Thermocouple assembly with guarded thermocouple junction
First Claim
1. A thermocouple assembly for measuring temperature within a chemical vapor deposition reactor, said thermocouple assembly comprising:
- a continuous sheath having an elongated longitudinal axis and a measuring tip located along the elongated longitudinal axis at a distal end of said sheath;
a support member, wherein at least a portion of said support member is received within said sheath;
a first wire and a second wire formed of dissimilar metals, a portion of said first and second wires received, along the longitudinal axis, within said support member, and an end of each of said first and second wires being fused together to form a thermocouple junction therebetween; and
a recessed region formed in a distal end of said support member, the recessed region comprising a surface having a side surface and a bottom surface distal to the measuring tip and an open end proximate to the measuring tip,wherein the thermocouple junction is in contact with at least a portion of the surface and is located between the bottom surface of the recessed region of the support member and the measuring tip of the sheath, andwherein said thermocouple junction is positioned at a fixed spaced-apart distance from said measuring tip of said sheath.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved thermocouple assembly for providing a temperature measurement is provided. The thermocouple assembly includes a sheath having a measuring tip, a support member received within the sheath, and first and second wires disposed within the support member. An end of each of the first and second wires are fused together to form a thermocouple junction therebetween. A recessed region is formed in a distal end of the support member, and the thermocouple junction is fixedly located at the base of the recessed region such that the recessed region maintains the thermocouple junction in a substantially fixed position relative to the measuring tip of the sheath.
477 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A thermocouple assembly for measuring temperature within a chemical vapor deposition reactor, said thermocouple assembly comprising:
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a continuous sheath having an elongated longitudinal axis and a measuring tip located along the elongated longitudinal axis at a distal end of said sheath; a support member, wherein at least a portion of said support member is received within said sheath; a first wire and a second wire formed of dissimilar metals, a portion of said first and second wires received, along the longitudinal axis, within said support member, and an end of each of said first and second wires being fused together to form a thermocouple junction therebetween; and a recessed region formed in a distal end of said support member, the recessed region comprising a surface having a side surface and a bottom surface distal to the measuring tip and an open end proximate to the measuring tip, wherein the thermocouple junction is in contact with at least a portion of the surface and is located between the bottom surface of the recessed region of the support member and the measuring tip of the sheath, and wherein said thermocouple junction is positioned at a fixed spaced-apart distance from said measuring tip of said sheath. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15)
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14. A thermocouple assembly for measuring temperature within a chemical vapor deposition reactor, said thermocouple assembly comprising:
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an elongated support member having an elongated longitudinal axis, said support member configured to receive at least a portion of said first wire and a second wire therewithin along the longitudinal axis, wherein said first wire and second wire are formed of dissimilar metals; an elongated continuous sheath having a measuring tip along the longitudinal axis and located at a distal end of said sheath, said sheath configured to receive at least a portion of said support member; a thermocouple junction formed by fusing an end of each of said first and second wires; and a recessed region formed into a distal end of said support member, the recessed region comprising a surface comprising a side surface and a bottom surface distal to the measuring tip and an open end proximate to the measuring tip, wherein said thermocouple junction is in contact with at least a portion of the surface and is maintained between the bottom surface of the recessed region of the support member and the measuring tip of the sheath at a substantially fixed position relative to said measuring tip of said sheath, and wherein said thermocouple junction is positioned at a fixed spaced-apart distance from said measuring tip of said sheath. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A thermocouple assembly for measuring temperature within a chemical vapor deposition reactor, said thermocouple assembly comprising:
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an elongated support member having an elongated longitudinal axis, said support member configured to receive at least a portion of said first wire and a second wire therewithin along the longitudinal axis, wherein said first wire and second wire are formed of dissimilar metals; a continuous elongated sheath having a measuring tip located along the longitudinal axis and at a distal end of said sheath, said sheath configured to receive at least a portion of said support member; a thermocouple junction formed by fusing an end of each of said first and second wires, the thermocouple junction in contact with the support member; and a region formed at a distal end of said support member, the region comprising a sloped surface distal to the measuring tip, wherein the sloped surface is substantially planar and formed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the support member, and wherein said thermocouple junction is in contact with the sloped surface.
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Specification