US4558959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contact thermocouple assembly
Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corp
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Filing: 1984-10-25
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Granted: 1985-12-17
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Expires: 2004-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A thermocouple, for measuring the temperature of flat strip moving horizontally through a furnace, extends vertically into the furnace and can move vertically within a fixed guide assembly. The ceramic insulated thermocouple element, inside an outer thermocouple member, can move within the outer thermocouple member, in response to the urging of a spring, and has a contact pad composed of a metal with a melting point such that a layer of molten metal forms on the contact pad from frictional heat from the moving strip. In a second embodiment, for measuring vertically moving strip, with the thermocouple assembly horizontally positioned, the thermocouple assembly includes a second spring to urge the thermocouple assembly horizontally into the furnace against the moving strip.
Inventors
- 👤 Dean G. Thomas
- 👤 Robert J. Kopnicky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K1/00; G01K1/14; G01K1/146; G01K1/16; G01K13/00; G01K13/04; G01K13/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A thermocouple assembly for contacting the surface of a flat strip moving horizontally through a furnace, to measure the temperature of the strip comprising: (1) entry port means in a furnace wall, for providing access to the furnace interior; (2) an elongated, fixed thermocouple guide assembly fastened to the entry port means and extending vertically downwardly into the furnace interior; (3) an elongated thermocouple movable within the guide assembly comprising: (a) an elongated tubular member, having a front end and a back end, slidable within the guide assembly; (b) an elongated insulator member slidable within the tubular member, and having a projecting end extending beyond the front end of the tubular member; (c) a plug adapter slidable within the back end of the tubular member and contacting the insulator member; (d) a pair of spaced-apart thermocouple wires extending through the insulator member and (i) terminating in a thermocouple junction in a contact pad at the projecting end of the insulator member and (ii) connected to the plug adapter; (e) spring means for biasing the tubular member and insulator member in opposite directions with respect to each other; and (f) the contact pad of (d)(i) being composed of a metal that has a melting point sufficiently close to the temperature range to be measured to cause a layer of molten metal to form on such contact pad from frictional heat between the moving strip and the contact pad.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
A thermocouple assembly for contacting the surface of a flat strip moving horizontally through a furnace, to measure the temperature of the strip comprising: (1) entry port means in a furnace wall, for providing access to the furnace interior; (2) an elongated, fixed thermocouple guide assembly fastened to the entry port means and extending vertically downwardly into the furnace interior; (3) an elongated thermocouple movable within the guide assembly comprising: (a) an elongated tubular member, having a front end and a back end, slidable within the guide assembly; (b) an elongated insulator member slidable within the tubular member, and having a projecting end extending beyond the front end of the tubular member; (c) a plug adapter slidable within the back end of the tubular member and contacting the insulator member; (d) a pair of spaced-apart thermocouple wires extending through the insulator member and (i) terminating in a thermocouple junction in a contact pad at the projecting end of the insulator member and (ii) connected to the plug adapter; (e) spring means for biasing the tubular member and insulator member in opposite directions with respect to each other; and (f) the contact pad of (d)(i) being composed of a metal that has a melting point sufficiently close to the temperature range to be measured to cause a layer of molten metal to form on such contact pad from frictional heat between the moving strip and the contact pad.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1 further including means for selectively opening and closing said entry port means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 2 further including means for introducing into said entry port means a gas of the same composition as a gas from within the furnace.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
254 words
A thermocouple assembly for contacting the surface of a flat strip moving vertically through a furnace to measure the temperature of the strip comprising: (1) entry port means in a furnace wall, for providing access to the furnace interior; (2) an elongated, fixed thermocouple guide assembly fastened to the entry port means and extending horizontally into the furnace interior; (3) an elongated thermocouple movable within the guide assembly comprising: (a) an elongated tubular member, having a front end and a back end, slidable within the guide assembly; (b) an elongated insulator member slidable within the tubular member, and having a projecting end extending beyond the front end of the tubular member; (c) a plug adapter slidable within the back end of the tubular member and contacting the insulator member; (d) a pair of spaced-apart thermocouple wires extending through the insulator member and (i) terminating in a thermocouple junction in a contact pad at the projecting end of the insulator member and (ii) connected to the plug adapter; (e) first spring means for biasing the tubular member and insulator member in opposite directions with respect to each other; (f) second spring means for biasing the tubular member horizontally in the guide assembly toward the strip; and (g) the contact pad of (d)(i) being composed of a metal that has a melting point sufficiently close to the temperature range to be measured to cause a layer of molten metal to form on such contact pad from frictional heat between the moving strip and the contact pad.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
254 words
A thermocouple assembly for contacting the surface of a flat strip moving vertically through a furnace to measure the temperature of the strip comprising: (1) entry port means in a furnace wall, for providing access to the furnace interior; (2) an elongated, fixed thermocouple guide assembly fastened to the entry port means and extending horizontally into the furnace interior; (3) an elongated thermocouple movable within the guide assembly comprising: (a) an elongated tubular member, having a front end and a back end, slidable within the guide assembly; (b) an elongated insulator member slidable within the tubular member, and having a projecting end extending beyond the front end of the tubular member; (c) a plug adapter slidable within the back end of the tubular member and contacting the insulator member; (d) a pair of spaced-apart thermocouple wires extending through the insulator member and (i) terminating in a thermocouple junction in a contact pad at the projecting end of the insulator member and (ii) connected to the plug adapter; (e) first spring means for biasing the tubular member and insulator member in opposite directions with respect to each other; (f) second spring means for biasing the tubular member horizontally in the guide assembly toward the strip; and (g) the contact pad of (d)(i) being composed of a metal that has a melting point sufficiently close to the temperature range to be measured to cause a layer of molten metal to form on such contact pad from frictional heat between the moving strip and the contact pad.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 4 further including means for selectively opening and closing said entry port means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention of claim 5 further including means for introducing into said entry port means a gas of the same composition as a gas from within the furnace.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-16 | 1989-06-17 | 1989-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-16 | 1993-06-17 | 1993-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-16 | 1997-06-17 | 1997-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |