Sensor Channel Forming in Cooking Vessels With a Removable Support Bar

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing channels in cooking vessels to receive sensors, such as temperature sensors, often result in irregular dimensions due to material subsidence during crimping, leading to potential damage and pollution from finishing processes, and lack economic efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method involving creating a groove in the bottom or perforated plate, inserting a bar to maintain geometry during crimping, and removing it after surface treatment to form a channel with controlled dimensions and prevent pollution, using materials that change state or decompose under thermal, physical, or chemical processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the perforated plate is crimped on the bottom by striking to form the reception channel, then the channel is formed between the bottom and the perforated plate, but material subsidence occurs during crimping causing irregular dimensions that can damage the sensor and lead wires

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddimensional precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A support bar is introduced as an intermediary element during the crimping operation. The bar is positioned in the groove before crimping and maintains the geometry of the reception channel during the striking operation. This mediator prevents material subsidence and ensures regular dimensions without requiring complex equipment or processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If surface treatment steps such as sandblasting or coating deposition are performed to finish the cooking vessel, then the surface quality is improved, but the reception channel may be polluted by foreign bodies from these processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidpollution of reception channel
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support bar serves as a protective intermediary that blocks the reception channel during surface treatment operations. By having the bar in place before sandblasting, coating deposition, trimming, or polishing, the channel is shielded from foreign body contamination while these necessary manufacturing steps are performed on the cooking vessel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support bar is installed in the groove before the surface treatment and finishing operations are performed. This preliminary action ensures that the channel is protected from pollution before the harmful processes occur, rather than requiring cleanup or protection after the fact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If a rigid support structure is used to maintain channel geometry during crimping, then dimensional precision is improved, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases due to additional removal steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedimensional precisionVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support bar is made of material that undergoes phase transition when heated - specifically, wax that melts from solid to liquid state. This allows the bar to be easily removed by simple heating after it has served its purpose during crimping, avoiding complex removal operations while maintaining dimensional precision during the critical crimping step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The material of the support bar is selected to change its physical properties under specific conditions. The wax-based bar changes from a solid state (providing structural support during crimping) to a liquid state (enabling easy removal by heating). This parameter change simplifies the removal process while maintaining the bar's functionality during manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Ensures consistent channel dimensions to protect sensors, prevents pollution, and facilitates economical production by maintaining channel integrity and cleanliness during the finishing stages.

Implementation Method 1

Position the perforated plate on the bottom and crimp it on the bottom by striking, the bar maintaining the geometry of the channel formed between the bottom and the perforated plate during the striking operation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical support:

Implementation Method 2

the bar is made of at least one material which can change state or which can be decomposed under the effect of a thermal, physical or chemical process during step d) of the method... the bar is made of at least one material which can change state or which can be decomposed under the effect of a thermal, physical or chemical process during step d) of the method... the bar is made of at least one material which can change state or which can be decomposed under the effect of a thermal, physical or chemical process during step d) of the method

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

the bar is made of at least one agglomerated material, in particular based on sand or plaster, which can be decomposed under the effect of vibrations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibrational decomposition: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2807965B1Method for forming a channel for receiving a sensor in a cooking vessel
Publication Date: 2016.02.17 SEB SA
  • EP2807965B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2807965B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing a channel (11) for receiving a sensor, in particular a temperature sensor, in a cooking receptacle (1) comprising a cap (2) comprising a bottom (3) and a perforated plate (6) fixed on the bottom (3), said receiving channel (11) being arranged between the bottom (3) and the perforated plate (6). In accordance with the invention, it comprises the following steps: a) Making a groove (5) in the bottom (3) of the cap (2) or in the perforated plate (6), b) Placing a bar (10) in the groove (5), c) Position the perforated plate (6) on the bottom (3) and crimp it on the bottom (3) by striking, the bar (10) maintaining the geometry of the reception channel (11) formed between the bottom (3) and the perforated plate (6) during the striking operation, d) Remove the strip (10) to release and form the reception channel (11).