Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G01K3/00—Thermometers giving results other than momentary value of temperature
  • G01K3/02—Thermometers giving results other than momentary value of temperature giving means values; giving integrated values
  • G01K3/04—Thermometers giving results other than momentary value of temperature giving means values; giving integrated values in respect of time
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G01K11/00—Measuring temperature based upon physical or chemical changes not covered by groups G01K3/00, G01K5/00, G01K7/00 or G01K9/00
  • G01K11/06—Measuring temperature based upon physical or chemical changes not covered by groups G01K3/00, G01K5/00, G01K7/00 or G01K9/00 using melting, freezing, or softening
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01K—MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G01K5/00—Measuring temperature based on the expansion or contraction of a material
  • G01K5/48—Measuring temperature based on the expansion or contraction of a material the material being a solid
  • G01K5/54—Measuring temperature based on the expansion or contraction of a material the material being a solid consisting of pivotally-connected elements

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for indicating that at least one temperature threshold has been reached and / or exceeded. It relates in particular, but not exclusively, to a device enabling an operator to take cognizance of the fact that the temperature of the product comprising said device has reached or exceeded a predetermined threshold.
• a cold chain aims to maintain food or pharmaceutical products at a given temperature, or below a given temperature, to ensure the preservation of the qualities and properties of said products. It is also known that a break in the cold chain leads to the development of pathogenic germs and / or the alteration of said products which may lead in the latter case to the attenuation or the suppression of the therapeutic effect of the latter. they constitute medicines.
• thermo recorders which are generally constituted by a temperature sensor, an electronic memory, a microcontroller, and a battery; thus, these recorders have the disadvantage of having a complex structure increasing the cost price of the assembly, which does not allow to incorporate them directly in the products whose temperature one wants to control; and or
• the invention therefore more particularly aims to solve this problem by providing a device for indicating that at least one temperature threshold has been reached and / or exceeded, this device having a structure whose simplicity allows it to be included or placed on the product whose temperature is to be controlled.
• the invention proposes a device for indicating that at least one temperature threshold has been reached and / or exceeded, characterized in that it comprises a support of which at least one of the faces comprises at least a visual indicator visible externally and / or sound, this support comprising:
• the component capable of changing dimensions may be constituted by a rod or a bar made of a material having the specificity of expanding when the ambient temperature reaches or exceeds said temperature threshold.
• the expansion of this material results in a translational movement of said component which is transmitted by the transmission means to at least one visual indicator which will itself be subject to a translation movement.
• This translational movement of the visual indicator advantageously makes it possible to make visible visual information indicating that said temperature threshold has been reached or exceeded.
• the component capable of changing state may consist of a solid having the specificity of being liquefied when the ambient temperature reaches or exceeds said temperature threshold.
• the liquefaction of the component results in a flow movement of the latter in a communication means which directs the liquid towards said visual indicator.
• the device according to the invention because of the simplicity of its structure, can be included in or attached directly to the product whose temperature is to be controlled, while allowing to easily determine if this temperature has reached or exceeded a certain threshold.
• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the apparent face of the support of the device according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the underside of the device support according to this embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation, in longitudinal section, of part of the apparent face of the support, as represented in FIG. 1, with in particular a highlighting of the visual indicator and a reservoir of a component that may change state.
• Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the portion of the apparent face of the support, as shown in Figure 3, after the temperature threshold has been reached or exceeded.
• FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the visual indicator, of said reservoir and of the communication means of the device as represented in FIG. 3.
• Figure 6 is a schematic representation of the part of the device according to this embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 3, after the temperature threshold has been reached or exceeded.
• FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation, in longitudinal section, of the support of the device according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, this support comprising a component capable of changing dimensions as a function of temperature.
• Figure 8 is a schematic representation, in longitudinal section, of the support as shown in Figure 7, after the temperature threshold has been reached or exceeded.
• Figure 9 is a schematic representation, in longitudinal section, of the support of the device according to another embodiment of the invention, the support comprising a component capable of changing dimensions depending on the temperature.
• FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of the apparent face of the support shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.
• FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of the apparent face of the support shown in FIG. 10, in the case where a temperature threshold has been reached or exceeded.
• the apparent face of the support 1 of the device according to this embodiment of the invention comprises a visual indicator 2 constituted in this case by a barcode.
• This apparent face may also include:
• a second zone 4 which contains a description of the function of the device according to this alternative embodiment of the invention and / or identification information of said product.
• the apparent face of the device according to this alternative embodiment may also comprise other information (not shown), such as the conventional product barcode which makes it possible to identify the characteristics of the product in question. question, indications concerning the predetermined temperature threshold (s), advertising information, etc.
• other information such as the conventional product barcode which makes it possible to identify the characteristics of the product in question. question, indications concerning the predetermined temperature threshold (s), advertising information, etc.
• the device according to this alternative embodiment of the invention also comprises:
• a tank 5 having a component 6 may change state depending on the temperature; this component 6 may consist in particular of a solid material capable of liquefying when said temperature threshold is reached or crossed, this component may be constituted for example by a fatty acid or by a mixture of fatty acids;
• a communication means 7 that may consist of a flow channel connecting the reservoir 5 to the visual indicator 2 or more precisely to an absorbent layer (not shown) at least partially in contact with the visual indicator 2.
• the component 6 changes state (in this example, it liquefies), which results in a flow movement of the component 6 in the d-channel. flow 7 which directs it to the absorbent layer in contact with the visual indicator 2.
• the impregnation of the absorbent layer as a result of this flow results in a change in the appearance of the visual indicator 2, which makes it possible to indicate that said threshold temperature has been reached or exceeded.
• the shape and arrangement of the absorbent layer are designed to change the appearance of the visual indicator 2 when it is impregnated with the liquid.
• the liquid constituting the component 6 is introduced into parts of this absorbent layer corresponding to certain zones spacing the vertical lines constituting the barcode 2, which changes its appearance and reflects the information that the temperature threshold corresponding to said change of a state of the component 6 has been reached or exceeded.
• the support 1 may comprise several reservoirs 5 each associated with a visual indicator 2 which may each be constituted by a barcode.
• Each reservoir 5 may thus comprise a component 6 whose change temperature of a state, and more particularly the liquefaction temperature, corresponds to a distinct temperature threshold.
• the operator can control whether the temperature of the product incorporating this device has reached or exceeded a predetermined number of temperature thresholds.
• each of these tanks 5 may comprise a component 6 of different color to make even more apparent the information according to which a certain temperature level has been reached or exceeded.
• the support 1 may comprise at least one visual indicator 2 constituted by a barcode of the aforesaid type and / or an acronym, and / or a drawing, and / or written information.
• a visual indicator 2 constituted by a barcode of the aforesaid type and / or an acronym, and / or a drawing, and / or written information.
• said support 1 which may consist in particular of an identification badge, a label, a card, may comprise on its underside a fixing means (not shown) which may consist of a adhesive tape provided with a protective film for fixing the assembly to the product whose temperature is to be controlled.
• the use of the support 1 of the device according to this alternative embodiment of the invention is carried out as follows:
• the support 1 is fixed to said product whose temperature is to be controlled;
• the assembly is placed in a freezer or a cold room, which allows the component capable of changing state 6 to become solid;
• the wall of the support 1 is pierced by the operator by means of, for example, a needle, at the base of the reservoir 5 in order to allow the component 6 to flow in case of liquefaction; alternatively, the attachment of the support 1 to said product can be performed after this drilling operation; it is also conceivable to fix the support 1 to no product, the device according to the invention then to control the temperature of a room or more generally a closed space may include food products and / or pharmaceuticals;
• Component 6 changes state if the temperature threshold is reached or exceeded, which causes the effects described above.
• the support 1 may comprise a priming mechanism (not shown) allowing the operator to proceed to said drilling of the wall of the support 1 while dispensing with the use of a needle.
• This mechanism may for example comprise a tab cooperating with a pointed rod included in the support, a pull of this tab by the operator automatically causing the drilling of said support 1.
• the liquid constituting the component 6 can be colored to make more apparent the information according to which the temperature threshold is reached or crossed.
• the indicator bearing the information that the temperature threshold is reached or crossed may be constituted by an identification chip in contact with a conducting absorbent layer carrying charges. after impregnation with the electrically conductive liquid.
• this electronic chip can be a transponder module of the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) type whose information can be read remotely by a transmitter-receiver module, which advantageously makes it possible to determine whether the threshold (s) ( s) temperatures reached (s) or exceeded.
• RFID Radio Frequency Identification
• the device according to the invention comprises a support 1 which can comprise:
• a component 6 'capable of changing dimensions which may consist of a rod or a bar made of a material having the specificity of expanding when the ambient temperature reaches or exceeds said temperature threshold;
• a transmission means 8 may be constituted by a lever whose tapered end is in contact with said rod or said bar 6 ', this end may for example be introduced into a notch in the component 6'; this lever 8 which extends transversely to the axis of the rod or the bar 6 ', is rotatable about an axis of rotation 9; in addition, its other end is connected to a support piece 10 having in this case the shape of a bar which extends substantially parallel to said component 6 ';
• At least one visual indicator 2 preferably consisting of a card having at least two zones 14, 14 'preferentially arranged one below the other, and comprising a whether a certain temperature threshold has been reached or exceeded;
• a support piece 10 presenting in this case the shape of a bar which comprises at least one support means 11 which can be constituted by a cleat on which rests the end of the underside of the visual indicator 2;
• At least one elastic means such as a spring, compressed against the upper face of the visual indicator 2;
• the support piece 10 in the form of a bar is then the object of a translation movement which results in a lowering of the visual indicator 2; the latter being no longer supported by the support means 11 corresponding, the action of the elastic means 12 causes a translation to the support part 10 of the visual indicator 2, which allows to visualize the zone 14 'where Figure information that a temperature threshold has just been reached or exceeded.
• each visual indicator 2 may comprise a notch 15 having conformal shape with the corresponding support means 11 in order to allow these means of 11 support to get into the notches 15 when the visual indicators 2 are lowered as a result of the displacement of the support piece 10.
• the resilient means 12 may be of the leaf spring type, which can oscillate according to a axis of rotation 16 transverse to the axis of the component 6 ', the ends of which each cooperate with a projecting portion 17 extending from the upper side of a visual indicator 2. The assembly is shaped so that:
• the two visual indicators 2 make it possible to indicate to the operator whether the temperature to be controlled is within a predefined interval, these visual indicators 2 allowing respectively to indicate whether a minimum and maximum temperature threshold has been reached or crossed.
• the apparent face of the support 1 comprises two windows 13 each associated with a temperature threshold, information 19 relating to these temperature thresholds being able to appear in the vicinity of these windows 13.
• each of these zones 14 is identical to one of these zones 14,
• the visual indicator 2 may comprise vertical bars which are superimposed on a barcode (not shown).
• the bar code will bear different information such as, for example, the temperature threshold has been reached or exceeded in one case, and the temperature threshold has not been reached or exceeded in the other case.
• This apparent face of the support 1 may also comprise an area 18 which includes a description of the function of the device according to the invention.
• the indicator 2 bearing the information that the temperature threshold is reached or crossed may be constituted by a flap cooperating with a switchable identification chip during the translation. said flap due to the movement of the support piece 10.
• this electronic chip can be a transponder module of the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) type whose information can be read remotely by a transmitter-receiver module, which advantageously makes it possible to determine whether the threshold (s) ( s) temperatures reached (s) or exceeded.
• RFID Radio Frequency Identification

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Measuring Temperature Or Quantity Of Heat (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Citations (3)

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• 2009
  • 2009-11-25 WO PCT/FR2009/052297 patent/WO2010061134A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2009-11-25 EP EP09799370A patent/EP2368100A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-11-25 US US13/511,575 patent/US20120326878A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-11-25 CA CA2781772A patent/CA2781772A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (3)

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