Temperature measuring apparatus

Claim 2

A temperature indicating device for use with a heat receptor probe of the type having a heat-receiving slug, comprising: a casing; thermally responsive sensor means mounted in said casing and arranged to receive said slug of said heat receptor in heat transfer relationship for providing an electrical signal responsive to the temperature of said slug; calibrated indicating means mounted within said casing and responsive to said signal for providing a visual indication of the slug temperature; means mounted within said casing and responsive to manual actuation for fixing the reading of said indicating means; and means for delaying said fixing for a predetermined interval of time after said actuation, said delaying means comprising a governor operably associated with said fixing means to determine the length of said interval of time within which interval said thermally responsive sensor means substantially achieves the full slug temperature by heat transfer without significant loss of heat of the slug and so that the temperature indication is thereafter maintained despite further cooling of the heat receptor and sensor means.

Claim 3

A device as described in claim 1, wherein said calibrated indicating means includes a meter assembly comprising an electrically responsive rotor, a pointer coupled to said rotor for movement thereby, and a calibrated scale in juxtaposition with the free end of said pointer.

Claim 4

A device as described in claim 2 wherein said manually actuatable reading-fixing means includes: a spring motor contained within said casing, said spring motor capable of being latched and unlatched, means mounted on said casing for winding said spring motor in a wound condition, and means mounted on said casing for latching and unlatching said spring motor and for clamping said indicating means at the end of said time interval which interval is initiated by said unlatching.

Claim 5

A device as described in claim 3 which includes a source of current and a normally open switch, said switch being between said thermally responsive sensor and said source.

Claim 6

A device as described in claim 1 further including means for closing said switch coupled to and actuated by said unlatching means.

Claim 7

A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for winding said spring motor comprises a first push button slidably mounted on said casing, a rack integral with said pushbutton and a pinion in meshing engagement with said rack, said pinion being coupled to said spring motor, said means for latching said spring motor in the wound condition comprising a first toothlike member integral with said first pushbutton, a rod having a second toothlike member, said rod being mounted in said casing and spring means biasing said second toothlike member into latching engagement with said first toothlike member.

Claim 8

A device in accordance with claim 6 including a release means, said release means comprising a second pushbutton mounted on said casing, said second pushbutton having a first cam surface on the inner end thereof and a second cam surface on said rod in opposition to said first cam surface whereby when said second pushbutton is depressed, said first cam surface bears against said second cam surface and moves said second toothlike member out of latching engagement with said first toothlike member.

Claim 9

A device in accordance with claim 6 including spring means normally biasing said second push button in a direction outwardly of said casing.

Claim 10

A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said clamping means comprises an elongated arm integral with said first pushbutton, a cam member mounted on said arm for movement together therewith and a cam follower having a first portion positioned in the path of said cam member and a second portion positioned in opposition to said rotor, said second portion of said cam follower being arranged to clampingly arrest the movement of said rotor when said cam member engages said first portion of said cam follower.

Claim 11

A device in accordance with claim 9 wherein said cam follower comprises a pin pivotally mounted intermediate the end portions thereof on a nonmovable portion of said meter assembly and said cam member is a bar having a sloping surface.

Claim 12

A device in accordance with claim 9 wherein there is further included a flexible plate intermediate said second portion of said cam follower and said rotor whereby said second portion of said cam follower is arranged to depress said flexible plate into clamping engagement with said rotor.

Claim 13

A device in accordance with claim 9 including circuit closiNg means comprising movable contact means integral with said arm and fixed contact means positioned along the path of said movable contact means whereby when said release means is actuated said movable contact means will engage said fixed contact means at a predetermined time after said spring motor is unlatched and will remain in engagement therewith during the time said rotor is clamped.

Claim 14

A temperature indicating device for use with a disposable heat receptor of the type having a tubular stem and a metal slug in one end thereof, comprising: a casing; thermally responsive sensor means, mounted in said casing and arranged to receive said metal slug in heat transfer relationship, for providing a voltage responsive to the temperature of said slug; a meter assembly, mounted in said casing and responsive to said voltage, said movement including a rotor, a pointer coupled to said rotor for movement thereby, and a calibrated scale in juxtaposition with the free end of said pointer; a spring motor within said casing; winding means, mounted on and within said casing, for winding said spring motor, said winding means including a first pushbutton slidably mounted on said casing, a rack connected to said pushbutton, and a pinion in meshing engagement with said rack, said pinion being coupled to said spring motor; latching means, mounted within said casing, for latching said spring motor in the wound condition, said latching means including a first toothlike member integral with said first pushbutton, a rod being mounted in said casing and having a second toothlike member, and spring means biasing said second toothlike member into latching engagement with said first toothlike member; releasing means mounted on and within said casing for latching and unlatching said spring motor, including a second push button mounted on said casing and having a first cam surface on the inner end thereof, a second cam surface on said rod in opposition to said first cam surface, whereby, when said second push button is depressed, said first cam surface bears against said second cam surface and moves said second toothlike member out of latching engagement with said first toothlike member; clamping means, mounted within said casing and responsive to said releasing means, for clamping said rotor at a predetermined time after said spring motor is unlatched, said clamping means including an elongated arm integral with said first pushbutton, a cam member mounted on said arm for movement together therewith, and a cam follower having a first portion positioned in the path of said cam member and a second portion arranged to clampingly arrest the movement of said rotor when said cam member engages said first portion of said cam follower; and a normally open-circuit electrical switch, having movable contacts connected to said elongated arm and fixed contacts positioned along the path of said movable contacts, for applying said temperature-responsive voltage to said meter assembly, whereby when said release means if actuated said movable contacts will engage said fixed contacts at a time predetermined by movement of said spring motor and rack and pinion after said spring motor is unlatched and will remain in engagement therewith during the time said rotor is clamped.

