TEMPERATURE SENSOR BELT

• US 20140334517A1
• Filed: 04/22/2014
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Rostlund, Anders Olof, Nelli, Christopher J., Liebert, Scott Stephen, Blundell, Jack Robert, Verhagen, Paul David, Galinski, Adolph G., Mlnarik, Kevin John
• Granted Patent: US 9,733,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/44
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2201/10 with respect to heat
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 21/0014 Devices for monitoring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/046 Materials; Selection of thermal materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/026 arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/143 for measuring surface temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/22 the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor G01K7/26 takes precedence

Abstract

A temperature sensor belt includes at least one temperature sensor. The at least one temperature sensor is configured to provide an indication representative of a temperature of a workpiece. The temperature sensor belt also includes a support material disposed over the at least one temperature sensor. The support material is configured to support the at least one temperature sensor on the sensor belt. The temperature sensor belt also includes an insulative material at least partially surrounding the at least one temperature sensor. The insulative material is configured to thermally insulate the at least one temperature sensor.

Claims

1. A temperature sensor belt comprising:

at least one temperature sensor disposed on the sensor belt, wherein the at least one temperature sensor is configured to provide an indication representative of a temperature of a workpiece;

a support material disposed over the at least one temperature sensor, wherein the support material is configured to support the at least one temperature sensor on the sensor belt; and

an insulative material at least partially surrounding the at least one temperature sensor, wherein the insulative material is configured to thermally insulate the at least one temperature sensor.

2. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises at least one of an infrared sensor, a thermocouple, a bimetallic switch, a resistance temperature detector (RTD), a thermistor, a wax motor, or a combination thereof.

3. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the support material comprises a flexible material.

4. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the support material comprises a protective layer.

5. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature sensor is disposed inside a repositionable housing.

6. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, comprising a wireless system supported by the support material and communicatively coupled to the at least one temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor belt is configured to communicate wirelessly via the wireless system.

7. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a wireless temperature sensor configured to wirelessly transmit the indication representative of the temperature of the workpiece.

8. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, comprising at least one temperature indication device communicatively coupled to the at least one temperature sensor and configured to receive the indication representative of the temperature of the workpiece and to provide a visual indication of the temperature, an audio indication of the temperature, or a combination thereof.

9. The temperature sensor belt of claim 8, comprising a plurality of temperature sensors disposed on the sensor belt and a plurality of temperature indication devices, wherein each one of the plurality of temperature indication devices is communicatively coupled to each respective one of the plurality of temperature sensors.

10. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor belt has a length configured to at least partially surround an external surface of the workpiece.

11. The temperature sensor belt of claim 10, wherein the workpiece comprises a pipe.

12. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor belt is a length-adjustable temperature sensor belt.

13. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, comprising a plurality of temperature sensors disposed on the sensor belt, wherein each temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors is unevenly spaced from a respective adjacent temperature sensor.

14. A temperature sensor belt comprising:

a plurality of temperature sensors disposed on the sensor belt, wherein each temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors is configured to provide an indication representative of a temperature;

a first layer comprising a thermally insulative material, wherein the first layer at least partially thermally insulates the plurality of temperature sensors; and

a second layer comprising a protective material, wherein the first layer is disposed between the plurality of temperature sensors and the second layer.

15. The temperature sensor belt of claim 14, comprising temperature sensor leads configured to be communicatively coupled to an external device.

16. The temperature sensor belt of claim 14, wherein the plurality of temperature sensors comprises at least one of a thermocouple, a bimetallic switch, a resistance temperature detector (RTD), a thermistor, a wax motor, and an infrared sensor.

17. The temperature sensor belt of claim 14, wherein each temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors is configured to provide the indications to a wireless transmitter.

18. The temperature sensor belt of claim 14, wherein at least one temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors comprises a wireless temperature sensor configured to transmit the indication representative of the temperature of the workpiece.

19. A temperature sensor belt comprising:

one or more temperature sensors configured to detect temperatures on a surface of a workpiece; and

a strap comprising a support material disposed over the one or more temperature sensors, wherein the support material is configured to support the one or more temperature sensors.

20. The temperature sensor belt of claim 19, wherein the workpiece comprises a pipe.