# US 11,307,100 B2 · Gas turbine exhaust thermocouple assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,307,100 B2 - Document ID: US11307100B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/677,725 - Filed: 2019-11-08 - Published: 2021-05-13 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-11-08 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company; Gary Nalen - Inventors: Edward W. Cummings; Mica L. Longwell; George Martin Gilchrist; Gary Nalen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307100B2 ## CPC - F01D 25/24: Casings (modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14); Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings (casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M {; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045}) - G01K 7/02: using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples - F01D 17/085: {to temperature} - F01D 25/243: {Flange connections; Bolting arrangements (F01D25/265 takes precedence)} - F01D 25/30: Exhaust heads, chambers, or the like - G01K 1/08: Protective devices, e.g. casings - G01K 13/02: for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow - F05D 2270/80: Devices generating input signals, e.g. transducers, sensors, cameras or strain gauges - G01K 13/024: of moving gases - G01K 2205/04: for measuring exhaust gas temperature - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract Thermocouple assemblies for high temperature applications are provided. The thermocouple assembly includes a protection tube; and a thermocouple probe within the protection tube. The thermocouple probe includes a cable connector at a first end and extending along a longitudinal axis to a free second end. A protective housing assembly, which extends around the thermocouple probe, extends from the cable connector to a tapered end of the protective housing assembly. The protective housing assembly includes an installation unit having a fixed transition joint. An oversheath extends between the installation unit and the tapered end. The free second end of the thermocouple probe extends along the longitudinal axis beyond the tapered end of the oversheath. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermocouple assembly comprising: a protection tube; a thermocouple probe positioned within the protection tube, the thermocouple probe fixedly connected to a cable connector at a first end and extending along a longitudinal axis to a free end opposite the first end; a protective housing assembly at least partially surrounding the thermocouple probe, the protective housing assembly extending from the cable connector to a tapered end of the protective housing assembly, the protective housing assembly comprising: an installation unit having a fixed transition joint, a nut, and a threaded portion, the nut being disposed between the threaded portion and the fixed transition joint; and an oversheath extending between the installation unit and the tapered end; wherein the oversheath terminates at the tapered end of the protective housing assembly; and wherein the free end of the thermocouple probe extends along the longitudinal axis beyond the tapered end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermocouple assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective housing assembly further comprises a protection cover extending from the fixed transition joint to the cable connector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermocouple assembly of claim 1, wherein the oversheath is continuous along a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermocouple assembly of claim 1, wherein the protection tube has a constant inner diameter; wherein the oversheath defines an outer diameter; and wherein the outer diameter of the oversheath is between about 80% and 99% of the constant inner diameter of the protection tube. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermocouple assembly of claim 1, wherein the protection tube comprises a mounting washer extending radially outward from an outer surface of the protection tube and a tapered portion extending from the mounting washer toward a second end of the protection tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermocouple assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermocouple probe defines a control depth between the nut and the free end, the control depth being between about six inches and about thirty-six inches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermocouple assembly of claim 1, wherein the protection tube comprises a counterbore; and wherein the threaded portion is threadingly coupled to the counterbore to set a control depth of the thermocouple assembly within the protection tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The thermocouple assembly of claim 1, wherein the oversheath is discontinuous along a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The thermocouple assembly of claim 8, wherein the fixed transition joint is fixedly connected to the protection tube. ### Claim 10 An exhaust assembly comprising: an outer wall defining an interior of the exhaust assembly, the outer wall configured to receive exhaust gas from at least one turbomachine component and to direct the exhaust gas to an atmosphere outside the exhaust assembly; a thermocouple assembly comprising: a protection tube extending radially through the outer wall and into the interior of the exhaust assembly; a thermocouple probe positioned within the protection tube, the thermocouple probe fixedly connected to a cable connector at a first end and extending along a longitudinal axis to a free end opposite the first end; a protective housing assembly at least partially surrounding the thermocouple probe, the protective housing assembly extending from the cable connector to a tapered end of the protective housing assembly, the protective housing assembly comprising: an installation unit having a fixed transition joint, a nut, and a threaded portion, the nut being disposed between the threaded portion and the fixed transition joint; and an oversheath extending between the installation unit and the tapered end; wherein the oversheath terminates at the tapered end of the protective housing assembly; and wherein the free end of the thermocouple probe extends along the longitudinal axis beyond the tapered end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The exhaust assembly of claim 10, wherein the protective housing assembly further comprises a protection cover extending from the fixed transition joint to the cable connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The exhaust assembly of claim 10, wherein the oversheath is continuous along a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The exhaust assembly of claim 10, wherein the protection tube has a constant inner diameter; wherein the oversheath defines an outer diameter; and wherein the outer diameter of the oversheath is between about 80% and 99% of the constant inner diameter of the protection tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The exhaust assembly of claim 13, wherein the fixed transition joint is fixedly connected to the protection tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The exhaust assembly of claim 10, wherein the protection tube comprises a mounting washer extending radially outward from an outer surface of the protection tube, and a tapered portion extending from the mounting washer toward a second end of the protection tube, and wherein the mounting washer is secured to the outer wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The exhaust assembly of claim 15, wherein the protection tube comprises a tubular portion extending from the mounting washer away from the second end of the protection tube. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The exhaust assembly of claim 10, wherein the thermocouple probe defines a control depth between the nut and the free end, the control depth being between about six inches and about thirty-six inches. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The exhaust assembly of claim 17, wherein the protection tube comprises a counterbore; and wherein the threaded portion is threadingly coupled to the counterbore to set the control depth of the thermocouple assembly within the protection tube.