Claim 15

A temperature indicating device for use with a disposable heat receptor of the type having a tubular stem and a metal slug in one end thereof, comprising: a casing; thermally responsive sensor means, mounted in said casing and arranged to receive said metal slug in heat transfer relationship, for providing a voltage responsive to the temperature of said slug; a meter assembly, mounted in said casing and responsive to said voltage, said movement including a rotor, a pointer coupled to said rotor for movement thereby, and a calibrated scale in juxtaposition with the free end of said pointer; a spring motor within said casing; winding means, mounted on and within said casing, for winding said spring motor, said winding means including a first pushbutton slidably mounted on said casing, a rack connected to said pushbutton, and a pinion in meshing engagement with said rack, said pinion being coupled to said spring motor; latching means, mounted within said casing, for latching said spring motor in the wound condition, said latching means including a first toothlike member integral with said first pushbutton, a rod being mounted in said casing and having a second toothlike member, and spring means biasing said second toothlike member into latching engagement with said first toothlike member; releasing means mounted on and within said casing for latching and unlatching said spring motor, including a second push button mounted on said casing and having a first cam surface on the inner end thereof, a second cam surface on said rod in opposition to said first cam surface, whereby, when said second push button is depressed, said first cam surface bears against said second cam surface and moves said second toothlike member out of latching engagement with said first toothlike member; clamping means, mounted within said casing and responsive to said releasing means, for clamping said rotor at a predetermined time after said spring motor is unlatched, said clamping means including an elongated arm integral with said first pushbutton, a cam member mounted on said arm for movement together therewith, and a cam follower having a first portion positioned in the path of said cam member and a second portion arranged to clampingly arrest the movement of said rotor when said cam member engages said first portion of said cam follower; and a normally open-circuit electrical switch, having movable contacts connected to said elongated arm and fixed contacts positioned along the path of said movable contacts, for applying said temperature-responsive voltage to said meter assembly, whereby when said release means if actuated said movable contacts will engage said fixed contacts at a time predetermined by movement of said spring motor and rack and pinion after said spring motor is unlatched and will remain in engagement therewith during the time said rotor is clamped.

Claim 16

In a temperature-indicating device of the type having a meter assembly, said assembly including an electrically responsive rotor, a pointer coupled to said rotor for movement thereby and a calibrated scale in juxtaposition with the free end of said pointer, said assembly responsive to a temperature change detected by a sensing element, the improvement comprising means for arresting the meter assembly after a predetermined time delay, said arresting means comprising: motor means; an actuator driven by said motor means; and means juxtaposed to the meter assembly and engageable by said actuator at a predetermined time after said motor means starts to drive said actuator for stopping the rotatIon of the meter assembly rotor.

Claim 17

In a temperature-indicating device of the type having a meter assembly, said assembly including an electrically responsive rotor, a pointer coupled to said rotor for movement thereby and a calibrated scale in juxtaposition with the free end of said pointer, said assembly responsive to a temperature change detected by a sensing element, the improvement comprising means for arresting the meter assembly after a predetermined time delay, said arresting means comprising: motor means; an actuator driven by said motor means; and means juxtaposed to the meter assembly and engageable by said actuator at a predetermined time after said motor means starts to drive said actuator for stopping the rotatIon of the meter assembly rotor.

Claim 18

The device in accordance with claim 14 wherein said motor means is a spring.

Claim 19

The device in accordance with claim 14 wherein said actuator is a cam and said means for clamping the meter assembly is a follower mounted in juxtaposition with the rotor of said assembly, said follower having a first portion adapted to be engaged by said cam at said predetermined time and a second portion arranged to apply a clamping force against a surface of the rotor at said predetermined time.

Claim 20

The device in accordance with claim 16 further including a flexible plate adapted to be forced against the surface of the rotor by said second portion of said follower.

Claim 21

The device in accordance with claim 16 wherein said follower is a pin pivotally mounted intermediate said first and second portions on a fixed portion of the meter assembly.