Multi-element thermocouple
First Claim
1. A multi-element thermocouple circuit comprising:
- a first thermocouple comprising first and second thermoelements meeting at a first temperature measuring junction and having respective first and second distal ends, said first and second thermoelements being formed of respective first and second materials;
a second thermocouple comprising third and fourth thermoelements meeting at a second temperature measuring junction that is connected to said first distal end, said third and fourth thermoelements having respective third and fourth distal ends and being formed of respective third and fourth materials, neither of said third and fourth materials being the same as said first material; and
a fifth thermoelement having a fifth proximal end connected to said second distal end and a fifth distal end, the fifth thermoelement being formed of said fourth material;
wherein;
the fourth thermoelement is common to two voltage difference subcircuits; and
the distal ends of the third, fourth and fifth thermoelements are connected to first, second and third electrical terminals, respectively, such that a first voltage difference is defined between the first and second electrical terminals, and a second voltage difference is defined between the second and third electrical terminals.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-element thermocouple circuit includes at least two temperature measuring junctions. A first temperature measuring junction is formed by first and second thermoelements, each of the first and second thermoelements being formed of a noble metal or a noble metal alloy. The second temperature measuring junction, which connects to the distal end of the first thermoelement, is formed by third and fourth thermoelements, neither of which is formed from a noble metal or a noble alloy. A fifth thermoelement connects to the distal end of the second thermoelement and is formed of the same material as the fourth thermoelement. During operation, the distal ends of the third and fourth thermoelements define therebetween a first voltage difference corresponding to a temperature at the second temperature measuring junction, while the distal ends of the fourth and fifth thermoelements define a second voltage difference from which a temperature at the first temperature measuring junction may be obtained.
36 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A multi-element thermocouple circuit comprising:
-
a first thermocouple comprising first and second thermoelements meeting at a first temperature measuring junction and having respective first and second distal ends, said first and second thermoelements being formed of respective first and second materials; a second thermocouple comprising third and fourth thermoelements meeting at a second temperature measuring junction that is connected to said first distal end, said third and fourth thermoelements having respective third and fourth distal ends and being formed of respective third and fourth materials, neither of said third and fourth materials being the same as said first material; and a fifth thermoelement having a fifth proximal end connected to said second distal end and a fifth distal end, the fifth thermoelement being formed of said fourth material;
wherein;the fourth thermoelement is common to two voltage difference subcircuits; and the distal ends of the third, fourth and fifth thermoelements are connected to first, second and third electrical terminals, respectively, such that a first voltage difference is defined between the first and second electrical terminals, and a second voltage difference is defined between the second and third electrical terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A parallel thermocouple circuit comprising a plurality of identical multi-element thermocouple circuits, each of said multi-element thermocouple circuits comprising:
-
a first thermocouple comprising first and second thermoelements meeting at a first temperature measuring junction and having respective first and second distal ends, said first and second thermoelements being formed of respective first and second materials; a second thermocouple comprising third and fourth thermoelements meeting at a second temperature measuring junction that is connected to said first distal end, said third and fourth thermoelements having respective third and fourth distal ends and being formed of respective third and fourth materials, neither of said third and fourth materials being the same as said first material; and a fifth thermoelement having a fifth proximal end connected to said second distal end and a fifth distal end, the fifth thermoelement being formed of said fourth material; wherein; the third thermoelements of all of said plurality of identical multi-element circuits are connected to a first electrical terminal; the fourth thermoelements of all of said plurality of identical multi-element circuits are connected to a second electrical terminal; and the fifth thermoelements of all of said plurality of identical multi-element circuits are connected to a third electrical terminal. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. A thermocouple probe comprising:
-
a first thermocouple comprising first and second thermoelements meeting at a first temperature measuring junction, said first and second thermoelements being formed of respective first and second materials; a second thermocouple comprising third and fourth thermoelements meeting at a second temperature measuring junction that is connected to the first thermoelement, said third and fourth thermoelements being formed of respective third and fourth materials, neither of said third and fourth materials being the same as said first material; and a fifth thermoelement connected to said second thermoelement and being formed of said fourth material;
wherein;the fourth thermoelement is common to two voltage difference subcircuits; and the third, fourth and fifth thermoelements are connected to first, second and third electrical terminals, respectively, such that a first voltage difference is defined between the first and second electrical terminals, and a second voltage difference is defined between the second and third electrical terminals. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A thermocouple assembly comprising:
-
a thermocouple probe comprising; a first thermocouple comprising first and second thermoelements meeting at a first temperature measuring junction, said first and second thermoelements being formed of respective first and second materials; a second thermocouple comprising third and fourth thermoelements meeting at a second temperature measuring junction that is connected to the first thermoelement, said third and fourth thermoelements being formed of respective third and fourth materials, neither of said third and fourth materials being the same as said first material; and a fifth thermoelement connected to said second thermoelement and being formed of said fourth material; and a cable detachably connected to said third, fourth and fifth thermoelements of said thermocouple probe, said cable comprising first and second conductors formed of said fourth material and connected to said fourth and fifth thermoelements, and a third conductor formed of said third material and connected to said third thermoelement;
wherein;the third, fourth and fifth thermoelements are connected to first, second and third electrical terminals, respectively, such that a first voltage difference is defined between the first and second electrical terminals, and a second voltage difference is defined between the second and third electrical terminals. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
-
22. A method of measuring a temperature at a first temperature measuring junction, comprising:
-
providing a thermocouple probe comprising; a first thermocouple comprising first and second thermoelements meeting at a first temperature measuring junction, said first and second thermoelements being formed of respective first and second materials; a second thermocouple comprising third and fourth thermoelements meeting at a second temperature measuring junction that is connected to the first thermoelement, said third and fourth thermoelements being formed of respective third and fourth materials, neither of said third and fourth materials being the same as said first material; and a fifth thermoelement connected to said second thermoelement and being formed of said fourth material;
wherein;the fourth thermoelement is common to two voltage difference subcircuits; measuring a first voltage difference between the third and fourth thermoelements; measuring a second voltage difference between the fourth and fifth thermoelements; and determining the temperature at the first temperature measuring junction based at least in part on the first and second voltage differences.
-
-
23. A multi-element thermocouple circuit comprising:
-
a first thermocouple comprising first and second thermoelements meeting at a first temperature measuring junction and having respective first and second distal ends, said first and second thermoelements being formed of respective first and second materials; a second thermocouple comprising third and fourth thermoelements meeting at a second temperature measuring junction that is connected to said first distal end, said third and fourth thermoelements having respective third and fourth distal ends and being formed of respective third and fourth materials, neither of said third and fourth materials being the same as said first material; and a fifth thermoelement having a fifth proximal end connected to said second distal end and a fifth distal end, the fifth thermoelement being formed of said fourth material;
wherein;the fourth thermoelement is common to two voltage difference subcircuits; and the distal ends of the third, fourth and fifth thermoelements are sufficiently electrically isolated from one another such that, when measuring a temperature at the first temperature measuring junction, a first open circuit voltage appears across distal ends of the third and fourth thermoelements and a second open circuit voltage appears across distal ends of the fourth and fifth thermoelements.
-
Specification