By Fluid Flow Within Or To Sensor (e.g., Convection, Heat Transfer, Differential Pressure) Patents (Class 374/135)
  • Patent number: 5653538
    Abstract: A temperature probe has a sensor housing with a sensor head and an associated scoop, together forming a primary airflow path, with the sensor head containing a sample chamber for the thermal sensor. Gaseous fluid is caused to pass through the primary airflow path, where its pressure is increased. The sample chamber is adjacent to the primary airflow path and configured to draw a sample of the flowing gaseous fluid out of the primary airflow path and bring it to and through the sampling chamber, while maintaining the sampled flow at essentially the same immersion depth as the primary airflow path. The sensor is connected to the housing and extends into the sampling chamber so that the gaseous fluid flows across the sensor's axis and sensing surface, rather than along the sensor's longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5533348
    Abstract: An average temperature sensor designed for use in an air conditioning unit, wherein the air conditioning unit has a high pressure region and a low pressure region and a method for making an average temperature measurement. The average temperature sensor senses the average temperature of air flowing in the high pressure region and comprises a device for conveying a flow of air that is in fluid communication with the high pressure region. A temperature sensor is disposed in a temperature sensing relationship to the device for conveying the flow or air. The high pressure in the high pressure region induces a flow of air in the device for conveying a flow of air. This flow of air flows from the high pressure region to the low pressure region and is at the average temperature of the air in the high pressure region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: Joe M. Baldwin, Dale C. Cotton
  • Patent number: 5356219
    Abstract: The instrumentation probe of the present invention comprises a tubular housing for enclosing a sensing element, the tubular housing being adapted to project into a process stream. The tubular housing is surrounded by an outer casing that has its longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular housing and which outer casing is aerodynamically shaped to be substantially non-disruptive of the flow of the process stream while protecting the tubular housing from erosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Tammera, Donald F. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5349845
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring apparatus for measuring the condition of a felt in a paper machine, comprising a measuring head (1) connected to a vacuum source. Air is sucked into the measuring head through the felt, and the air and the water carried with the air are removed through separate conduits. The measuring head comprises a microwave head for measuring the water content of the felt, and a temperature detector for measuring the temperature of the sucked air concurrently with the vacuum measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Tamfelt Oy Ab
    Inventor: Mikko Blom
  • Patent number: 5348395
    Abstract: An aspirating or suction pyrometer for measuring hot combustion gases. A thermocouple in the pyrometer has a temperature sensitive junction formed of platinum alloys. The thermocouple junction is insulated and is encased within a platinum alloy sheath. The sheathed thermocouple is mounted within inner and outer tubular radiation shields. These shields are formed of a platinum alloy having a radiation emissivity substantially the same as the thermocouple. The shields block radiated heat from the flame and combustion chamber from being transferred to the thermocouple. The radiation shields do not themselves radiate heat to the thermocouple because the shields and thermocouple are at the same temperature and formed of substantially the same noble alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Corr, II, Joseph Citeno
  • Patent number: 5342126
    Abstract: A twist lock for attaching a plastic shell of a thermal probe to a structural member such as a plastic intake manifold of an internal combustion engine in a socket in the structural member. The twist lock includes hooks on the plastic shell which traverse an annular shoulder at the bottom of the socket through notches in the shoulder when the shell is inserted in the socket and which are captured by the shoulder when the shell is rotated in the socket from an unlocked position to a locked position. The twist lock further includes a lug on the shell cooperating with a cam edge on a resilient lip around an open end of the socket to afford tactile representation of the progress of the shell toward and achievement of the locked position and to prevent reverse rotation of the shell from the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Heston, Marc D. Polanka, Jeffrey A. Rock, Scott A. Geiger
  • Patent number: 5302026
    Abstract: A temperature probe measures the temperature of a fluid which moves relative to the probe. The probe includes a housing, a transducer, and one or more fins. The housing has a bore with a bore axis and carries at least a portion of the fluid along the bore axis. The transducer has a sensing length, and the fin thermally couples to the transducer along substantially the entire sensing length. The fin is also substantially aligned with the bore axis to promote laminar flow of the fluid in the bore. In a preferred embodiment the transducer is held within a protective tube, and the fin attaches to the tube along a fin inner edge. The fin also attaches along a fin outer edge to a radiation shield encircling the tube, the fin outer edge being shorter than the fin inner edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Rosemount, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5295389
