Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A method for assembling an instrument having at least one receiving cavity to receive an insertion element, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a guide cavity in the instrument; (b) providing a generally rigid stalk having a tip and an extension end and at least one longitudinal bore of sufficient diameter to permit a lead to be threaded therethrough; (c) forming an opening on the surface of the stalk at a location spaced sufficiently from the tip to form a barrier wall between the opening and the tip, and to a depth sufficient to place the opening in communication with at least one of the longitudinal bores so as to allow passage of lead wires therethrough while leaving a sufficient portion of the stalk to support the barrier wall during assembly and subsequent operation of the instrument; (d) threading the lead through at least one longitudinal bore in the stock and the opening to expose the terminus of the lead by extending the terminus from the opening; (e) attaching the terminus of the lead to the insertion element to form a junction between the terminus of the lead and the insertion element; (f) inserting the insertion element into the receiving cavity by bringing the tip of the stalk into the guide cavity while initially maintaining the position of the insertion element with respect to the stalk; and (g) thereafter securing the insertion element in the receiving cavity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
239 words
A method for assembling an instrument having at least one receiving cavity to receive an insertion element, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a guide cavity in the instrument; (b) providing a generally rigid stalk having a tip and an extension end and at least one longitudinal bore of sufficient diameter to permit a lead to be threaded therethrough; (c) forming an opening on the surface of the stalk at a location spaced sufficiently from the tip to form a barrier wall between the opening and the tip, and to a depth sufficient to place the opening in communication with at least one of the longitudinal bores so as to allow passage of lead wires therethrough while leaving a sufficient portion of the stalk to support the barrier wall during assembly and subsequent operation of the instrument; (d) threading the lead through at least one longitudinal bore in the stock and the opening to expose the terminus of the lead by extending the terminus from the opening; (e) attaching the terminus of the lead to the insertion element to form a junction between the terminus of the lead and the insertion element; (f) inserting the insertion element into the receiving cavity by bringing the tip of the stalk into the guide cavity while initially maintaining the position of the insertion element with respect to the stalk; and (g) thereafter securing the insertion element in the receiving cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of locating a portion of the insertion element at a point behind the tip of the stalk and in a position generally parallel to the stalk, to facilitate alignment of the stalk with the receiving cavity and said step occurring after the step of attaching the terminus of the lead to the insertion element.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
387 words
A method for assembling a resistance thermal detector having at least one receiving cavity in a tip casing to receive a sensing element, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a guide cavity of predetermined length in the tip casing, said guide cavity being located so as to open in the same direction as the receiving cavity; (b) providing a generally rigid stalk having a tip and an extension end and at least one longitudinal bore of sufficient diameter to permit a lead to be threaded therethrough; (c) forming an opening on the surface of the stalk at a location spaced sufficiently from the tip such that the distance between the tip of the stalk and the beginning of the opening is at least as long as the length of the guide cavity and thereby forms a barrier wall between the opening and the tip, said opening being to a depth sufficient to place the opening in communication with at least one of the longitudinal bores while leaving a sufficient portion of the stalk to support the barrier wall during assembly and subsequent operation of the resistance thermal detector; (d) threading a lead through at least one longitudinal bore in the stock and the opening to expose the terminus of the lead by extending the terminus of the lead from the opening; (e) attaching the terminus of the lead to a sensing element lead attached to the sensing element to form a junction between the terminus of the lead and the sensing element lead, the maximum distance between the surface of the opening and the sensing element being minimized to prevent inadvertent contact with the guide cavity walls; (f) locating a portion of the sensing element at a point behind the tip of the stalk and in a position generally parallel to the stalk to thereby facilitate insertion of the sensing element into the receiving cavity; (g) inserting the sensing element into the receiving cavity by bringing the tip of the stalk into the guide cavity while initially maintaining the position of the sensing element with respect to the stalk to thereby protect the junction from stresses caused by flexing of the lead and sensor wires and from inadvertent contact with the guide cavity walls; and (h) thereafter securing the sensing element in the receiving cavity.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
387 words
A method for assembling a resistance thermal detector having at least one receiving cavity in a tip casing to receive a sensing element, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a guide cavity of predetermined length in the tip casing, said guide cavity being located so as to open in the same direction as the receiving cavity; (b) providing a generally rigid stalk having a tip and an extension end and at least one longitudinal bore of sufficient diameter to permit a lead to be threaded therethrough; (c) forming an opening on the surface of the stalk at a location spaced sufficiently from the tip such that the distance between the tip of the stalk and the beginning of the opening is at least as long as the length of the guide cavity and thereby forms a barrier wall between the opening and the tip, said opening being to a depth sufficient to place the opening in communication with at least one of the longitudinal bores while leaving a sufficient portion of the stalk to support the barrier wall during assembly and subsequent operation of the resistance thermal detector; (d) threading a lead through at least one longitudinal bore in the stock and the opening to expose the terminus of the lead by extending the terminus of the lead from the opening; (e) attaching the terminus of the lead to a sensing element lead attached to the sensing element to form a junction between the terminus of the lead and the sensing element