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US 10,197,450 B2Granted
EMI-compatible mechanical temperature threshold sensor
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorTimothy A. Wachob
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal sensor may include a housing having a thermal contact member, an indicator coupled to the housing, and a thermal sensing element disposed in the housing in thermal communication with the thermal contact member. The thermal sensor may also include an actuator element in communication with the indicator and thermal sensing element. The thermal sensing element may be configured to expand in response to reaching a temperature threshold thereby engaging the actuator element and activating the indicator.
Claims19
A thermal sensor, comprising:
- a housing having a thermal contact member,
- an indicator coupled to the housing;
- a thermal sensing element disposed in the housing in thermal communication with the thermal contact member;
- and
- an actuator element in communication with the indicator and the thermal sensing element, the actuator element movable to engage the indicator in an extended state and to decouple from the indicator in a retracted state;
- wherein the thermal sensing element is configured to expand in response to reaching a temperature threshold thereby engaging the actuator element and activating the indicator;
- and
- wherein the indicator includes protrusions configured to maintain the indicator in an activated state.
5 more elements
A method of sensing a temperature, comprising:
- exposing a thermal contact member to at least one of a surface and a fluid, wherein the thermal contact member is in thermal communication with a thermal sensing element, the thermal sensing element expandable in response to a predetermined threshold temperature;
- actuating an indicator in response to reaching the predetermined threshold temperature, wherein expansion of the thermal sensing element forces an actuator element to engage the indicator in an activated position;
- and
- returning at least one of the thermal sensing element and the actuator element to an original position via a returning member, wherein the returning member has a resistance less than a reciprocal force of the thermal sensing element.
1 more element
A thermal sensor, comprising:
- a housing having a thermal contact member;
- an indicator coupled to the housing;
- a thermal sensing element disposed in the housing in thermal communication with the thermal contact member;
- an actuator element in communication with the indicator and the thermal sensing element;
- a bellows member disposed in the housing, wherein the bellows member contains the thermal sensing element;
- and
- wherein the thermal sensing element is configured to expand in response to reaching a temperature threshold thereby engaging the actuator element and activating the indicator.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.