Portable remote location measuring system

Claim 1

A system for monitoring a condition within an oven, the condition existing within the oven at a location remote from the monitoring location, the system comprising: a transducer for producing a signal indicative of the condition sensed within an oven; means for transmitting an electromagnetic energy signal corresponding to the transducer signal; an insulated container for receiving said transmitting means, said insulated container including liquid and vapor escape means for preventing the temperature within said container from rising beyond a predetermined temperature while in an oven; means for receiving the transmitted signal; and means for converting the received signals to indicate the condition sensed within the oven by said transducer.

Claim 2

A system for monitoring a condition within an oven, the condition existing within the oven at a location remote from the monitoring location, the system comprising: a transducer for producing a signal indicative of the condition sensed within an oven; means for transmitting an electromagnetic energy signal corresponding to the transducer signal; an insulated container for receiving said transmitting means, said insulated container including liquid and vapor escape means for preventing the temperature within said container from rising beyond a predetermined temperature while in an oven; means for receiving the transmitted signal; and means for converting the received signals to indicate the condition sensed within the oven by said transducer.

Claim 5

A system for measuring a condition in an oven, the system comprising: a transducer for producing a signal indicative of the condition; an electronic unit for receiving the signal from said transducer; and an insulating container for the electronic unit including, a base member, thermal insulating means within said base member and defining a cavity which receives said electronic unit, said thermal-insulating means defining said cavity receiving liquid to surround said electronic unit received in said cavity, said container having vapor escape means so as to maintain the immediate electronic unit environment substantially at the liquid temperature; and a cover member removably mated with said base member, other thermal-insulating means within said cover member, one of said thermal-insulating means defining a passageway extending from the cavity through the wall of the respective member, whereby the transducer may be connected to the electronic unit through the passageway.

Claim 6

A system for measuring a condition in an oven, the system comprising: a transducer for producing a signal indicative of the condition; an electronic unit for receiving the signal from said transducer; and an insulating container for the electronic unit including, a base member, thermal insulating means within said base member and defining a cavity which receives said electronic unit, said thermal-insulating means defining said cavity receiving liquid to surround said electronic unit received in said cavity, said container having vapor escape means so as to maintain the immediate electronic unit environment substantially at the liquid temperature; and a cover member removably mated with said base member, other thermal-insulating means within said cover member, one of said thermal-insulating means defining a passageway extending from the cavity through the wall of the respective member, whereby the transducer may be connected to the electronic unit through the passageway.

Claim 7

A system for monitoring the temperature of an article of manufacture traveling through a furnace, the system comprising: a transducer within the furnace to travel with the article for producing a signal corresponding to the temperature of the article at successive locations in the furnace; a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic energy signal corresponding to the transducer signal; a portable insulated container to travel with the article, said container receiving and protecting said transmitter from adverse temperature conditions existing within the furnace; said insulated container containing liquid about the transmitter and having a passageway extending from within and through said container, whereby the liquid upon vaporization may escape from said container through the passageway so as to maintain the transmitter temperature at substantially the liquid temperature; means for receiving the transmitted signals; whereby the received signals are indicative of the temperature sensed by the transducer at successive locations within the furnace.

Claim 8

A system for monitoring the temperature of an article of manufacture traveling through a furnace, the system comprising: a transducer within the furnace to travel with the article for producing a signal corresponding to the temperature of the article at successive locations in the furnace; a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic energy signal corresponding to the transducer signal; a portable insulated container to travel with the article, said container receiving and protecting said transmitter from adverse temperature conditions existing within the furnace; said insulated container containing liquid about the transmitter and having a passageway extending from within and through said container, whereby the liquid upon vaporization may escape from said container through the passageway so as to maintain the transmitter temperature at substantially the liquid temperature; means for receiving the transmitted signals; whereby the received signals are indicative of the temperature sensed by the transducer at successive locations within the furnace.

Claim 9

A system for monitoring an environmental condition at successive locations within an oven, the successive locations being remote from the monitoring location, the system comprising: a transducer for producing a signal corresponding to the condition; a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic energy signal corresponding to the transducer signal; a portable insulated container receiving the transmitter, said container having a passageway extending from within and through said container, and said container containing liquid about said transmitter; whereby the transmitter temperature may be maintained at substantially the liquid temperature to permit efficient transmitter operation within the furnace; means for moving said transducer, transmitter and container through the oven; and means for receiving the transmitted signals; whereby the transmitted signal may be received outside the oven from the remote locations of the sensed environmental condition.

Claim 10

A system for monitoring an environmental condition at successive locations within an oven, the successive locations being remote from the monitoring location, the system comprising: a transducer for producing a signal corresponding to the condition; a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic energy signal corresponding to the transducer signal; a portable insulated container receiving the transmitter, said container having a passageway extending from within and through said container, and said container containing liquid about said transmitter; whereby the transmitter temperature may be maintained at substantially the liquid temperature to permit efficient transmitter operation within the furnace; means for moving said transducer, transmitter and container through the oven; and means for receiving the transmitted signals; whereby the transmitted signal may be received outside the oven from the remote locations of the sensed environmental condition.

Claim 11

A method of protecting a transmitter traveling through an oven, the steps comprising: sealing the transmitter in a liquidproof container; immersing the sealed transmitter in a contained liquid medium; enclosing the sealed transmitter in the contained liquid medium withIn an insulating container; and conducting the contained liquid in vapor form out of the insulating container.

Claim 12

A method of protecting a transmitter traveling through an oven, the steps comprising: sealing the transmitter in a liquidproof container; immersing the sealed transmitter in a contained liquid medium; enclosing the sealed transmitter in the contained liquid medium withIn an insulating container; and conducting the contained liquid in vapor form out of the insulating container.

Claim 13

A method of maintaining a reference junction of a thermocouple transducer traveling through a heat treating oven below a predetermined temperature within the oven, the steps comprising: positioning the reference junction of the thermocouple in a liquid environment; insulating the reference junction of the thermocouple and the liquid environment; and conducting the contained liquid in vapor form out of the insulating container; whereby the reference junction may be substantially maintained below the predetermined temperature corresponding to the boiling point temperature of the liquid contained.

Claim 14

A method of maintaining a reference junction of a thermocouple transducer traveling through a heat treating oven below a predetermined temperature within the oven, the steps comprising: positioning the reference junction of the thermocouple in a liquid environment; insulating the reference junction of the thermocouple and the liquid environment; and conducting the contained liquid in vapor form out of the insulating container; whereby the reference junction may be substantially maintained below the predetermined temperature corresponding to the boiling point temperature of the liquid contained.