Sturdy sensing apparatus for measuring the temperature of a heated rubber material during its curing process and method for making same

Claim 3

A DURABLE TEMPERATURE SENSING APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING IN A CURING MOLD AND INTO A MATERIAL BEING HEATED THEREIN TO ENABLE AN ACCURATE TEMPERATURE OF THE MATERAL TO BE MADE WITHOUT THE HEAT OF SAID MOLD AFFECTING THE TEMPERATURE BEING SENSED BY SAID APPARATUS, SAID SENSING APPARATUS COMPRISING AN INSULATING PROBE, SAID PROBE HAVING A MEANS TO ACCOMMODATE THE POSITIONING OF A ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TEMPERATURE SENSING ELMENT IN SAID PROBE, SAID ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TEMPERATURE SENSING ELEMENT HAVING A TEMPERATURE SENSING END PORTION POSITIONED AT AN OUTER END SURFACE OF THE PROBE THAT IS INSERTABLE INTO SAID MATERIAL, A RIGID PROBE SUPPORT SLEEVE, A FIRST PORTION OF SAID RIGID SLEEVE BEING POSITIONED ABOUT A FIRST PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID PROBE THAT IS INSERTED INTO SAID MATERIAL AND A SECOND PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE BEING POSITIONED ABOUT AN ADJACENT PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID PROBE THAT EXTENDS INTO SAID MOLS, TWO INSULATING HOUSING MEMBERS EACH POSITIONED ABOUT SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE AND ABOUT THE OTHER END OF SAID PROBE AND SENSING, ELEMENT, AND A BUSHING POSITIONED ABOUT AND IN CONTACT WITH SAID TWO INSULATING MEMBERS TO RETAIN SAID SLEEVE AND PROBE IN FIXED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER.

Claim 4

A DURABLE TEMPERATURE SENSING APPARATUS ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING IN A CURING MOLD AND INTO A MATERIAL BEING HEATED THEREIN TO ENABLE AN ACCURATE TEMPERATURE OF THE MATERAL TO BE MADE WITHOUT THE HEAT OF SAID MOLD AFFECTING THE TEMPERATURE BEING SENSED BY SAID APPARATUS, SAID SENSING APPARATUS COMPRISING AN INSULATING PROBE, SAID PROBE HAVING A MEANS TO ACCOMMODATE THE POSITIONING OF A ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TEMPERATURE SENSING ELMENT IN SAID PROBE, SAID ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TEMPERATURE SENSING ELEMENT HAVING A TEMPERATURE SENSING END PORTION POSITIONED AT AN OUTER END SURFACE OF THE PROBE THAT IS INSERTABLE INTO SAID MATERIAL, A RIGID PROBE SUPPORT SLEEVE, A FIRST PORTION OF SAID RIGID SLEEVE BEING POSITIONED ABOUT A FIRST PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID PROBE THAT IS INSERTED INTO SAID MATERIAL AND A SECOND PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE BEING POSITIONED ABOUT AN ADJACENT PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID PROBE THAT EXTENDS INTO SAID MOLS, TWO INSULATING HOUSING MEMBERS EACH POSITIONED ABOUT SAID SECOND PORTION OF SAID SLEEVE AND ABOUT THE OTHER END OF SAID PROBE AND SENSING, ELEMENT, AND A BUSHING POSITIONED ABOUT AND IN CONTACT WITH SAID TWO INSULATING MEMBERS TO RETAIN SAID SLEEVE AND PROBE IN FIXED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER.

Claim 5

The temperature apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means in said probe is a continuous groove extending longitudinally along opposite sides and about one end of said probe.

Claim 6

The temperature sensing apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the probe is constructed of a material having substantially the same thermal transmitting characteristics as said material in said mold.

Claim 7

The temperature sensing apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said sleeve is made of a stainless steel material and said housing parts comprise means to thermally isolate said sleeve from the curing mold in which said sensing apparatus is mounted.

Claim 8

The temperature sensing apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein mating longitudinal tapered surfaces are formed on the inner wall said bushing and the outer wall of said insulating members to form a tight connection there between the large end portion of said tapered surface of said bushing being positioned about the large end of said insulating members to secure said bushing and insulating members in fixed swaged relationship with one another.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the inner wall of said bushing and the outer wall of said insulating members are each constructed of frustro conical shaped configuration that are of such dimensions as to retain said last mentioned parts in fixed swaged relationship with one another and said sleeve in fixed compressed relationship with said probe.