US3592059A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature measuring apparatus
Assignee: Computer Diode Corp
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Filing: 1969-06-27
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1989-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A disposable heat receptor is placed in heat-absorbing relationship with a body or atmosphere whose temperature is to be measured when the heat receptor reaches the temperature of the environment. The heat receptor is then transferred to an apparatus for measuring of its temperature. Provision is made for a first surface of the heat absorber to be placed in heat exchange relationship with the environment and for a second and different surface to be placed in contact with the sensing element of the temperature-measuring apparatus so that contamination of temperature-measuring apparatus is avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 George E Chilton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 16:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K1/00; G01K1/16; G01K13/00; G01K13/20; G01K7/00; G01K7/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A disposable clinical heat constructed and heat transferring probe adapted for heat-absorbing use independent of associated measuring equipment comprising: an elongated tubular body being constructed of low thermal conductivity material and open at one end; and a metal slug having high thermal conductivity and substantial thermal capacity occupying the other end of said body and having an accessible thermally conductive surface on the inside of said body, said surface facing the open end of said body, said slug being capable of absorbing the heat energy from an environment until it attains substantially the temperature of said environment so that an accurate indication of said environmental temperature may subsequently be obtained from said accessible thermally conductive surface by heat transference through said accessible conductive surface to associated measuring equipment, said probe having an external surface at the slug end for exposure to said environment to be measured, whereby any contamination present in said environment is only exposed to said external surface of said probe and contamination is prevented from interfering with the heat transference through said internal conductive surface to the associated measuring equipment, the measuring equipment thereby avoiding contact with said contaminated external surface during measurement therefore insuring an accurate indication of measured temperature and avoiding contamination of the measuring equipment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A disposable clinical heat constructed and heat transferring probe adapted for heat-absorbing use independent of associated measuring equipment comprising: an elongated tubular body being constructed of low thermal conductivity material and open at one end; and a metal slug having high thermal conductivity and substantial thermal capacity occupying the other end of said body and having an accessible thermally conductive surface on the inside of said body, said surface facing the open end of said body, said slug being capable of absorbing the heat energy from an environment until it attains substantially the temperature of said environment so that an accurate indication of said environmental temperature may subsequently be obtained from said accessible thermally conductive surface by heat transference through said accessible conductive surface to associated measuring equipment, said probe having an external surface at the slug end for exposure to said environment to be measured, whereby any contamination present in said environment is only exposed to said external surface of said probe and contamination is prevented from interfering with the heat transference through said internal conductive surface to the associated measuring equipment, the measuring equipment thereby avoiding contact with said contaminated external surface during measurement therefore insuring an accurate indication of measured temperature and avoiding contamination of the measuring equipment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The probe described in claim 1, wherein said slug is of ferrous material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The probe described in claim 1, wherein the elongated tubular body is made of a heat insulating material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
In combination with the probe of claim 1, temperature-measuring apparatus comprising: a rod adapted for insertion into the open end of said probe; thermally responsive means mounted on one end of said rod and adapted to be brought into physical contact with said thermally conductive surface of said slug when said rod is inserted in said probe and also responsive to said slug temperature, said means providing an electrical signal proportional to the temperature of said slug; and means responsive to said electrical signal for visually displaying an indication if said slug temperature corresponding to that of said measured environment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
154 words
In combination with the probe of claim 1, temperature measuring apparatus comprising: a rod adapted for insertion into the open end of said probe; thermally responsive means mounted on one end of said rod adapted to be brought into physical contact with said thermally conductive surface of said slug when said rod is inserted into said probe and also responsive to said slug temperature, said thermally responsive means providing an electrical signal proportional to the temperature of said slug; means for compensating for temperature changes of said slug due to heat exchange between said slug and an ambient measuring environment, said environment including the measuring apparatus, said compensating means also compensating for local heat accumulation in said rod as a result of repetitive readings; and means responsive to said thermally responsive means and ambient temperature-compensating means for visually displaying an indication of temperature accurately corresponding to the environment to be measured by said probe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
195 words
Temperature-measuring apparatus adapted fOr use with an independent, heat absorbing and heat transferring probe, said probe having a tubular body open at one end and a metal slug occupying the other end of said body and having an accessible thermally conductive surface on the inside of said body, said slug being capable of absorbing heat energy from an environment until it attains substantially the temperature of said environment, comprising: a rod adapted for insertion into the open end of said probe; a multiple junction diode stack mounted on one end of said rod and adapted to be brought into physical contact with said thermally conductive surface of said slug when said rod is inserted in said probe and also responsive to said slug temperature, said stack providing an electrical signal proportional to the temperature of said slug, said stack also including a metal end plate on the stack arranged to contact said thermally conductive surface of said slug, said metal end plate being formed of highly thermally conductive material; and means responsive to said thermally responsive means for visually displaying an indication of temperature accurately corresponding to the environment to be measured by said probe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
195 words
Temperature-measuring apparatus adapted fOr use with an independent, heat absorbing and heat transferring probe, said probe having a tubular body open at one end and a metal slug occupying the other end of said body and having an accessible thermally conductive surface on the inside of said body, said slug being capable of absorbing heat energy from an environment until it attains substantially the temperature of said environment, comprising: a rod adapted for insertion into the open end of said probe; a multiple junction diode stack mounted on one end of said rod and adapted to be brought into physical contact with said thermally conductive surface of said slug when said rod is inserted in said probe and also responsive to said slug temperature, said stack providing an electrical signal proportional to the temperature of said slug, said stack also including a metal end plate on the stack arranged to contact said thermally conductive surface of said slug, said metal end plate being formed of highly thermally conductive material; and means responsive to said thermally responsive means for visually displaying an indication of temperature accurately corresponding to the environment to be measured by said probe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Temperature measuring apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said diode includes a pair of stainless steel leads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
Temperature-measuring apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein said means responsive to said electrical signal includes a bridge arrangement in which one leg of said bridge comprises said multiple junction diode stack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
138 words
A multiple junction temperature-sensing diode stack for use with temperature-measuring apparatus comprising: a two-terminal semiconductor diode, having a plurality of stacked junctions, wherein each intermediate junction has an anode in direct physical and electrical connection with a cathode of an adjacent junction, and each intermediate junction has a cathode in physical and electrical contact with an anode of an adjacent junction, and wherein one outer junction has an anode connected to a first terminal and the other outer junction has a cathode connected to a second terminal, said diode being adapted to sense temperature of a body in physical contact with said stack and to provide a voltage across said two terminals proportional to the temperature of said body; and a metal end plate in contact with one of said terminals for large surface contact with said body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
138 words
A multiple junction temperature-sensing diode stack for use with temperature-measuring apparatus comprising: a two-terminal semiconductor diode, having a plurality of stacked junctions, wherein each intermediate junction has an anode in direct physical and electrical connection with a cathode of an adjacent junction, and each intermediate junction has a cathode in physical and electrical contact with an anode of an adjacent junction, and wherein one outer junction has an anode connected to a first terminal and the other outer junction has a cathode connected to a second terminal, said diode being adapted to sense temperature of a body in physical contact with said stack and to provide a voltage across said two terminals proportional to the temperature of said body; and a metal end plate in contact with one of said terminals for large surface contact with said body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
165 words
An ambient temperature-compensated bridge circuit comprising: a resistor of predetermined value forming a first branch of said bridge circuit; a resistor of predetermined value connected to said first branch, forming a second branch of said bridge circuit; a thermally responsive forming a third branch of said bridge circuit, and capable of providing a voltage output proportional to the temperature of an applied body containing absorbed heat energy, said body having a temperature higher than an ambient environment temperature and wherein the temperature of said body is dropping due to heat energy loss to said ambient environment; and temperature-compensating means, positioned a predetermined distance from the sensing means, in a fourth branch of said bridge, having a voltage output proportional to the ambient temperature of the environment, the slope of the voltage-temperature characteristic of said compensating means being less than that of said sensing means, whereby the bridge error signal is proportional to the temperature of said applied body and ambient temperature effects are substantially eliminated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
165 words
An ambient temperature-compensated bridge circuit comprising: a resistor of predetermined value forming a first branch of said bridge circuit; a resistor of predetermined value connected to said first branch, forming a second branch of said bridge circuit; a thermally responsive forming a third branch of said bridge circuit, and capable of providing a voltage output proportional to the temperature of an applied body containing absorbed heat energy, said body having a temperature higher than an ambient environment temperature and wherein the temperature of said body is dropping due to heat energy loss to said ambient environment; and temperature-compensating means, positioned a predetermined distance from the sensing means, in a fourth branch of said bridge, having a voltage output proportional to the ambient temperature of the environment, the slope of the voltage-temperature characteristic of said compensating means being less than that of said sensing means, whereby the bridge error signal is proportional to the temperature of said applied body and ambient temperature effects are substantially eliminated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The compensation circuit of claim 10 wherein the sensing means is a multiple junction diode and the compensating means includes a multiple junction diode of fewer junctions than the sensing means diode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
166 words
An ambient temperature compensated bridge circuit comprising a resistor of predetermined value forming a first branch of said bridge circuit; a resistor of predetermined value connected to said first branch, forming a branch of sAid bridge circuit; a thermally responsive means forming a third branch of said bridge circuit, and capable of providing a voltage output proportional to the temperature of an applied body containing absorbed heat energy, said body having a temperature different from an ambient environment temperature and wherein the temperature of said body is changing due to heat energy exchange with said ambient environment, and temperature-compensating means, positioned a predetermined distance from the sensing means, in a fourth branch of said bridge, having voltage output proportional to the ambient temperature of the environment, the slope of the voltage temperature characteristic of said compensating means being less than that of said sensing means whereby the bridged error signal is proportional to the temperature of said applied body and ambient temperature effects are substantially eliminated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
166 words
An ambient temperature compensated bridge circuit comprising a resistor of predetermined value forming a first branch of said bridge circuit; a resistor of predetermined value connected to said first branch, forming a branch of sAid bridge circuit; a thermally responsive means forming a third branch of said bridge circuit, and capable of providing a voltage output proportional to the temperature of an applied body containing absorbed heat energy, said body having a temperature different from an ambient environment temperature and wherein the temperature of said body is changing due to heat energy exchange with said ambient environment, and temperature-compensating means, positioned a predetermined distance from the sensing means, in a fourth branch of said bridge, having voltage output proportional to the ambient temperature of the environment, the slope of the voltage temperature characteristic of said compensating means being less than that of said sensing means whereby the bridged error signal is proportional to the temperature of said applied body and ambient temperature effects are substantially eliminated.
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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) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |