Temperature sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10429248-B2
Application number	US-201715456309-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2017
Priority date	Mar 10, 2017
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

Disclosed is a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a reference material. The temperature sensor includes a thermocouple, spring, and spring housing. The thermocouple is configured to measure the temperature of the reference material. The spring is operably coupled to the thermocouple and the spring housing is configured to accommodate the spring and thermocouple within the spring housing. Additionally, the spring housing is configured to attach to the reference material and the spring applies a force on the thermocouple in a direction towards the reference material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a reference material, the temperature sensor comprising:
a thermocouple configured to generate a signal that indicates the temperature of the reference material;
a spring coupled to the thermocouple;
a spring housing including a washer; and
a pin that is configured to retain the washer within the spring housing,
wherein the spring and the thermocouple are positioned within the spring housing,
wherein the spring housing is configured to attach to the reference material, and
wherein the spring is configured to apply a force to the thermocouple in a direction towards the reference material.

2. The temperature sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second washer,
wherein the thermocouple includes a first end, a second end, and a middle portion between the first end and the second end,
wherein the thermocouple is coupled to the second washer at a border position of the first end and the middle portion of the thermocouple,
wherein the spring is further coupled to the middle portion of the thermocouple, and
wherein the spring is further configured to apply a force to the second washer in the direction towards the reference material.

3. The temperature sensor of claim 2 ,
wherein the thermocouple is further coupled to the spring at the middle portion of the thermocouple and adjacent to the second washer at the border position of the first end and the middle portion of the thermocouple,
wherein the thermocouple is further coupled to the washer at the middle portion of the thermocouple,
wherein the spring is further coupled to the thermocouple between the washer and the second washer, and
wherein the pin is coupled to the spring housing.

4. The temperature sensor of claim 3 , further comprising a spacer, wherein the spacer is adjacent to the spring and the washer within the spring housing along the middle portion of the thermocouple.

5. The temperature sensor of claim 4 , wherein the spring housing includes:
a pin attachment at a first end of the spring housing; and
a plurality of legs at a second end of the spring housing.

6. The temperature sensor of claim 1 , further including a controller in communication with a second end of the thermocouple.

7. The temperature sensor of claim 1 , wherein the thermocouple includes a first wire including a first metal and further includes a second wire including a second metal that is different than the first metal.

8. The temperature sensor of claim 1 , wherein the reference material includes an inner face sheet, an outer face sheet, and a core.

9. A method for installing a temperature sensor on a reference material, the method comprising:
attaching a spring housing on a reference material;
operably coupling a spring to a thermocouple;
inserting the operably coupled spring and the thermocouple into the spring housing; and
retaining the operably coupled spring and the thermocouple within the spring housing using a washer that is included within the spring housing,
wherein the temperature sensor includes a pin that retains the washer within the spring housing, and
wherein the spring applies a force to the thermocouple in a direction towards the reference material.

10. The method of claim 9 ,
wherein the thermocouple includes a first end, a second end, and a middle portion between the first end and the second end, and
wherein operably coupling the spring to the thermocouple includes coupling the thermocouple to a second washer at a border position of the first end and the middle portion of the thermocouple, and
wherein the spring applies a force to the second washer in the direction towards the reference material.

11. The method of claim 10 ,
wherein the thermocouple is coupled to the washer at the middle portion of the thermocouple, such that the spring is coupled to the thermocouple between the washer and the second washer ( 120 ), and
wherein retaining the operably coupled spring and the thermocouple within the spring housing includes operatively attaching the pin.

12. The method of claim 11 ,
wherein inserting the operably coupled spring and the thermocouple into the spring housing includes inserting a spacer within the spring housing, and
wherein the spacer is adjacent to both the spring and the washer within the spring housing along the middle portion of the thermocouple.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein operatively attaching the pin to the spring housing includes attaching the pin to a first end of the spring housing.

14. The method of claim 13 ,
wherein the spring housing includes a plurality of legs at a second end of the spring housing, and
wherein attaching the spring housing on the reference material includes attaching the plurality of legs on an inner face sheet of the reference material.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein attaching the spring housing on the reference material includes at least one of welding, soldering, and bonding the spring housing on the reference material.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
drilling a via for the first end of the thermocouple into the reference material; and
inserting the first end of the thermocouple into the via,
wherein the first end is thermally coupled to at least one of an inner face sheet of the reference material and a core of the reference material, and
wherein attaching the spring housing on the reference material includes at least one of welding, soldering, and bonding the plurality of legs on the inner face sheet.

17. A method for measuring a temperature of a reference material utilizing a temperature sensor having a thermocouple, spring, and a spring housing, wherein the spring housing is attached to the reference material, the method comprising:
applying a force with a spring to the thermocouple within the spring housing such that the thermocouple is forced against a surface of the reference material within the spring housing, wherein the spring housing includes a washer, and wherein the temperature sensor includes a pin that retains the washer within the spring housing;
receiving a first voltage signal from a first wire within the thermocouple;
receiving a second voltage signal from a second wire within the thermocouple; and
determining the temperature of the reference material utilizing the first voltage and second voltage.

18. The method of claim 17 ,
wherein the thermocouple includes a first end, a second end, and a middle portion between the first end and the second end,
wherein applying the force with the spring on the thermocouple includes applying the force with the spring on a second washer operatively coupled to the thermocouple at a border position of the first end and the middle portion of the thermocouple,
wherein the spring applies a force to the second washer in a direction towards the reference material, and
wherein the direction toward the reference material is approximately along a surface normal of the surface.

19. The method of claim 18 ,
wherein applying the force with the spring on the thermocouple further includes retaining the spring and the thermocouple within the spring housing such that the spring applies the force to the thermocouple in the direction towards the reference material,
wherein the thermocouple is coupled to the washer at the middle portion of the thermocouple,
wherein the spring is coupled to the thermocouple between the washer and the second washer, and
wherein retaining the spring and the thermocouple within the spring housing inc

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Hung Kuohsing E
• Meis Charles S

Classifications

• G01K1/146

  arrangements for moving thermometers to or from a measuring position · CPC title

• G01K7/04 Primary

  the object to be measured not forming one of the thermoelectric materials · CPC title

• G01K1/14 Primary

  Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations · CPC title

• G01K7/02

  using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples · CPC title