Signals and indicators – Indicators – Temperature responsive or compensating means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-10
2001-10-23
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Indicators
Temperature responsive or compensating means
C116S217000, C374S160000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305313
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to a temperature indicator for providing a visual indication of whether a fluid (i.e., gas or liquid) has exceeded a specified design temperature and, more particularly, this invention relates to a temperature indicator that is adapted for mounting in an aperture provided in a conduit carrying the fluid and, still more particularly, the present invention relates to a temperature indicator for indicating whether compressed air flowing in a conduit of a two-stage type air compressor has exceeded a specified design temperature.
2. Description of the Related Art
The inventive temperature indicator is seen to have particular application to the field of air compressors and, most particularly, to two-stage type air compressors which incorporate or utilize an intercooler system for cooling an already compressed air exiting from a first low compression stage and prior to entry into a second high compression stage. Even more particularly, the inventive temperature indicator is seen to have application to a thermostatically controlled intercooler system incorporated into or utilized by a two-stage type air compressor, wherein, in order to prevent the undue formation of condensate in the intercooler, at least a portion of the air exiting the first low compression stage is passed through the intercooler apparatus and then mixed with the remainder of the air that bypasses the intercooler in order to achieve a predetermined inlet temperature to the second high compression stage.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is the provision of a temperature indicator which provides an easily observable visual indication of whether a fluid contained in a container or flowing through a conduit has, at some time, exceeded a specified temperature.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of such a temperature indicator which is reliable in operation, rather simple in design and, therefore, relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of such a temperature indicator which can be used to monitor the communication of air in a conduit of an air compressor, particularly, a two-stage air compressor having an intercooler mechanism provided between a first low pressure cylinder and a second high pressure cylinder thereof and, even more particularly, a two-stage air compressor wherein a bypass of the intercooler mechanism is thermostatically controlled.
In addition to the objects and advantages of the present invention described above, various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention generally features a temperature indicator for indicating when a specified temperature has been exceeded in a fluid flow through a conduit, such conduit having an aperture, and the temperature indicator being mountable in such aperture and engagable therewith such that the temperature indicator projects through such aperture and into such fluid flow in such conduit. The temperature indicator includes a housing which substantially encloses an internal chamber and has a bore extending from the internal chamber to an external surface of the housing. An indicator member is disposed, at least in part, within the internal chamber and extends into the bore. A biasing element is disposed within the internal chamber and exerts a biasing force between the housing and the indicator member and urges the indicator member toward the bore and a bonding agent forming a bond between the indicator member and the housing to thereby restrain the indicator member from movement toward the bore under action of the biasing element. The bonding agent is thermosensitive to substantially release the bond between the indicator member and the housing when a temperature of the bonding agent substantially reaches the specified temperature.
In another aspect, the invention generally features a temperature indicator for indicating when a specified temperature has been exceeded in a fluid flow through a conduit of a two-stage air compressor. The air compressor includes at least one low pressure cylinder for receiving air at an ambient atmospheric pressure and for compressing such air to a first elevated pressure. The air compressor also has a high pressure cylinder for receiving such air at such first elevated pressure and for compressing such air at such first elevated pressure to a second elevated pressure substantially higher than the first elevated pressure and a conduit for supplying such air at the first elevated pressure to the high pressure cylinder. The temperature indicator is mounted in the conduit such that the temperature indicator projects through the conduit and into such fluid flow in the conduit. The temperature indicator includes a housing substantially enclosing an internal chamber, the housing having a bore extending from the internal chamber to an external surface of the housing and an indicator member disposed, at least in part, within the internal chamber and extending from the internal chamber and into the bore. A biasing element is disposed within the internal chamber and exerts a biasing force between the housing and the indicator member to urge the indicator member toward the bore. A bonding agent forms a bond between the indicator member and the housing to thereby restrain the indicator member from movement toward the bore under action of the biasing element. The bonding agent is thermosensitive to substantially release the bond between the indicator member and the housing when a temperature of the bonding agent substantially reaches the specified temperature.
In yet another aspect, the invention generally features a temperature indicator assembly for indicating when a specified temperature has been exceeded in a fluid flow through a conduit. Such conduit has an aperture and the temperature indicator assembly is mountable in such aperture and engagable therewith such that the temperature indicator assembly projects through such aperture and into such fluid flow in such conduit. The temperature indicator assembly includes a cartridge holder for engagement with such aperture in such channel. The cartridge holder includes a concavity formed therein and a bore extending from the concavity to an external surface of the cartridge holder. A cartridge is provided for attachment to the cartridge holder. The cartridge includes a base member, a cylinder portion extending outwardly from the base member and an indicator member having a piston portion and a stem portion extending outwardly from the piston portion. The piston portion of the indicator member and the cylinder portion of the cartridge being slidingly mated for coaxial movement therebetween. A biasing element is disposed between the piston portion and the base member and urges the piston portion away from the base member. A bonding agent forms a bond between the indicator member and the cylinder portion to thereby restrain the indicator member from movement away from the base member under action of the biasing element. The bonding agent is thermosensitive to substantially release the bond between the indicator member and the cylinder portion when a temperature of the bonding agent substantially reaches the specified temperature. The temperature indicator additionally includes a mechanism for releasably attaching the cartridge to the cartridge holder to thereby form an assembled structure and the stem portion of the indicator member extends into the bore in the assembled structure.
The present invention will now be described by way of a particular preferred embodiment, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
REFERENCES:
patent: 3245260 (1966-04-01), Werner
patent:
Cunkelman Brian L.
Ray Jennifer L.
Gutierrez Diego
James Ray & Associates
Pruchnic Jr. Stanley J.
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
LandOfFree
Pop-up temperature indicator for use in a 3-CD type air... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pop-up temperature indicator for use in a 3-CD type air..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pop-up temperature indicator for use in a 3-CD type air... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2609024