Temperature measuring apparatus and methods

Claim 2

A turbine engine comprising a housing, a component in said housing, and means for measuring the temperature of said component comprising casing means extending from exteriorly of said housing through said housing to a location adjacent the component in said housing, a photovoltaic detector in said casing means exteriorly of the turbine engine housing for generating an electrical signal proportional in magnitude to the intensity of radiant energy incident thereon, a radiant energy transmitting window in said casing means intermediate the ends thereof, means for effecting a flow of fluid through said casing to keep particles of foreign matter away from said window, said lastmentioned means including a plurality of open-ended capillary tubes of heat resistant material through which radiant energy can pass mounted in said casing, means for maintaining said tubes in a juxtaposed, parallel, assembled relationship and means providing an inlet to said casing so located that air can enter and flow through said casing into the ends of the tubes furtherest from the component in the turbine engine housing.

Claim 3

Temperature measuring apparatus comprising a device for concentrating radiant energy emitted from a heated body and impinging thereon, a photovoltaic detector so located as to intercept the radiant energy and thereby generate a current indicative of the temperature of the heated body, and means for effecting a flow of fluid through said device to minimize the collection of radiant energy absorbing foreign matter thereon, said Last-mentioned means comprising a plurality of open-ended capillary tubes of heat resistant material and means for maintaining said tubes in a juxtaposed, parallel, assembled relationship and wherein there is an inlet to said apparatus so located that air can enter therethrough and flow through the apparatus into said tubes.

Claim 4

Temperature measuring apparatus comprising a device for concentrating radiant energy emitted from a heated body and impinging thereon, a photovoltaic detector so located as to intercept the radiant energy and thereby generate a current indicative of the temperature of the heated body, and means for effecting a flow of fluid through said device to minimize the collection of radiant energy absorbing foreign matter thereon, said Last-mentioned means comprising a plurality of open-ended capillary tubes of heat resistant material and means for maintaining said tubes in a juxtaposed, parallel, assembled relationship and wherein there is an inlet to said apparatus so located that air can enter therethrough and flow through the apparatus into said tubes.

Claim 5

Temperature measuring apparatus comprising casing means, a photovoltaic detector in said casing means for generating an electrical signal proportional in magnitude to the intensity of radiant energy incident thereon, a radiant energy transmitting window in said casing means intermediate the ends thereof, means for effecting a flow of fluid through said casing means on the side of said window opposite the photovoltaic detector to keep foreign particles away from said window, and a fiber optics device mounted in said casing means between said window and said detector for conducting to said detector the radiant energy passing through said window.

Claim 6

Temperature measuring apparatus comprising casing means, a photovoltaic detector in said casing means for generating an electrical signal proportional in magnitude to the intensity of radiant energy incident thereon, a radiant energy transmitting window in said casing means intermediate the ends thereof, means for effecting a flow of fluid through said casing means on the side of said window opposite the photovoltaic detector to keep foreign particles away from said window, and a fiber optics device mounted in said casing means between said window and said detector for conducting to said detector the radiant energy passing through said window.

Claim 7

The temperature measuring apparatus of claim 3, wherein said temperature measuring apparatus further includes a lens between said window and said fiber optics device for focusing on said fiber optics device the radiant energy passing through said window, and an apertured member between said fiber optics device and said photovoltaic detector for concentrating on said detector the radiant energy conducted thereto by said fiber optics device.

Claim 8

In a method of measuring the temperature of a heated body comprising the steps of transmitting radiant energy emitted by said body through a window and directing said radiant energy onto a photovoltaic detector capable of generating an electrical signal having a magnitude proportional to the intensity of the radiant energy incident thereon and thereby indicative of the temperature of the heated body, the improvements wherein a fluid is circulated across the face of the window nearest the heated body to prevent radiant energy absorbing foreign material from collecting thereon, the flow of air being maintained in the laminar region to avoid the creation of currents adjacent said device in which said foreign material can collect, and wherein said photovoltaic detector is disposed at a location removed from said heated body to prevent overheating, and including the step of conducting the radiant energy to said photovoltaic detector through a fiber optics device to minimize dispersion of said energy.

Claim 9

In a method of measuring the temperature of a heated body comprising the steps of transmitting radiant energy emitted by said body through a window and directing said radiant energy onto a photovoltaic detector capable of generating an electrical signal having a magnitude proportional to the intensity of the radiant energy incident thereon and thereby indicative of the temperature of the heated body, the improvements wherein a fluid is circulated across the face of the window nearest the heated body to prevent radiant energy absorbing foreign material from collecting thereon, the flow of air being maintained in the laminar region to avoid the creation of currents adjacent said device in which said foreign material can collect, and wherein said photovoltaic detector is disposed at a location removed from said heated body to prevent overheating, and including the step of conducting the radiant energy to said photovoltaic detector through a fiber optics device to minimize dispersion of said energy.

Claim 10

The method of claim 5, together with the step of so varying the signal generated by said photovoltaic detector as to compensate for changes in the ambient temperature of the environment in which said detector is located.

Claim 11

The method of claim 5, wherein the magnitude of the generated signal is proportioned to the intensity of that portion of the emitted energy having wavelengths not exceeding about 1.1 microns to thereby avoid temperature measurement errors attributable to the absorption of emitted energy by combustion products present in the environment in which the heated body is located.

Claim 12

A turbine engine comprising a housing, a component in said housing, means for measuring the temperature of said component comprising casing means extending from exteriorly of said housing through said housing to a location adjacent the component in said housing, and means fixing said casing means to said turbine engine housing, said temperature measuring means further comprising a photovoltaic detector in said casing means exteriorly of the turbine engine housing for generating an electrical signal proportional in magnitude to the intensity of radiant energy incident thereon, a radiant energy transmitting window in said casing means intermediate the ends thereof, a first opening through said casing means on the opposite side of said window from said photovoltaic detector, means for effecting a flow of fluid through said opening, and means having fluid flow passages therethrough disposed in the end of said casing means opposite said detector, there being a second Opening through said casing in the end thereof in which said last-mentioned means is disposed, whereby fluid can flow into said casing means, across said window, and exit through said last-mentioned means to thereby keep particles of foreign matter away from said window, said last-mentioned means further being capable of passing radiant energy, whereby such energy can pass from the component in the turbine engine housing through said means and said window to said photovoltaic detector.

Claim 13

A turbine engine comprising a housing, a component in said housing, means for measuring the temperature of said component comprising casing means extending from exteriorly of said housing through said housing to a location adjacent the component in said housing, and means fixing said casing means to said turbine engine housing, said temperature measuring means further comprising a photovoltaic detector in said casing means exteriorly of the turbine engine housing for generating an electrical signal proportional in magnitude to the intensity of radiant energy incident thereon, a radiant energy transmitting window in said casing means intermediate the ends thereof, a first opening through said casing means on the opposite side of said window from said photovoltaic detector, means for effecting a flow of fluid through said opening, and means having fluid flow passages therethrough disposed in the end of said casing means opposite said detector, there being a second Opening through said casing in the end thereof in which said last-mentioned means is disposed, whereby fluid can flow into said casing means, across said window, and exit through said last-mentioned means to thereby keep particles of foreign matter away from said window, said last-mentioned means further being capable of passing radiant energy, whereby such energy can pass from the component in the turbine engine housing through said means and said window to said photovoltaic detector.

Claim 14

Apparatus for measuring the temperature of a turbine engine component comprising casing means, a photovoltaic detector in said casing means for generating an electrical signal proportional in magnitude to the intensity of radiant energy incident thereon, a radiant energy transmitting window in said casing means intermediate the ends thereof, a first opening through said casing means, said opening being located on the opposite side of said window from said photovoltaic detector, and means having fluid flow passages therethrough disposed in the end of said casing means opposite said detector, there being a second opening through said casing in the end thereof in which said last-mentioned means is disposed, whereby fluid can flow into said casing means, across said window, and exit through said last-mentioned means to thereby keep particles of foreign matter away from said window, said last-mentioned means further being capable of passing radiant energy, whereby such energy can pass through said means and said window to said photovoltaic detector.

