Abstract: A thermowell assembly (20) shown in FIG. 2 is positioned in a pipeline (10) for sensing the temperature of the fluid medium in the pipeline (10) for transmitting the sensed temperature to a meter (12). A temperature sensing probe is received within a temperature conducting tube (36) forming a thermowell and having a plurality of annular fins (40) extending thereabout. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7, a liquid (50) is provided in an annular space between the thermocouple (28) and the temperature conducting tube (36). Non-metallic members (70, 74, 80) are positioned between the pipeline (10) and the temperature transmitting tube (36) to isolate thermocouple (28) from ambient changes in the temperature of metal pipeline (10) which may result in an error in the temperature of the flow medium sensed by the thermowell assembly (20). High temperature embodiments shown in FIGS.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the qualitative composition of soil organic matter (SOM) of mineral soils using thermogravimetry, i.e., by subjecting a soil sample of constant weight to thermogravimetric analysis in the usual way and forming the quotient of the overall weight loss of the sample during heating from 200° C. to 450° C. and the overall weight loss of the sample during heating from 95° C. to 190° C. The method is straightforward and cost-effective, providing reliable figures for all mineral soils, regardless of region, climatic zone, or type of utilization.

Abstract: Methods for analyzing temperature characteristics of an integrated circuit. In one embodiment, a beam of laser light is directed at the back side of an integrated circuit. The intensity level of laser light reflected from the integrated circuit is measured and compared to a reference intensity level. The magnitude of the difference between the reference intensity level and the intensity level of the reflected laser light is indicative of a temperature characteristic of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An oven analyzer for profiling a conveyor oven is disclosed that accurately and precisely determines the physical characteristics of an oven and stores such information so that it can be outputted to a computer for analysis. In one embodiment, the oven analyzer includes a pallet that moves through the conveyor oven. The pallet houses an electronic data logger that is coupled to multiple sensors. The electronic data logger has memory for storing information obtained from the sensors. A first sensor is a temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature within the oven. A second sensor is mounted within a metal mass of known thermal characteristics and detects the ovens ability to heat an object. A third sensor detects the position of the pallet within the oven. The electronic data logger stores the data received from the sensors in the memory for selective output to a computer for analysis or printing.

Abstract: A probe cover of a tympanic thermometer and method for manufacturing the same are provided in the invention. The method for manufacturing the probe cover includes: (a) forming an infrared transparent sheet; (b) forming a sheath having a closed end and a circumferential peripheral flange, a plurality of unwanted parts being formed on an outer circumferential wall between the circumferential peripheral flange and the closed end of the sheath, and the closed end being formed into a flat window; (c) hot-pressing the plurality of unwanted parts to form a plurality of fins; (d) removing the plurality of fins to form a plurality of cutting marks; (e) turning over the sheath to make the plurality of cutting marks located inside the sheath so that the outer circumferential wall thereof is smooth; and (f) combining the circumferential peripheral flange of the probe cover with a ring base.

Abstract: A probe cover detaching mechanism for detaching a probe cover mounted to abut against a probe that is to be inserted into the earhole from the probe includes an operating member to which is applied an operating force for detaching the probe cover from the probe, a push member pushing the probe cover toward the distal end of the probe upon receipt of the operating force applied to the operating member and transmitted from the operating member, and a mechanism joining the operating member with the push member and changing the direction of the operating force applied to the operating member by substantially 90° so as to transmit the operating force to the push member.

Abstract: In an infrared (IR) transient thermography system a sequence of image frames is acquired from an IR sensitive focal-plane array camera. Each sequentially acquired image frame is made up of an array of pixels and has assigned a frame number that corresponds to elapsed time. A method of analyzing thermal imaging data-frames is presented wherein a synthetically generated temperature-time reference curve is used to determine pixel contrast-versus-time data.

