# US 8,770,837 B2 · Fatigue resistant thermowell and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,837 B2 - Document ID: US8770837B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/643,533 - Filed: 2009-12-21 - Published: 2011-06-23 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-21 - Assignees: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A. - Applicants: William C. Egan; Robert Schultz - Inventors: William C. Egan; Robert Schultz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770837B2 ## CPC - G01K 1/08: Protective devices, e.g. casings - G01K 1/14: Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations - G01K 13/02: for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow - G01K: MEASURING TEMPERATURE; MEASURING QUANTITY OF HEAT; THERMALLY-SENSITIVE ELEMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (radiation pyrometry G01J5/00) ## Abstract Methods and thermowell systems that can be uses in high dynamic pressure environments. A thermocouple system includes a thermowell configured to enter a structure through which a medium flows; an elongated probe provided partially inside the thermowell and configured to measure a temperature; at least one o-ring disposed around the elongated probe at a first end, the o-ring being configured to dampen a vibration for the elongated probe by contacting the thermowell; and an elastomer disposed around the elongated probe section at a second end, the elastomer being configured to dampen the vibration for the elongated probe by contacting the thermowell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermocouple system, comprising: a thermowell configured to enter a structure through which a medium flows; an elongated probe section of a thermocouple provided partially inside the thermowell and configured to measure a temperature; at least one o-ring disposed on and in contact with the elongated probe section of the thermocouple at a first end, the o-ring being configured to dampen a vibration for the thermocouple by contacting the thermowell, wherein the contact between the o-ring and the elongated probe section is loose, such that a dampening fluid is able to flow passed the o-ring and into the thermowell; and an elastomer disposed around the elongated probe section of the thermocouple at a second end, the elastomer being configured to dampen the vibration for the thermocouple by contacting the thermowell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermocouple system of claim 1, wherein the thermowell is selected from a group comprising flanged thermowells, weld-in thermowells and threaded thermowells. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermocouple system of claim 1, further comprising: a second o-ring provided away from the first end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermocouple system of claim 1, wherein the dampening fluid is disposed in the thermowell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermocouple system of claim 1, further comprising: a cap section configured to connect the elongated probe section of the thermocouple to the thermowell via the elastomer so that a vibrational frequency of the thermocouple is different from a resonating frequency of the structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermocouple system of claim 1, wherein the thermowell of the thermocouple system is exposed to the medium for of which temperature is measured. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermocouple system of claim 1, the thermowell further comprising: a housing which includes a stem section which is in contact with the medium, the stem section having a length in a range of 10.16-53.35 cm, and an inner diameter in a range of 0.635-1.27 cm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The thermocouple system of claim 7, wherein an amount of a dampening fluid disposed inside of the stem section fills approximately one half of a volume within the stem section after the probe has been inserted into said housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The thermocouple system of claim 8, wherein the dampening fluid is a thermoconductive oil with a flash point over 176.7° C. ### Claim 10 A compressor comprising: a thermowell configured to enter a wall of the compressor along which a medium flows; an elongated probe of a thermocouple provided and configured to measure a temperature; at least one o-ring disposed on and in contact with the elongated probe section of the thermocouple at a first end, the o-ring being configured to dampen a vibration for the thermocouple by contacting the thermowell, wherein the contact between the o-ring and the elongated probe section is loose, such that a dampening fluid is able to flow passed the o-ring and into the thermowell; and an elastomer disposed around the elongated probe section of the thermocouple at a second end, the elastomer being configured to dampen the vibration for the thermocouple by contacting the thermowell; an intake section being configured to receive the medium; a shaft and rotor assembly configured to rotate and initiate compression of the medium received from the intake section; and an outlet section being configured to discharge the compressed medium. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The compressor of claim 10, wherein the thermowell is selected from a group comprising flanged thermowells, weld-in thermowells and threaded thermowells. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The compressor of claim 10, further comprising: a second o-ring provided away from the first end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The compressor of claim 10, further comprising: a cap section configured to connect the elongated probe of the thermocouple to the thermowell via the elastomer so that a vibrational frequency of the thermocouple is different from a resonating frequency of the structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The compressor of claim 10, wherein the thermowell is exposed to the medium for of which temperature is measured. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The compressor of claim 10, the thermowell further comprising: a housing which includes a stem section which is in contact with the medium, the stem section having a length in a range of 10.16-53.34 cm, and an inner diameter in a range of 0.635-1.27 cm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The compressor of claim 15, wherein an amount of the dampening fluid disposed inside of said stem section fills approximately one half of a volume within said stem section after the probe has been inserted into said housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The compressor of claim 16, wherein the dampening fluid is a thermoconductive oil with a flash point over 350° F. ### Claim 18 A method for dampening vibrations of a thermocouple system, the method comprising: providing an elastomer in a housing piece, wherein the elastomer surrounds a first end of an elongated probe section of the thermocouple, and wherein the elongated probe section of the thermocouple is configured to measure a temperature of a medium contacting the thermocouple system; disposing at least one o-ring on and in contact with a second end of the elongated probe section of the thermocouple; disposing a dampening fluid within a housing of a thermowell in which the elongated probe section of the thermocouple is provided; and inserting the elongated probe section of the thermocouple into the thermowell, wherein the elastomer, the at least one o-ring and the dampening fluid reduce vibrations of the thermocouple, and wherein the contact between the o-ring and the elongated probe section is loose, such that the dampening fluid is able to flow passed the o-ring and into the thermowell. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: selecting the thermowell from a group comprising flanged thermowells, weld-in thermowells and threaded thermowells. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: providing a second o-ring on the elongated probe section of the thermocouple away from the first o-ring. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the housing section includes a stem section which is in contact with the medium, the stem section having a length in a range of 10.16-53.34 cm, and an inner diameter in a range of 0.635-1.27 cm. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: altering a frequency of the thermocouple system such that the frequency of the thermocouple is a different from a resonating frequency of a structure to which the thermowell is attached.