Claim 15

Apparatus for measuring the temperature of a turbine engine component comprising casing means, a photovoltaic detector in said casing means for generating an electrical signal proportional in magnitude to the intensity of radiant energy incident thereon, a radiant energy transmitting window in said casing means intermediate the ends thereof, a first opening through said casing means, said opening being located on the opposite side of said window from said photovoltaic detector, and means having fluid flow passages therethrough disposed in the end of said casing means opposite said detector, there being a second opening through said casing in the end thereof in which said last-mentioned means is disposed, whereby fluid can flow into said casing means, across said window, and exit through said last-mentioned means to thereby keep particles of foreign matter away from said window, said last-mentioned means further being capable of passing radiant energy, whereby such energy can pass through said means and said window to said photovoltaic detector.

Claim 16

The temperature measuring apparatus of claim 9, wherein said electrical signal is exponential and including a logarithmic amplifier electrically connected to said detector for converting said electrical signal to one which is proportional to the actual temperature of the turbine engine component.

Claim 17

The temperature measuring apparatus of claim 9, wherein said photovoltaic detector is fabricated of a silicon material responsive to radiant energy having wavelengths not longer than about 1.1 microns, whereby the emitted energy to which the detector responds is not absorbed by combustion products and the magnitude of the electrical signal generated by said detector is accordingly not affected by the presence or variations in the concentration of combustion products in the environment in which the turbine engine component is located.

Claim 18

The temperature measuring apparatus of claim 9, further including a thermistor closely adjacent and electrically connected to said photovoltaic detector to compensate for variations in the magnitude of the generated signal resulting from changes in the temperature of the environment in which the photovoltaic detector is located.

Claim 19

Temperature measuring apparatus for use in environments in which combustion products may be present comprising a casing means, a photovoltaic detector in said casing means for generating an electrical signal proportional in magnitude to the intensity of radiant energy incident thereon, a radiant energy transmitting window in said casing means intermediate the ends thereof, a first opening through said casing means, said opening being located on the opposite side of said window from said photovoltaic detector, and means having fluid flow passages therethrough disposed in the end of said casing means opposite said detector, there being a second opening through said casing in the end thereof in which said last-mentioned means is disposed, whereby fluid can flow into said casing means, across said window, and exit through said last-mentioned means to thereby keep particles of foreign matter away from said window, said last-mentioned means further being capable of passing radiant energy, whereby such energy can pass through said means and said window to said photovoltaic detector, and said detector being fabricated of a material responsive to energy having wavelengths not longer than about 1.1 microns, whereby the emitted energy to which the detector responds is not Absorbed by combustion products in the environment in which said energy is generated and the temperature indicative signal generated by the detector is accordingly not affected by the presence or variations of the concentration of combustion products in said environment.

Claim 20

Temperature measuring apparatus for use in environments in which combustion products may be present comprising a casing means, a photovoltaic detector in said casing means for generating an electrical signal proportional in magnitude to the intensity of radiant energy incident thereon, a radiant energy transmitting window in said casing means intermediate the ends thereof, a first opening through said casing means, said opening being located on the opposite side of said window from said photovoltaic detector, and means having fluid flow passages therethrough disposed in the end of said casing means opposite said detector, there being a second opening through said casing in the end thereof in which said last-mentioned means is disposed, whereby fluid can flow into said casing means, across said window, and exit through said last-mentioned means to thereby keep particles of foreign matter away from said window, said last-mentioned means further being capable of passing radiant energy, whereby such energy can pass through said means and said window to said photovoltaic detector, and said detector being fabricated of a material responsive to energy having wavelengths not longer than about 1.1 microns, whereby the emitted energy to which the detector responds is not Absorbed by combustion products in the environment in which said energy is generated and the temperature indicative signal generated by the detector is accordingly not affected by the presence or variations of the concentration of combustion products in said environment.

Claim 21

The temperature measuring apparatus of claim 13, wherein said photovoltaic detector is fabricated of a material responsive to radiant energy having wavelengths in the range from about 0.5 to about 1.1 microns.