Active grounded thermocouple and method of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016320249-A1
Application number	US-201615143929-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 2, 2016
Priority date	May 1, 2015
Publication date	Nov 3, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An active temperature measurement system includes at least one grounded thermocouple and a processor in communication with the at least one grounded thermocouple. The processor is configured to receive measurements from the at least one grounded thermocouple. The at least one grounded thermocouple is biased by an isolated voltage when the processor is receiving a measurement from the at least one grounded thermocouple.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A temperature measurement system comprising:
at least one grounded thermocouple; and a processor in communication with the at least one grounded thermocouple, the processor being configured to receive measurements from the at least one grounded thermocouple; wherein the at least one grounded thermocouple is biased by an isolated voltage when the processor is receiving a measurement from the at least one grounded thermocouple.

2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of thermocouples, wherein only one of the plurality of grounded thermocouples is biased with the isolated voltage when the processor is receiving a measurement from the one grounded thermocouple.

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a multiplexer in communication with the plurality of thermocouples and the processor, the multiplexer being configured to provide measurements taken from one of the plurality of thermocouples to the processor.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the multiplexer is configured to bias at least one grounded thermocouple with the isolated voltage when the processor is receiving a measurement from the at least one grounded thermocouple.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an analog-to-digital converter in communication with the processor and the at least one grounded thermocouple, the analog-to-digital converter being configured to convert measurements from the at least one grounded thermocouple to digital numbers and provide digital values to the processor.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one grounded thermocouple comprises:
a sheath having an open end and a closed distal end having a tip, the tip of the closed distal end defining a junction point; and a signal wire extending from the open end to the junction point; wherein the signal wire and the sheath are made from dissimilar metals configured to produce an electric potential across the signal wire and the sheath, the electric potential related to temperature at the junction point.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing coupled to the least one grounded thermocouple; and a power supply located within the housing, the power supply generating the isolated voltage.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is located within the housing.

9 . A grounded thermocouple, the grounded thermocouple comprising:
a sheath having an open end and a closed distal end having a tip, the tip of the closed distal end defining a junction point; and a signal wire extending from the open end to the junction point, wherein the signal wire and the sheath are made from dissimilar metals configured to produce an electric potential across the signal wire and the sheath, the electric potential related to temperature at the junction point.

Assignees

• Watlow Electric Mfg

Inventors

• Reiman Jeffrey
• Rohde John P

Classifications

• G01K7/02 Primary

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

• F01N11/002

  the diagnostic devices measuring or estimating temperature or pressure in, or downstream of the exhaust apparatus · CPC title

• F01N3/027 Primary

  using electric or magnetic heating means · CPC title

• G01K1/12

  for preventing damage due to heat overloading · CPC title

• G01K1/10

  for preventing chemical attack · CPC title