    Abstract: A thermal conductivity detector includes a thin diaphragm, a heat-generating portion, and a pair of boundary holes. The thin diaphragm is obtained by forming a space in part of a base. The heat-generating portion is formed in the diaphragm. The boundary holes are formed to surround the heat-generating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Yamatake-Honeywell Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Nagata, Shoji Kamiunten, Tatsuyuki Uchida, Misako Seita
  • Patent number: 5226729
    Abstract: An averaging temperature probe is disclosed wherein a sensor strip extends from a mounting plate substantially across a stratified airflow. Temperatures at points spaced along the sensor strip are measured and averaged by circuitry to provide a more accurate representation of the actual or mixed airflow temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Malcolm L. Alford
  • Patent number: 5180227
    Abstract: An optical temperature sensor has an outer probe with a sapphire element at its forward end within a stagnation chamber through which hot gas flows and heats a thermally-emissive coating on the element. A lens focusses radiation emitted by the coating onto one end of a fibre-optic cable that extends within the rear of the probe. A gas passage along the probe enables cooling gas to flow from an inlet at the rear end, around the fibre optic cable, lens and through an outlet rearwardly of a transparent thermal barrier which protects the sapphire element from the cooling gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Laurence N. John, Neil A. Corner
  • Patent number: 5173922
    Abstract: A sensor holder for holding a temperature sensor is disclosed, which comprises a first part having a first passage formed therethrough and a second part having a second passage formed therethrough. The first and second parts are so united as to coaxially connect the first and second passages thereby to constitute an elongate passage through which air flows in a direction from the first passage to the second passage. The temperature sensor is located at a given position in the first passage. A heat insulating air cavity is provided by the first part near the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Calsonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenobu Arakawa, Kazumasa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5161894
    Abstract: A temperature-sensitive element including an elongate ceramic mandrel having at least two non-insulated connection wires passing longitudinally therealong, which wires are connected to a bifilar winding wound over the outside surface of said mandrel, and an insulated coating of glass surrounding the elongate mandrel and its bifilar winding, the temperature-sensitive element being characterized by the fact that it includes at least one mineral-insulated screened cable having one end received inside the elongate mandrel, with the connection wires passing along the cable(s), and by the fact that the insulated covering also covers that zone of the mineral insulated-screened cable(s) which is immediately adjacent to the point where the cable(s) penetrates into said elongate mandrel. The invention is particularly suitable for measuring temperatures in the field of cryogenics and in the aerospace industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Materiel et Auxiliaire de Signalisation et de Controle pour l'Automation-Auxitrol
    Inventor: Raymond Bourigault
  • Patent number: 5141332
    Abstract: A temperature monitor comprising two circular metallic plates which are disposed in the horizontal plane in a spaced-apart configuration, the upper plate having a mirrored top surface and a black bottom surface, the lower plate having a black top surface and a mirrored bottom surface, and a temperature sensor mounted in the space between the two plates. The plates are fastened in the spaced-apart configurataion by use of nylon bolts, and the temperature sensor is mounted using nylon or other electrically insulating washers. The entire apparatus is mounted on wood or PVC supports. A thin layer of temperature-stabilized air is traped in between the two plates, allowing the temperataure sensor to achieve great accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Inventor: David M. Bergstein
  • Patent number: 5116137
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for a temperature measuring pyrometer probe that measures gas temperatures above the melting point of conventional thermocouple material. The apparatus is used to calculate radiation heat losses and compensate for pneumatic cooling from the thermocouple junction of the pyrometer probe. The pyrometer probe has an inner hollow body which defines an inner chamber. The inner hollow body has an open end and the inner chamber is in communication with ambient gas surrounding the pyrometer probe. The inner hollow body is mounted within an outer hollow body and such mounting defines cooling channels. The cooling channels accommodate fluid flow which cools the inner hollow body. The ambient gas is directed into a converging-diverging nozzle, mounted within the inner hollow body, toward a thermocouple junction. The converging-diverging nozzle has a wall suction channel through which a boundary layer of the ambient gas is drawn away from the thermocouple junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Tian-Yu Xiong, Lloyd McHie
  • Patent number: 5085073
    Abstract: A sample in a wind tunnel is radiated from a thermal energy source exteriorly of the wind tunnel. A thermal imager system, also located exteriorly of the wind tunnel, reads surface radiations from the sample as a function of time. The produced thermal images are characteristic of the heat transferred from the sample to the flow across the sample. In turn, the measured rates of heat loss of the sample are characteristic of the flow and the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administator of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Joseph S. Heyman, D. Michele Heath, Christopher S. Welch, William P. Winfree, William E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5051717
    Abstract: A high limit thermostat for gas furnace applications is shown having a molded base plate and an elongated housing formed integrally with the base plate which mounts a thermostat at a free end of the housing in order to be positioned within an air stream of a heat exchanger to sense temperature conditions of the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Hayden
  • Patent number: 5046857
    Abstract: A thermal probe has a premolded single unitary plastic outer shell forming an open end adapted to receive a connector unit and having an inboard end defining a probe portion. The plastic outer shell has deformable walls forming a bore. A pair of terminals and wire leads connected to a thermistor have a plastic mounting member premolded thereon; the plastic mounting member is slideably press fit in the bore to position the thermistor within the bore and to axially locate the thermistor in spaced relationship to the inboard end of the outer shell. Side segments on the terminals extend outwardly of the plastic member and are embedded in the deformable walls of the bore to interlock the thermistor in place within the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Metzger, George R. Smith
  • Patent number: 5040380
    Abstract: A new method and apparatus are provided for sensing refrigerant temperatures in refrigerator systems, and for preventing underloading of the coil, or of any of the coils in a plurality of refrigerator evaporator circuit coils connected in parallel. The usual thermostatically controlled refrigerant flow control valve is controlled by a thermostatic sensor to ensure a predetermined minimum amount of superheat, usually about 5.5.degree. C. (10.degree. F.). To avoid underloading the refrigerant is rendered thoroughly turbulent and mixed, and in the multi-coil evaporator the flows from all of the coils are similarly thoroughly turbulated and mixed, by a turbulating and/or mixing device that intercepts the entire refrigerant flow just before the sensing of the superheat, thus ensuring that the temperature is accurately measured; in the multi-circuit coil system the device averages the temperatures of all the flows. Different turbulator/mixer devices are described and two or more such devices may be used in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Super S.E.E.R. Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Gregory
  • Patent number: 5018873
    Abstract: In one form of the invention, different airflows across a temperature sensor in an aircraft are maintained during different flight conditions. A first airflow is generated during takeoff by a pressure differential existing between two surfaces of the aircraft. A second airflow is maintained during cruise by an air jet supplied by an ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Melvin Bobo
  • Patent number: 4991976
    Abstract: A temperature sensor probe is provided with a series of flow channels for deflecting a fluid to be sensed as it flows over the surface of the probe. The flow channels reduce the separation of flow from the surface of the probe thereby increasing the convective heat transfer of the probe and improving the time response of the probe. The temperature sensor probe includes a temperature sensing element housed in a probe housing. In channels are formed on the outer surface of the probe housing. In the preferred form of the invention, the housing is cylindrically shaped and the flow channels extend around the entire circumference of the housing in a spiral fashion so as to form a helical shape extending substantially the entire length of the probe housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Weed Instruments Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Joe D. Byles
  • Patent number: 4968151
    Abstract: The temperature of fluid (gas or liquid) flowing in a duct 10a having axis 21 is measured using a collar 12 having an inner face 17 embracing the tube and having two axial bores 16, 18 at different lateral distances from the duct axis which receive temperature sensors 8, 9 connected to recording and monitoring devices 20, 22. A heater 14 is provided on the outside of the collar and when there is no lateral heat flux in the collar and the wall of the duct the temperature of the fluid equals the temperature of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventor: Alexander Thomson
  • Patent number: 4953986
    Abstract: An air/sea temperature probe is disclosed which can be deployed from a moving ship to detect the temperature profile of the atmosphere and ocean beyond the thermal influence of a ship. The probe includes a temperature transducer which utilizes a bifilar wire that provides a very quick air temperature time constant. The transducer is mounted within a radiation shield having low thermal conductance to minimize thermal and solar radiation contamination and is coupled to a signal processing network. In operation, the probe is deployed from a ship and provides temperature telemetry via an electrical data link coupled between the signal processing network and a receiving transducer located onboard the ship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jack R. Olson, Herbert V. Hitney, Richard A. Paulus, Kenneth D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4911009