lead, the maximum distance between the surface of the opening and the sensing element being minimized to prevent inadvertent contact with the guide cavity walls; (f) locating a portion of the sensing element at a point behind the tip of the stalk and in a position generally parallel to the stalk to thereby facilitate insertion of the sensing element into the receiving cavity; (g) inserting the sensing element into the receiving cavity by bringing the tip of the stalk into the guide cavity while initially maintaining the position of the sensing element with respect to the stalk to thereby protect the junction from stresses caused by flexing of the lead and sensor wires and from inadvertent contact with the guide cavity walls; and (h) thereafter securing the sensing element in the receiving cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the generally rigid stalk consists of a non-conductive material insulating the lead wires from the support casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the guide cavity has a generally frustoconical inner surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the tip of the stalk is inserted into the guide cavity using the guide cavity's frustoconical inner surface as a guide for centering the stalk in the guide cavity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of bringing the junction inside the opening in the stalk after the step of attaching the terminus of the lead to the sensing element lead.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of filling the receiving cavity with a displaceable support material prior to inserting the sensing element into the receiving cavity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of filling the guide cavity with a displaceable support material after inserting the sensing element into the receiving cavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the length of the portion of the sensing element located behind the tip of the stalk is greater than the depth of the receiving cavity.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
390 words
A method for assembling a resistance thermal detector having at least one receiving cavity in a tip casing to receive a sensing element, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a guide cavity in the tip casing, the guide cavity being spaced from the receiving cavity and having a generally frustoconical inner surface; (b) providing a generally rigid stalk having a tip at least partially matable with said guide cavity, an extension end and at least one longitudinal bore of sufficient diameter to permit a lead to be threaded therethrough; (c) forming an opening on the surface of the stalk at a location spaced sufficient from the tip to form a barrier wall between the opening and the tip, and to a depth sufficient to place the opening in communication with at least one of the longitudinal bores while leaving a sufficient portion of the stalk to support the barrier wall during assembly and subsequent operation of the resistance thermal detector; (d) threading a lead through at least one longitudinal bore in the stalk and the opening to expose a terminus of the lead by extending the terminus of the lead from the opening; (e) attaching the terminus of the lead to a sensing element lead attached to the sensing element to form a junction between the terminus of the lead and the sensing element lead; (f) bringing the junction inside the opening in the stalk while locating a portion, in length generally greater than or equal to the depth of the guide cavity, of the sensing element at a point behind the tip of the stalk and in a position generally parallel to the stalk; (g) filling the receiving cavity with a displaceable support material; (h) inserting the sensing element into the receiving cavity by bringing the tip of the stalk into the guide cavity using the frustoconical inner surface as a guide for centering the stalk in the guide cavity while initially maintaining the position of the sensing element with respect to the stalk to thereby protect the junction from stresses caused by flexing of the lead and sensor wires and from inadvertent contact with the guide cavity walls; (i) filling the guide cavity with a displaceable support material; and (j) thereafter securing the sensing element in the receiving cavity and the stalk in the guide cavity.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
390 words
A method for assembling a resistance thermal detector having at least one receiving cavity in a tip casing to receive a sensing element, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a guide cavity in the tip casing, the guide cavity being spaced from the receiving cavity and having a generally frustoconical inner surface; (b) providing a generally rigid stalk having a tip at least partially matable with said guide cavity, an extension end and at least one longitudinal bore of sufficient diameter to permit a lead to be threaded therethrough; (c) forming an opening on the surface of the stalk at a location spaced sufficient from the tip to form a barrier wall between the opening and the tip, and to a depth sufficient to place the opening in communication with at least one of the longitudinal bores while leaving a sufficient portion of the stalk to support the barrier wall during assembly and subsequent operation of the resistance thermal detector; (d) threading a lead through at least one longitudinal bore in the stalk and the opening to expose a terminus of the lead by extending the terminus of the lead from the opening; (e) attaching the terminus of the lead to a sensing element lead attached to the sensing element to form a junction between the terminus of the lead and the sensing element lead; (f) bringing the junction inside the opening in the stalk while locating a portion, in length generally greater than or equal to the depth of the guide cavity, of the sensing element at a point behind the tip of the stalk and in a position generally parallel to the stalk; (g) filling the receiving cavity with a displaceable support material; (h) inserting the sensing element into the receiving cavity by bringing the tip of the stalk into the guide cavity using the frustoconical inner surface as a guide for centering the stalk in the guide cavity while initially maintaining the position of the sensing element with respect to the stalk to thereby protect the junction from stresses caused by flexing of the lead and sensor wires and from inadvertent contact with the guide cavity walls; (i) filling the guide cavity with a displaceable support material; and (j) thereafter securing the sensing element in the receiving cavity and the stalk in the guide cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the steps filling the receiving cavity and the guide cavity each with a displaceable support material comprises the step of filling each with a liquid-like adhesive material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the generally rigid stalk is constructed of non-conductive material insulating the lead wires from the support casing.