The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 12, 1991
Filed:
Feb. 07, 1990
Serge P Barton, Oviedo, FL (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A sensor assembly comprising a rod-shaped thermally conductive element oriented radially with respect to a flow pipe and two or more thermocouples installed on the thermally conductive element. A first end of the thermally conductive element is arranged in contact with or in thermal communication with the outer periphery of the pipe, while a second end of the thermally conductive element is spaced from the pipe. As a result of heat conduction through the pipe to the first end, a temperature gradient is provided across the thermally conductive element. The temperature gradient exhibits a relatively high temperature near the first end and a relatively low temperature near the second end. The thermocouples are installed along the length of the thermally conductive element. One thermocouple is arranged nearer to the pipe than the other thermocouple. Temperature dependent signals obtained from the thermocouples are transmitted to suitable evaluation electronics. The evaluational electronics determines a temperature difference between the two thermocouples based on the thermocouple signals. The temperature difference is then compared with known or preset values to determine the flow status of the pipe.