Method and apparatus for measuring product surface temperature in a spray cooling chamber

A method of measuring the surface temperature of a hot product while spray cooling the product in a spray region, which method comprises:

• (a) sensing the surface temperature of said product using a light pipe having a sensor end at a predetermined location in the spray region,
• (b) washing the light pipe sensor end during product spray cooling,
• (c) establishing a temperature sampling interval,
• (d) interrupting the product spray cooling momentarily at the temperature sensing location during the sampling interval while
• (e) simultaneously interrupting washing the light pipe sensor end and substituting drying thereof during the sampling period,
• (f) detecting and storing the peak surface temperature sensed by the light pipe during the sampling period, and
• (g) restoring the product spray cooling and sensor end washing while interrupting the sensor end drying, all at the end of the sampling interval.

A method of measuring the surface temperature of a hot product while spray cooling the product in a spray region, which method comprises:

• (a) sensing the surface temperature of said product at a plurality of predetermined locations in the spray region,
• (b) establishing one or more temperature sampling intervals each of which are related to a different sensing location,
• (c) interrupting the product spray cooling momentarily at each temperature sensing location during the sampling period associated with the respective sensing location,
• (d) detecting and storing each peak surface temperature sensed during its respective sampling period, and
• (e) restoring the product spray cooling at the end of the respective sampling interval.

Apparatus for measuring the surface temperature of a hot product while spray cooling the product in a spray region, comprising:

• (a) sensing means for producing a surface temperature signal of the product at a predetermined location in the spray region,
• (b) timing means for generating a first control signal during a temperature sampling interval,
• (c) means responsive to the first control signal for interrupting the product spray cooling momentarily at the temperature sensing location only during the sampling interval, and
• (d) means for detecting and storing the peak surface temperature signal occurring during the sampling interval.

Apparatus for measuring the surface temperature of a hot product while spray cooling the product in a spray region, comprising:

• (a) sensing means having a light pipe with a sensing end for producing a surface temperature signal of the product at a predetermined location in the spray region,
• (b) timing means for generating first, second and third control signals during a temperature sampling interval,
• (c) means responsive to the first control signal for washing the light pipe sensing end before and after the sampling interval,
• (d) means responsive to the second control signal for drying the light pipe sensing end during the sampling interval,
• (e) means responsive to the third control signal for interrupting the product spray cooling momentarily at the temperature sensing location only during the sampling interval, and
• (f) means of detecting and storing the peak surface temperature signal occurring during the sampling interval.

Apparatus for measuring the surface temperature of a hot product while spray cooling the product in a spray region, comprising:

• (a) plural sensing means for producing separate surface temperature signals of the product at a corresponding plurality of predetermined locations in the sensing region,
• (b) timing means for producing a corresponding plurality of first control signals during a temperature sampling interval,
• (c) plural means each responsive to a corresponding first control signal for interrupting the product spray cooling at respective temperature sensing locations only during the sampling interval, and
• (d) plural means for separately detecting and storing the peak of each surface temperature signal occuring during the sampling period.