Measurement of thermal conditions

Claim 2

Apparatus for measurement of radiation flux within a heated chamber, said apparatus comprising a transducer having: a first thin plate having a heat energy absorbent surface, a second thin plate having a heat energy reflective surface, a thin insulating layer, said thin insulating layer having said first and second plates mounted in adjacency thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, a heat sink member, said heat sink member having said thin insulating layer mounted thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, whereby said first and second plates are in thermal contact with said heat sink member by way of the surfaces thereof opposite said absorbent and reflective surfaces and said thin insulating layer, a reflective casing enclosing said heat sink member except in the region of said thin insulating layer, and sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said first and said second plates as a measure of the radiation flux incident on said plates, said sensor means comprising two thermocouple junctions, said junctions being attached to said first and said second plates respectively in a thermally conductive relationship with said first and second plates.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an output connector on said casing, leads connecting said thermocouple junctions to said connector, and measurement display equipment, whereby said measurements can be remotely displayed on said equipment by connection thereof to said transducer by way of said connector.

Claim 4

Apparatus for measurement of radiation flux within a heated chamber, said apparatus comprising a transducer having: a first thin plate having a heat energy absorbent surface, a second thin plate having a heat energy reflective surface, a thin insulating layer, said thin insulating layer having said first and second plates mounted in adjacency thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, a heat sink member, said heat sink member having said thin insulting layer mounted thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, whereby said first and second plates are in thermal contact with said heat sink member by way of the surfaces thereof opposite said absorbent and reflective surfaces and said thin insulating layer, a reflective casing enclosing said heat sink member except in the region of said thin insulating layer, sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said first and second plates as a measure of the radiation flux incident on said plates, said sensor means comprising two thermocouple junctions attached to said first and second plates respectively, a first thermocouple junction mounted externally of said reflective casing, a second thermocouple junction, and means maintaining said second thermocouple junction at a reference temperature, said first and second thermocouple junctions cooperating to measure temperature ambient to said casing.

Claim 5

Apparatus for measurement of radiation flux within a heated chamber, said apparatus comprising a transducer having: a first thin plate having a heat energy absorbent surface, a second thin plate having a heat energy reflective surface, a thin insulating layer, said thin insulating layer having said first and second plates mounted in adjacency thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, a heat sink member, said heat sink member having said thin insulting layer mounted thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, whereby said first and second plates are in thermal contact with said heat sink member by way of the surfaces thereof opposite said absorbent and reflective surfaces and said thin insulating layer, a reflective casing enclosing said heat sink member except in the region of said thin insulating layer, sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said first and second plates as a measure of the radiation flux incident on said plates, said sensor means comprising two thermocouple junctions attached to said first and second plates respectively, a first thermocouple junction mounted externally of said reflective casing, a second thermocouple junction, and means maintaining said second thermocouple junction at a reference temperature, said first and second thermocouple junctions cooperating to measure temperature ambient to said casing.

Claim 6

Apparatus for measurement of radiation flux within a heated chamber, said apparatus comprising a transducer having: a first thin plate having a heat energy absorbent surface, a second thin plate having a heat energy reflective surface, a thin insulating layer, said thin insulating layer having said first and second plates mounted in adjacency thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, a heat sink member, said heat sink member having said thin insulating layer mounted thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, whereby said first and second plates are in thermal contact with said heat sink member by way of the surfaces thereof opposite said absorbent and reflective surfaces and said thin insulting layer, sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said first and second plates as a measure of the radiation flux incident on said plates, said sensor means comprising first and second thermocouple junctions attached to said first and second plates respectively, a third thermocouple junction located on said heat sink member, a fourth thermocouple junction, and means for maintaining said fourth thermocouple junction at a reference temperature, said third and fourth thermocouple junctions cooperating to measure the temperature of said heat sink member.

Claim 7

Apparatus for measurement of radiation flux within a heated chamber, said apparatus comprising a transducer having: a first thin plate having a heat energy absorbent surface, a second thin plate having a heat energy reflective surface, a thin insulating layer, said thin insulating layer having said first and second plates mounted in adjacency thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, a heat sink member, said heat sink member having said thin insulating layer mounted thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, whereby said first and second plates are in thermal contact with said heat sink member by way of the surfaces thereof opposite said absorbent and reflective surfaces and said thin insulting layer, sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said first and second plates as a measure of the radiation flux incident on said plates, said sensor means comprising first and second thermocouple junctions attached to said first and second plates respectively, a third thermocouple junction located on said heat sink member, a fourth thermocouple junction, and means for maintaining said fourth thermocouple junction at a reference temperature, said third and fourth thermocouple junctions cooperating to measure the temperature of said heat sink member.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a reflective casing enclosing said heat sink member except in the region of said thin insulating layer.

Claim 9

Apparatus for measurement of radiation flux within a heated chamber, said apparatus comprising a transducer having: a first thin plate having a heat energy absorbent surface, a second thin plate having a heat energy reflective surface, a thin insulating layer, said thin insulating layer having said first and second plates mounted in adjacency thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, a heat sink member, said heat sink member comprising a first metal block and a second metal block, wherein said first metal block is smaller in size than said second metal block, said first metal block is secured to said second metal block, said first metal block having said thin insulating layer mounted thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, whereby said first and second plates are in thermal contact with said heat sink member by way of the surfaces thereof opposite said absorbent and reflective surfaces and said thin insulating layer, a reflective metal casing receiving said first and second metal blocks therein, an aperture in said casing exposing said absorbent and reflective surfaces, thermal insulating material within said casing around said second metal block, and sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said first and second plates as a measure of the radiation flux incident on said plates, said sensor means comprising first and second thermocouple junctions attached to said first and second plates respectively.

Claim 10

Apparatus for measurement of radiation flux within a heated chamber, said apparatus comprising a transducer having: a first thin plate having a heat energy absorbent surface, a second thin plate having a heat energy reflective surface, a thin insulating layer, said thin insulating layer having said first and second plates mounted in adjacency thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, a heat sink member, said heat sink member comprising a first metal block and a second metal block, wherein said first metal block is smaller in size than said second metal block, said first metal block is secured to said second metal block, said first metal block having said thin insulating layer mounted thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, whereby said first and second plates are in thermal contact with said heat sink member by way of the surfaces thereof opposite said absorbent and reflective surfaces and said thin insulating layer, a reflective metal casing receiving said first and second metal blocks therein, an aperture in said casing exposing said absorbent and reflective surfaces, thermal insulating material within said casing around said second metal block, and sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said first and second plates as a measure of the radiation flux incident on said plates, said sensor means comprising first and second thermocouple junctions attached to said first and second plates respectively.

Claim 11

Apparatus for measurement of radiation flux within a heated chamber, said apparatus comprising a transducer having: a first thin plate having a heat energy absorbent surface, a second thin plate having a heat energy reflective surface, a thin insulating layer, said thin insulating layer having said first and second plates mounted in adjacency thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, a heat sink member, said heat sink member having said thin insulating layer mounted thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, whereby said first and second plates are in thermal contact with said heat sink member by way of the surfaces thereof opposite said absorbent and reflective surfaces and said thin insulting layer, a reflective casing enclosing said heat sink member except in the region of said thin insulating layer, and sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said first and second plates as a measure of the radiation flux incident on said first and second plates, said sensor means comprising first and second sensor elements attached to said first and second plates respectively.

Claim 12

Apparatus for measurement of radiation flux within a heated chamber, said apparatus comprising a transducer having: a first thin plate having a heat energy absorbent surface, a second thin plate having a heat energy reflective surface, a thin insulating layer, said thin insulating layer having said first and second plates mounted in adjacency thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, a heat sink member, said heat sink member having said thin insulating layer mounted thereon with said absorbent and reflective surfaces exposed, whereby said first and second plates are in thermal contact with said heat sink member by way of the surfaces thereof opposite said absorbent and reflective surfaces and said thin insulting layer, a reflective casing enclosing said heat sink member except in the region of said thin insulating layer, and sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said first and second plates as a measure of the radiation flux incident on said first and second plates, said sensor means comprising first and second sensor elements attached to said first and second plates respectively.

