US3923552A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hermetically sealed thermocouple assembly
Assignee: PPG Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1972-12-21
•
Granted: 1975-12-02
•
Expires: 1992-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A thermocouple assembly has an outer sheath positioned about a thermocouple probe. The outer sheath includes a casing and a tube joined at one end about a washer to form a hermetic seal at room temperature capable of withstanding atmospheric pressure. The casing, tube and washer each have different coefficients of expansion to form a hermetic seal when the outer sheath is heated capable of withstanding pressures in excess of 1,000 psi. The thermocouple probe has a plurality of thermocouple elements hermetically sealed in an inner sheath. The thermocouple elements are mutually aligned and spaced a predetermined distance from each other at the measuring junction. A hermetic seal is provided at the union of the outer sheath and the thermocouple assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph N Parris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K1/00; G01K1/08; G01K1/02; G01K1/026; G01K7/00; G01K7/02; G01K7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A THERMOCOUPLE ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING: AN OUTER SHEATH, COMPRISING A METAL CASE HAVING AN OPEN END AND A CLOSED END; AN INNER SUPPORT LEDGE ADJACENT THE OPEN END OF SAID METAL CASE; A PRESSURE DEFROMABLE METAL WASHER POSITIONED ON SAID INNER SUPPORT LEDGE OF SAID METAL CASE, SAID WASHER HAVING A COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION GREATER THAN SAID METAL CASE; A METAL TUBE HAVING A FIRST END AND A SECOND END, THE FIRST END BEING INSERTABLE IN THE OPEN END OF SAID METAL CASE AGAINST SAID METAL WASHER, SAID METAL TUBE HAVING A COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION AT LEAST THE SAME AS THE METAL CASE BUT LESS THAN SAID METAL WASHER; AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE FIRST END OF SAID NETAL TUBE IN THE OPEN END OF SAID METAL CASE WITH THE FIRST END OF SAID TUBE AGAINST SAID WASHER TO PREVENT THE FIRST END OF SAID METAL TUBE AND OF SAID METAL CASE FROM SEPARATING WHEN SAID OUTER SHEATH IS HEATED TO EXPAND AT LEAST SAID METAL WASHER TO FORM A HERMETIC SEAL AT THE UNION OF SAID CASE AND SAID TUBE CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING HIGH PRESSURES: A THERMOCOUPLE PROBE MOUNTED IN SAID SHEATH; AND MEANS FOR FORMING A HERMETIC SEAL BETWEEN SAID THERMOCOUPLE PROBE AND THE SECOND END OF SAID METAL TUBE TO CONTAIN AN ATMOSPHERE WITHIN SAID OUTER SHEATH.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A THERMOCOUPLE ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING: AN OUTER SHEATH, COMPRISING A METAL CASE HAVING AN OPEN END AND A CLOSED END; AN INNER SUPPORT LEDGE ADJACENT THE OPEN END OF SAID METAL CASE; A PRESSURE DEFROMABLE METAL WASHER POSITIONED ON SAID INNER SUPPORT LEDGE OF SAID METAL CASE, SAID WASHER HAVING A COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION GREATER THAN SAID METAL CASE; A METAL TUBE HAVING A FIRST END AND A SECOND END, THE FIRST END BEING INSERTABLE IN THE OPEN END OF SAID METAL CASE AGAINST SAID METAL WASHER, SAID METAL TUBE HAVING A COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION AT LEAST THE SAME AS THE METAL CASE BUT LESS THAN SAID METAL WASHER; AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE FIRST END OF SAID NETAL TUBE IN THE OPEN END OF SAID METAL CASE WITH THE FIRST END OF SAID TUBE AGAINST SAID WASHER TO PREVENT THE FIRST END OF SAID METAL TUBE AND OF SAID METAL CASE FROM SEPARATING WHEN SAID OUTER SHEATH IS HEATED TO EXPAND AT LEAST SAID METAL WASHER TO FORM A HERMETIC SEAL AT THE UNION OF SAID CASE AND SAID TUBE CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING HIGH PRESSURES: A THERMOCOUPLE PROBE MOUNTED IN SAID SHEATH; AND MEANS FOR FORMING A HERMETIC SEAL BETWEEN SAID THERMOCOUPLE PROBE AND THE SECOND END OF SAID METAL TUBE TO CONTAIN AN ATMOSPHERE WITHIN SAID OUTER SHEATH.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said metal tube has a coefficient of expansion greater than said metal case but less than said metal washer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said metal case is made of a refractory metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said metal washer is made of naval bronze.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said metal tube is made of stainless steel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thermocouple probe comprises: a. an inner sheath, b. a plurality of thermocouple elements mutually aligned and spaced a predetermined distance from each other positioned in said inner sheath, and c. means for forming a hermetic seal between said thermocouple elements and said inner sheath at the open end of said inner sheath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 6 having an inert atmosphere between said outer sheath and said inner sheath.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said inner sheath comprises a molybdenum case and a stainless steel sleeve securely mounted to the open end of said case.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said metal case is made of a refractory metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said metal case is made of molybdenum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said metal washer is made of naval bronze.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said metal tube is made of stainless steel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The thermocouple assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said securing means includes: threads on the inner wall of said case extending from said inner support ledge to the open end of said case; and threads on the outside wall of said tube adjacent the first end of tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
167 words
A thermocouple assembly, comprising: an outer sheath, comprising: a molybdenum case having an open end and a closed end, an inner support ledge adjacent the open end and internal threads extending from the inner support ledge to the open end; a navel bronze washer mounted on the inner support ledge of said molybdenum case; and a stainless steel tube having threads on the outer surface extending from one end for threading the one end of said steel tube into the open end of said molybdenum tube to urge said washer against the inner support ledge of said molybdenum tube, wherein heating said outer sheath a hermetic seal is formed at the union of said case and said tube capable of withstanding high pressures; a thermocouple probe positioned in said outer sheath; an inert atmosphere between said outer sheath and said probe; and means for forming a hermetic seal between said probe and said outer sheath to contain said inert atmosphere between said outer sheath and said probe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
167 words
A thermocouple assembly, comprising: an outer sheath, comprising: a molybdenum case having an open end and a closed end, an inner support ledge adjacent the open end and internal threads extending from the inner support ledge to the open end; a navel bronze washer mounted on the inner support ledge of said molybdenum case; and a stainless steel tube having threads on the outer surface extending from one end for threading the one end of said steel tube into the open end of said molybdenum tube to urge said washer against the inner support ledge of said molybdenum tube, wherein heating said outer sheath a hermetic seal is formed at the union of said case and said tube capable of withstanding high pressures; a thermocouple probe positioned in said outer sheath; an inert atmosphere between said outer sheath and said probe; and means for forming a hermetic seal between said probe and said outer sheath to contain said inert atmosphere between said outer sheath and said probe.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA696438A
Cited
US2888508A
Cited
GB1012896A
Cited
US3263502A
Cited
US3512413A
Cited
US3537911A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-01 | 1979-06-02 | 1979-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-01 | 1983-06-02 | 1983-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-01 | 1987-06-02 | 1987-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |