Cold storage room thermometer and back-up power supply

• US 4,647,223 A
• Filed: 08/29/1985
• Issued: 03/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shannon Group, Inc. (The Manitowoc Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kolpak Industries, Inc. (Ali Holding Srl)
• Inventors: Fiddler, R. Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Frankfort, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Application Number:
  US06/770,668
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 374/141, 374/170, 340/532, 340/585, 340/693, 62/127, 307/64, 307/66, 315/86
• US Class Current: 374/141
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/122 of freezer compartments
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/00 Measuring temperature based on the use of electric or magnetic elements directly sensitive to heat giving results other than momentary value of temperature G01K3/00 ; Power supply therefor, e.g. using thermoelectric elements

Abstract

An electrically operated thermometer for a cold storage room is normally supplied with current from the secondary winding of a transformer, the primary winding being connected to a conventional alternating current source. A battery is alternatively connected to the thermometer through a manual switch, which is preferably of the momentary type, which must be held engaged.

Claims

1. In a temperature sensing and indicating apparatus for a cold storage room or the like,

(a) a thermometer including a thermoelement and temperature indicating means,

(b) means for supplying said thermometer with low voltage electric energy including means for transforming a higher input voltage to a lower output voltage,

(c) second means for supplying said thermometer with low voltage electric energy, and

(d) manually operated switch means having a first position in which said thermometer is connected to said first mentioned energy supplying means, and a second position in which said thermometer is connected to said second energy supplying means, said switch means comprising means for moving said switch means from the second position thereof when not manually urged into said second position, whereby upon failure of said first supply means, said thermometer may be energized by manual operation of said switch means and automatically disconnected from the second energy supply means when the switch means is not manually urged into said second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said manually operated switch means comprising a double-pole, double throw switch.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said manually operated switch means comprising means for urging said switch into said first position.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, said manually operated switch means comprising a spring for urging said switch into said first position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, said manually operated switch means comprising means for urging said switch means into said first position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, said manually operated switch means comprising a spring for urging said switch means into said first position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said switch means includes means for preventing current flow from said second energy supplying means to said transforming means when said switch means is in said second position.

8. A cold storage room temperature indicating system comprising:

(a) a thermometer including a thermoelement and a temperature indicator,

(b) a transformer power supply,

(c) a battery, and

(d) means for selectively supplying electrical energy to said thermometer including a manually operated switch connected to said transformer power supply and to said battery, the switch having means for urging it into a first position in which it connects said thermometer and said transformer power supply, said switch having manual operating means for moving said switch to a second position against the force of said urging means in which second position said thermometer is connected to said battery.

9. The cold storage room temperature indicating system of claim 8, said switch comprising means for disconnecting said thermometer from said transformer power supply in the second position thereof.

10. The cold storage room temperature sensing system of claim 9, said switch being a double pole double throw switch.