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US 6,617,845 B1Granted
Proximity sensor resistant to environmental effects
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSaeed Shafiyan-Rad, Isak Kayserman, Larry Joseph Fischer
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Abstract
A housing for a proximity sensor is resistant to harsh environmental effects, such as scorching particles due to sputtering in a welding environment. The sensor housing is formed of a material having a high thermal conductivity, such as copper or an alloy thereof. As a result, the housing is able to rapidly dissipate heat and, in turn, mitigate weld slag build-up so as to improve the efficacy of the sensor.
Claims11
A proximity sensor, comprising:
- an elongated circular cylindrical sidewall portion formed of a material comprising copper and having spaced apart ends, the material having a thermal conductivity of at least about three Watts per centimeter per Kelvin;
- and
- proximity sensing circuitry located within the sidewall portion, the proximity sensor being operative to sense proximity of an object through one of the ends of the sidewall,
- wherein the sidewall portion is threaded about an axis extending longitudinally through the sensor housing, whereby when the proximity sensor is employed in a welding environment, slag build-up is mitigated.
1 more element
A proximity sensor, comprising:
- sensing circuitry for sensing the proximity of an object;
- and
- an elongated circular cylindrical externally threaded housing formed of a material having a thermal conductivity of at least about three Watts per centimeter per Kelvin and having spaced apart ends for receiving the proximity sensing circuitry therein;
- whereby when the proximity sensor is employed in a welding environment, slag build up on the housing is mitigated.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.