Thermocouple for continuously measuring the temperature along the length of a surface

Claim 1

An apparatus for measuring the temperature along the length of a surface comprising, in combination, mounting means for mounting the temperature measuring components; several wheels being suitable for contacting the surface to be measured, said wheels being free to rotate about axles which are attached to one end surface of said mounting means; several strips of non-conductive material privotally and separately secured within said mounting means; said temperature measuring components including metal ribbons, which are dissimilar in the manner that at least one of said ribbons is electrically positive with respect to the surface and at least one of the other ribbons is electrically negative with respect to said surface, mounted with securing means adjacent one end of each strip of non-conductive material, provided that the metal ribbons are all placed in the same direction away from the pivot points; tension spring means connected adjacent the ends of the non-conductive strips opposite to the ends supporting said metal ribbons, the ends of said spring means not connected to said non-conductive strips being secured to said mounting means; said metal ribbons projecting below the plane of the bottom of said wheels when said spring means are in a relaxed position; and lead wires connected to the securing means for each metal ribbon, said wires running from said securing means to temperature indicating instruments.

Claim 2

An apparatus for measuring the temperature along the length of a surface comprising, in combination, mounting means for mounting the temperature measuring components; several wheels being suitable for contacting the surface to be measured, said wheels being free to rotate about axles which are attached to one end surface of said mounting means; several strips of non-conductive material privotally and separately secured within said mounting means; said temperature measuring components including metal ribbons, which are dissimilar in the manner that at least one of said ribbons is electrically positive with respect to the surface and at least one of the other ribbons is electrically negative with respect to said surface, mounted with securing means adjacent one end of each strip of non-conductive material, provided that the metal ribbons are all placed in the same direction away from the pivot points; tension spring means connected adjacent the ends of the non-conductive strips opposite to the ends supporting said metal ribbons, the ends of said spring means not connected to said non-conductive strips being secured to said mounting means; said metal ribbons projecting below the plane of the bottom of said wheels when said spring means are in a relaxed position; and lead wires connected to the securing means for each metal ribbon, said wires running from said securing means to temperature indicating instruments.

Claim 9

An apparatus for measuring the temperature along the length of a continuously moving extrusion surface during the extrusion process comprising, in combination, extrusion means for extruding an electrically conductive extrusion material, said extrusion means including a die having an orifice, said die having at least one outlet end through which the extrusion material flows to form an extrusion; mounting means for mounting the temperature measuring components which measure the surface temperature of said extruded material during the extrusion process; several wheels being suitable for contacting the surface to be measured, said wheels being free to rotate about axles which are attached to one end surface of said mounting means during the extrusion process; several strips of non-conductive material pivotally and separately secured within said mounting means; said temperature measuring components including metal ribbons, which are dissimilar in the manner that at least one of said ribbons is electrically positive with respect to the surface and at least one of the other ribbons is electrically negative with respect to said surface, mounted with securing means adjacent one end of each strip of non-conductive material, provided that the metal ribbons are all placed in the same direction away from the pivot points, said metal ribbons contacting said extruded material to form an electrical connection; tension spring means connected adjacent the ends of the non-conductive strips opposite to the ends supporting said metal ribbons, the ends of said spring means not connected to said non-conductive strips being secured to said mounting means; said metal ribbons projecting below the plane of the bottom of said wheels when said spring means are in a relaxed position; and lead wires connected to the securing means for each metal ribbon, said wires running from said securing means to temperature indicating instruments; the electrical junction formed by the metal ribbons contacting the electrically conductive extrusion material generating an electromotive force through said lead wires to operate said temperature indicating instruments.

Claim 10

An apparatus for measuring the temperature along the length of a continuously moving extrusion surface during the extrusion process comprising, in combination, extrusion means for extruding an electrically conductive extrusion material, said extrusion means including a die having an orifice, said die having at least one outlet end through which the extrusion material flows to form an extrusion; mounting means for mounting the temperature measuring components which measure the surface temperature of said extruded material during the extrusion process; several wheels being suitable for contacting the surface to be measured, said wheels being free to rotate about axles which are attached to one end surface of said mounting means during the extrusion process; several strips of non-conductive material pivotally and separately secured within said mounting means; said temperature measuring components including metal ribbons, which are dissimilar in the manner that at least one of said ribbons is electrically positive with respect to the surface and at least one of the other ribbons is electrically negative with respect to said surface, mounted with securing means adjacent one end of each strip of non-conductive material, provided that the metal ribbons are all placed in the same direction away from the pivot points, said metal ribbons contacting said extruded material to form an electrical connection; tension spring means connected adjacent the ends of the non-conductive strips opposite to the ends supporting said metal ribbons, the ends of said spring means not connected to said non-conductive strips being secured to said mounting means; said metal ribbons projecting below the plane of the bottom of said wheels when said spring means are in a relaxed position; and lead wires connected to the securing means for each metal ribbon, said wires running from said securing means to temperature indicating instruments; the electrical junction formed by the metal ribbons contacting the electrically conductive extrusion material generating an electromotive force through said lead wires to operate said temperature indicating instruments.

Claim 11

A method of determining the surface temperature along the length of an object comprising: A. providing a temperature measuring device comprising, in combination, mounting means for mounting the temperature measuring components; several wheels being suitable for contacting the surface to be measured, said wheels being free to rotate about axles which are attached to one end surface of said mounting means; several strips of non-conductive material pivotally secured within said mounting means; said temperature measuring components including metal ribbons, which are dissimilar in the manner that at least one of said ribbons is electrically positive with respect to the surface and at least one of the other ribbons is electrically negative with respect to said surface, mounted with securing means adjacent one end of each strip of non-conductive material, provided that the metal ribbons are all placed in the same direction away from the pivot points; tension spring means connected adjacent the ends of the non-conductive strips opposite to the ends supporting said metal ribbons, the ends of said spring means not connected to said non-conductive strips being secured to said mounting means; said metal ribbons projecting below the plane of the bottom of said wheels when said spring means are in a relaxed position; and lead wires connected to the securing means for each metal ribbon, said wires running from said securing means to temperature indicating instruments; B. placing said temperature measuring device against the surface to be measured so that the wheels contact said surface and said metal ribbons are forced upwards towards the mounting means, thus forcing said non-conductive material about the pivot points and placing said spring means in tension; C. moving said measuring device along the object surface using said wheels; and D. continuously monitoring said temperature indicated on said indicating instruments as the measuring device rolls along the surface.

Claim 12

A method of determining the surface temperature along the length of an object comprising: A. providing a temperature measuring device comprising, in combination, mounting means for mounting the temperature measuring components; several wheels being suitable for contacting the surface to be measured, said wheels being free to rotate about axles which are attached to one end surface of said mounting means; several strips of non-conductive material pivotally secured within said mounting means; said temperature measuring components including metal ribbons, which are dissimilar in the manner that at least one of said ribbons is electrically positive with respect to the surface and at least one of the other ribbons is electrically negative with respect to said surface, mounted with securing means adjacent one end of each strip of non-conductive material, provided that the metal ribbons are all placed in the same direction away from the pivot points; tension spring means connected adjacent the ends of the non-conductive strips opposite to the ends supporting said metal ribbons, the ends of said spring means not connected to said non-conductive strips being secured to said mounting means; said metal ribbons projecting below the plane of the bottom of said wheels when said spring means are in a relaxed position; and lead wires connected to the securing means for each metal ribbon, said wires running from said securing means to temperature indicating instruments; B. placing said temperature measuring device against the surface to be measured so that the wheels contact said surface and said metal ribbons are forced upwards towards the mounting means, thus forcing said non-conductive material about the pivot points and placing said spring means in tension; C. moving said measuring device along the object surface using said wheels; and D. continuously monitoring said temperature indicated on said indicating instruments as the measuring device rolls along the surface.