MXPA99000776A - Kitchen utensil that comprises a sensor to measure the temperature of this utensi - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sensor (2) for measuring the temperature of a utensil, which is an infrared sensor placed in a place of the utensil in such a way that it can receive the infrared radiation (4) emitted by the heating surface (1) the sensor (2) is connected to an electronic circuit for converting the variation in infrared radiation caused by the heating of the utensil in an electrical signal.

Description

KITCHEN UTENSIL THAT COMPRISES A SENSOR TO MEASURE THE TEMPERATURE OF THIS UTENSIL Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a kitchen utensil comprising a heating surface, a sensor for measuring the temperature of this surface and means for displaying this temperature.

Background of the Invention The invention is proposed for any kitchen utensil comprising a heating surface heated by a heating source external to the utensil or integrated therein. The invention is proposed particularly, but not necessarily, for the following utensils: frying pans, casseroles, frying pans for high sides, cooking pots, meat grills, waffle makers, barbecue grills, Swiss cheese plate makers , steaming pots, pans with a mesh basket and so on. Ref.029313 In particular, a kitchen utensil comprising a temperature display means integrated in the handle of the utensil is already known from U.S. Pat. No. 5 441 344. The temperature sensor is a thermocouple placed on the base of the utensil and connected to an electronic circuit and a temperature display screen integrated in the handle. The problem with this kitchen utensil is that the incorporation of the thermocouple in the base of the utensil is complicated and expensive. In addition, the electrical connections between the probe, the electronic circuit and the temperature display screen can cause problems due to the humidity to which the utensil is exposed, especially during washing and repeated thermal cycles. The object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the device mentioned above. The invention therefore relates to a kitchen utensil comprising a heating surface, a sensor for measuring the temperature of this surface and means for displaying this temperature. According to the invention, this utensil is characterized in that the sensor for measuring the temperature is an infrared sensor placed in a place of the utensil in such a way that it can receive the infrared radiation emitted by the heating surface, the sensor is connected to an electronic circuit capable of converting the variation in infrared radiation caused by heating the utensil in an electrical signal. This sensor directly detects, or after reflection, the infrared radiation emitted by the heating surface and does not require any modification with respect to the kitchen utensil to be integrated in the latter. The wavelength of the infrared radiation emitted by the heating surface varies as a function of temperature. All that is required, therefore, is to convert this variation in the wavelength, into an electrical signal and convert the latter into a value that indicates the temperature. Preferably, the infrared sensor is fixed to the utensil handle, particularly when the latter is a frying pan, a pan or the like. Also preferably, the infrared sensor is placed in a closed housing projecting from the face facing upwards of the handle.

This housing protects the sensor from the surrounding environment and in particular from the water. The fact that it is projected above the face facing upwards of the handle, makes it possible to be exposed to the infrared radiation emitted by the cooking surface. In an advantageous version of the invention, the housing is removably attached to the handle of the outer skin. It is therefore possible to remove the housing before placing the utensil in a dish washing machine. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows. In the accompanying drawings provided by way of non-restrictive examples: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a frying pan equipped with a temperature sensor according to the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the housing containing the temperature sensor which detects the infrared radiation after reflection, - Figure 3 is a sectional view of the housing containing the temperature sensor which detects the infrared radiation directly, and Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing that the housing is removable from the handle.

DESCRIPTION. DETAILED OF THE INVENTION In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the kitchen utensil, a frying pan, comprises a cooking surface 1, a sensor 2 for measuring the temperature of this surface 1, and means 3 for displaying this temperature. According to the invention, the sensor 2 for measuring the temperature is an infrared ray sensor placed in a place of the utensil in such a way that it can receive the infrared radiation 4 emitted by the cooking surface 1. The infrared sensor 2 is connected (see Figure 2) to an electronic circuit 5 capable of transforming the wavelength of infrared radiation 4 into an electrical signal which is a function of temperature.