Abstract: In an infrared (IR) transient thermography system a sequence of image frames is acquired from an IR sensitive focal-plane array camera. Each sequentially acquired image frame is made up of an array of pixels and has assigned a frame-number that corresponds to elapsed time. Temperature-versus-time (T-t) data corresponding to each pixel is developed from stacks of sequential image-frames. A method of analyzing the stacks of thermal data image-frames is presented wherein either the Real or the Imaginary component portions of a Fast-Fourier Transform of a normalized T-t data curve from each pixel is used to determine the thickness of an object and produce a color-keyed or gray-scale coded thickness map.

Abstract: A non-contact temperature sensor includes a holder serving as a light conducting portion for guiding infrared rays incident from a first opening at its one end; a plastic film arranged at a second opening of the other end of tile light conducting portion; a cover for sealing the second opening at the other end of the holder so as to provide a space between itself and the plastic film, an infrared ray detection heat-sensitive element arranged on the side of the space of the plastic film, for detecting the infrared rays incident from the first opening; and a temperature compensating heat-sensitive means arranged in the vicinity of the holder, for detecting the temperature of the holder. In this configuration, the surface temperature of the body-to-be-detected can be precisely detected in a short time.

Abstract: A microsensor housing having a structure with at least one inlet at one end and a thermal property sensor at the other end. Situated between the inlet and the sensor is a convection shield. Sampled fluid is taken in the inlet from a channel carrying the fluid to be sampled. The convection flow lines of the fluid are barred by the convection shield. The fluid is diffused into a cavity between the shield and sensor. The sensor detects a thermal property of the diffused fluid. One preferred shield has holes about its perimeter with a solid center part of the shield covering at a distance the sensor. The channel carrying the fluid may have screens to reduce turbulence noise and to aid in fluid transport to and from the sensor housing.

Abstract: A method of determining contact wear in a trip unit of a circuit breaker is presented. The trip unit includes a microcontroller and associated memories. An algorithm (program) stored in a memory of the trip unit measures temperatures relative to circuit breaker contacts and cumulative energy dissipated in the breaker contacts, and utilizes them in a variety of analysis techniques within the trip unit to determine contact wear. These techniques include, by way of example, differential temperature analysis, measurement of cumulative energy dissipated in the breaker contacts, and calculated contact wear using sampled electrical currents and voltage and Ohm's law.

Abstract: A system and method for rapidly preheating the probe of a thermometer to a temperature closer to the temperature of a patient to be measured. The system comprises a probe heater, a probe temperature sensor, a power source, and a processor for controlling the delivery of energy from the power source to the heater. The processor adds an offset to the drive level to the heater which is dependent on the ambient temperature and the power source voltage to achieve more rapid heater response. The processor maintains control over the drive level applied to the heater in accordance with the temperature sensor so that at all times a closed loop system is provided.

Abstract: A thermowell assembly (20) shown in FIG. 2 is positioned in a pipeline (10) for sensing the temperature of the fluid medium in the pipeline (10) for transmitting the sensed temperature to a meter (12). A temperature sensing probe is received within a temperature conducting tube (36) forming a thermowell and having a plurality of annular fins (40) extending thereabout. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7, a liquid (50) is provided in an annular space between the thermocouple (28) and the temperature conducting tube (36). Non-metallic members (70, 28, 80) are positioned between the pipeline (10) and the temperature transmitting tube (36) to isolate thermocouple (28) from ambient changes in the temperature of metal pipeline (10) which may result in an error in the temperature of the flow medium sensed by the thermowell assembly (20). High temperature embodiments shown in FIGS.

Abstract: A method for forming thermal isolation for a micro thermopile device comprises steps of forming a narrow etching window on the membrane and forming a plurality of micro connection structures each crossing the narrow etching window and connecting the edge portion of the membrane on both sides of the narrow etching window, and etching the silicon substrate through the narrow etching window to form a pit between the silicon substrate and the membrane, whereby the membrane becomes a floating membrane and has thermal isolation with the silicon substrate. By this method, the area of the floating membrane is increased and the strain of the floating membrane is reduced.