    Abstract: A thermal air flow meter for measuring the flow rate of intake air supplied to an internal combustion engine comprises a thermal sensor disposed in an intake air passage, a drive circuit including a circuit pattern formed on a circuit board for driving the thermal sensor, a shielding case having at least a bottom wall on which the circuit board is mounted and side walls, a through capacitor disposed on one of the side walls of the shielding case, a conductor extending through the capacitor so that the conductor is electrically connected in an AC mode through the capacitor to the shielding case and having one end connected to a corresponding terminal of the drive circuit and the other end connected to an external terminal, a metal case in which the shielding case is mounted and a connecting member electrically connecting the shielding case to the metal case at an area on the bottom wall selected between an edge of the bottom wall connected to the one side wall and an edge of the pattern formed on the circuit b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Maeda, Tadao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4856911
    Abstract: Method of measuring the temperature of a running filiform element, without mechanical contact with the element, and devices for implementing such method. According to the invention, a fluid of which the temperature and the flow rate have been measured is supplied to a chamber through which a filiform element is moving. Part of the fluid is collected in order to measure its temperature. The temperature of the element is determined from the flow rate and injection exit temperatures of the fluid. The invention is particularly applied in metallurgy to temperature measuring of yarns, tubes, sheets or metal strips, sections, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Bertin & Cie
    Inventors: Bernard M. Roth, Daniel R. M. Neveu, Catherine Delikat
  • Patent number: 4832503
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method which monitors the quality of steam flowing in a pipe. A steam sensor located in the pipe provides a steam signal which is frequency related to the quality of the steam flowing in the pipe. A network connected to the sensor provides a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal in accordance with the steam signal. The steam quality is the in accordance with the high frequency signal and the low frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Dowling, Jackie C. Sims
  • Patent number: 4795090
    Abstract: In an air-conditioning installation for vehicles with a blower for supplying fresh air to a vehicle interior space, with a temperature sensor for detecting the interior space temperature and with an air jet pump, consisting of a venturi pipe and of an air suction connection for producing an air flow over the temperature sensor, the air jet pump is arranged integrated in the blower for reducing the individual components for the temperature detection and for reducing the requisite installation space in the vehicle in such a manner that its air outlet opening lies within the blower stream. The temperature sensor is thereby so arranged that it is acted upon by the interior space air sucked-in by way of the air suction connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz Koukal, Klaus Arold, Hermann Grimm, deceased
  • Patent number: 4790668
    Abstract: A viscometric thermometer is fabricated with two sensing capillaries connected serially in a common fluid flow circuit. The first capillary is immersed in a reference bath of known constant temperature. Pressure differential across the first capillary is measured and the fluid medium flow rate through the common circuit is determined. The second sensor is positioned in the unknown temperature environment and pressure differential across the second capillary is measured. This second capillary pressure differential is combined with the determined flow rate value to further determine the unknown temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventor: Jamal Seyed-Yagoobi
  • Patent number: 4765751
    Abstract: A pressure and temperature measuring probe with a low drag, airfoil shaped cross section includes a longitudinally extending pressure cavity adjacent the leading edge and a separate longitudinally extending temperature cavity immediately downstream thereof. Longitudinally spaced apart passages extend downstream from their inlets at pressure measuring stations along the leading edge and intersect the pressure cavity. At temperature measuring stations along the leading edge passages extend downstream adjacent the pressure cavity to intersect the temperature cavity and direct a high velocity flow of gases over a thermocouple junction disposed within the temperature cavity. Stagnation devices at the leading edge reduce gas velocity to zero at the passage inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John L. Pannone, Rocco M. Tommasini
  • Patent number: 4764023
    Abstract: In a method of determining the rate of heat transfer from a surface due to liquid convection, a coating of a material capable of dissolving in the convecting liquid and whose optical properties on irradiation are proportional to the thickness of the coating, is applied to the surface and is then exposed to radiation and to the convecting liquid, the change in the amount of radiation transmitted or reflected from the coating giving an indication of the rate of heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: National Nuclear Corporation Limited
    Inventors: William J. White, Donald B. Utton
  • Patent number: 4747700
    Abstract: A thermocouple rake for measuring the temperature of heated fluids. The thermocouple rake is provided with a cooling chamber for circulating a coolant about individual thermocouple assemblies to cool the assemblies during use in the hot gas. A U-shaped channel is formed downstream in the flow of fluid to accept lead wires from the thermocouple assemblies to deflect the hot gas fluid from contacting the lead wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Herman N. Lenz, John M. Kasper
  • Patent number: 4734872
    Abstract: A system for and method of precisely controlling the temperature of an electronic component through a range of temperatures by controlling the temperature of a gas forced into contact with the component is disclosed. The system comprises a dual control loop including two sensors, one for measuring the temperature of the gas and the other for sensing the temperature of the component, for controlling the temperature of the gas so as to provide accurate control of the temperature of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Temptronic Corporation
    Inventors: George Eager, Pater Selverstone
  • Patent number: 4655607
    Abstract: A hot air leak sensor for sensing jet engine bleed air leaks in an aircraft. Infrared detectors are combined with thermal re-radiating elements which are installed in air passages adjacent to the bleed air ducts and downstream of the region where a bleed air leak may occur. The elements are approximately 50% transmissive and 50% absorptive to infrared radiation with wavelengths within the range of approximately 4 to 20 micrometers. Incident radiation within the field of view of the detector is both transmitted and absorbed for re-radiation to the detector. If no incident radiation within the sensor field of view is available, the re-radiating element still responds to the increased airstream temperature resulting from the bleed air leak and supplies radiation to the detector to provide detection of the leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Santa Barbara Research Center
    Inventors: Mark T. Kern, Robert J. Cinzori, William D. Fuller
  • Patent number: 4630939
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and process for measuring the temperature of a fluid environment within a vessel. The apparatus features a chamber which opens into the vessel and thus contains a portion of the fluid environment. Structure is provided for preventing substantial convective movement between the portion of the fluid environment within the chamber and the remainder of the fluid environment. A temperature sensing device is also provided which is movable from a position within the chamber to a position into the remainder of the fluid environment for obtaining a temperature measurement. The chamber is maintained at a temperature cooler than that of the fluid environment. This invention also relates to a process for the periodic measuring of the temperature of a fluid environment in a vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: M. Dale Mayes
  • Patent number: 4595299
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the temperature of an elongated movable object such as a wire or wire-rod exiting from a draw plate during a wire drawing process. The wire is located in a column-like chamber which is defined by two vertical walls and through which an upwardly moving flow of gas passes. A temperature sensor is mounted above and beneath the wire and the temperature difference in the gas is determined with the aid of a differential amplifier. The sensors may be thermistors or preferably thermocouples, which in the latter case are coupled with counteracting thermo-voltages for direct compensation and an output voltage proportional to the temperature difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Inventors: Reine Lindwall, Leif Samuelsson
  • Patent number: 4548516
    Abstract: An apparatus for indicating the fluid flow through implanted shunts by temperature sensing. The sensor comprises a series of thermistors carried by a flexible substrate mounted on a rigid support. The sensors are placed in external proximity to a section of the implanted shunt and by varying the temperature of the fluid proceeding the test section, the apparatus will determine the rate of flow therethrough. Each thermistor is connected by conductors to scaling and amplification circuitry for input into a computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Inventor: Tomasz K. Helenowski
  • Patent number: 4547080
    Abstract: A convective heat flow probe device is provided which measures heat flow and fluid flow magnitude in the formation surrounding a borehole. The probe comprises an elongate housing adapted to be lowered down into the borehole; a plurality of heaters extending along the probe for heating the formation surrounding the borehole; a plurality of temperature sensors arranged around the periphery of the probe for measuring the temperature of the surrounding formation after heating thereof by the heater elements. The temperature sensors and heater elements are mounted in a plurality of separate heater pads which are supported by the housing and which are adapted to be radially expanded into firm engagement with the walls of the borehole. The heat supplied by the heater elements and the temperatures measured by the temperature sensors are monitored and used in providing the desired measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: James C. Dunn, Harry C. Hardee, Richard P. Striker
  • Patent number: 4511264
