Spring loaded thermocouple module
First Claim
1. A thermocouple arrangement for mounting in a specimen to be monitored, said specimen having a side wall and an end wall therein so as to define a blind hole for mounting said thermocouple arrangement, said thermocouple arrangement comprising;
- an elongated thermal insulator member having first and second end portions of predetermined dimensions, shoulder means disposed adjacent said second end portion and dimensioned smaller than said first end portion, first and second passageways extending through said insulator in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof;
a cup-shaped holder member, having a hollow cylindrical wall portion, a first open end and a second end enclosed by a generally disc-shaped end wall member having an aperture formed therein for receiving said shoulder means of said insulator member, said second end portion of said insulator member disposed within said holder member, adjacent said end wall thereof;
spring bias means disposed within said holder for maintaining engagement between said second end portion of said insulator and said end wall of said holder;
first and second thermocouple wires disposed in said first and said second passageways of said thermal insulator and extending beyond said shoulder means, terminating in first and second free ends, respectively;
a spherical thermally conductive bead joining said first and said second free ends to said thermocouple wires together so as to form a spherical thermal contact surface;
fastening means formed on an outside surface of said holder for engagement with said side wall of said specimen to be monitored, such that when said thermocouple arrangement is fastened to said specimen, said spherical bead contacts said end wall of said blind hole, said shoulder of said insulator member and a portion of said spherical bead recessed within said holder, with said spring bias means maintaining said spherical bead in thermal contact with said end wall of said blind hole.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A thermocouple arrangement for mounting in a specimen to be monitored, said specimen having a side wall and an end wall therein so as to define a blind hole for mounting said thermocouple arrangement, said thermocouple arrangement comprising;
-
an elongated thermal insulator member having first and second end portions of predetermined dimensions, shoulder means disposed adjacent said second end portion and dimensioned smaller than said first end portion, first and second passageways extending through said insulator in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof; a cup-shaped holder member, having a hollow cylindrical wall portion, a first open end and a second end enclosed by a generally disc-shaped end wall member having an aperture formed therein for receiving said shoulder means of said insulator member, said second end portion of said insulator member disposed within said holder member, adjacent said end wall thereof; spring bias means disposed within said holder for maintaining engagement between said second end portion of said insulator and said end wall of said holder; first and second thermocouple wires disposed in said first and said second passageways of said thermal insulator and extending beyond said shoulder means, terminating in first and second free ends, respectively; a spherical thermally conductive bead joining said first and said second free ends to said thermocouple wires together so as to form a spherical thermal contact surface; fastening means formed on an outside surface of said holder for engagement with said side wall of said specimen to be monitored, such that when said thermocouple arrangement is fastened to said specimen, said spherical bead contacts said end wall of said blind hole, said shoulder of said insulator member and a portion of said spherical bead recessed within said holder, with said spring bias means maintaining said spherical bead in thermal contact with said end wall of said blind hole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A thermocouple arrangement for use in a plasma confinement device to monitor the temperature of a member disposed within a vacuum containment vessel of the device, said member having a side wall and an end wall formed therein so as to define a blind hole for mounting said thermocouple arrangement, said thermocouple arrangement comprising;
-
an elongated thermal insulator member having first and second end portions of predetermined dimensions, shoulder means disposed adjacent said second end portion and dimensioned smaller than said first portion end, first and second passageways extending through said insulator in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof; a holder member, generally U-shaped in cross-section, including a hollow cylindrical wall portion having first and second open ends said second end enclosed by a generally disc-shaped end wall member having an aperture formed therein for receiving said shoulder means of said insulator member, said second end portion of said insulator member disposed within said holder member, adjacent said end wall thereof; spring bias means disposed within said holder for maintaining engagement between said second end portion of said insulator and said end wall of said holder; first and second thermocouple wires disposed in said first and said second passageways of said thermal insulator and extending beyond said shoulder means, terminating in first and second free ends, respectively; a spherical thermally conductive weld bead joining said first and said second free ends of said thermocouple wires together so as to form a spherical thermal contact surface; external thread means formed on an outside surface of said holder for engagement with internal threads formed in said side wall of said specimen to be monitored, such that when said thermocouple arrangement is threadingly engaged with said specimen, said spherical bead contacts said end wall of said blind hole, said shoulder of said insulator member and a portion of said spherical bead recessed within said holder, with said spring bias means maintaining said spherical bead in thermal contact with said end wall of said blind hole. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification