Apparatus for temperature measurement

• US 5,213,417 A
• Filed: 09/12/1991
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NKK Corporation (JFE Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NKK Corporation (JFE Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Masaru, Otonari, Mitsuya, Ohtaka, Shinichiro, Takano, Shuichi, Harada, Naoki, Yamada, Takeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTIERREZ, DIEGO F
• Application Number:
  US07/758,606
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 374/183, 374/185, 374/208, 338/22 R, 136/221
• US Class Current: 374/183
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/143 for measuring surface temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/16 Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/08 in rotary movement

Abstract

A temperature measuring apparatus consisting of a sensing element, a retaining element which retains the sensing element and which is made of a thermally conductive and electrically insulative material, a holding element which holds the retaining element, and a contact mechanism which elastically contact the retaining element with the top of the surface of the measured body. The sensing element is composed of a thin film thermistor formed on the electrically insulating layer on a substrate. A film having the thermally conductive and electrically insulative material may be inserted between the measured body and the contact area of the retaining element. The retaining element is composed of the polyimide film and a flexible copper lead foil formed on the film and connected to the electrodes of the sensing element. The contact mechanism is composed of a pressing frame with at least one pressing arm which presses the contact part of the retaining element to the measured body and which is located adjacent to the contact zone.

Claims

1. A temperature measurement apparatus, comprising:

sensing means for detecting a temperature of a surface of a body to be measured, said sensing means being placed adjacent to said body to be measured;

retaining means for retaining said sensing means, said retaining means comprising a thermally conductive and electrically insulative material, at least a portion of said retaining means comprising elastic material;

holding means for holding said retaining means; and

a contact mechanism for causing a contact zone of said retaining means to slightly elastically contact said surface of said body to be measured through elasticity of said elastic material of said retaining means, said contact mechanism being coupled to said retaining means and to said holding means.

2. The temperature measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said contact mechanism contacts said contact zone of said retaining means to a top surface of the body to be measured by means of a contact load of about 5 gr or less.

3. The temperature measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises a thermally conductive and electrically insulative sheet.

4. The temperature measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensing means is arranged on said retaining means and the contact zone of the retaining means just under the sensing means contacts the surface of the body to be measured.

5. The temperature measurement apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises a thin film thermistor formed on an electrically insulating layer of a substrate.

6. A temperature measurement apparatus, comprising:

sensing means for detecting a temperature of a surface of a body to be measured, said sensing means being placed adjacent to said body to be measured;

retaining means for retaining said sensing means, said retaining means comprising a thermally conductive and electrically insulative material, at least a portion of said retaining means comprising elastic material;

holding means for holding said retaining means; and

a contact mechanism for causing a contact zone of said retaining means to elastically and slightly contact said surface of said body to be measured through elasticity of said elastic material of said retaining means, said contract mechanism being coupled to said retaining means and to said holding means; and

wherein said retaining means comprises a polyimide film and a flexible copper leading foil formed on said polyimide film, said flexible copper leading foil being connected to electrodes of said sensing means.