Ferrite method and device particularly for thermocouples and other dissimilar metal conductor combinations

• US 6,183,304 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omega Engineering Incorporated (Spectris PLC)
• Original Assignee: Omega Engineering Incorporated (Spectris PLC)
• Inventors: Stewart, Russell, Hollander, Milton Bernard, McKinley, William Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): TA, THO DAC
• Application Number:
  US09/197,521
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 439/620, 439/696, 439/695, 439/651, 439/931, 439/913, 439/66, 439/607, 333/181-186
• US Class Current: 439/620.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/023 provided with specially adapted connectors connectors per se H01R
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/719 specially adapted for high frequency, e.g. with filters

Abstract

The invention relates to electrical devices which include at least one pair of dissimilar metal members with respective surfaces for bringing into contact with each other or with other receptors to establish an electrical connection, and antenna-effect inhibiting means such as a ferrite composition are disposed adjacent to the connection surface of at least one of the contact members. In a form of the invention for use with single wires or a pair of multiple wires, each wire is provided with an individual antenna-effect inhibiting means, such as a ferrite housing, adjacent to a connector thereon. The invention also provides a method of making an electrical connector, having at least two electrical conduction elements of dissimilar metals, which includes steps of forming at least two dissimilar metal conductors to engage corresponding metal conductors at a junction, providing a ferrite element mounted in proximity to at least one connector near said junction and providing means to measure and display the current passing said junction. In a further method in accordance with the invention, operating an electrical circuit comprises providing at least two conductors of dissimilar metals, providing a ferrite element near at least one of those conductors of dissimilar metals at a junction with a conductor of the metal, passing an electric current through the at least two conductors, and measuring that current.

Claims

1. In an electrical device which includes at least one pair of external conductors of dissimilar metals and at least one pair of dissimilar metal contact members for establishing an electrical connection;

dielectric, non-metallic sintered iron oxide antenna-effect inhibiting means forming a hollow shell for housing a length of said at least one pair of external conductors of dissimilar metals and a length of said at least one pair of dissimilar metal contact members.

2. In an electrical device, as claimed in claim 1, said antenna-effect inhibiting means being incorporated with said device.

3. In an electrical device, as claimed in claim 1, said antenna-effect inhibiting means being a module separably incorporated with said device.

4. In an electrical device, as claimed in claim 1, said antenna-effect inhibiting means being incorporated in said one contact member.

5. In an electrical device, as claimed on claim 1, said antenna-effect inhibiting means being an electromagnetic suppressor.

6. In an electrical device, as claimed in claim 5, said at least one contact member being one part of a multi-part plug and socket connector.

7. In an electrical device, as claimed in claim 1, said antenna-effect inhibiting means surrounding said connection surface.

8. In an electrical device, as claimed in claim 7, said antenna-effect inhibiting means being a multi-part element assemblable about said connection surface.

9. In an electrical device which includes two external conductors of dissimilar metals and two discrete contact members of dissimilar metals for establishing an electrical connection;

dielectric, non-metallic sintered iron oxide antenna-effect inhibiting means forming a hollow shell for housing a length of said two external conductors of dissimilar metals and a length of said two discrete contact members of dissimilar metals.

10. In a connector for a wire comprising a hollow body of ferrite material having an entry for the wire, a terminal on said body, improvement comprising a signal actuated means connected between said wire and said terminal, said signal actuated means and its respective connections to said wire and to said terminal being housed wholly within the hollow ferrite body.

11. In a connector, for a plurality of wires, comprising a hollow body of ferrite material, a respective terminal on said body for each wire, the improvement comprising a signal actuated means connected between each wire and its respective terminal, said signal actuated means and its respective connections to said wires and to said terminals being housed wholly within the hollow ferrite body.

12. In a thermocouple connector comprising a hollow body of ferrite material, a pair of thermocouple wires which enter said body, a pair of terminals on said body respectively for each of said wires, the improvement comprising a signal actuated means connected between each wire and its respective terminal, said signal actuated means and its respective connections to said wires and to said terminals being housed wholly within the hollow ferrite body.