Claim 13

The apparatus of the claim 7 further comprising additional sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said first plate and said heat sink member as a measure of total heat flux through said first plate, said additional sensor means comprising third and fourth sensor elements attached to said first plate and said heat sink member respectively.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising heat insulating material surrounding said heat sink member except in the region of said thin insulating layer.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising, an output connector on said casing, leads connecting said sensor elements to said connector, and measurement display equipment, whereby said measured temperature difference can be remotely displayed on said display equipment by connection thereof to said transducer by way of said connector.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising additional sensor means for measuring temperature ambient to said casing, said further sensor means comprising a third sensor element mounted at the exterior of said casing, a fourth sensor element, and means for maintaining said fourth sensor element at a reference temperature.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising additional sensor means for measuring the temperature of said heat sink member, said additional sensor means comprising a third sensor element located on said heat sink member, a fourth sensor element and means for maintaining said fourth sensor element at a reference temperature.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said heat sink member comprises a first metal block having said thin insulating layer mounted to one face thereof and a second metal block having said first metal block secured thereto, said first metal block is smaller in size than said second metal block.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising thermal insulating material within said casing around said second metal block.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a thin protective layer over said absorbent and reflective surfaces.

Claim 21

Apparatus for measurement of heat flux within a heated chamber, said apparatus comprising a transducer having: a thin plate having a heat energy absorbent surface, a thin insulating layer, said thin insulating layer having said plate mounted thereon with said absorbent surface exposed, a heat sink member, said heat sink member having said thin insulating layer mounted thereon with said absorbent surface of said plate exposed, whereby said plate is in thermal contact with said heat sink member by way of the surface thereof opposite said absorbent surface and said thin insulating layer, a reflective casing enclosing said heat sink member except in the region of said thin insulting layer, and sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said plate and said heat sink member as a measure of heat flux at said absorbent surface, said sensor means comprising first and second sensor elements attached to said plate and said heat sink member respectively.

Claim 22

Apparatus for measurement of heat flux within a heated chamber, said apparatus comprising a transducer having: a thin plate having a heat energy absorbent surface, a thin insulating layer, said thin insulating layer having said plate mounted thereon with said absorbent surface exposed, a heat sink member, said heat sink member having said thin insulating layer mounted thereon with said absorbent surface of said plate exposed, whereby said plate is in thermal contact with said heat sink member by way of the surface thereof opposite said absorbent surface and said thin insulating layer, a reflective casing enclosing said heat sink member except in the region of said thin insulting layer, and sensor means adapted to measure a temperature difference between said plate and said heat sink member as a measure of heat flux at said absorbent surface, said sensor means comprising first and second sensor elements attached to said plate and said heat sink member respectively.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said casing comprises a rectangular aluminum casing exposing said absorbent plate surface at a major face thereof.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising first and second additional sensor means adapted to measure the temperature of said heat sink member and the ambient temperature adjacent said casing, said first additional sensor means comprising a third sensor element attached to said heat sink member, a fourth sensor element, and means for maintaining said fourth sensor element at a reference temperature, and said second additional sensor means comprising a fifth sensor element externally mounted on said casing, a sixth sensor element maintained at a reference temperature by said reference temperature maintaining means.

Claim 27

The method of claim 19 wherein said transducer has a second thin plate mounted on said insulating layer, said second thin plate having a heat reflective surface exposed adjacent said absorbent surface, and a third sensor element attached to said second plate, said method further comprising effecting measurements of the temperature difference between said first thin plate and said second thin plate by means of said first and third sensor elements as a measure of radiation flux within said chamber.