Abstract: A sensor used to measure temperature or concentration of a combustible gas. The sensor includes an optical head that picks up infrared information emitted by the combustible gas. The infrared information is conveyed from the optical sensor through a diffracting device onto a strip of photodetectors. A processor receives the information garnered by the photodetectors and determines the concentration and temperature profile of the combustible gas based on a stored thermodynamic model, radiation behavior, varying the thermodynamic parameters, and comparing a calculated spectrum with the measured spectrum. The sensor additionally has elements, such as cooling devices and casing to make it suitable for use with aviation where altitude creates problems with known methods of gas temperature analysis.

Abstract: A thermometer having a tubular measuring end, a metal head engaged with the tubular measuring end, a sensor arranged within the metal head, and epoxy filled inside the metal head, the metal head being a tubular member with an open end and a closed end, the improvement wherein a tubular metal sleeve made of conducting material is fitted inside the tubular metal head, the tubular metal sleeve having a bottom formed with an inner surface that curves outwardly and an outer surface that curves inwardly the bottom being formed with a center hole and a radial notch, the sensor being positioned in a space which is enclosed by the metal head and the bottom of the tubular metal sleeve, whereby when the tubular measuring end is fitted into the metal head, the tubular metal sleeve will be pushed into the metal head thereby squeezing the gem into the tubular metal sleeve and the tubular measuring end through the center hole and therefore reinforcing engagement between the tubular metal sleeve and the tubular measuring end

Abstract: A contact temperature probe having a probe head which includes a temperature sensor having lead wires which exit the head and run through a shield for shielding the wires from the process, wherein the probe head is supported for pivoting motion only by the lead wires and the shield is thermally isolated from the probe head.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for measuring the thermal conductivity of rigid or flexible, homogeneous or heterogeneous, thin films between 50 &mgr;m and 150 &mgr;m thick with relative standard deviations of less than five percent. The specimen is sandwiched between like material, highly conductive upper and lower slabs. Each slab is instrumented with six thermocouples embedded within the slab and flush with their corresponding surfaces. A heat source heats the lower slab and a heat sink cools the upper slab. The heat sink also provides sufficient contact pressure onto the specimen. Testing is performed within a vacuum environment (bell-jar) between 10−3 to 10−6 Torr. An anti-radiant shield on the interior surface of the bell-jar is used to avoid radiation heat losses. Insulation is placed adjacent to the heat source and adjacent to the heat sink to prevent conduction losses. A temperature controlled water circulator circulates water from a constant temperature bath through the heat sink.

Abstract: A probe for determining the heat flux in a direct-fired heater. The direct-fired heater is under a vacuum pressure. This vacuum pressure induces a small quantity of ambient air through a ceramic insulating tube and eventually into the heater. The induced air cools an absorber head and receptacle, causing heat to flow from a target to a base. The target is an outer surface of the absorber head exposed to radiant heat inside the direct-fired heater. The base is that portion of the absorber head and receptacle which has a surface exposed to cooling air within the ceramic tube. The vacuum pressure inside the heater causes ambient air to be induced into a second end of the ceramic tube. Air passages at a first end of the ceramic tube cause the induced air to flow past the base and into the heater. A thermocouple is fitted into a cylindrical slot inside the receptacle.

Abstract: A microsensor housing having a structure with at least one inlet at one end and a thermal property sensor at the other end. Situated between the inlet and the sensor is a convection shield. Sampled fluid is taken in the inlet from a channel carrying the fluid to be sampled. The convection flow lines of the fluid are barred by the convection shield. The fluid is diffused into a cavity between the shield and sensor. The sensor detects a thermal property of the diffused fluid. One preferred shield has holes about its perimeter with a solid center part of the shield covering at a distance the sensor. The channel carrying the fluid may have screens to reduce turbulence noise and to aid in fluid transport to and from the sensor housing.