DEVICE FOR SECURING A TEMPERATURE SENSOR TO A VESSEL WALL

• US 3,845,661 A
• Filed: 07/20/1973
• Issued: 11/05/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karlheinz Eberl, Kurt Wagner, Walter Hollweck, Wilhelm Schnee
• Original Assignee: Karlheinz Eberl, Kurt Wagner, Walter Hollweck, Wilhelm Schnee
• Inventors: Hollweck, Walter, Schnee, Wilhelm, Eberl, Karlheinz, Wagner, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Gill, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shoon, Frederick
• Application Number:
  US05/381,249
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 73/343R,343B,349,86,421B,423 138/90
• US Class Current: 374/208
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/16 between relatively-moving surfaces F16J15/50, F16J15/52 take precedence; bellows pistons F16J3/06; piston-rings or ring sealings of similar construction F16J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/146 arrangements for moving thermometers to or from a measuring position

Abstract

A temperature sensor is positioned in an opening of a vessel wall by a holding mechanism which contains a sealing means that cooperates with the temperature sensor to close off the opening in a fluid tight manner. To that end of the temperature sensor which is inside the vessel, there is releasably attached a plug member which is drawn by the temperature sensor into engagement with the sealing means as the temperature sensor is withdrawn therefrom. Thereafter, the temperature sensor is disconnected from the plug member and the latter is left in engagement with the sealing means while the temperature sensor is removed from the vessel, for example, for replacement.

Claims

1. A device for securing a temperature sensor to a vessel wall, wherein the temperature sensor projects through an opening in the wall into the vessel to be surrounded and directly contacted by a medium contained in the vessel, comprising in combination:

a. holding means supported by said vessel wall for positioning and carrying said temperature sensor in an operative position thereof;

b. sealing means disposed in said holding means for surrounding and engaging said temperature sensor in the operative position of the latter to provide a fluid tight seal between the inside and the outside of said vessel, said temperature sensor and said sealing means being arranged for a removal of said temperature sensor from its said operative position by sliding through and out of said sealing means;

c. a plug member secured to and carried by said temperature sensor, said plug member being in an inoperative position within said vessel spaced from said sealing means as long as said temperature sensor is in its operative position, said plug member being arranged for movement into an operative position by said temperature sensor upon withdrawal of the latter from said sealing means, at least one part of said sealing means surrounding and engaging said plug member in the operative position of the latter to provide a fluid tight seal between the inside and the outside of said vessel; and

d. disconnectable means for releasably securing said temperature sensor to said plug member, whereby said temperature sensor is separable from said plug member for entirely disconnecting said temperature sensor from said vessel while leaving said plug member in its operative position.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said disconnectable means includes complemental threads on said temperature sensor and said plug member.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said plug member includes means for preventing a separation of said plug member from said holding means when said plug member is in its operative position and is disconnected from said temperature sensor.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said plug member includes means defining a passage passing transversely through said plug member and disposed outside said vessel and said holding means when said plug member is in its operative position, for receiving a retaining pin adapted to cooperate with said holding means for preventing said plug member from being accidentally separated from said holding means.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sealing means includes at least one O-ring disposed in said holding means and arranged for a radial sealing of said temperature sensor and said plug member in their respective operative positions.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said holding means and said sealing means include a bushing secured to said vessel wall and having an axis passing through said opening in the vessel wall;

means in said bushing defining a throughgoing passage communicating with the inside of said vessel;

an annular shoulder formed within said bushing and surrounding said passage;

a packing gasket supported by said shoulder; and

a tightening member received in said passage for pressing said packing gasket against said shoulder.

7. A device as defined in claim 6, including a washer positioned between said packing Gasket and said tightening member.

8. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said passage has an enlarged end portion oriented away from the inside of the vessel, said enlarged end portion having a base constituting said annular shoulder;

said tightening member is received in said enlarged end portion.

9. A device as defined in claim 6, including means for threadedly securing said tightening member to said bushing.

10. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein said sealing means further includes at least one sealing ring disposed in said bushing spaced from and substantially in axial alignment with said packing gasket, said sealing ring is arranged for a radial sealing of said temperature sensor and said plug member in their respective operative positions.

11. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein said sealing means includes a one-piece element incorporating said packing gasket and said sealing ring.

12. A device as defined in claim 11, wherein said one-piece element is a sleeve member disposed in said passage, said sleeve having an integral, annular, radially outwardly extending flange portion constituting said packing gasket, said sleeve further having at least one integral, radially protruding, circumferential rib constituting said at least one sealing ring.

13. A device as defined in claim 6, further comprising a cylindrical nipple defining said opening and affixed to said vessel wall;

and complemental thread means for releasably securing said bushing to said nipple.

14. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a stop member situated within said vessel and affixed to said plug member, said stop member cooperating with said holding means when said plug member is in its operative position for preventing outward removal of said plug member from said holding means.

15. A device as defined in claim 14, wherein said stop member has a face oriented towards said holding means, further comprising a seal member affixed to said face for cooperating with said holding means when said plug member is in its operative position.

16. A device as defined in claim 1, further including scraper means affixed to said holding means, said scraper means is arranged for cooperation with said temperature sensor and said plug member to remove deposits therefrom.

17. A device as defined in claim 16, wherein said scraper means has the configuration of an annular member terminating in an annular knife edge.

18. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor and said plug member have identical cross-sectional dimensions, said dimensions are constant along the length of said temperature sensor and said plug member.

19. A device as defined in claim 18, wherein said temperature sensor and said plug member each has the shape of a cylinder.