Patent ID: 6568285
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: G01B,G01L

Abstract:
A device for measuring a nip width between two rolls of a press nip, said device comprising:a) a sensor assembly, said sensor assembly including: 1) a first strip formed of a first electrically conductive material having a resistance, said first strip having a first end and a second end and a first measuring zone between said first and second ends, the first measuring zone having a first length that exceeds the nip width, the first material being carbon; 2) a second strip disposed adjacent said first strip and formed of a second electrically conductive material, said second strip having a first end and a second end and a second measuring zone disposed adjacent and substantially coextensive with said first measuring zone, the second measuring zone having a second length that exceeds the nip width, the second material being selected from the group consisting of silver and gold; 3) a gap defined between said first and second strips and electrically isolating said first and second strips from one another; and 4) wherein at least one of said first and second strips is deformable such that, when said device is placed in the press nip, pressure from the nip rolls forces portions of said first and second measuring zones into electrically conductive contact with one another over a contact area having a length, the contact area length substantially directly corresponding to the nip width; and b) a resistance measuring unit that measures an electrical resistance across said first measuring zone.