GB1130334A - Improvements in or relating to thermocouples - Google Patents

Abstract

1,130,334. Thermocouple assemblies. G. V. PLANER Ltd. 17 Dec., 1965 [8 Oct., 1964], No. 41129/64. Heading H1K. In making a thermocouple assembly thermoelements are assembled in side-by-side relationship and bonded together by glass or ceramic material which serves to mutually insulate them. Typically bars 15 (Fig. 3) alternately of P- and N-type conductivity material are assembled in the meshes of wire grids 19 in a mould 22 and the assembly impregnated with ceramic cement or molten glass. Alternatively glass or ceramic coated elements are assembled row by row between two sets of parallel wires, other wires being inserted across the two sets of wires between rows as they are formed. The assembly is then consolidated by heating. In both cases, after consolidation the assembly is removed from the mould and the ends ground down to remove the wires or grids. A chequerboard arrangement of bars can alternatively be made by first assembling sheets alternately of P- and N-type in a pile interleaved with glass sheets or glass or ceramic cement and heating to consolidate. The resulting assembly is sliced along planes transverse to the sheets and the slices suitably reassembled in a pile with further interleaves of glass, and consolidated by heat. Bismuth telluride, lead tin telluride, and a mixture of germanium telluride and silver antimony telluride are suitable thermoelement materials. Nickel or iron may be flame sprayed through masking to form direct interconnections between adjacent elements or connections between iron or nickel cups embedded in the bars before assembly. Such cups may alternatively be joined by electroplating or welded on links.