US 7,465,087 B2Granted

Armoured flexible averaging temperature sensor

AssigneeMamac Systems, Inc.

InventorS. Asim Gul

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Abstract

A temperature sensor approximates fluid temperature averaged across a location range by including an outer armour layer. Several resistance temperature detectors are spaced in an electrical circuit which is then protected in the outer armour layer. The outer armour layer is woven without any seam to enhance its longitudinal thermal conductivity. In the preferred weave, twenty-four stands of sixteen metal threads each are helically woven. The electrical circuit is sealed interior to the armour layer so any condensation or moisture within the armour layer does not affect the circuit. The armour layer is sealed on its ends to the sheathing of the underlying circuit, so the armour layer provides stress relief across the connections of the resistance temperature detectors to the circuit. The resulting sensor is robust and durable, as well as very flexible.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A temperature sensor for approximating fluid temperature averaged across a location range in a duct, the sensor comprising:

an insulated sensing circuit which is flexible and extends longitudinally, the insulated sensing circuit comprising:
at least one resistance temperature detector (RTD) having a first lead, a second lead, and a sensing element which changes electrical resistance between the first and second leads as a function of temperature;
circuit wires electrically connecting the RTD in a circuit via attachment to the leads, each circuit wire being formed of metal;
dielectric insulation which seals around the circuit wires, the first lead, the second lead, the attachments between the first and second leads and the circuit wires and the RTD;
and
a woven metallic armour layer substantially exposed for fluid contact with the fluid being sensed, the woven metallic armour layer being flexible and extending longitudinally around the insulated sensing circuit, the woven metallic armour layer having a plurality of metallic strands extending longitudinally for heat conduction in the longitudinal direction toward or away from the RTD;
wherein the sensing element of the RTD occupies a point relative to the length of the woven metallic armour layer, such that the heat conduction in the longitudinal direction toward or away from the RTD causes the point of the sensing element to sense a conduction-adjusted temperature relative to the length of the woven metallic armour layer.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.