Cryogenic linear temperature sensor

Claim 2

A cryogenic linear temperature sensor comprising: a manganin element; and a substantially pure nickel element, said manganin element having a room temperature resistance which is of the order of five times the room temperature resistance of said nickel element, and said manganin and nickel elements being connected in a series combination providing an electrical resistance which exhibits substantially equal increments of resistance change for equal increments of temperature change over a temperature range between room temperature of approximately +75* F. and a cryogenic temperature below at least -297* F.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said manganin element is made of a nominal composition including, by weight, of the order of 9 to 13 percent manganese, 3 to 5 percent nickel and 82 to 88 percent copper, and said nickel element is made of a nominal composition including, by weight, of the order of 99 to nearly 100 percent pure nickel.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said temperature sensor is operatively connected in one arm of a bridge circuit, said bridge circuit including a readout device and means for calibrating said readout device at predetermined room temperature and low cryogenic temperature indications while compensating for lead length from said temperature sensor and while said temperature sensor is at any temperature.

Claim 5

A cryogenic linear temperature sensor comprising: a manganin element; and a substantially pure nickel element, said manganin and nickel elements being connected in a series combination providing an electrical resistance which exhibits substantially equal increments of resistance change for equal increments of temperature change over a temperature range between room temperature of approximately +75* F. and a cryogenic temperature below at least -297* F., and wherein said manganin element is a thin grid element, and said nickel element is another thin grid element which is positioned back-to-back to said manganin grid element and further comprising a relatively flexible material thinly encapsulating and insulating each of said grid elements.

Claim 6

A cryogenic linear temperature sensor comprising: a manganin element; and a substantially pure nickel element, said manganin and nickel elements being connected in a series combination providing an electrical resistance which exhibits substantially equal increments of resistance change for equal increments of temperature change over a temperature range between room temperature of approximately +75* F. and a cryogenic temperature below at least -297* F., and wherein said manganin element is a thin grid element, and said nickel element is another thin grid element which is positioned back-to-back to said manganin grid element and further comprising a relatively flexible material thinly encapsulating and insulating each of said grid elements.

Claim 7

A cryogenic linear temperature sensor comprising: a manganin element; and a substantially pure nickel element, said manganin and nickel elements being connected in a series combination providing an electrical resistance which exhibits substantially equal increments of resistance change for equal increments of temperature change over a temperature range between room temperature of approximately +75* F. and a cryogenic temperature below at least -297* F., and wherein said manganin element is a grid element, and said nickel element is another grid element which is positioned side-by-side to said manganin grid element and further comprising a relatively flexible material thinly encapsulating said grid elements.

Claim 8

A cryogenic linear temperature sensor comprising: a manganin element; and a substantially pure nickel element, said manganin and nickel elements being connected in a series combination providing an electrical resistance which exhibits substantially equal increments of resistance change for equal increments of temperature change over a temperature range between room temperature of approximately +75* F. and a cryogenic temperature below at least -297* F., and wherein said manganin element is a grid element, and said nickel element is another grid element which is positioned side-by-side to said manganin grid element and further comprising a relatively flexible material thinly encapsulating said grid elements.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein one Of said grid elements is divided substantially into two halves which are respectively positioned on two opposite sides of the other of said grid elements whereby a better average of any temperature gradient existing over said sensor can be obtained.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said manganin grid element has convolutions which are generally oriented in a first direction, and said nickel grid element is divided into halves each having convolutions which are generally oriented in a second direction that is at right angles to the convolutions of said manganin grid element.

Claim 11

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein the convolutions of said nickel grid element halves have dimensions such that about one-third of the resistance thereof is generally in said first direction, and about two-thirds of the resistance thereof is in said second direction generally at right angles to said first direction whereby when said first direction is oriented in an axial strain field parallel to its axis, strain effects on said nickel grid element halves tend to be canceled.

Claim 12

A cryogenic linear temperature sensor comprising: a manganin element; and a substantially pure nickel element, said manganin element being made of a nominal composition including, by weight, of the order of 9 to 13 percent manganese, 3 to 5 percent nickel and 82 to 88 percent copper, and said nickel element being made of a nominal composition including, by weight, of the order of 99 to nearly 100 percent pure nickel, said manganin element having a room temperature resistance which is in a range of approximately 5 + or - 1/2 times the room temperature resistance of said nickel element, and said manganin and nickel elements being connected in a series combination providing an electrical resistance which exhibits substantially equal increments of resistance change for equal increments of temperature change over a temperature range between a room temperature of approximately +75* F. and a cryogenic temperature of at least -452* F.

Claim 13

A cryogenic linear temperature sensor comprising: a manganin element; and a substantially pure nickel element, said manganin element being made of a nominal composition including, by weight, of the order of 9 to 13 percent manganese, 3 to 5 percent nickel and 82 to 88 percent copper, and said nickel element being made of a nominal composition including, by weight, of the order of 99 to nearly 100 percent pure nickel, said manganin element having a room temperature resistance which is in a range of approximately 5 + or - 1/2 times the room temperature resistance of said nickel element, and said manganin and nickel elements being connected in a series combination providing an electrical resistance which exhibits substantially equal increments of resistance change for equal increments of temperature change over a temperature range between a room temperature of approximately +75* F. and a cryogenic temperature of at least -452* F.