Probe assembly

Claim 1

A probe assembly for use in a deep fat fryer wherein the length of cooking time is to be calculated by a timing computer responsive to the temperature in a predetermined location in the cooking medium, said probe assembly including a first portion arranged to be attached to the fryeR and to be partly immersed in the cooking medium, comprising a deformable closed end sleeve adapted to be bent to a predetermined shape to conform to the contours of the fryer and to thereafter retain said shape, said sleeve being formed of a smooth-surfaced metal impervious to said cooking medium, a temperature sensing element fixedly positioned within said sleeve at said closed end, flexible temperature-resistant leads within said sleeve leading from said temperature sensing element to the opposite end of said sleeve, and means for removably attaching said sleeve to the fryer, and a second portion arranged to be attached to the timing computer and being flexible and heat-resistant, comprising a flexible shell sealingly connected to said opposite end of the sleeve, said shell being formed of a smooth-surfaced metal impervious to said cooking medium, flexible temperature resistant leads within said shell joining with the leads in said sleeve, and means at the end of said second portion for fixedly but removably securing said second portion to said timing computer and for interconnecting said electrical leads with said computer, whereby the location of the fixed end of said sleeve may be accurately and repeatedly positioned in said predetermined location in said cooking medium, thereby providing a uniform temperature data input to said computer despite repeated removal of said sleeve from the fryer for cleaning.