Temperature sensor

• US 5,959,524 A
• Filed: 03/11/1996
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EPIQ Sensor-Nite NV
• Original Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V. (Heraeus Holding GMBH)
• Inventors: Englert, deceased, Werner, Wienand, Karlheinz, Dietmann, Stefan, Sander, Margit
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): EASTHOM, KARL D
• Application Number:
  US08/613,703
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 338/25, 338/28, 338/29, 338/30, 338/229, 338/234, 338/237
• US Class Current: 338/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/183 characterised by the use of the resistive element

Abstract

In a temperature sensor with a platinum resistance thermometer accommodated in a tube-shaped housing, the platinum resistance layer belonging thereto should be protected against pollution or contamination of the platinum, since the electrochemical characteristics of platinum can be reduced by substances in the surroundings in the event of too low a partial pressure of oxygen. For this purpose, a mechanically solid and liquid-impermeable, connection is provided in the connection region of the tube-shaped housing, which permits an admission of air-oxygen into the housing from the environment of the connecting cable. The air-oxygen admission is made possible through a liquid-impermeable oxygen-permeable jacket for the connecting cable and/or over an accompanying connecting plug, whereby the admission of air-oxygen takes place along a glass filament filler running parallel to the electrical leads inside the jacket of the connecting cable.

Claims

1. A temperature sensor comprising:

a platinum-containing temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1);

an oxygen-permeable diffusion barrier, wherein the platinum-containing temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1) is shielded from ambient atmosphere by the oxygen-permeable diffusion barrier;

at least one conducting lead (6, 6'"'"') and at least one contact pad (5, 5'"'"'), the conducting lead (6, 6'"'"') being electrically connected to the temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1) by the at least one contact pad (5, 5'"'"');

a gas- and liquid-impermeable housing (4) surrounding the at least one conducting lead (6, 6'"'"'), the at least one contact pad (5, 5'"'"'), and the temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1);

a ceramic casting compound disposed between the temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1) and the gas- and liquid-impermeable housing (4), wherein the ceramic casting compound is form-fitting of the temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1), and holds the temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1) stably within the housing (4);

a connecting cable (13) having a first end and a second end, the first end of the connecting cable (13) being electrically connected with the measurement resistance (1) by the at least one conducting lead (6, 6'"'"'); and

a protective tube (7) providing a mechanically solid and liquid-impermeable connection between the connecting cable (13) and the housing (4), the connection permitting an admission of air-oxygen from the ambient atmosphere through the connecting cable, and in a longitudinal direction with respect to the connecting cable (13), into the housing (4), the at least one conducting lead (6, 6'"'"') running through the protective tube (7) to provide the electrical connection between the measurement resistance (1) and the connecting cable (13).

2. The temperature sensor according to claim 1 further comprising a connection region (26), wherein the connection region (26) is squeezed onto the first end of the connecting cable (13) by means of at least two roller crimps (10, 11).

3. The temperature sensor according to claim 1 wherein the admission of air-oxygen takes place at least through the second end of the connecting cable.

4. The temperature sensor according to claim 3, further comprising:

a connecting plug (15) having an open end and a second end, the second end of the connecting plug (15) being attached to the second end of the connecting cable (13), wherein the admission of air-oxygen takes place through the open end of the connecting plug (15).

5. The temperature sensor according to claim 1, wherein the connecting cable (13) further comprises a jacket (12).

6. The temperature sensor according to claim 5, further comprising roller crimps, wherein the roller crimps hold the first end of the connecting cable (13) in the protective tube (7).

7. The temperature sensor according to claim 5, wherein the connecting cable (13) further comprises at least one conducting lead (25, 25'"'"') running through the connecting cable (13) and being electrically connected to the at least one conducting lead (6, 6'"'"').

8. The temperature sensor according to claim 7, further comprising a glass filament filler (16) running parallel to the at least one conducting lead (25, 25'"'"') in the jacket (12) of the connecting cable (13), and wherein the admission of air-oxygen takes place in a longitudinal direction with respect to the connecting cable (13) along the glass filament filler (16).

9. The temperature sensor according to claim 5, wherein the jacket (12) is liquid-impermeable and oxygen-permeable and permits the admission of air-oxygen into the housing (4).

10. The temperature sensor according to claim 9, wherein the jacket (12) comprises silicon and has a thickness in the range of about 1 mm to about 6 mm.

11. The temperature sensor according to claim 5, wherein the connecting cable (13) further comprises a glass filament filler (16) and the admission of air-oxygen takes place in a longitudinal direction of the connecting cable (13) along the glass filament filler (16).

12. The temperature sensor according to claim 1, wherein said connecting cable (13) further comprises a jacket (12) and a connecting plug (15) having an open end and a second end, the second end of the connecting plug (15) being attached to the second end of the connecting cable (13), and wherein total oxygen admission to the housing (4) amounts to at least 0.05 millibar liter/second both in a longitudinal direction with respect to the connecting cable (13) through the open end of the connecting plug (15) and transversely through the jacket (12).

13. A temperature sensor comprising:

a platinum-containing temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1);

an oxygen-permeable diffusion barrier, wherein the platinum-containing temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1) is shielded from ambient atmosphere by the oxygen-permeable diffusion barrier;

at least one conducting lead (6, 6'"'"') being electrically connected to said temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1);

a gas- and liquid-impermeable housing (4) surrounding the at least one conducting lead (6, 6'"'"'), and the temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1);

a ceramic casting compound disposed between the temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1) and the gas- and liquid-impermeable housing (4), wherein the ceramic casting compound is form-fitting of the temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1), and holds the temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1) stably within the housing (4);

a connecting cable (13) having a first end and a second end, the first end of the connecting cable (13) being electrically connected with the measurement resistance (1) by the at least one conducting lead (6, 6'"'"'), the connecting cable (13) providing an admission of air-oxygen from the ambient atmosphere into the housing (4);

wherein the connecting cable (13) and the housing (4) have a mechanically solid and liquid-impermeable connection which allows the admission of air-oxygen into the housing (4) through, and in a longitudinal direction with respect to, the connecting cable (13) to prevent pollution or contamination of the temperature-dependent measurement resistance (1).

14. The temperature sensor according to claim 13, further comprising a connecting plug (15) having an open end and a second end, the second end of the connecting plug (15) being attached to the second end of the connecting cable (13) and wherein the admission of air-oxygen takes place through the open end of the connecting plug (15).

15. The temperature sensor according to claim 13, wherein the connecting cable (13) further comprises a glass filament filler (16) wherein the admission of air-oxygen takes place through the connecting cable (13), in a longitudinal direction with respect to the connecting cable, along the glass filament filler (16).

16. The temperature sensor according to claim 15, wherein the connecting cable (13) further comprises a jacket (12) which is liquid-impermeable and oxygen-permeable and permits admission of air-oxygen into the housing (4).

17. The temperature sensor according to claim 16, wherein the jacket (12) is made of silicon having a thickness in the range of about 1 mm to about 6 mm.

18. The temperature sensor according to claim 16, wherein the connecting cable (13) further comprises a connection plug (15) having an open end and a second end, the second end of the connecting plug (15) being attached to the second end of the connecting cable (13) wherein admission of air-oxygen takes place through the open end of the connecting plug (15), and wherein total oxygen admission to the housing (4) amounts to at least 0.05 millibar liter/second both in a longitudinal direction, with respect to the connecting cable (13), through the connection plug (15), and transversely through the jacket (12).

19. The temperature sensor according to claim 13, further comprising a connection region (26) and at least two roller crimps (10, 11), wherein the first end of the connecting cable is held in place at the connection region by the at least two roller crimps (10, 11).

20. The temperature sensor according to claim 13, wherein the connecting cable (13) further comprises at least one conducting lead (25, 25'"'"') running through the connecting cable (13) and being electrically connected to the at least one conducting lead (6, 6'"'"').

21. The temperature sensor according to claim 13, wherein the connecting cable further comprises a jacket (12) which is liquid-impermeable and permits admission of air-oxygen into the housing (4).