Temperature sensor using shape memory alloy and manufacturing method thereof

• US 20010042501A1
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DAE HAN New Pharm Company Limited
• Original Assignee: DAE HAN New Pharm Company Limited
• Inventors: Park, Ji-Hoon
• Application Number:
  US09/850,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042501A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 116/216
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 5/483 using materials with a configuration memory, e.g. Ni-Ti alloys

Abstract

A temperature sensor and manufacturing method therefor using a shape memory alloy comprise a strip unit constituted in an aggregate as a plurality of shape memory alloys including a removal member and/or an elastic member made of another shape memory alloy, in which the temperature sensor is fixed on a container of products or goods by stapler to have a second shape under critical temperature or a first shape when exposed, even temporarily, to temperatures above critical temperature of the shape memory alloy, thereby to indicate a damage of the product or being escaped from the product and/or a removal function portion to indicate a damage of the product.

Claims

1. A temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy comprising:

a strip unit constituted in an aggregate as a plurality of U characterized staples, each of which has both foots and is made of a shape memory alloy having various first shapes, in which the staple has a first shape at over its critical temperature and an auxiliary second shape at below the critical temperature.

2. A method of manufacturing a temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy comprising steps of:

preparing a strip unit constituted in an aggregate as a plurality of U characterized staples, each of which has both foots and is made of a shape memory alloy having various first shapes at over its critical temperature; and

attaching the staple by means of a stapler to a wrapping container of a cool storage product so as to form an auxiliary second shape at the same as that of a compressing portion of a stapler press.

3. A temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy comprising:

a strip unit constituted in an aggregate as a plurality of M characterized staples, each of which has both foots and is made of a shape memory alloy having a first shape at over a critical temperature, in which the staple is inserted into a predetermined position of a wrapping container of a cool storage product while being changed into a U characterized form by means of a stapler and then is bent downward by means of a separate press to be made into a second shape, thereby being returned to the fist shape at over the critical temperature and escaped from the wrapping container of the cool storage product.

4. The temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy as claimed in

claim 3

in which:

the stapler includes a press, which is provided with a compressing portion projected therefrom and having a wedge at the end portion thereof, and a base in a U characterized form to attach the temperature sensor to a predetermined position of the cool storage product.

5. The temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy as claimed in

claim 3

in which:

the separate press includes an end portion having a surface tapered downward and a base supporting the lower surface of the bridge to bend a part of the bridge, downward.

6. The temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy as claimed in

claim 3

in which:

the temperature sensor further comprises a fixing pin inserted into the inner space of the bridge to secure its attachment to the cool storage product without the bridge being not bent.

7. A method of manufacturing a temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy comprising steps of:

preparing a strip unit constituted in an aggregate as a plurality of M characterized staples which have both foots and are made of a shape memory alloy having a first shapes at over a critical temperature,

compressing a bridge of the staple to force both foots to be widen outward in a lateral direction which is changed into a U characterized form; and

bending the bridge downward by means of the separate press to attach the staple to a wrapping container of a cool storage product.

8. A temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy comprising:

a strip unit constituted in an aggregate as a plurality of paired U characterized staples, each of which has both foots and made of a shape memory alloy having various first shapes, in which the paired staples are superposed in a dual structure to each other and have a first shape at over its critical temperature and an auxiliary second shape at below the critical temperature.

9. A method of manufacturing a temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy comprising steps of:

preparing a strip unit constituted in an aggregate as a plurality of paired U characterized staples which have both foots made of a shape memory alloy having various first shapes at over its critical temperature that are superposed in a dual structure to each other and are; and

attaching each of the staple to a wrapping container of a cool storage product by means of a stapler so as to force both foots of a lower staple to be perforated into a predetermined position of a wrapping container of a product and both foots of an upper staple to be widen on the position in opposite to that of both foots of the lower staple.

10. A temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy comprising:

a strip unit constituted in an aggregate as a plurality of paired staples which are made of a shape memory alloy having a first shape at over its critical temperature, in which the paired staple includes a U characterized staple having both foots and an escaping function member to be coupled with the lower bottom of the U characterized staple in opposite thereto, one of which is provided with an indicating portion for indicating the state of a cool storage product at below a critical temperature, in which the paired staple has a first shape at over the critical temperature and an auxiliary second shape at below the critical temperature.

11. The temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy as claimed in

claim 10

, in which:

the escaping function portion includes a elastic spring.

12. The temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy as claimed in

claim 10

, in which:

the escaping function portion includes a bellows made of rubber to have the elastic force.

13. A method of manufacturing a temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy comprising steps of:

preparing a strip unit constituted in an aggregate as a plurality of paired staples which are made of a shape memory alloy having a first shape at over its critical temperature, in which the paired staple includes a U characterized staple having both foots and an escaping member coupled to the U characterized staple made of the shape memory alloy having a shape different therefrom or changed into a different shape and escaped therefrom, one of which is provided with an indicating portion for indicating the state of a cool storage product at below a critical temperature; and

attaching each of the paired staple by means of a stapler to a wrapping container of a cool storage product so as to force both foots of the U characterized staple to be perforated into a predetermined position of a wrapping container of a product while attaching the escaping member to the wrapping container of the cool storage product together with the indicating portion.

14. A temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy comprising:

a strip unit which is constituted in an aggregate as a plurality of U characterized staples, in which each of staple is separated from the strip unit in advance and then attached to an indicating portion formed on a side surface of a cool storage product, whereby the staple is made into a second shape of a U-character at below the critical temperature and is changed into a first shape of a bar type at over the critical temperature when exposed for a long time, even temporarily, thereby enabling the indicating portion to indicate the damage of the product.

15. A method of manufacturing a temperature sensor using a shape memory alloy comprising steps of:

preparing a strip unit constituted in an aggregate as a plurality of U characterized staple which have both foots and are made of a shape memory alloy;

separating one staple from the strip unit; and

attaching the staple to an indicating portion formed on a side surface of a cool storage product.