Packed product temperature measuring device
AssigneeUniversal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc.
InventorLarry D Benjamin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A temperature probe includes an elongated longitudinal tubular shaft having a hollow interior, an insulating structure mounted on the elongated shaft, and a heat conducting structure constructed of a metallic material coupled to the insulating structure. A thermocouple is coupled to the heat conducting structure and extends into the hollow interior of the elongated shaft. A control device is electrically communicated to the thermocouple and is operable to determine a temperature from the thermocouple. When the heat conducting structure is disposed within a mass of packed product, the heat conducting structure transmits thermal energy from the mass to the thermocouple and the insulting structure thermally isolates the heat conducting structure from the tubular shaft.
Claims29
A temperature probe for measuring the internal temperature of a mass of packed tobacco product, said temperature probe comprising:
- an elongated tubular shaft having a hollow interior;
- an insulating structure mounted on said elongated shaft;
- a heat conducting structure coupled to said insulating structure;
- a thermocouple coupled to said heat conducting structure and extending into the hollow interior of said elongated shaft;
- a control device electrically communicated to said thermocouple and operable to determine a temperature from said thermocouple;
- and
- a lifting mechanism coupled to the elongated tubular shaft and the control device that moves the heat conducting structure and the elongated tubular shaft between a raised position and a lowered position,
- wherein when said heat conducting structure is disposed within a mass of packed tobacco product said heat conducting structure transmits thermal energy from the mass to said thermocouple and said insulating structure thermally isolates said heat conducting structure front said tubular shaft.
A method of determining an internal temperature of a mass of packed tobacco product comprising:
- providing a mass of product;
- providing a temperature probe comprising an elongated tubular shaft having a hollow interior, an insulating structure mounted on the elongated shaft a heat conducting structure coupled to the insulating structure, a thermocouple coupled to the heat conducting structure and extending into the hollow interior of the elongated shaft, and a control device connected to the thermocouple and operable to determine a temperature from the thermocouple;
- determining the temperature of the heat conducting structure;
- comparing the temperature of the heat conducting structure to a pre-determined temperature range to determine if the temperature of the heat conducting structure is within the predetermined range;
- changing the temperature of the heat conducting structure if the temperature of the heat conducting structure is outside of the predetermined temperature range so that the temperature of the heat conducting structure is within the predetermined temperature range;
- inserting the probe into the mass so that the heat conducting structure is disposed in thermal communication with the product on the interior of the mass;
- and
- determining the internal temperature of the mass based on information from the probe.
A temperature probe assembly mounted for insertion into a mass of packed tobacco product for measuring an internal temperature of the mass, comprising:
- an insulated shaft;
- a heat conducting structure mounted on an end of the insulated shaft;
- a temperature controller coupled to the heat conducting structure that maintains the heat conducting structure within a desired temperature range prior to insertion of the shaft into the mass of packed tobacco product;
- a temperature sensor coupled to the heat conducting structure that measures the internal temperature of the mass of packed tobacco product when the probe assembly is inserted into the mass of packed tobacco product;
- and
- a lifting mechanism coupled to the insulated shaft and the temperature controller that moves the heat conducting structure and the insulated shaft between a raised position and a lowered position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.