Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A heat sensitive cable capable of generating a measurable and predictable voltage over a temperature range of between approximately -20° F. and 1650° F., comprising: an elongated substantially temperature resistant and moisture impervious tubular metallic sheath; a pair of elongated thermoelectrically dissimilar conductor means positioned within said sheath, said conductor means being disposed in spaced and substantially parallel relation to each other and said sheath, said conductor means extending through at least one end of said metallic sheath for measuring said voltage; and means for electrically insulating said conductor means from each other and said sheath and maintaining said conductor means in spaced and substantially parallel relation to each other and said sheath, said insulation means having an insulation resistance variable with temperature over said temperature range between approximately 100 and 50,000 ohms and being such that said measurable and predictable voltage is generated in said temperature range between said conductor means, said measurable and predictable voltage being indicative of temperature and being generated continuously in said temperature range in a passive, self-generating manner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A heat sensitive cable capable of generating a measurable and predictable voltage over a temperature range of between approximately -20° F. and 1650° F., comprising: an elongated substantially temperature resistant and moisture impervious tubular metallic sheath; a pair of elongated thermoelectrically dissimilar conductor means positioned within said sheath, said conductor means being disposed in spaced and substantially parallel relation to each other and said sheath, said conductor means extending through at least one end of said metallic sheath for measuring said voltage; and means for electrically insulating said conductor means from each other and said sheath and maintaining said conductor means in spaced and substantially parallel relation to each other and said sheath, said insulation means having an insulation resistance variable with temperature over said temperature range between approximately 100 and 50,000 ohms and being such that said measurable and predictable voltage is generated in said temperature range between said conductor means, said measurable and predictable voltage being indicative of temperature and being generated continuously in said temperature range in a passive, self-generating manner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cable as defined by claim 1 wherein said insulation material comprises manganese dioxide heated in a vacuum furnace at a temperature of approximately 1650° F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cable as defined by claim 2 wherein said manganese dioxide is heated in said vacuum furnace at said temperature for a period of time from between approximately 3 and 10 minutes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cable as defined by claim 3 wherein said manganese dioxide is heated with said vacuum furnace drawn to a vacuum of approximately 500 microns of mercury or less.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cable as defined by claim 3 wherein said manganese dioxide is preheated in said vacuum furnace for a period of time of approximately 15 minutes at a temperature of approximately 1250° F. prior to raising the temperature to 1650° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cable as defined by claim 1 wherein said insulation material has an insulation resistance of between approximately 3,000 and 6,000 ohms at approximately 72° F. when compacted to approximately 70% of theoretical density within said tubular sheath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cable as defined by claim 1 wherein one of said conductor means is a wire of nickel/chrome alloy and the other of said conductor means is a wire of copper/nickel alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The cable as defined by claim 7 wherein said wire of nickel/chrome alloy comprises approximately 90% nickel and 10% chrome and said wire of copper/nickel alloy comprises approximately 55% copper and 45% nickel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cable as defined by claim 1 wherein said sheath is formed of 304 stainless steel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cable as defined by claim 1 wherein said sheath is formed of nickel/chrome/iron alloy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cable as defined by claim 10 wherein said nickel/chrome/iron alloy comprises approximately 75% nickel, 15% chrome and 10% iron.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The heat sensitive cable as defined by claim 1 wherein said measurable voltage is indicative of the temperature existing along the entire length of said cable if there are equal temperatures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The heat sensitive cable as defined by claim 1 wherein said measurable voltage is indicative of the temperature existing at the hottest point along the entire length of said cable if there are unequal temperatures.