Optical temperature probe assembly
First Claim
1. A temperature probe, comprising:
- a sheath having a first and second sheath end, and further having a sheath coefficient of thermal expansion;
a waveguide having a first waveguide end secured proximate the first sheath end and a second waveguide end secured proximate the second sheath end, the waveguide having a waveguide coefficient of thermal expansion; and
a sensor material having a thermally responsive characteristic, and in optical communication with the second waveguide end;
wherein the sheath coefficient is substantially matched to the waveguide coefficient.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A temperature probe includes a sensor material optically communicating with a waveguide, and a sheath having a sheath coefficient of thermal expansion substantially matched to a thermal expansion coefficient of the waveguide. The waveguide has first and second ends secured proximate corresponding sheath ends. In another aspect of the invention, waveguide ends are secured near the sheath ends, the sheath is bent at one or more locations so that it is noncylindrical, and a midsection of the waveguide is loosely held within the bent sheath. In still another aspect of the invention, a metallic tube with the sensor material disposed therein is secured to the waveguide by direct attachment to a metallic coating on the waveguide.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A temperature probe, comprising:
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a sheath having a first and second sheath end, and further having a sheath coefficient of thermal expansion; a waveguide having a first waveguide end secured proximate the first sheath end and a second waveguide end secured proximate the second sheath end, the waveguide having a waveguide coefficient of thermal expansion; and a sensor material having a thermally responsive characteristic, and in optical communication with the second waveguide end; wherein the sheath coefficient is substantially matched to the waveguide coefficient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A temperature probe, comprising:
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a sensor material having a thermally responsive characteristic; a waveguide having an outside surface and a waveguide end which is in optical communication with the sensor material; a metallic coating covering at least a portion of the waveguide outside surface; and a metallic tube attached to the metallic coating with the sensor material disposed therein, the metallic tube being held to the waveguide proximate the waveguide end; wherein the waveguide has a waveguide coefficient of thermal expansion, the metallic tube has a tube coefficient of thermal expansion, and the tube coefficient is substantially matched to the waveguide coefficient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 32)
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26. A temperature probe, comprising:
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a sheath having a first and second sheath end; a waveguide having a first waveguide and secured proximate the first sheath end, a second waveguide end secured proximate the second sheath end, and waveguide midsection; and a sensor material having the thermally responsive characteristic, and in optical communication with the second waveguide end; wherein the sheath has a noncylindrical shape, and the waveguide midsection is loosely held within the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A temperature probe, comprising:
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a sensor material having a thermally responsive characteristic; a waveguide having an outside surface and a waveguide end which is in optical communication with the sensor material; a metallic coating covering at least a portion of the waveguide outside surface; and a metallic tube attached to the metallic coating with the sensor material disposed therein, the metallic tube being held to the waveguide proximate the waveguide end; wherein the sensor material is a luminescent powder tightly packed between the metallic tube and the waveguide, and wherein the characteristic is a lifetime of luminescence.
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30. A temperature probe, comprising:
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a sensor material having a thermally responsive characteristic; a waveguide having an outside surface and a waveguide end which is in optical communication with the sensor material; a metallic coating covering at least a portion of the waveguide outside surface; a metallic tube attached to the metallic coating with the sensor material disposed therein, the metallic tube having a first open tube end held to the waveguide and a second open tube end; and an end cap substantially sealing the second open tub end to prevent escape of the sensor material from the metallic tube, the end cap having a reflective surface adjacent the sensor material.
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31. A temperature probe, comprising:
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a sensor material having a thermally responsive characteristic; a waveguide having an outside surface and a waveguide end which is in optical communication with the sensor material; a metallic coating covering at least a portion of the waveguide outside surface; a metallic tube attached to the metallic coating with the sensor material disposed therein, the metallic tube being held to the waveguide proximate the waveguide end; and a metallic plating substantially covering the metallic coating and the metallic tube.
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Specification