Temperature sensor belt

• US 9,733,130 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2014
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Blundell, Jack Robert, Galinski, Adolph G., Nelli, Christopher J., Liebert, Scott Stephen, Verhagen, Paul David, Mlnarik, Kevin John, Rostlund, Anders Olof
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Minh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rhodes, Jr., Leon W
• Application Number:
  US14/258,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20140334517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 374111
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2201/10 with respect to heat
• CPC Class Codes: F27D 21/0014 Devices for monitoring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/046 Materials; Selection of thermal materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/026 arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/143 for measuring surface temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/22 the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor G01K7/26 takes precedence

Abstract

A temperature sensor belt includes at least one temperature sensor. The at least one temperature sensor is configured to provide an indication representative of a temperature of a workpiece. The temperature sensor belt also includes a support material disposed over the at least one temperature sensor. The support material is configured to support the at least one temperature sensor on the sensor belt. The temperature sensor belt also includes an insulative material at least partially surrounding the at least one temperature sensor. The insulative material is configured to thermally insulate the at least one temperature sensor.

Claims

1. A temperature sensor belt comprising:

at least one temperature sensor configured to provide an indication representative of a temperature of a workpiece while a welding operation, cutting operation, grinding operation, or induction heating operation is performed on the workpiece; and

at least one removable housing into which the at least one temperature sensor is configured to be removably inserted, wherein each removable housing of the at least one removable housing comprises;

a support material configured to be disposed over the at least one temperature sensor when the at least one temperature sensor is inserted into the removable housing, wherein the support material is configured to support the at least one temperature sensor; and

an insulative material at least partially surrounding the at least one temperature sensor when the at least one temperature sensor is inserted into the removable housing, wherein the insulative material is configured to thermally insulate the at least one temperature sensor.

2. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises at least one of an infrared sensor, a thermocouple, a bimetallic switch, a resistance temperature detector (RTD), a thermistor, a wax motor, or a combination thereof.

3. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the support material comprises a flexible material.

4. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the support material comprises a protective layer.

5. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the at least one removable housing is configured to be repositioned with respect to the temperature sensor belt.

6. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, comprising a wireless system supported by the support material and communicatively coupled to the at least one temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor belt is configured to communicate wirelessly via the wireless system.

7. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature sensor comprises a wireless temperature sensor configured to wirelessly transmit the indication representative of the temperature of the workpiece.

8. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, comprising at least one temperature indication device communicatively coupled to the at least one temperature sensor and configured to receive the indication representative of the temperature of the workpiece and to provide a visual indication of the temperature of the workpiece, an audio indication of the temperature of the workpiece, or a combination thereof.

9. The temperature sensor belt of claim 8, comprising a plurality of temperature sensors and a plurality of temperature indication devices, wherein each one of the plurality of temperature indication devices is communicatively coupled to each respective one of the plurality of temperature sensors.

10. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor belt has a length configured to at least partially surround an external surface of the workpiece.

11. The temperature sensor belt of claim 10, wherein the workpiece comprises a pipe.

12. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor belt is a length-adjustable temperature sensor belt.

13. The temperature sensor belt of claim 1, wherein the at least one temperature sensor is capable of detecting temperatures of at least 300 degrees Celsius.

14. A temperature sensor belt comprising:

a plurality of removable temperature sensors, wherein each removable temperature sensor of the plurality of removable temperature sensors is configured to provide an indication representative of a temperature of a workpiece while a welding operation, cutting operation, grinding operation, or induction heating operation is performed on the workpiece; and

a plurality of housings into which the plurality of removable temperature sensors are configured to be removably inserted, wherein each housing of the plurality of housings comprises;

a first layer comprising a thermally insulative material, wherein the first layer at least partially thermally insulates a removable temperature sensor of the plurality of removable temperature sensors when the removable temperature sensor is inserted into the housing; and

a second layer comprising a protective material, wherein the first layer is disposed between the removable temperature sensor of the plurality of removable temperature sensors and the second layer of the housing when the removable temperature sensor is inserted into the housing.

15. The temperature sensor belt of claim 14, comprising temperature sensor leads configured to be communicatively coupled to an external device.

16. The temperature sensor belt of claim 14, wherein the plurality of removable temperature sensors comprises at least one of a thermocouple, a bimetallic switch, a resistance temperature detector (RTD), a thermistor, a wax motor, and an infrared sensor.

17. The temperature sensor belt of claim 14, wherein each removable temperature sensor of the plurality of removable temperature sensors is configured to provide the indication representative of the temperature of the workpiece to a wireless transmitter.

18. The temperature sensor belt of claim 14, wherein at least one removable temperature sensor of the plurality of removable temperature sensors comprises a wireless temperature sensor configured to transmit the indication representative of the temperature of the workpiece.

19. A temperature sensor belt comprising:

one or more temperature sensors configured to detect temperatures on a surface of a workpiece while a welding operation, cutting operation, grinding operation, or induction heating operation is performed on the workpiece; and

a strap and one or more removable housings into which the one or more temperature sensors are configured to be removable inserted, each removable housing of the one or more removable housings comprising a support material configured to be disposed over a temperature sensor of the one or more temperature sensors, wherein the support material is configured to support the temperature sensor.

20. The temperature sensor belt of claim 19, wherein the workpiece comprises a pipe.