Temperature sensor and cooking appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temperature sensors used in cookware face disconnection issues due to compressive and tensile loads applied to the joining portion between the heat-sensitive body and lead wires, leading to potential disconnection when the cookware is pressed down or lifted.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a connecting wire with a twisted core wire and a smaller wire diameter than the lead wire, which can elastically deform to absorb impact loads, maintaining the connection between the heat-sensitive body and lead wires by distributing the load through a deformable region with a lower strength than the lead wire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heat collecting body is made to reciprocate to maintain contact with cookware, then the temperature measurement reliability is improved, but the joining portion between heat-sensitive body and lead wire is subjected to impact and repetitive loads causing disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the connecting wire by using a twisted wire structure instead of a solid wire, and by making the wire diameter smaller than that of the lead wire. These parameter changes enable the connecting wire to have elastic deformation capability, allowing it to absorb impact loads and repetitive stresses during the reciprocating motion of the heat collecting body, thus preventing disconnection at the joining portion while maintaining reliable temperature measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a gradient in wire diameter and structure along the electrical connection path. The connecting wire has a smaller diameter and twisted structure compared to the lead wire, concentrating the elastic deformation capability at the connecting wire portion. This local differentiation allows the connecting wire to act as a shock-absorbing element while the lead wire maintains its structural integrity for stable electrical connection
2Strength
If the lead wire is made with larger diameter for strength, then the connection strength is improved, but the flexibility to absorb impact load is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical connection path into two distinct portions with different properties: the lead wire with larger diameter for strength and stability, and the connecting wire with smaller diameter and twisted structure for elastic deformation and impact absorption. This segmentation allows each portion to specialize in its function, with the connecting wire serving as a shock-absorbing interface between the movable heat collecting body and the fixed lead wire
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
Prevents disconnection of the core wire from the heat-sensitive body even under impact loads, ensuring continuous temperature measurement by allowing elastic deformation of the connecting wire before disconnection occurs.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the connecting wires includes a second core wire formed of a twisted wire... the second core wire has a lower strength than the first core wire. Thereby, even when the heat collecting body receives the impact load, the core wire can elastically deform antecedently.
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature sensor includes: a sensor element including a heat-sensitive body configured to contact with a detection object, a pair of lead wires connected with the heat-sensitive body, and connecting wires connected with the lead wires respectively; and a holding element including a fixed body configured such that a position of the fixed body is fixed to an object appliance, and a movable body configured to support the heat-sensitive body of the sensor element and to reciprocate between a first position and a second position relative to the fixed body. Each of the lead wires includes a first core wire formed of a solid wire. Each of the connecting wires includes a second core wire formed of a twisted wire and a second insulating covering that covers the second core wire. A conducting wire constituting the twisted wire has a smaller wire diameter than the solid wire.