to measure defrost time and temperature changes in refrigeration spaces, ensuring food viability by correlating liquid levels with time, even after power restoration, and can be reused without refilling.
Implementation Method 1
A device with an elongated compartment containing two phase change materials... allowing for the determination of defrost time periods across multiple temperature intervals by freezing and rotating the compartment to collect melted liquid
Implementation Method 2
by freezing and rotating the compartment to collect melted liquid
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.