In the example illustrated by Figure 1, the infrared ray sensor 2 is fixed to the handle 6 of the utensil. In addition, the infrared ray sensor 2 is placed in a closed housing 7 projecting up the upwardly facing face 6a of the handle 6. As indicated in Figure 2, the housing 7 includes a face 8 facing the surface of cooking 1 and comprising a window 9 transparent to infrared radiation 4. An elliptical reflective surface 10 is located in the path of infrared radiation 4 that has passed through window 9. The latter is located approximately at a Fi of the foci of the elliptical reflective surface 10. The entrance face 2a of the infrared sensor 2 is located on the other focus F2 of the elliptical reflective surface 10. It can also be seen in Figure 2 that the housing 7 includes, on the opposite side from the face 8 facing the cooking surface 1, a transparent face 10a below which is a screen 3 to display the temperature. In addition, the housing 7 contains a support 11 carrying the infrared ray sensor 2, the elliptical reflective surface 10, the electric circuit 5 for converting the wavelength of the infrared radiation, the temperature display 3 and a battery 12 to supply power to the electronic circuit. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the housing 7 includes a face 8 facing the cooking surface 1 and comprising a window 9 transparent to the infrared radiation 4, and a parabolic reflective surface 10b located in the infrared radiation path 4 which has passed through the window 9. The entrance face 2a of the infrared ray sensor 2 is located on the focus F3 of the parabolic surface 10b. The parabolic surface 10b therefore detects the infrared radiation directly and concentrates it on the sensor 2 located at the focus F3 of this parabolic surface 10b. Preferably, the housing 7 (see Figure 4) is removably attached to the handle 6 of the utensil, thereby making it possible for the housing 7 to be removed before the frying pan is placed in a dish washing machine.

From the above description it will be clear that the utensil according to the invention has the following main advantages: the temperature sensor does not require any modification of the frying pan for its incorporation, nor electrical connections sensitive to humidity, the housing 7 protects the sensor and its electrical accessories from moisture and can be disassembled before washing to avoid any risk of damage; a single accommodation that can be adapted for a full range of utensils. If the cooking utensil comprises an electrical resistor for heating its heating surface, the sensor 2 can be connected to means for regulating the heating energy to the electrical resistor to maintain the heating surface at an approximately constant temperature. Such means are very familiar to those skilled in the art and do not need to be described or illustrated in the drawings. Of course, the invention is not limited to the example of a kitchen utensil as described, but can be applied to any kitchen utensil or appliance having a heating surface, as indicated in the introduction to the present description.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers.

Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property

Claims (9)

1. A kitchen utensil comprising a heating surface, a sensor for measuring the temperature of this surface and means for displaying this temperature, characterized in that the sensor for measuring the temperature is an infrared sensor placed in a place of the utensil in such a way that it can receive the infrared radiation emitted by the heating surface, the sensor is connected to an electronic circuit capable of converting the variation in infrared radiation caused by the heating of the utensil in an electrical signal.

2. The utensil according to claim 1, characterized in that the infrared ray sensor is fixed to the utensil handle.

3. The utensil according to claim 2, characterized in that the infrared ray sensor is placed in a closed housing projecting above the face facing upwards of the handle.

4. The utensil according to claim 3, characterized in that the housing includes a face facing the cooking surface and comprises a window transparent to infrared radiation, and an elliptical reflective surface located in the path of infrared radiation that has passed through. of the window, the latter is located on one of the foci of the elliptical reflective surface and the entrance face of the infrared ray sensor is located on the other focus of the elliptical reflective surface.

5. The utensil according to claim 3, characterized in that the housing includes a face facing the cooking surface and comprises a window transparent to infrared radiation, and a parabolic reflective surface located in the path of infrared radiation that has passed through. from the window, the entrance face of the infrared sensor is located at the focus of the parabolic surface.

6. The utensil according to any of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the housing includes, on the opposite side from the side facing the cooking surface, a transparent face below which is a screen for displaying the temperature.

7. The utensil according to claim 6, characterized in that the housing contains the support carrying the infrared sensor, the reflective surface, the electronic circuit for converting the variation in infrared radiation, the temperature display and a battery electrical to supply power to the electronic circuit.

8. The utensil according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the housing is detachably fixed to the utensil handle.

9. The utensil according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises an electrical resistor for heating the heating surface, characterized in that the sensor is connected to the means for regulating the heating energy of the resistor and the surface temperature of the resistor. heating.