Patent US5808233A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5808233A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Amorphous-crystalline thermocouple and methods of its manufacture
Assignee: Temple University
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Filing: 1996-07-15
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2016-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A thermocouple formed of a length of a single composition having first solid phase section adjoining a second solid phase section, and a transition therebetween. One method of making such thermocouples is to raise the temperature of the first solid phase section above its transformation temperature while maintaining the temperature of a second adjoining solid phase section of the length of material below its transformation temperature. A second method includes rapidly solidifying a molten material by contacting it with a moving substrate formed of adjoining regions of differing thermal conductivity. A third method includes rapidly solidifying a molten material by alternatingly contacting it with a cooling fluid and air. A fourth method includes transforming a section of a length of material in a first solid to a second solid phase by mechanical means.
Inventors
- 👤 Mikhail V. Finkel
- 👤 Jim J. S. Chen
- 👤 Antonio M. Goncalves
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:24
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21D; C21D1/00; C21D1/34; G; G01; G01K; G01K7/00; G01K7/02; C21D2201/00; C21D2221/00; C21D2251/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A thermocouple comprising: a length of material of a single chemical composition, said length having two sections; a first solid phase section; and a second solid phase section; said sections adjoining one another to form a continuous transition, wherein said transition is capable of experiencing a Seebeck Effect; and wherein said first solid phase is amorphous and said second solid phase is crystalline.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
A thermocouple comprising: a length of material of a single chemical composition, said length having two sections; a first solid phase section; and a second solid phase section; said sections adjoining one another to form a continuous transition, wherein said transition is capable of experiencing a Seebeck Effect; and wherein said first solid phase is amorphous and said second solid phase is crystalline.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The thermocouple according to claim 1, wherein said length of material has a minimum thickness or diameter in the range about 1 to 100 micrometers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The thermocouple according to claim 1, wherein said composition is selected from the group consisting of cobalt-based, iron-base, and nickel-based alloys.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermocouple according to claim 1, wherein said thermocouple further comprises a protective coating surrounding said thermocouple.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The thermocouple according to claim 4, wherein said protective coating is chemically resistant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of measuring temperature comprising measuring a potential difference across the thermocouple of claim 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
A thermocouple formed from a length of material of a single chemical composition, said thermocouple comprising a first solid phase section, and a second solid phase section and a continuous transition therebetween produced in accordance with the following method supplying a length of said material which is in a first solid phase; raising the temperature of a first section of said length of material above a transformation temperature of said composition for a time sufficient to transform said composition to a second solid phase while maintaining the temperature of a second section of said length of material adjoining said first section below said transformation temperature, wherein said transition is capable of experiencing a Seebeck Effect, and said first solid phase is amorphous and said second solid phase is crystalline.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A thermocouple formed from a length of material of a single chemical composition, said thermocouple comprising a first solid phase section, and a second solid phase section and a continuous transition therebetween produced in accordance with the following method supplying a length of said material which is in a first solid phase; raising the temperature of a first section of said length of material above a transformation temperature of said composition for a time sufficient to transform said composition to a second solid phase while maintaining the temperature of a second section of said length of material adjoining said first section below said transformation temperature, wherein said transition is capable of experiencing a Seebeck Effect, and said first solid phase is amorphous and said second solid phase is crystalline.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
A thermocouple formed from a single chemical composition, said thermocouple comprising a first solid phase section, a second solid phase section and a continuous transition therebetween produced in accordance with the following method continuously causing a stream of a molten material of a single composition to contact a moving substrate, said substrate comprising adjoining regions of first and second thermal conductivities; and cooling and solidifying a length of said molten stream by contact with said moving substrate, said cooling occurring at different rates in said first and second thermal conductivity regions to form at least a first portion of said composition in a first solid phase on said first thermal conductivity region and at least one second portion of said composition in a second solid phase on said second thermal conductivity region and at least one continuous transition therebetween, wherein said transition is capable of experiencing a Seebeck Effect, and wherein said first solid phase is amorphous and said second solid phase is crystalline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
164 words
A thermocouple formed from a single chemical composition, said thermocouple comprising a first solid phase section, a second solid phase section and a continuous transition therebetween produced in accordance with the following method continuously causing a stream of a molten material of a single composition to contact a moving substrate, said substrate comprising adjoining regions of first and second thermal conductivities; and cooling and solidifying a length of said molten stream by contact with said moving substrate, said cooling occurring at different rates in said first and second thermal conductivity regions to form at least a first portion of said composition in a first solid phase on said first thermal conductivity region and at least one second portion of said composition in a second solid phase on said second thermal conductivity region and at least one continuous transition therebetween, wherein said transition is capable of experiencing a Seebeck Effect, and wherein said first solid phase is amorphous and said second solid phase is crystalline.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
157 words
A thermocouple formed from a single chemical composition, said thermocouple comprising a first solid phase section, a second solid phase section and a continuous transition therebetween produced in accordance with the following method continuously causing a stream of a molten material of a single composition alternately to contact at least one fluid stream and ambient air surrounding said fluid stream, cooling and solidifying portions of a length of molten material at different rates by contact with said fluid stream and air to form at least one first portion of a first solid phase when said molten material is in contact with said fluid stream and at least one second portion of a second solid phase when said molten material is in contact with said air and at least one continuous transition therebetween, wherein said transition is capable of experiencing a Seebeck Effect, and wherein said first solid phase is amorphous and said second solid phase is crystalline.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
A thermocouple formed from a single chemical composition, said thermocouple comprising a first solid phase section, a second solid phase section and a continuous transition therebetween produced in accordance with the following method continuously causing a stream of a molten material of a single composition alternately to contact at least one fluid stream and ambient air surrounding said fluid stream, cooling and solidifying portions of a length of molten material at different rates by contact with said fluid stream and air to form at least one first portion of a first solid phase when said molten material is in contact with said fluid stream and at least one second portion of a second solid phase when said molten material is in contact with said air and at least one continuous transition therebetween, wherein said transition is capable of experiencing a Seebeck Effect, and wherein said first solid phase is amorphous and said second solid phase is crystalline.
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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) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |