Suspended Inner Pan Assembly for In-Cooking Weight and Temperature Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooking apparatuses lack integrated weight and temperature measurement capabilities, making it difficult to monitor food cooking processes accurately and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A pan assembly comprising an inner and outer pan, load cells with strain gauge weight sensors, a temperature probe, an electronic display screen, and buttons for toggling between weight and temperature readings, allowing for precise measurement and display of mass and temperature in various units and scales.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cooking apparatuses are equipped with integrated weight and temperature measurement capabilities, then measurement precision and cooking control are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines weight measurement (load cells) and temperature measurement (temperature probe) functions into a single cooking apparatus unit, integrating multiple measurement capabilities that would traditionally require separate devices. This merging approach improves measurement precision while managing device complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooking apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: weight measurement, temperature monitoring, and cooking. The load cells and temperature probe are integrated into the cooking pan structure, allowing the same device to serve both as a cooking vessel and a measurement instrument, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the inner pan is positioned close to the outer pan bottom (less than two millimeters), then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the space for load cell installation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The load cells are positioned laterally between the inner and outer pans rather than vertically beneath the inner pan bottom. This dimensional repositioning allows the measurement components to be installed without increasing the vertical gap between pans, thereby maintaining heat transfer efficiency while accommodating the measurement system.
Solution Approach 2:
The load cells are nested within the structural space between the inner and outer pans, utilizing the existing gap for dual purposes: structural support for measurement and minimal thermal interference. This nesting approach allows close pan positioning for heat efficiency while providing space for load cell installation.
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 accurate and versatile measurement of food weight and temperature during cooking, enhancing cooking control and efficiency by providing real-time data on multiple scales and units.
Implementation Method 1
two load cells, each load cell comprising a strain gauge weight sensor
Implementation Method 2
a temperature probe configured to measure a temperature of the inner pan
Data Source
AI summary
A pan assembly comprises an inner pan; an outer pan; a plurality of load cells comprising strain gauge weight sensors; a temperature probe; and an electronic display screen. The pan assembly is configured to provide both weight information for contents of the pan assembly, and temperature information for the pan. The inner pan is suspended within the outer pan by the load cells. The pan assembly is configured to display a weight or mass reading based on a weight or mass measurement by the load cells and is configured to display a temperature reading based on a temperature measurement by the temperature probe.