Abstract: A thermal sensor, in particular for a chemical reactor comprises an enamelled cylindrical shell having at its inner end a thin base and an inner sleeve welded to the base of the shell. A temperature measuring head comprising at least one thermal sensing element in a compression resistant insulating mass of low thermal inertia in a casing is pressed against the base of the shell by a compression spring acting between the temperature measuring head and a connector coupled to the inner sleeve of the shell by a bayonet point. Lead wires from the temperature measuring head extend out through a tubular stem having at its inner end a socket connected with the connector by a second bayonet joint. A guide sleeve has an inner end surrounding the inner sleeve of the shell and a reduced diameter outer end receiving the tubular stem. The bayonet joints provide for easy removal and replacement of the temperature measuring head.

Abstract: In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, multiple fixtures are set forth which function as support structures for thermal fluxmeters. A fluxmeter wafer or pad having top and lower faces and forming an output signal by means of thermopiles connected to both faces is used. It is supported by first and second alternate forms of fixtures. A force is applied to the fluxmeter wafer which is approximately normalized in both fixtures. This establishes a stabilized contact force against a surface to measure heat loss through the surface. This avoids variations in surface contact.

Abstract: A thermocouple arrangement is provided for mounting in a blind hole of a specimen. The thermocouple arrangement includes a cup-like holder member, which receives an elongated thermal insulator, one end of which is seated at an end wall of the holder. A pair of thermocouple wires, threaded through passageways in the insulator, extend beyond the insulator member, terminating in free ends which are joined together in a spherical weld bead. A spring, held captive within the holder, applies a bias force to the weld bead, through the insulator member. The outside surface of the holder is threaded for engagement with the blind hole of the specimen. When the thermocouple is installed in the specimen, the spherical contact surface of the weld bead is held in contact with the end wall of the blind hole, with a predetermined bias force.

Abstract: A pair of resilient side-by-side elongated coils of different thermocouple material are mounted in a ceramic housing and project forwardly with their forward ends connected to form a thermocouple junction that is adapted to be pressed against a surface of which temperature is to be measured. A retractable protective sleeve is spring-urged to a forward position in which it extends beyond the end of the thermocouple housing and is retractable, when the probe is pressed against the surface, to a limit position in which the end of the ceramic thermocouple housing is maintained just clear of the surface, while the resilience of the thermocouple coils enables good contact of the junction and the surface.

Abstract: An improved heat sensing tip for a temperature sensing device is provided. The tip comprises an elongated shell of heat conductive material. A temperature probe is positioned for movement within the shell toward and away from an opening in the shell. A cap of heat conductive material is positioned at the front of the probe. A spring urges the cap in contact with the shell for heat conductivity between the two when the device is not in operation. When the device is in operation, the spring bias is overcome thereby providing an insulating air gap between the shell and the tip.

Abstract: A fast response thermocouple probe is formed from two strips of different resilient thermocouple metals. The strips each have a bowed portion with the bowed portions overlapping and crossing each other at a spot welded junction point. The ends of each strip are connected together and engage a body member so that the bowed portions are spaced from the body. The strips are bent to form leaf springs thereby allowing for a resilient junction.

Abstract: A device for measuring in situ the temperature of an annular elastomeric seal is provided which comprises, in a preferred embodiment thereof, an annular elastomeric seal formed of two annular halves, a thermocouple embedded in said seal near the interface of said annular halves, a sleeve having one end molded to one of said halves for supporting and protecting the thermocouple leads and for conducting said leads external of the housing or fixture incorporating said seal.

Abstract: A multipoint thermocouple assembly for monitoring temperatures at various locations in a utilization environment includes an elongate thermocouple support strap insertable lengthwise into a protective hollow well or the like. Mounted on the support strap are a plurality of thermocouples which are generally held against longitudinal movement relative to the support strap but the respective measuring junctions thereof are supported by respective camming members connected to a common cable for simultaneous longitudinal movement of the camming members relative to the support strap for urging the measuring junctions outwardly into thermally conductive engagement with respective wall portions of the well. The support strap and actuation cable are laterally flexible so that the assembly may be coiled for ease in fabrication, installation and shipping.

