Temperature-sensing probe

Claim 2

A temperature-sensing probe comprising a straight wire body adapted to be exposed to temperatures to be sensed and being made of a material having a temperatureactuated shape memory; a support means for said wire body; said wire body having a straight preselected control shape and being deformable to a longer straight deformed shape when temperatures below a predetermined transition temperature are sensed and returning to said control shape as a result of said temperature-actuated shape memory when temperatures above said transition temperature are sensed; deformation means mounted on said support means and engaging said wire body to apply a stretching force along the longitudinal axis of said wire body to bring the same to its deformed shape; and control means actuated in response to said wire body assuming said control and deformed shapes in accordance with the sensed temperatures.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein said support means includes a tubular housing encasing said wire body and having a closed end and an open end, and said wire body has a first end fixedly anchored at said closed end of said housing and a second end connected with said deformation means, said control means being actuated by movement of said second end of said wire body.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 2 wherein said control means includes an electrical switch having a stationary contact arm and a movable contact arm, and said deformation means includes an operating arm attached to said second end of said wire body and operative to move said movable contact arm away from said stationary contact arm when said wire body assumes said control shape.

Claim 5

A temperature-sensing probe comprising a wire body adapted to be exposed to temperatures to be sensed and having a first end portion and a second end portion and being made of a material having a temperature-actuated shape memory; support means for said wire body including means fixedly anchoring said first end portion of said wire body; said wire body having a preselected control shape and being deformable to a deformed shape when temperatures below a predetermined transition temperature are sensed and returning to said control shape as a result of said temperature-actuated shape memory when temperatures above said transition temperature are sensed; and control means engaging said second end portion of said wire body including deformation means mechanically biasing said wire body to automatically place said wire body in said deformed shape when temperatures below said transition temperature are sensed, said control means having a first state when said wire body assumes said control shape and having a second state when said wire body assumes said deformed shape.

Claim 6

A temperature-sensing probe comprising a wire body adapted to be exposed to temperatures to be sensed and having a first end portion and a second end portion and being made of a material having a temperature-actuated shape memory; support means for said wire body including means fixedly anchoring said first end portion of said wire body; said wire body having a preselected control shape and being deformable to a deformed shape when temperatures below a predetermined transition temperature are sensed and returning to said control shape as a result of said temperature-actuated shape memory when temperatures above said transition temperature are sensed; and control means engaging said second end portion of said wire body including deformation means mechanically biasing said wire body to automatically place said wire body in said deformed shape when temperatures below said transition temperature are sensed, said control means having a first state when said wire body assumes said control shape and having a second state when said wire body assumes said deformed shape.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4 wherein said wire body is straight in said deformed and control shapes, and said deformation means twists said wire body about the longitudinal axis.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 4 wherein said control means includes an electrical switch having a stationary contact, a movable contact and an operating arm attached to said second end portion of said wire body, and said deformation means includes a movable arm carrying said movable contact and engaging said operating arm to apply a twisting force to said wire body.

Claim 9

The invention of claim 4 wherein the support means includes a tubular housing encasing said wire body and having a closed end anchoring said first end portion of said wire body and an open end through which said wire body extends to said second end portion.

Claim 10

ThE invention as recited in claim 4 wherein said material is an alloy of nickel and titanium.

Claim 11

The invention as recited in claim 8 wherein said alloy has a composition of 55 percent nickel by weight with the remainder being essentially titanium.