Thermocouple device for measuring the temperature of molten metal

Claim 1

A DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE TEMPERATURE OF MOLTEN METAL COMPRISING: (A) A HOLLOW HOUSING HAVING AN EXHAUST PORT THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR THEREOF, (B) A GRAPHITE OUTER PROTECTION TUBE EXTENDING FROM SAID HOUSING AND HAVING ITS LOWER END CLOSED AND ITS UPPER END OPEN AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING, (C) A GAS IMPERVIOUS INNER REFRACTORY TUBE DISPOSED WITHIN AND CLOSELY ADJACENT TO THE INNER WALL OF SAID OUTER PROTECTION TUBE, SAID INNER TUBE HAVING ITS LOWER END CLOSED AND ITS UPPER END OPEN AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING, (D) AN INSULATOR DISPOSED WITHIN SAID INNER PROTECTION TUBE, (E) THERMOCOUPLE WIRES EXTENDING WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING AND THROUGH SAID INSULATOR, AND CONNECTED AT THEIR LOWER ENDS TO FORM A HOT JUNCTION AT THE LOWER END OF SAID INSULATOR, AND (F) MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING FOR INTRODUCING AN UNCONTAMINATED, PRESSURIZED, COOLING, AND PURGING FLUID THERETO DIRECTLY COOL SAID HOUSING AND THERMOELEMENT WIRES THEREIN AND TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF AT LEAST THAT PORTION OF SAID WIRES WITHIN SAID HOUSING PRIOR TO EXHAUSTION FROM SAID HOUSING EXHAUST PORT.