    Abstract: A probe for measuring temperatures in a hot gaseous medium such as the gases inside the shaft of a blast furnace. A first tubular member extends from a base structure such as a blast furnace wall into the gaseous medium. Successively smaller, second and third tubular members are concentrically positioned inside this exterior tubular member. Preferably, an exterior protective member also surrounds the first tubular member. A refractory material is interposed between the exterior protective member and the first tubular member to minimize temperature fluctuations in the body of the probe itself. Thermocouple leads extend longitudinally in an air space between the second and third tubular members and then protrude to the exterior of the probe. A forward fluid coolant passageway is formed inside the third tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: Raymond Kaiser Engineers Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bucha, Albert J. Dzermejko, James G. Stuart
  • Patent number: 4487193
    Abstract: A temperature indicating propeller assembly comprises first and second propellers freely suspended one above the other on a common suspension wire for rotation by rising air currents. One propeller is of larger diameter than the other so that it commences rotation by air currents generated at lower temperatures than the other propeller. The assembly can be suspended over a domestic stove, for example, to indicate when the stove is operating at normal temperature by rotation of the one propeller, or when the stove is operating at an excessive temperature by rotation of both propellers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Inventors: Terry E. Richards, Janet A. Richards
  • Patent number: 4471647
    Abstract: There is described a gas chromatographic assembly formed on a semiconductor wafer by etching techniques. There is also described an improved thermal detector for use therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: Board of Regents of Stanford University
    Inventors: John H. Jerman, Stephen C. Terry
  • Patent number: 4430010
    Abstract: Liquids flowing from a nozzle or the like are tested by providing a sensing element having a heated tip part, directing a liquid to be tested to the tip of the sensing element so that the liquid cools the tip part and thereby an electrical signal is produced, and the thus produced electrical signal is utilized for evaluating the liquid and the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Zrenner, Peter Kalberer
  • Patent number: 4422778
    Abstract: A method for measuring the temperature of an asphalt pavement, that comprises the measurement of temperature of air used as a heat-carrying agent, drawn through the pavement prior to measuring the temperature thereof. The air is drawn through the pavement by application of a vacuum to a pavement area isolated from the environment. A device used for the implementation of the method comprises a hollow, thermally isolated chamber with open end faces. Installed on one of its end faces is a means used for providing the air filtration through the pavement and made as an exhaust blower whose impeller is arranged inside the chamber in close vicinity to its end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Inventors: Alexandr A. Shestopalov, Ernst I. Denikin, Nikolai Y. Kharkhuta, Alexandr A. Vasiliev, Vyacheslav I. Okunev
  • Patent number: 4403516
    Abstract: Plural gas samples are simultaneously collected and the temperature at each sampling point accurately measured by means of a probe which may be inserted into the furnace charge. The probe is constructed so as to facilitate assembly and repair while insuring against relative motion of the various components thereof as a result of imposed vibrations and thermally induced expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Mailliet, Victor Kremer
  • Patent number: 4400097
    Abstract: A system for the measurement of temperatures in a reactor such as those operated under high pressure and/or temperature is disclosed. The temperature is measured by the use of a pyrometer which is in optical communication with a measuring duct which can be disposed in the wall of the reactor and is in optical communication with the reactor interior. The measuring duct comprises two concentric tubes the outer one of which extends beyond the inner tube in the direction of the reactor interior and has a conical construction immediately following the termination of the inner tube. The concentric tubes are provided with a common end section such as in the form of a cone in the direction of the reactor exterior. A hermetic housing defining a safety chamber is disposed exterior thereof, the hermetic housing having two opposed pressure type and heat resistant windows in alignment with the inner tube and the pyrometer. The hermetic housing is not normally permanently attached to the measuring duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Ruhrchemie Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Koschnitzke, Paul Beuth
  • Patent number: 4355909
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the temperature of hot fluids (1) in environments involving thermal radiation. The apparatus comprises at least one radiation-protected measuring body (4) constituting one end of a heat-tube (2) having a working temperature below the fluid (1) temperaure to be measured. The other end of the heat-tube (10) is connected to one end of a heat-conducting rod (8); the other end of which is kept cool by cooling means (11). The apparatus is equipped with temperature measuring means (12, 14) for measuring the temperature of the heat-tube as well as the temperature at two points along the heat-conducting rod. There can be more than one measuring body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: F. L. Smidth & Co.
    Inventor: Hans B. Knudsen