[0001] The present invention relates to an immersion rod and more particularly, the present invention relates to an immersion rod for heating a fluid contained in a vessel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An immersion rod, in general, is used to heat a fluid contained in a vessel. For example, the fluid may be a water. Specifically, in India, immersion rod is used to heat the water, and this water being used for bathing purpose. Conventionally, the immersion rod is not smart and it does not has any auto-cut off mechanism to save electricity. Further, the immersion rod is also not provided with any display module to access any information about the state of the water, specifically temperature.
[0003] The above-described deficiencies of existing system are merely intended to provide an overview of some of the problems of conventional systems, and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems with conventional systems and corresponding benefits of the various non-limiting embodiments described herein may become further apparent upon review of the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The following presents a simplified summary of the objects of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. These objects are not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a digital temperature-controlled immersion rod with an auto cut-off mechanism.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular type immersion rod, wherein the heating element is removably attached to a microprocessor or a control unit cover. This is quite useful feature of the present invention as the immersion rod is disassembled conveniently while it is not used for heating purposes.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a led indicator coupled with the immersion rod such that it emits a specific color in a particular predefined direction into vessel to provide an indication to the user about state of temperature of a fluid stored in a vessel.
[0008] An immersion rod for heating the fluid contained in the vessel is disclosed. The immersion rod comprising a heating element for heating the fluid, a power supply input unit for supplying power to the heating element, a thermo sensor for sensing temperature of the fluid, a led indicator coupled with the immersion rod to emit a specific color in a particular predefined direction; and a microprocessor coupled to the thermo sensor and the LED indicator configured to: receiving sensed temperature of the fluid by the thermo sensor; and signaling the led indicator to emit the specific color basis the received temperature of the fluid.
[0009] In an embodiment, the heating element is a u-shaped cylindrical rod shaped.
[00010] In an embodiment, the thermo sensor may be from any one of a thermostat sensor, a thermocouple sensor, a thermo register or a combination thereof.
[00011] In an embodiment, the led indicator is a RGB emitting color light emitting diode.
[00012] In an embodiment, the microprocessor further configured to: signaling the led indicator to emit a specific color above a predetermined temperature of the fluid to indicate the temperature of the fluid.
[00013] In another embodiment, the microprocessor further configured to: signaling the led indicator to emit a red color above a predetermined temperature of the fluid to indicate the temperature of the fluid.
[00014] In another embodiment, the microprocessor further configured to: signaling the led indicator to emit a blue color below a predetermined temperature of the fluid to indicate the temperature of the fluid.
[00015] In another embodiment, further comprising: a display module to display instantaneous temperature of the fluid.
[00016] In another embodiment, the microprocessor further configured to: cut-off the power input supply unit with the heating element when a set temperature configured via at least one input means by a user is matched with the sensed temperature by the thermo sensor.
[00017] In another embodiment, a display module to provide at least one input means for setting a required temperature for the fluid.
[00018] In another embodiment, the heating element is removably attached to the immersion rod.
[00019] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[00020] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an immersion rod, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of a removably attachable immersion rod, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 illustrates the exemplary immersion rod, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 illustrates a display for the immersion rod, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 5 illustrates another exploded view of the immersion rod, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[00021] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.
[00022] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[00023] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
[00024] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[00025] By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.
[00026] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.
[00027] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
[00028] FIGURE 1 illustrates a block diagram representing an electric circuit (101) of an immersion rod (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates a modular feature of the immersion rod (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The electric circuit (101) of the immersion rod (100) comprises a power supply input unit (102), a heating element (108), a thermo sensor (112), a led indicator (104), a display module (106) and a microprocessor (110). For a sake of simplicity, the electric circuit (101) and the immersion rod (100) may be used interchangeable in the rest of the description herein below. In an embodiment, the immersion rod (100) is used to heat a fluid contained in a vessel (not shown). The power supply input unit (102) configured for supplying electric power to the heating element (108). The power supply input (102) unit converts an AC mains 240 V supply to a required power output to operate the heating element (108) for heating the fluid contained in the vessel. In an embodiment, the power supply input unit (102) converts the AC mains supply to a lower voltage AC to operate the heating element (108).
[00029] In an embodiment, the heating element (108) may be of shaped like a return-bent or an U-shaped; it being understood of course that the heating element may be of any other preferred shape or form, and that in any case each blade comprises a tubular sheath enclosing an electrically conductive high resistance element spaced from and supported relative to the sheath by a filling of electrically insulating and heat-conducting material.
[00030] The immersion rod (100) encompasses the thermo sensor (112) for sensing temperature of the fluid. In an embodiment, the thermo sensor (112) coupled with the immersion rod (100). In another embodiment, the thermo sensor (112) is also electrically coupled with the microprocessor (110). In an embodiment, the thermo sensor (112) may be from any one of a thermostat sensor, a thermocouple sensor, a thermo register or a combination thereof. It is well understood to the person skilled in the art, the thermo sensor may be any type of an electronic device, a system or a sensor to determine a thermal state of the fluid, wherein the thermal state is temperature of the fluid.
