CH675352A5

CH675352A5 - Oil condition monitor - includes battery-powered indicator switching on with bimetallic switch when oil temp. rises, thus recording thermal degradation

Info

Publication number: CH675352A5
Application number: CH21588A
Authority: CH
Inventors: Lydie-Charlotte-Bal Charpilloz
Original assignee: Andyval Inc
Priority date: 1988-01-23
Filing date: 1988-01-23
Publication date: 1990-09-28

Abstract

The system for monitoring the thermal degradation of oil includes an electric circuit comprising a battery, indicator light, and cell containing a sample of the oil. The cell accommodates a bimetal switch which closes when the temperature of the oil reaches a set value - for example 120 degrees C. The indicator depends on the amp-hour capacity of the battery. When the temperature rises, the battery starts to discharge through the indicator bulb, and when the bulb fails this is an indication that the battery is exhausted, and the oil is therefore also degraded. USE - Recording useful life of mineral or vegatable based oil.

Description

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CH 675 352 A5 CH 675 352 A5

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Description Description

La présente invention a pour objet un enregistreur thermique signalant le moment où une huile est chimiquement dégradée par la chaleur. The present invention relates to a thermal recorder signaling the moment when an oil is chemically degraded by heat.

Depuis longtemps existent des appareils et des instruments précis pour analyser, contrôler et chiffrer le degré d'usure chimique des liquides et, particulièrement, des huiles minérales et végétales. Cependant, les méthodes d'analyse sont longues et coûteuses et réservées aux spécialistes disposant de laboratoires ou d'installations adéquates. Cette situation rend très difficile l'appréciation, en vue directe, de la qualité d'une huile comestible ayant déjà été surchauffée à plusieurs reprises. Precise devices and instruments have long existed for analyzing, controlling and quantifying the degree of chemical wear of liquids and, in particular, mineral and vegetable oils. However, the methods of analysis are long and costly and reserved for specialists with adequate laboratories or facilities. This situation makes it very difficult to assess, in direct view, the quality of an edible oil that has already been overheated several times.

Du reste, la diététique moderne nous rend attentifs aux dangers que nous encourons parl'absorp-tion d'aliments frits dans des corps gras dégradés ou oxydés par le surchauffement, le vieillissement ou l'hydrolyse. Moreover, modern dietetics makes us aware of the dangers that we run by absorbing fried foods in fatty substances degraded or oxidized by overheating, aging or hydrolysis.

L'invention a pour but de signaler instantanément, aussi bien à une simple ménagère qu'à un cuisinier professionnel, l'état de dégradation chimique de l'huile comestible qu'ils se préparent à utiliser pour une friture. The object of the invention is to instantly signal, as well to a simple housewife as to a professional cook, the state of chemical degradation of the edible oil that they are preparing to use for frying.

Le dessin annexé représente, à titre d'exemple, une forme d'éxécution de l'appareil adapté à un récipient contenant de l'huile comestible. Le thermo-enregistreur à contrôle visuel, objet de l'invention, se compose d'un circuit éléctrique autonome comprenant un interrupteur bi-métal B, une piie à mercure ou alcaline P et une ampoule témoin A. The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, an embodiment of the apparatus adapted to a container containing edible oil. The thermo-recorder with visual control, object of the invention, consists of an autonomous electrical circuit comprising a bi-metal switch B, a mercury or alkaline pi P and a control bulb A.

Lorsqu'une source de chaleur a porté la température de l'huile H à un nombre de degrés déterminé à l'avance, par exemple 120 degrés centigrades, l'interrupteur bi-métal B en contact avec le récipient contenant l'huile réagit à cette température et ferme immédiatement le circuit éléctrique de l'appareil. Dès cet instant la pile P s'usera en alimentant l'ampoule A aussi longtemps, et chaque fois, que l'huile H sera soumise à une température égale ou supérieure à 120 degrés centigrades. When a heat source has brought the temperature of the oil H to a number of degrees determined in advance, for example 120 degrees centigrade, the bi-metal switch B in contact with the container containing the oil reacts to this temperature and immediately closes the electrical circuit of the appliance. From this moment the battery P will wear out by feeding the bulb A as long, and each time, that the oil H will be subjected to a temperature equal to or greater than 120 degrees centigrade.

L'ampoule témoin A signale, par l'absence de luminosité, le moment où la pile P, par ses nombreuses mises en service, est tarie, la capacité de la pile P en ampéres-heures étant connue de l'utilisateur et servant d'élément de comptage. The indicator bulb A signals, by the absence of brightness, the moment when the battery P, by its numerous commissionings, has dried up, the capacity of the battery P in ampere-hours being known to the user and serving to counting element.

Cet exemple montre comment ce thermo-enregis-treur à contrôle visuel permet de connaître le nombre total d'heures pendant lesquelles l'huile H a atteint, ou dépassé, une température critique, ce résultat étant obtenu grâce à la pile P servant d'élément de contrôle du temps d'utilisation, c'est-à-dire, du temps d'oxydation et de vieillis sement. This example shows how this thermo-recorder with visual control makes it possible to know the total number of hours during which the oil H has reached, or exceeded, a critical temperature, this result being obtained thanks to the battery P serving as element for controlling the time of use, that is to say, the time of oxidation and aging.

Claims

1. Thermo-recorder with visual control signaling, by means of a battery and a resistance when an oil is chemically degraded, characterized in that the capacity in ampere-hours of the battery serves as a counting element ;

2. Thermo-recorder according to claim 1, characterized in that the resistance consists of a bulb;

3. Thermo-recorder according to claim 1 or 2 wherein a variable resistor depending on the temperature is inserted in the electrical circuit to force the battery to supply a greater amount of current as the temperature of the oil increases ;

4. Thermo-recorder according to one of claims 1 or 3 wherein the visual control means consists of a dial instrument and needle;

5. Thermo-recorder according to one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein the electrical circuit is arranged so as to allow the presence of current to be checked in the battery by actuating a push button installed on the electrical circuit;

6. Thermo-recorder according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is independent and removable and that it can be brought into contact with an oil container by magnetized metallic masses acting as fasteners.

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