Abstract: A fuse includes a stack, a flattened wire, and a terminal. The stack has multiple layers arranged to form steps. The stack has an upper stack with layers of a first size and a lower stack with layers of a second, larger size. The flattened wire is located between the upper stack and the lower stack. The terminal is connected to the flattened wire and includes multiple surfaces to cover the steps at one end of the stack.

Abstract: An improved apparatus including a thermocouple for measuring the temperature in a gasification process is provided. The improvement includes a sapphire reinforced outer protection tube for enclosing at least a portion of the thermocouple. The sapphire reinforced outer protection tube may be integrally formed around an inner protection tube, the inner protection tube being receptive of a sapphire-sheathed thermocouple. The apparatus may be inserted directly into a gasification stream without the use of a thermowell. The sapphire reinforced outer protection tube increases the life of the thermocouples used in gasification processes.