Spring-loaded temperature sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9341522-B2
Application number	US-201314140752-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 26, 2013
Priority date	May 1, 2013
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

A temperature sensor includes a temperature probe, an adapter, a resilient device, and a visual indicator. The temperature probe includes a temperature sensing device disposed at a temperature probe tip. The adapter surrounds a portion of the temperature probe such that the temperature probe is movable within the adapter in a lengthwise direction. The adapter includes a physical reference. The resilient device is adapted to produce a force between the adapter and the temperature probe. The force being variable based on a position of the temperature probe within the adapter. The visual indicator is disposed on a surface of the temperature probe. Alignment of the visual indicator with the physical reference corresponds to a desired force produced by the resilient device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A temperature sensor for use in an industrial process temperature sensor assembly, the sensor comprising:
a temperature probe including a temperature sensing device disposed at a temperature probe tip;
an adapter surrounding a portion of the temperature probe, the temperature probe being movable within the adapter in a lengthwise direction, the adapter including:
a housing connection end for connecting to an electrical housing;
a thermowell connection end for connecting to a thermowell;
a cavity wall that defines a cavity that extends through a portion of the adapter in an axial direction from the thermowell connection end;
a viewing port radially extending through the cavity wall of the adapter through which a portion of the temperature probe within the cavity is visible; and
a flame path wall that extends from the cavity toward the housing connection end;

a resilient device adapted to produce a force between the adapter and the temperature probe, the force being variable based on a position of the temperature probe within the adapter; and
a visual indicator disposed on a surface of the temperature probe, wherein visibility of the visual indicator through the viewing port corresponds to the temperatures probe tip being engaged with a solid surface.

2. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the desired force produced by the resilient device is sufficient to maintain physical contact between the temperature probe tip and the solid surface.

3. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the viewing port is sealed by a transparent window.

4. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the adapter further includes a hinged cover such that the viewing port is selectively sealable by the hinged cover.

5. The sensor of claim 1 , further including a movable collar such that the viewing port is selectively sealable by the movable collar.

6. The sensor of claim 1 , further including a cover threaded into the viewing port to seal the viewing port.

7. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the adapter further includes one or more additional viewing ports.

8. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the adapter includes a first component and a second component connected to the first component, such that the resilient device is adapted to produce a force between the first component and the temperature probe, and the second component includes the viewing port.

9. An industrial process temperature sensing assembly comprising:
a thermowell having a proximal end and a distal end, the thermowell including a bore extending from the proximal end to a base adjacent the distal end;
a temperature sensor connected to the proximal end of the thermowell, the sensor including:
a temperature probe including:
a temperature sensing device disposed at a temperature probe tip, the temperature probe tip disposed within the bore of the thermowell; and
a visual indicator on a surface of the temperature probe;

an adapter surrounding a portion of the temperature probe, the temperature probe being movable in a lengthwise direction relative to the adapter, the adapter connecting the sensor to the proximal end of the thermowell, wherein the adapter includes a thermowell connection end, a housing connection end, a cavity wall defining a cavity that extends through a portion of the adapter from the thermowell connection end, and a flame path wall that extends from the cavity toward the housing connection end;
a resilient device adapted to produce a force between the adapter and the temperature probe to force the temperature probe tip away from the adapter; and
a viewing port extending through the cavity wall of the adapter to the cavity, through which a portion of the temperature probe is visible, wherein movement of the temperature probe tip toward the adapter and against the force of the resilient device as a result of physical contact between the temperature probe tip and the base of the thermowell causes the visual indicator of the temperature probe to be visible through the viewing port to provide an indication of physical contact between the temperature probe tip and the base of the thermowell.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein visibility of the visual indicator through the viewing port further indicates that the force produced by the resilient device is sufficient to maintain physical contact between the temperature probe tip and the base of the thermowell.

11. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the viewing port is sealed by a transparent window.

12. The assembly of claim 9 , further including a cover threaded into the viewing port to seal the viewing port.

13. The assembly of claim 9 , further including a movable collar such that the viewing port is selectively sealable by the movable collar.

14. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the adapter includes a first component and a second component connected to the first component, such that the resilient device operates between the first component and the temperature probe, and the second component includes the viewing port.

15. A method of determining a loading condition of a temperature probe of a spring-loaded temperature sensor when a temperature probe tip is not readily observable, the method comprising:
installing the temperature sensor through an adapter into a thermowell, wherein the adapter includes a housing connection for connecting to an electrical housing, a thermowell connection for connecting to a thermowell, a cavity wall that defines a cavity that extends through a portion of the adapter in an axial direction from the thermowell connection end, a viewing port radially extending through the cavity wall of the adapter through which a portion of the temperature probe is visible, and a flame path wall that extends from the cavity toward the housing connection end;
observing whether or not a visual indicator on a surface of the temperature probe is visible through a viewing port, wherein the viewing port is located in the cavity of the adapter; and
determining a loading condition of the temperature probe based on a relative position of the visual indicator with respect to the viewing port.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining the loading condition includes finding that there is sufficient loading of the temperature probe when the visual indicator is visible in the viewing port, or finding that there may not be sufficient loading of the temperature probe when the visual indicator is not visible in the viewing port.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein observing whether or not a visual indicator on a surface of the temperature probe and a viewing port are aligned includes uncovering a viewing port on the temperature sensor through which the visual indicator may be viewed, the viewing port being the physical reference.

Assignees

• Rosemount Inc

Inventors

• Kitzman Andrew John
• Dierker Andrew Steven
• Warren Kyle Steven
• Kassen Allen John
• Bauschke Dirk Willy

Classifications

• G01K1/14

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

• G01F15/14

  Casings, e.g. of special material · CPC title

• G01L1/00 Primary

  Measuring force or stress, in general (measuring force due to impact G01L5/00) · CPC title

• G01K1/10

  for preventing chemical attack · CPC title

• G01F3/12

  Meters with nutating members, e.g. discs · CPC title