Self-cleaning thermometer for use in a mud pit

A method comprising:

• positioning a self-cleaning sensor into a fluid, wherein the self-cleaning sensor comprises:
• a bellows coupled to a support structure, wherein the support structure is configured to support the bellows;
• a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder extending into the bellows;
• a sensor configured to measure a temperature of a fluid and extending from the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, wherein the sensor comprises an exposure end configured to contact the fluid during sensing by the sensor;
• sensor wires connected with the sensor and extending through an interior of the bellows to a control system connection, wherein the control system connection is configured for communication with a control system;
• and a self-cleaning system comprising:
• a hood extending radially outward at least a portion of a distance along a central axis from a first end of the hood to a second end of the hood, wherein the hood defines a first volume;
• and a cleaning brush integrated with or adjacent a bottom of the support structure, wherein, in a retracted configuration of the self-cleaning sensor, the exposure end of the sensor is positioned at a retracted position a distance from cleaning brush, and, in an extended configuration of the self-cleaning sensor, the exposure end of the sensor extends a distance along the central axis away from the retracted position;
• extending the sensor from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration such that exposure end of the sensor is cleaned via passage through the cleaning brush and passage, of at least a portion of the first volume of the fluid through the cleaning brush breaks gels, if present, in the fluid;
• measuring a temperature of the fluid in real time with the self-cleaning sensor;
• and
• communicating the measured temperature of the fluid in real time to the control system.

A method comprising:

• regularly measuring a temperature of a fluid in a mud pit in real time with a self-cleaning sensor by:
• exposing an exposure end of the sensor to the fluid;
• measuring the temperature of the fluid with the self-cleaning sensor;
• and
• communicating the measured temperature to the control system,
• wherein the self-cleaning sensor comprises:
• a bellows coupled to a support structure, wherein the support structure is configured to support the bellows;
• a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder extending into the bellows;
• a sensor configured to measure a temperature of a fluid and extending from the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, wherein the sensor comprises the exposure end, wherein the exposure end is configured to contact the fluid during sensing by the sensor;
• sensor wires connected with the sensor and extending through an interior of the bellows to a control system connection, wherein the control system connection is configured for communication with a control system;
• and
• a self-cleaning system comprising:
• a hood extending radially outward at least a portion of a distance along a central axis from a first end of the hood to a second end of the hood, wherein the hood defines a first volume;
• and
• a cleaning brush integrated with or adjacent a bottom of the support structure,
• wherein, in a retracted configuration of the self-cleaning sensor, the exposure end of the sensor is positioned at a retracted position a distance from cleaning brush, and, in an extended configuration of the self-cleaning sensor, the exposure end of the sensor extends a distance along the central axis away from the retracted position.