[00031] The immersion rod (100) further encompasses the led indicator (104) coupled with the immersion rod (100) to emit a specific color in a particular predefined direction. The led indicator (104) may be located at the cover of the control unit (202, figure 2) of the immersion rod (100). In an embodiment, the led indicator (104) is a RGB emitting color light emitting diode. In an embodiment, the led indicator (104) emits light perpendicular to the inner surface of the vessel. In an embodiment, the led indicator may be a multi-color light emitting diode.
[00032] The immersion rod (100) furthermore encompasses the microprocessor (110). The microprocessor (110) is electronically coupled with the display module (106), the thermo sensor (112) and the LED indicator (104). The microprocessor (110) configured to: receiving sensed temperature of the fluid by the thermo sensor (112); and signaling the led indicator (104) to emit the specific color basis the received temperature of the fluid. In an embodiment, the microprocessor (110) further configured to signaling the led indicator (104) to emit a specific color above or below a predetermined temperature of the fluid to indicate the temperature of the fluid. For example, a red color may be emitted above or equal to a temperature which is set by the user to indicate the thermal state (or temperature) of the fluid contained in the vessel. Similarly, a blue color may be emitted below a temperature which is set by the user to indicate the thermal state (or temperature) of the fluid contained in the vessel. In another embodiment, the microprocessor (110) further configured to signaling the led indicator (104) to emit no color may be below a predetermined temperature of the fluid. In still another embodiment, the microprocessor (110) further configured to signaling the led indicator (104) to emit no color may be above a predetermined temperature of the fluid.
[00033] The microprocessor (110) further configured to cut-off the power supply with the heating element (108) when a set temperature configured via at least one input means by a user is matched with the received sensed temperature by the thermo sensor.
[00034] In an embodiment, the microprocessor (110) further configured as a state machine or an algorithm may be implemented in a hardware, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) to perform the control functions in accordance with the present invention. It is understood to a person skilled in the programming art could prepare a set of instructions for permanent storage in the ROM of microprocessor which would enable the microprocessor to perform the control functions in accordance with this invention.
[00035] The immersion rod (100) further encompasses a display module (106) to display instantaneous temperature of the fluid heated by the heating element (108). The display module (106) configured with at least one input means (214) for setting a required temperature for the fluid. The at least one input means (214) may be a soft button or a touch screen based buttons to provide communication to the microprocessor about the set temperature. In another embodiment, the display module (106) may also display the required temperature set by the at least one input means (214). For example, as depicted in the Figure 2, the at least one input means (214) comprises a first button (214a) for setting required temperature of the fluid, a second button (214b) for lowering the required temperature of the fluid and a third button (214c) for increasing the required temperature of the fluid. By pressing the first button (214a), the display module (106) may display the set temperature of the immersion rod (100).
[00036] Referring again to Figure 2, the immersion rod (100) comprises a heating element (108) and a control unit cover (202). The heating element (108) is removably attached to the control unit cover (202). The control unit cover (202) encapsulates the microprocessor (110). As described herein above with figure 1, the heating element (108) is encapsulated in a tubular sheath. The heating element (108) and the microprocessor (110) may be connecting using a male connector (208a) and a female electrical connector (208b). A hook (210) may be attached to the control unit cover (202) such that the heating element (108) may be immersed in the fluid and the control unit cover (202) remains above the fluid when the hook (210) engages with the vessel while heating the fluid. The control unit cover (202) may include an operating indication unit (204) to provide the operating state of the immersion rod (100). For example, while immersion rod (100) is heating the fluid, the operating indication unit (204) starts emitting light. In an embodiment, the operating indication unit (204) may be a light emitting diode (LED). The operating indication unit (204) may indicate a particular predefined color while the immersion rod (100) is heating the fluid.
[00037] In still another embodiment, the thermo sensor (112) hangs in a downward direction from a control unit cover (202) such that it may be submerged in the fluid contained in the vessel to gather fluid’s thermal related data and send it to the microprocessor (110) for a computation processing to cut-off power supplied to the heating element (108) when a set temperature configured via at least one input means (214) by a user is matched with the received sensed temperature by the thermo sensor (112).
[00038] Figure 3 illustrates the exemplary immersion rod, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the control unit cover (202) may encloses a display module (104) and a microprocessor (110). In another embodiment, the thermo sensor (112) coupled with the control unit cover (202). The thermo sensor (112) configured to sense the temperature of the fluid and hangs in downwardly from the control unit cover (202). In another embodiment, the control unit cover (202) also encloses a power supply input unit (102). An electrical wire (206) is also electrically coupled with the microprocessor (110) to provide power from the AC main supply to the microprocessor (110). A plug (206) may be coupled to an end from where the AC main supply likely to be supplied to the microprocessor (110).
[00039] The display module (106) configured with at least one input means (214) for setting a required temperature for the fluid. The at least one input means (214) may be a soft button or a touch screen based buttons to provide communication to the microprocessor (110) about the set temperature. Referring to Figure 3, the at least one input means (214) includes a third button (214c) to increase temperature, a second button (214b) to decrease temperature and a first button (214c) to set required temperature point to which the fluid has to be heated. As shown, the LED indicator (204) may be position on the control unit cover (202).
[00040] Figure 4 illustrates a display module (106) for the immersion rod (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the display module (106) may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), or a light-emitting device (LED) or a TFT, all contained within the control unit housing cover. In an embodiment, the display module (106) displays the operating parameters (408) of the immersion rod (100) such as the set point temperature and other useful information such as time required to heat the fluid to the set point temperature or time period lapsed after the heating of the fluid has been started. In addition, the LCD may be a backlit to allow use of the immersion rod (100) in a dark environment. The lighting device (not shown) may be positioned adjacent to the display module (106), but may also be incorporated into the display module (106) to visually indicate operating parameters of the immersion rod (100). In addition to the foregoing, the display module (106) may also include at least user-input means (e.g., a button) to enable the user to set the required temperature point. In another embodiment, the display module (106) may also be a touch screen display. In still another embodiment, the display module (106) may also provide with a touch capacitive or resistive buttons. The display module (106) may also be incorporated with an operating indication unit (406, 204).
[00041] Figure 5 illustrates another exploded view of the immersion rod (100), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The immersion rod (100) comprises a heating element (106), a display unit (106) and a cover (502) to encapsulate the heating element (108). The display unit (106) disposed on the cover (502) such that it is inclined to provide the user a proper view of the operating parameters of the immersion rod (100). The present invention is also discloses a modular type immersion rod, wherein the heating element (108) is removably attached to the microprocessor (110) or the control unit cover (202). This is quite useful feature of the present invention as the immersion rod (100) is disassembled conveniently while it is not used for heating purpose.
[00042] In the light of the foregoing, the present invention provides a freedom to the user to set a required temperature point as per there requirement, an auto cut-off mechanism to save a large amount of electricity. Further, the present invention of the immersion rod (100) includes a display module (106) to configure the immersion rod (100) to heat the fluid to a required set temperature point. The overall design itself incorporates a unique feature and design elements that add up to giving the user a total experience of easiness to operate the immersion rod (100). The immersion rod (100) also includes a detachable or modular mechanism to give a customizable and quality experience to the user. Furthermore, the led indicator changes a specific color in the specific direction in the vessel as per temperature of the fluid.
[00043] While few embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the above embodiments and modifications may be appropriately made thereto within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[00044] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this invention, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

CLAIMS:We claim:
1. An immersion rod (100) for heating a fluid comprising:
a heating element (108) for heating the fluid;
a power supply input unit (102) for supplying power to the heating element (108);
a thermo sensor (112) for sensing temperature of the fluid;
a led indicator (104) coupled with the immersion rod (100) to emit a specific color in a particular predefined direction; and
a microprocessor (110), wherein the microprocessor (110) electrically coupled to the thermo sensor (112) and the LED indicator (104), configured to:
o receiving sensed temperature of the fluid by the thermo sensor (112); and
o signaling the led indicator (104) to emit the specific color basis the received temperature of the fluid.
2. The immersion rod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating element (108) is a cylindrical rod shaped.
3. The immersion rod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermo sensor (112) may be from any one of a thermostat sensor, a thermocouple sensor, a thermo register or a combination thereof.
4. The immersion rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the led indicator (104) is a RGB emitting color light emitting diode.
5. The immersion rod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microprocessor (110) configured to: signaling the led indicator (104) to emit a specific color above a predetermined temperature of the fluid to indicate the temperature of the fluid.
6. The immersion rod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microprocessor (110) configured to: signaling the led indicator (104) to emit a specific color below a predetermined temperature of the fluid to indicate the temperature of the fluid.
7. The immersion rod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microprocessor (110) further configured to: cut-off power supplied to the heating element (108) when a set temperature configured via at least one input means (214) by a user is matched with the received sensed temperature by the thermo sensor (112).
8. The immersion rod (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a display module (106) to provide at least one input means (214) for setting a required temperature for the fluid.
9. A immersion rod (100) configured with a modular design comprising:
a heating element (108) for heating the fluid; and
a control unit cover (202) electrically and removably coupled to the heating element (108).
10. The immersion rod (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control unit cover (202) includes a female connector (208b) and the heating element (108) includes a male connector (208a), wherein the control unit cover (202) is electrically and removably engaged to the heating element via the female connector (208b) and the male connector (208a).