US3737982A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for measuring the temperature of a movable elongated conductor
Assignee: —
•
Filing: 1971-11-15
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Granted: 1973-06-12
•
Expires: 1991-11-15
Abstract
Abstract The temperature variation of a movable elongated conductor, for example, a copper wire, may be determined by butt-joining a length of dissimilar conductor, for example, a length of constantan wire, to the wire to form a thermocouple junction between the wires and connecting a potentiometric recording device across a series connection of the formed junction and a reference junction at a known temperature. Several junctions may be incorporated in a wire at spaced predetermined intervals such that one junction at a time may be passed through a process which involves the transfer of thermal energy between the wire and a processing facility, for example, an extruder head in an insulating line wherein a sheath of plastic insulation is applied to the conductor. As long as the temperatures of the remaining junctions are known, they may be utilized collectively as a reference junction to obtain the time variation in the thermoelectrically generated voltages which are directly proportional to the temperature of the junction passing through the process.
Inventors
No inventors recorded.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:52
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/15; B29C48/03; B29C48/05; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of measuring the temperature of a movable elongated conductor which comprises the steps of: joining an end of a length of dissimilar conductor to an end of the elongated conductor to form a thermocouple junction between the joined conductors; serially connecting the formed junction in a circuit through either conductor to a second thermocouple junction at a known temperature to generate a potential across the junctions which is directly related to the temperature difference therebetween; moving the joined conductors longitudinally to move the formed junction along the longitudinal path of the conductors; and measuring the generated potential while the junction is moving to obtain the temperature of the elongated conductor at the formed junction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of measuring the temperature of a movable elongated conductor which comprises the steps of: joining an end of a length of dissimilar conductor to an end of the elongated conductor to form a thermocouple junction between the joined conductors; serially connecting the formed junction in a circuit through either conductor to a second thermocouple junction at a known temperature to generate a potential across the junctions which is directly related to the temperature difference therebetween; moving the joined conductors longitudinally to move the formed junction along the longitudinal path of the conductors; and measuring the generated potential while the junction is moving to obtain the temperature of the elongated conductor at the formed junction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the elongated conductor and the dissimilar conductor are formed of copper and constantan, respectively, and said step of joining said conductors includes butt-joining the ends thereof together axially to form a well-defined boundary therebetween.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of measuring the temperature of a movable elongated conductor which comprises the steps of: joining in a circuit the ends of a length of dissimilar conductor to the elongated conductor at an intermediate section thereof to form a pair of spaced serially connected thermocouple junctions, one of said junctions having a known temperature, and the other of said junctions having an unknown temperature, to generate a potential across the formed junctions which is directly related to the temperature difference therebetween; moving the joined conductors longitudinally to move the unknown junction along the longitudinal path of the conductors; and measuring the generated potential while the junction is moving to obtain the temperature of the elongated conductor at the unknown junction.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of measuring the temperature of a movable elongated conductor which comprises the steps of: joining in a circuit the ends of a length of dissimilar conductor to the elongated conductor at an intermediate section thereof to form a pair of spaced serially connected thermocouple junctions, one of said junctions having a known temperature, and the other of said junctions having an unknown temperature, to generate a potential across the formed junctions which is directly related to the temperature difference therebetween; moving the joined conductors longitudinally to move the unknown junction along the longitudinal path of the conductors; and measuring the generated potential while the junction is moving to obtain the temperature of the elongated conductor at the unknown junction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the elongated conductor and the dissimilar conductor are formed of copper and constantan, respectively, and said step of joining the ends of the length of dissimilar conductor to an intermediate section of the elongated conductor includes butt-joining the ends thereof axially to the ends of said intermediate section of said elongated conductor to form two well-defined boundaries therebetween.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of measuring the temperature of an elongateD conductor, which comprises the steps of: joining in a circuit the ends of a plurality of lengths of a second dissimilar conductor alternately to a plurality of lengths of the elongated conductor, to form a plurality of spaced serially connected thermocouple junctions, the temperatures of all but one of the formed junctions being known, to generate a potential across the formed junctions which is directly related to the temperature difference between the junctions; moving the joined conductors longitudinally to move the unknown junction along the longitudinal path of the conductors; and measuring the generated potential while the junction is moving to obtain the temperature of the elongated conductor at the unknown junction.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of measuring the temperature of an elongateD conductor, which comprises the steps of: joining in a circuit the ends of a plurality of lengths of a second dissimilar conductor alternately to a plurality of lengths of the elongated conductor, to form a plurality of spaced serially connected thermocouple junctions, the temperatures of all but one of the formed junctions being known, to generate a potential across the formed junctions which is directly related to the temperature difference between the junctions; moving the joined conductors longitudinally to move the unknown junction along the longitudinal path of the conductors; and measuring the generated potential while the junction is moving to obtain the temperature of the elongated conductor at the unknown junction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the lengths of the elongated conductor and the dissimilar conductor are formed of copper and constantan, respectively, and said step of joining said ends of said conductors alternately includes butt-joining the ends of alternating lengths thereof axially to form a plurality of well-defined boundaries therebetween.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of determining the temperature variation of an elongated conductor as it undergoes a process, wherein thermal energy is transferred between the conductor and the process, which comprises the steps of: joining an end of at least one length of dissimilar conductor to an end of the elongated conductor to form at least one thermocouple junction; serially connecting the formed junction in a circuit through either conductor to a second similar junction at a known temperature to generate a potential across the junctions which is directly related to the temperature dirrerence therebetween; moving the joined conductors longitudinally through the process to move at least one formed junction through the process to obtain a history of the moved junction in terms of a generated potential; and measuring the generated potential to obtain the temperature history of the elongated conductor at the formed junction moved through the process.