Temperature indicator
OwnerRobert Parkerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temperature indicator for indicating the temperature condition of an object while subjecting the object to an external temperature environment. The temperature indicator includes a substantially transparent outer shell containing a substantially transport modeling structure, which includes a plurality of heat receiving elements, for modeling the thermal diffusivity of the object. The indicator also includes a temperature measuring device in thermal contact with the modeling structure for measuring the temperature within the outer shell to thereby indicate the temperature condition of the object. The outer shell including first and second sections which apply a compressive force to the modeling structure when the first and second sections are secured together to thereby confine the modeling structure within the outer shell.
Claims38
A temperature indicator for indicating the temperature condition of an object while subjecting said object to an external temperature environment comprising:
- an outer shell, at least a portion of said outer shell being substantially transparent;
- means contained within said outer shell for modeling the thermal diffusivity of said object, at least a portion of said modeling means being substantially transparent, said modeling means including a plurality of heat receiving elements, which heat receiving elements are formed of a material having a thermal diffusivity such that when said heat receiving elements and said object are subjected to a temperature environment, the rate at which heat diffuses through heat receiving elements is proportional to the rate at which heat diffuses through said object;
- said outer shell comprising first and second sections which apply a compressive force to said modeling means when said first and second sections are secured together to thereby confine said modeling means within said outer shell;
- and
- means for measuring the temperature within said outer shell, which measuring means is enclosed within said outer shell in thermal contact with said modeling means, said measuring means being positioned for at least partially displaying said measuring means through the transparent portions of said modeling means and said outer shell to indicate the temperature within said outer shell, said measuring means thereby indicating the temperature condition of said object.
A temperature indicator for simulating the internal temperature of an object subjected to an external temperature environment, said temperature indicator comprising
- means for modeling the temperature response characteristic of said object, said modeling means including a plurality of individual heat receiving elements, at least a portion of at least one of said heat receiving elements being substantially transparent;
- temperature indicating means in thermal contact with at least one of said heat receiving elements to indicate the temperature of said modeling means;
- and
- a housing enclosing and sealing said modeling means and said temperature indicating means, at least a portion of said housing being substantially transparent and said temperature indicating means being positioned for exposing said temperature indicating means through the transparent portions of said housing and said at least one of said heat receiving elements for displaying the temperature of said modeling means;
- said housing comprising first and second sections which apply a compressive force to said modeling means when said first and second sections are secured together to thereby confine said modeling means within said housing.
A temperature indicator for indicating the temperature condition of an object retained within a container for exposure to an external temperature environment in said container, said container having an exterior surface, said indicator comprising:
- an outer shell, at least a portion of said outer shell being substantially transparent;
- a plurality of heat receiving elements sealed within said outer shell to model the thermal diffusivity of said object, at least a portion of at least one of said heat receiving elements being substantially transparent;
- measuring means in thermal contact with said heat receiving elements for measuring the temperature within said outer shell, which measuring means is contained within said outer shell and positioned for display of said measuring means through the transparent portion of said at least one of said heat receiving elements and the transparent portion of said outer shell for displaying the temperature within said outer shell;
- said outer shell comprising firs and second sections which apply a compressive force to said plurality of heat receiving elements when said first and second sections are secured together to thereby confine said heat receiving elements within said outer shell;
- and
A temperature indicator for indicating the temperature condition of an object comprising:
- an outer shell;
- a plurality of heat receiving elements sealed within said outer shell to model the thermal diffusivity of said object, which heat receiving elements are formed as thin disks of a polymeric material having a thermal diffusivity such that when said object and said disks are exposed to an external change in temperature, the rate at which heat diffuses through said disks is proportional to the rate at which heat diffuses through said object;
- and
- measuring means in thermal contact with said modeling means for measuring the temperature within said outer shell.
A temperature indicator for indicating the temperature condition of an object comprising:
- an outer shell;
- a plurality of heat receiving elements sealed within said outer shell to model the thermal diffusivity of said object;
- a lubricant film between said elements, said film having an index of refraction substantially equal to that of said elements for minimizing the reflection of light passing through said elements;
- and
- measuring means in thermal contact with said modeling means for measuring the temperature within said outer shell.
A temperature indicator for indicating the temperature condition of an object comprising:
- an outer shell;
- a plurality of heat receiving elements sealed within said outer shell to model the thermal diffusivity of said object;
- measuring means in thermal contact with said modeling means for measuring the temperature within said outer shell;
- and
- at least one insulating element contained within said outer shell for partially insulating said measuring means from the external temperature environment.
A temperature indicator for simulating the internal temperature of an object subjected to a temperature environment comprising:
- a housing having first and second sections and an inner surface defining a cavity, at least a portion of said housing being substantially transparent;
- a hat receiving material substantially filling at least a portion of said cavity for modeling the temperature response characteristic of said object, said heat receiving material adjoining said inner surface of the filled portion of said cavity for providing for thermal communication between said housing and said heat receiving material, at least a portion of said heat receiving material being substantially transparent;
- means for measuring the temperature within said housing, which measuring means is enclosed within said housing in thermal contact with said heat receiving material, whereby said measuring means simulates the internal temperature of said object, said measuring means being positioned relative to the transparent portions of said housing and said heat receiving material for displaying said measuring means through the transparent portions of said housing and said heat receiving material;
- and
- means for securing said first and second sections together substantially sealing said housing with said heat receiving material and said measuring means enclosed therein;
- said first and second sections applying a compressive force to said heat receiving material when said first and second sections are secured together to thereby confine said heat receiving material within said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.