Abstract: A device for accurately measuring the temperature of a laminator and the method of using this device. This device is made from a cylindrical body adapted for tension adjustment, a probe, a means for adjusting tension which is positioned between the probe and the cylindrical body, a thermally conductive body attached to the probe and a thermocouple attached to the conductive metal body. This device is positioned perpendicular to a laminator platen during operation of the laminator. The temperature may be read from an appropriate meter to which the thermocouple of the device is attached.

Abstract: A temperature sensor comprising a pair of insulated dissimilar metallic conductors joined at one of their ends to form a thermojunction, and a connector comprising an elongate backing strip of dielectric sheet material. The other ends of the conductors are positioned to extend generally transversely across one face of the strip and are spaced apart longitudinally of the strip. A facing strip of dielectric material on the backing strip overlies the ends of the conductors and has openings therein exposing bare uninsulated portions of the ends of the conductors to provide electrical contacts whereby on insertion of the connector into a mating connector the contacts are engaged by corresponding contacts in the mating connector for making respective electrical connections.

Abstract: A multipoint thermocouple assembly for monitoring temperatures at various locations, for example, at different depths in a process vessel, includes a plurality of thermocouples, a protective tube well having a hollow interior, elongate guides in the protective well for guiding respective thermocouples along the interior of the protective well, and wedges in the guides at respective axial locations along the protective well for urging the measuring junctions of respective thermocouples into thermal transfer contact with the wall of the well. In one form of the invention, the guides may comprise plural channels on the exterior surface of an elongated support member, formed as by attaching fins or dividers to such exterior surface, or by providing a plurality of splines on such exterior surface. In another form of the invention, a plurality of elongated thin walled guide tubes are brazed or welded to the exterior surface of a plurality of longitudinally spaced support rings.

Abstract: A thermocouple member having a surface portion adapted for heat contact with the surface of the body to measure the temperature thereof is provided with a low friction, electrically insulated layer such as of a fluorocarbon resin over the surface portion. The thermocouple member is thereby prevented from being brought into direct contact with the surface of the body. A heat sensing section having such a coated thermocouple member is useful for measuring the temperature of a body moving either linearly or angularly as well as an electrically driven body.

Abstract: A temperature sensor is fixedly attached to a thin, flexible disc-like metal plate with sufficient flexibility to conform to the general shape of a surface. The sensor may be thermocouple, a resistor, a semiconductor or other structure. This thin metal member has a low thermal capacity or mass and a relatively high degree of thermal conductance. A tubular insulating and elastic member is fixedly attached to the periphery of the plate and to a tubular housing having an attached handle. The housing functions as a support and an enclosure for the temperature sensitive unit, flexible connecting leads and the like. The elastic member permits the plate to pivot about the housing to move into complete surface engagement with the surface being monitored. The electrical wires connected to the temperature sensitive unit are relatively fine to minimize the thermal mass and capacity added to the unit. The wires are also flexible such that they do not interfere with movement of the plate.

Abstract: There is disclosed electronic sensing means such as thermisters, RTD's, and thermocouples, which include a contact part at the extremity of conductor means and of plastic or like insulating material and of low mass and small dimension, in, on or over which sensing elements are arranged in a manner to provide extremely sensitive response to temperature conditions, contact of the part with a surface in an area of a member where temperature indication is desired being effected by resilient means which is insulated from such surface and thereby does not adversely affect the response. Pressure of such contact may be varied when a spiral wound spring is availed of to influence such contact and the spring may be connected to the part by molding an end thereof in such part, and the compression of such spring may in turn be varied.

Abstract: A thermocouple grill probe has a hollow fluorocarbon body that is solder filled for increased weight necessary to flatten a double bowed leaf spring mounted in a recess formed under the body by a depending peripheral skirt. A thermocouple junction is mounted to the leaf spring and is connected to a thermocouple connector by a pair of thermocouple wires. The probe is self-supporting and stands on the peripheral skirt which controls the deflection of the spring and protects the junction from circulating air currents.

