Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system – Performance or efficiency evaluation
Reexamination Certificate
2006-01-03
2006-01-03
Nghiem, Michael (Department: 2863)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system
Performance or efficiency evaluation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06983223
ABSTRACT:
A system and method is presented for detecting the degradation of a thermocouple circuit prior to failure and the prediction of certain impending thermocouple failures. The detection system monitors the loop resistance of the measurement circuit and isolates the heat affected loop resistance changes from the degraded circuit changes. The monitoring circuit is divided into a sheathed portion, generally exposed to the temperature measurement, and an unsheathed portion of the monitoring system generally at ambient temperature. An algorithm is provided for standard instrumentation systems to predict certain types of impending failure in thermocouple temperature measurement circuits. The algorithm essentially compensates the loop resistance measurements by removing the heat affected sheathed portion loop resistance changes computed from the initial unsheathed portion resistance based on manufacturers parameters specific to a thermocouple and an initial loop resistance measurement, leaving only those changes due to degradations in the unsheathed portion of the circuit.
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Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
Lau Tung S.
Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
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