US2447382A - Thermometer - Google Patents

Description

E. s. WHlTTlE IR THERMOMETER Filed Jan. 5, 1946 OVEN-"0-;- TH ERMO METER /NVENTOB H/s ATTORNEX Patented Aug. 17, 1948 THERMOMETER Elmer S. Whittier, Bristol, Conn., assignor to The Cooper Oven Thermometer Company, Pequabuck, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application January 5, 1946, Serial No. 639,318

2 Claims.

This invention relates to thermometers and comprises all of the features of novelty herein disclosed. An object of the invention is to improve the construction of thermometers and reduce the cost, particularly for use in ovens or refrigerators. Another object is to simplify the construction and eliminate prior assembly operations, as by making the supporting frame and the dial as a unit, and by protecting the pointer in a recess of the dial and protecting the thermostatic actuating means in an angle between the dial portion and a supporting base. Another object is to provide a thermometer which can be easily cleaned and which will not be subject to discoloration or breakage of glass. Still another object is to provide improved and simple means for setting the pointer with respect to dial graduations.

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of this character, the invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed. In its broader aspects, the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific construction selected for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of a portion of Fig. 2.

The frame or body of the thermometer comprises a supporting flange or base 2, an upwardly extending face plate or dial portion 4 which has a circular depression or recess 6 and a hanger or hook B at the top. The base will support the thermometer upon the shelf or floor of an oven or refrigerator or, optionally, the thermometer may be hung by the hook upon a rack or grid. The base and dial plate make an angle at ll] of somewhat less than 90 so that the face plate or dial portion will take an inclined position for easy reading. Also when the hook is used as a hanger, the dial portion will take a similar inclined position because the center of gravity of the device lies back of the dial portion. The frame or body is heat resistant and may consist of aluminum or coated metal, the coating being on the front and preferably of porcelain enamel extending upwardly from. the bend H! to cover the whole of the upright portion of the frame. The base 2 need not be coated and hence the porcelain will not be cracked or chipped when the bend at I is made or changed.

The circular depression 6 serves as a protecting housing for a pointer l2 which is riveted to the end of a shaft or arbor M which is journalled 2 for turning movement in a flanged sleeve or bushing I6 extending through holes in the dial portion and in the end wall 18 of a cupped housing 25. The rear end of the arbor is enlarged and diametrically slotted to receive the bent inner end of a spiral thermostatic element 22. The outer end or anchoring arm 24 of this element extends radially through a slot in the housing 20 and then terminates in a short retaining lug 26.

To avoid any necessity for adjustably securing the anchoring arm to the housing 20, the bushing I6 is not tight in the face plate but preferably has frictional engagement externally therewith. Thus all of the parts supported by the bushing can be turned as a unit to set the pointer in the proper relation to the dial graduations. If desired, the bushing may be tight in the dial opening and the housing frictionally engaged with the bushing for rotative adjustment. If desired, the housing 2! may be closed by a cap 28 as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 4 although the housing and contents are well protected from mechanical injury in the angle between the dial portion and its supporting base.

By the foregoing construction in which dial 7 and frame are made as a unit with a depression for the pointer, the costly assembly operations and additional elements of prior devices are avoided and utter simplicity is attained. There is no need of a bezel and a glass which is subject to breakage and clouding up by contact with steam and greasy vapors to impair easy reading. The dial is directly accessible for easy cleaning without removing a glass and bezel. The entire front face of the body can be used as a dial with plenty of room for large letters and numbers which condition would not exist in a thermometer of the same body size having frame and dial as separate parts. Difierential expansion and contraction of connected parts is substantially eliminated. The elimination of parts previously considered essential or important decreases expense and weight which decreases heat conduction and makes the thermometer quickly responsive.

I claim:

1. In a thermometer, a self-supporting frame of angular form comprising a supporting base and an inclined face plate connected to and making an acute angle with the base, the inclined face plate having an outer area provided with a dial and surrounding a central pointer-receiving recess which is pressed back into the angle from the plate, a pointer in the recess, a housing mounted at the rear of the recess and contained within the angle, and thermostatic operating means mounted in the housing and having a connection with the pointer.

2. In a thermometer, a self-supporting frame of angular form comprising a base and an inclined face .plate making an acute angle with the base, the inclined face plate having an outer area provided with, a, dial and surrounding a central pointer-' receiving' recess which is pressed back into the angle from the face plate, a pointer in the recess, a housing at the rear of the recess and contained within said angle, a shaft connected to the pointer, a thermostatic element connected to the shaft and to the housing, a bushing passing through the recessed area-of the-faceplate and forming a bearing for the shaft, and the bushing being tightly engaged with the housing and having frictional engagement with the face plate to enable all parts to be turned. with respect to the face plate.

- S. WHITTIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,423,257 Richardson July, 18, 1922 1,638,276 Schultz Aug. 9, 1927 1,692,551 Harris Nov. 20, 1928 1,926,808 Hastings Sept. 12, 1933 2,282,277 Whittier May 5, 1942 2,371,603 Bradley Mar. 20, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 1 Number Country Date 750,756 France June 6, 1933

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