GB2044995A

GB2044995A - Arrangement for holding sensor elements

Info

Publication number: GB2044995A
Application number: GB8006676A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Current assignee: Vorwerk and Co Interholding GmbH
Priority date: 1979-03-10
Filing date: 1980-02-27
Publication date: 1980-10-22
Also published as: AU5625080A; ES249240U; ATA129380A; IT8048111A0; AT374260B; DE7906702U1; IT8035614V0; GB2044995B; ES249240Y; IT1145265B; FR2451693A1; BE881653A; FR2451693B1

Abstract

A sensor element (1), which can be a heat sensor or thermostat, is held in a sensor arm (5) of a domestic appliance, and is provided with a protective cap (2) projecting from a slot (4) in the sensor arm, the cap having a holding rim (3) inside the arm and being resiliently urged outwardly of the slot so that the holding rim is normally caused to bear against the rim of the slot. The holding rim can be in the form of a part-spherical shell and can have sectors at right angles to one another cut out of the shell so that the rim has the form of a cross when viewed in plan. The arms of the cross can be bent to span different distances. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Arrangement for holding sensor elements This invention relates to an arrangement for holding sensor elements, more especially heat sensors or thermostats, in sensor arms in domestic appliances.

Heat sensors or thermostats are known in connection with various domestic appliances, e.g. electric ovens and irons. These heat sensors are however installed in a fixed position and are thus completely immovable. In addition, there are movable heat sensors which, in connection with electric ovens or cookers, are pushed into the substance whose temperature is to be sensed. However, these sensors are arranged in sensor arms which are constructed in the form of needles and are in themselves immovable. These sensor arms cannot be adapted to different surface contours.

According to the present invention, there is provided a sensor element held in a sensor arm of a domestic appliance, the sensor element being provided with a protective cap projecting from a slot in the sensor arm, said cap having a holding rim inside the arm and being resiliently urged outwardly of said slot so that said holding rim is normally caused to bear against the rim of said slot.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken through an end of a sensor arm with a heat sensor element arranged therein,and Figure2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but turned through 90 .

The drawing shows a sensor arm 5 of a domestic appliance, the arm 5 having a slot 4 near its free end, a heat thermostat or sensor element 1 projecting through this slot 4. The heat sensor element 1 is provided with a protective cap 2, in which it is adhesively bonded or cemented, the cap 2 being provided at its inner end with a part-sperical holding rim 3. Thus, the protective cap 2 can engage through the slot 4 but is unable to slip out from the sensor arm, since the holding rim 3 prevents it from doing this.

The protective cap 2 is urged outwardly of the slot 4 by a spring 6 which bears inside the rim 3 and between the cap 2 and a spring-holding block 8. With the holding rim 3 resiliently urged against the rim of the slot 4, the protective cap 2 is now capable of universal movement.

The spring-holding block 8 also has an opening 9 for connecting wires 10a, lOb of the heat sensor element 1. The holding rim 3 also has a tongue 11, which serves firstly as a safety means against being upset and secondly as a soldering point for an earthing arrangement.

From Figure 2 it will be appreciated that, as viewed in this direction, the holding rim 3 bears directly against the rim of the slot 4, so that the protective cap 2 is unable to slide out of the sensor arm, under any circumstances. However, the sensor arm is able to adapt to various surface contours of the articles whose temperature is to be sensed.

The holding rim 3 is preferably formed as a part-spherical shell. An advantage is given if the shell is cut in such a way that four sectors, at right angles to one another, are cut out of the shell without being cut through to the crown of the shell. If this is done, the holding rim 3 takes the form a cross when viewed in plan, the arms of the cross defining between them the cut-out sectors.

The holding rim 3 is made of such a material that the arms can be bent apart or pressed together so as to give the holding rim a larger or a smaller diameter when viewed in plan. In the present case, since the holding rim 3 has to fit into an oblong slot (vide Figures 1 and 2), two opposite arms of the cross are pulled apart by a greater distance than the other two opposite arms so that the holding rim 3 can bridge a greater distance in one direction than in the direction at right angles thereto.

It is to be understood that the Figures are only intended to be diagrammatic and do not accurately reproduce the size ratios and distances of the various parts shown,

CLAIMS 1. A sensor element held in a sensor arm of a domestic appliance, the sensor element being provided with a protective cap projecting from a slot in the sensor arm, said cap having a holding rim inside the arm and being resiliently urged outwardly of said slot so that said holding rim is normally caused to bear against the rim of said slot.

2. A sensor element as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said holding rim is a part-spherical shell.

3. A sensor element as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said holding rim has sectors at right angles to one another cut out of the shell, these sectors not being cut through to the centre of the shell so that the holding rim has, when viewed in plan, the form of a cross.

4. A sensor element as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said holding rim is of a material to allow the arms of the cross to be pulled apart or pressed together.

5. A sensor element as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, wherein one pair of opposite arms of the cross spans a greater distance than the distance spanned by the other pair of opposite arms of the cross, said slot being oblong.

6. A sensor element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the element being a heat sensor.

7. A sensor element as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said heat sensor is a thermostat.

8. A sensor element held in a sensor arm of a domestic appliance, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Arrangement for holding sensor elements This invention relates to an arrangement for holding sensor elements, more especially heat sensors or thermostats, in sensor arms in domestic appliances. Heat sensors or thermostats are known in connection with various domestic appliances, e.g. electric ovens and irons. These heat sensors are however installed in a fixed position and are thus completely immovable. In addition, there are movable heat sensors which, in connection with electric ovens or cookers, are pushed into the substance whose temperature is to be sensed. However, these sensors are arranged in sensor arms which are constructed in the form of needles and are in themselves immovable. These sensor arms cannot be adapted to different surface contours. According to the present invention, there is provided a sensor element held in a sensor arm of a domestic appliance, the sensor element being provided with a protective cap projecting from a slot in the sensor arm, said cap having a holding rim inside the arm and being resiliently urged outwardly of said slot so that said holding rim is normally caused to bear against the rim of said slot. For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken through an end of a sensor arm with a heat sensor element arranged therein,and Figure2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but turned through 90 . The drawing shows a sensor arm 5 of a domestic appliance, the arm 5 having a slot 4 near its free end, a heat thermostat or sensor element 1 projecting through this slot 4. The heat sensor element 1 is provided with a protective cap 2, in which it is adhesively bonded or cemented, the cap 2 being provided at its inner end with a part-sperical holding rim 3. Thus, the protective cap 2 can engage through the slot 4 but is unable to slip out from the sensor arm, since the holding rim 3 prevents it from doing this. The protective cap 2 is urged outwardly of the slot 4 by a spring 6 which bears inside the rim 3 and between the cap 2 and a spring-holding block 8. With the holding rim 3 resiliently urged against the rim of the slot 4, the protective cap 2 is now capable of universal movement. The spring-holding block 8 also has an opening 9 for connecting wires 10a, lOb of the heat sensor element 1. The holding rim 3 also has a tongue 11, which serves firstly as a safety means against being upset and secondly as a soldering point for an earthing arrangement. From Figure 2 it will be appreciated that, as viewed in this direction, the holding rim 3 bears directly against the rim of the slot 4, so that the protective cap 2 is unable to slide out of the sensor arm, under any circumstances. However, the sensor arm is able to adapt to various surface contours of the articles whose temperature is to be sensed. The holding rim 3 is preferably formed as a part-spherical shell. An advantage is given if the shell is cut in such a way that four sectors, at right angles to one another, are cut out of the shell without being cut through to the crown of the shell. If this is done, the holding rim 3 takes the form a cross when viewed in plan, the arms of the cross defining between them the cut-out sectors. The holding rim 3 is made of such a material that the arms can be bent apart or pressed together so as to give the holding rim a larger or a smaller diameter when viewed in plan. In the present case, since the holding rim 3 has to fit into an oblong slot (vide Figures 1 and 2), two opposite arms of the cross are pulled apart by a greater distance than the other two opposite arms so that the holding rim 3 can bridge a greater distance in one direction than in the direction at right angles thereto. It is to be understood that the Figures are only intended to be diagrammatic and do not accurately reproduce the size ratios and distances of the various parts shown, CLAIMS

1. A sensor element held in a sensor arm of a domestic appliance, the sensor element being provided with a protective cap projecting from a slot in the sensor arm, said cap having a holding rim inside the arm and being resiliently urged outwardly of said slot so that said holding rim is normally caused to bear against the rim of said slot.