Abstract: An improved heat sensing apparatus for an electric range automatic surface unit control in which the heat sensor housing is supported within the surface unit by an upwardly biased pivot arm. The upper portion of the sensing apparatus comprises a first utensil contacting layer of a low thermal mass, heat conductive material, a second layer of electrically insulative heat conductive material secured to the underside of the first contact layer, and a third layer of electrically conductive, heat conductive material secured to the underside of the second layer. A thermistor or thermocouple heat sensor is attached to the third layer to provide an electrical signal representative of the utensil temperature to the surface unit temperature controls.

Abstract: Thermoelectric generator assembly accommodating differential thermal expansion between thermoelectric elements by means of a cylindrical split follower forming a slot and having internal spring loaded wedges that permit the split follower to open and close across the slot.

Abstract: A thermocouple device comprising two low mass dissimilar metal elements each being of relatively short length and each having a relatively narrow cross section along their lengths. The elements are provided with pointed ends for engaging and penetrating the surface of an object to be measured for its temperature. The two metal elements are disposed together such that their pointed ends taper toward each other to form a single, unitary, pointed end. The two elements are separated by a relatively thin layer of heat resistant, insulating material, and extend into and are secured in an insulating refractory member.

Abstract: A tubular thermoelectric module used primarily as a part of thermoelectric generators, comprising an inner thermal conductor with circular thermopiles embracing the inner thermal conductor, and with strips serving to interconnect the thermopiles; an outer thermal conductor in the form of several sealed taper clamps, each embracing a circular thermopile; and electric insulation units which insulate one thermopile from another and from the inner and outer thermal conductors.

Abstract: A flexible layered tubular sleeve which surrounds a thermoelectric element force application spring. The sleeve is electrically insulated from the thermoelectric element and provides a thermal path between the cold end junction of the thermoelectric element and a heat rejection system. The sleeve comprises a plurality of bowed flexible strips which bend outwardly when an axial compressive force is applied to the sleeve thus causing these strips to collapse. The sleeve provides a thermal path between the thermoelectric element and the heat rejection system without interfering with the operation of the force application spring.

Abstract: In a nuclear battery utilizing the Seebeck Effect to produce an electric voltage, a shock support system is disclosed wherein thermally conductive spring means and alignment caps support a thermoelectric converter between a heat sink and an independently supported heat source so as to cushion the converter from vibration and shock.

Abstract: A heat pump having a set of "thermoelements" that have substantially the same thickness and at least two radiant flat elements that permit the diffusion or absorption of the heat, and is characterized by being made in the form of a sandwich comprising, in addition to the said radiant elements, two supports that are electrically insulated and effectively conduct the electricity, placed on either side of the thermoelements, and securing both the electric coupling of the thermoelements to one another and also the thermal coupling of the radiant elements to the thermoelements, while allowing a mechanical coupling of all the elements, each of said supports possessing a first face contacting with its entire surface one of the radiant elements and a second face covered by a layer of discontinuous elements that are effective conductors of electricity, these elements being distributed on the two supports in such a manner that, when the thermoelements are locked between them, the said conductor elements realize the ser

Abstract: A temperature measuring device for electrically measuring the temperature at a predetermined point within a body member is disclosed. The device comprises a temperature sensor electrically isolated within a metallic sheath, the sheath being securely attached to a deformable mounting head. The head is deformed to produce a gripping force to intimately hold it in position within a cavity disposed in the body member and to maintain the sensor in a temperature sensing relationship with the predetermined point of interest. A spacer member is provided to substantially fill the remainder of the cavity to prevent distortion of the temperature field. A deformable lip is disposed about the periphery of the cavity which overlaps the spacer member and provides a holding force to assist in maintaining the sensor in position.

Abstract: A multiple sensor temperature measuring device for measuring temperatures at a predetermined number of points along a line of investigation within a body is described. The device has a plurality of temperature sensors mounted on a corresponding plurality of expandable mounting members, each sensor being surrounded by electrical insulation and being contained within a protective sheath. The mounting members are expanded by suitable spacers to dispose the sheath in an abutting and temperature sensing relationship with the body at each predetermined point of interest therein.

Abstract: A multipoint thermocouple assembly using coil springs in which a coil spring is used with each thermocouple to maintain contact between the thermocouple measuring junction and the interior side of the assembly housing. Maintenance of such contact helps to insure an accurate reading of temperature changes which occur outside the assembly housing.