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of determining the temperature variation of an elongated conductor as it undergoes a process, wherein thermal energy is transferred between the conductor and the process, which comprises the steps of: joining an end of at least one length of dissimilar conductor to an end of the elongated conductor to form at least one thermocouple junction; serially connecting the formed junction in a circuit through either conductor to a second similar junction at a known temperature to generate a potential across the junctions which is directly related to the temperature dirrerence therebetween; moving the joined conductors longitudinally through the process to move at least one formed junction through the process to obtain a history of the moved junction in terms of a generated potential; and measuring the generated potential to obtain the temperature history of the elongated conductor at the formed junction moved through the process.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the elongated conductor and the dissimilar conductor are formed of copper and constantan, respectively, and the step of joining the conductors includes butt-joining the ends of the conductors together axially to form a well-defined boundary therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the process is an insulating process.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the insulating process includes the step of extruding a plastic sheath around the peripheral surface of the first junction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the insulating process includes the step of covering the peripheral surface of the first junction with pulp material.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for measuring the temperature of a movable elongated conductor which comprises: a length of dissimilar conductor; a thermocouple junction formed by joining an end of said length of dissimilar conductor to an end of the elongated conductor; a second thermocouple junction having a known temperature; means for serially connecting said formed junction in a circuit through either conductor to said known junction to generate a potential across the junction which is directly related to the temperature difference therebetween; means for moving the joined conductors longitudinally to move the formed junction along the longitudinal path of the conductors; and means for measuring the generated potential while the junction is moving to obtain the temperature of the elongated conductor at the formed junction.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for measuring the temperature of a movable elongated conductor which comprises: a length of dissimilar conductor; a thermocouple junction formed by joining an end of said length of dissimilar conductor to an end of the elongated conductor; a second thermocouple junction having a known temperature; means for serially connecting said formed junction in a circuit through either conductor to said known junction to generate a potential across the junction which is directly related to the temperature difference therebetween; means for moving the joined conductors longitudinally to move the formed junction along the longitudinal path of the conductors; and means for measuring the generated potential while the junction is moving to obtain the temperature of the elongated conductor at the formed junction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the elongated conductor and said length of dissimilar conductor are formed of copper and constantan, respectively, and said formed thermocouple junction is formed by butt-joining the ends of the conductors axially to form a well-defined boundary therebetween.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said connecting means is a bare wire contact device formed of The same material as said elongated conductor and positioned along the longitudinal path of said conductors in engagement therewith at a point and said second thermocouple junction is the point of engagement of said contact device when it engages said dissimilar conductor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said connecting means is a bare wire contact device formed of the same material as said dissimilar conductor and positioned along the longitudinal path of said joined conductors in engagement therewith at a point, and said second thermocouple junction is the point of engagement of said contact device when it engages said elongated conductor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said bare wire contact device is a rotatable slip ring formed of copper and positioned in rolling contact with said joined conductors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said bare wire contact device is a slip ring formed of constantan and positioned in rolling contact with said joined conductors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second thermocouple junction includes a length of the elongated conductor butt-joined axially to the other end of the length of said dissimilar conductor.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for determining the temperature variation of an elongated conductor as it undergoes a process wherein thermal energy is transferred between the conductor and the process, which comprises: at least one thermocouple junction formed in the conductor by joining an end of at least one length of a dissimilar conductor to the elongated conductor; a second thermocouple junction having a known temperature; means serially connecting at least one formed junction in a circuit through either conductor to said junction at a known temperature to generate a potential across the junctions which is directly related to the temperature difference therebetween; means for moving the joined conductors longitudinally through the process to move at least one formed junction through the process to obtain a history of the moved junction in terms of a generated potential; and means for measuring the generated potential to obtain the temperature history of the elongated conductor at the formed junction moved through the process.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for determining the temperature variation of an elongated conductor as it undergoes a process wherein thermal energy is transferred between the conductor and the process, which comprises: at least one thermocouple junction formed in the conductor by joining an end of at least one length of a dissimilar conductor to the elongated conductor; a second thermocouple junction having a known temperature; means serially connecting at least one formed junction in a circuit through either conductor to said junction at a known temperature to generate a potential across the junctions which is directly related to the temperature difference therebetween; means for moving the joined conductors longitudinally through the process to move at least one formed junction through the process to obtain a history of the moved junction in terms of a generated potential; and means for measuring the generated potential to obtain the temperature history of the elongated conductor at the formed junction moved through the process.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the elongated conductor and said length of dissimilar conductor are formed of copper and constantan, respectively, and said formed thermocouple junction is formed by butt-joining the ends of the conductors axially to form a well-defined boundary therebetween.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said connecting means is a bare wire contact device formed of the same material as said elongated conductor and positioned along the longitudinal path of said joined conductors in engagement therewith at a point and said second thermocouple junction is the point of engagement of said contact device when it engages said dissimilar conductor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said bare wire contact device is a slip ring formed of constantan in rolling contact with said joined conductors.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said connecting means is a bare wire contact device formed of the same material as said dissimilar conductor and positioned along the longitudinal path of said joined conductors in engagement therewith at a point, and said second thermocouple junction is the point of engagement of said contact device when it engages said elongated conductor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said bare wire contact device is a slip ring formed of copper in rolling contact with said joined conductors.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said second thermocouple junction includes a length of said elongated conductor butt-joined axially to the other end of said length of dissimilar conductor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |