Abstract:
A temperature measuring device having a baffle for measuring the temperature of a moving filament is disclosed. The temperature measuring device includes a body having an inlet and an outlet for entry and exit of the moving filament. The baffle precedes the inlet, and includes at least one fin and at least one aperture adapted to reduce a fluid film associated with the moving filament.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]    The present application is a non-provisional application based on, and claiming the priority benefit of, co-pending U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/432,579, which was filed on Dec. 11, 2002, and is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE  
         [0002]    The disclosure relates to a method and device for measuring the temperature of a moving filament, and more particularly, relates to a method and device for measuring the temperature of a moving filament, having a compensation system for the effects of the velocity and temperature of a fluid film associated with the moving filament.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE  
         [0003]    Temperature measuring devices for measuring the temperature of moving filaments are known in the industry and have a wide range of applicable uses. For example, the type of filament that can be measured may include but, is not limited to, wire, fiber optic cable, film, or any other type of relatively thin or slender natural or synthetic material. The reasons for measuring such filament can vary depending on the material comprising the filament. For example, to ensure that a metal wire has been heated to an appropriate temperature to ensure proper annealing, the user may require the temperature of a wire after an annealing process. Similarly, the user may require the temperature of a wire prior to or after the wire is sheathed with insulation to ensure a proper manufacturing process or adhesion of the insulation.  
           [0004]    The types of temperature measuring devices used to obtain the temperature of the filament have evolved over time. Measuring the temperature of a moving wire can now be accomplished by non-contact means between the temperature sensor and the filament. One such non-contact means includes using one or more temperature flow sensors to measure a temperature gradient between the filament and one or more reference bodies. In a most basic explanation, the temperature of the filament in such a process is obtained as the filament moves past a heat flow sensitive surface of the one or more reference bodies. Heat will be exchanged by convection between the filament and the one or more reference bodies whenever they are not at the same temperature. This will cause heat to flow into or out of the heat sensitive surface of the one or more reference bodies. The magnitude of the heat flow will be proportional to the temperature difference between the one or more reference bodies and the filament. Using this temperature difference and other constants, the temperature of the moving filament can be calculated.  
           [0005]    In measuring the temperature of a moving filament, temperature sensing devices, including the one described above, have inherent problems to overcome. One such problem involves a fluid film that is dragged into the temperature sensing device by the moving filament. For example, as the filament is moving through the temperature sensing device, any fluid, e.g. air, that enters into the area at which the temperature sensing occurs may cause an inaccurate temperature reading of the filament. This phenomenon increases as the speed of the filament increases due to the greater amount of fluid that can enter into the temperature sensing device. Similarly, the greater the difference between temperature of the fluid, the filament, and the one or more reference bodies, the greater the inaccuracy of the filament temperature measurement.  
         SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
         [0006]    There remains a need for an improved temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of a moving filament.  
           [0007]    In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a temperature measuring device having a baffle, for measuring the temperature of a moving filament is provided. The temperature measuring device includes a body having an inlet and an outlet for entry and exit of the moving filament, and the baffle that precedes the inlet. The baffle includes at least one fin and at least one aperture adapted to reduce a fluid film associated with the moving filament.  
           [0008]    In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a baffle for use with a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of a moving filament is provided. The baffle has an inlet and an outlet for entry and exit of the moving filament, and a bore disposed between the inlet and the outlet for receiving the moving filament. The baffle further includes at least one fin disposed along the bore that is oriented generally perpendicular to the bore, and at least one aperture disposed along the bore, that is oriented generally perpendicular to the bore.  
           [0009]    In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of measuring the temperature of a moving filament is provided. The method includes moving the filament through a baffle having at least one fin and at least one aperture, and reducing a fluid film associated with the moving filament. The method further includes moving the filament through a temperature measuring device having a body including an inlet and an outlet for entry and exit of the moving filament, and measuring the temperature of the moving filament with the temperature measuring device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of one exemplary embodiment of a filament temperature measuring device as constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a bottom isometric view of the filament temperature measuring device of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the baffle in FIG. 1, but depicted in an inverted position;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of a baffle;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of another alternate embodiment of a baffle;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a front plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a filament temperature measuring device with a closed lid, as constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the filament temperature measuring device of FIG. 6 with an open lid. 
     
    
       [0017]    While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, one exemplary embodiment of a moving filament temperature measuring device is generally depicted by reference numeral  20 . As shown therein, the temperature measuring device  20  includes a housing  22 , a body  24 , and a baffle  26 .  
         [0019]    The temperature measuring device  20  will herein be described, for illustrative purposes only, as a dual reference (body) zone, non-contact type of measuring device utilizing the principles of heat flow exchange between a filament  28  and a pair of reference zones  30 ,  32  (FIG. 2) as a means to measure the temperature of the moving filament  28 . As those familiar with the art will recognize, many different types of temperature measuring devices can be used to measure the temperature of a moving filament  28 , any of which may be adapted to be utilized with the present disclosure.  
         [0020]    In one exemplary embodiment, as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2,  6 , and  7 , the housing  22  may include a first bracket  34 , a second bracket  36 , a frame  38  and a lid  40 . The frame  38 , having an upper side  42 , a first side  44  and second side  46 , is adapted to contain the body  24  and may be adapted to provide a mounting surface for the temperature measuring device  20 . The first and second brackets  34 ,  36  being adapted to mount the temperature measuring device  20  and to provide a place of attachment for the lid  40 , include a plurality of mounting holes  48 , a pair of pivot holes  50  and a first part of a closing mechanism  52 , such as a square hole. The lid  40  being adapted to provide at least a partial enclosure for the filament  28  and the body  24 , includes a pair of pivot holes  49  (FIGS. 6 and 7), a knob  54  and a second part of a closing mechanism  56 , such as a biased plug, that provides a spring force keeping the lid  40  closed against, for example, gravity.  
         [0021]    In this exemplary embodiment, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2,  6 , and  7 , the first bracket  34  is mounted to the first side  44  of the frame  38 , and the second bracket  36  is mounted to the second side  46  of the frame  38 , such that the mounting holes  48  and square holes  52  on the brackets  34 ,  36 , are located on the outer parts of the temperature measuring device  20 . A pivot member  58  (FIG. 6) such as a pivot pin pivotally connects the lid  40  to one of the brackets  34 ,  36 , and in this example, to the first bracket  34 . The lid  40  is connected to the first bracket  34  by placing the pivot pin  58  through both the pivot holes  49  in the lid  40  and the pivot holes  48  in the first mounting bracket  34 , thereby allowing the lid  40  to pivot about the pivot holes  49 ,  50  and pivot pin  58  to open and close the temperature measuring device  20 . The biased plug  56  located on the lid  40  opposite the pivot holes  49 , is adapted to engage with the square hole  52  located on the second bracket  36 .  
         [0022]    More specifically, when the temperature measuring device  20  is in the open position (FIGS. 1 and 7) the lid  40  will be connected to the first bracket  34  via the pivot holes  50  and the pivot pin  58 , such that the lid  40  will be able to hang in a downwardly direction. In the open position, the user will have access to the body  24  and the filament  28  of the temperature measuring device  20  to enable the user to change the filament  28 , clean the body  24 , and/or to generally have access to the body  24  of the temperature measuring device  20 . In the closed position (FIG. 6), the lid  40 , while being pivotally connected to the first bracket  34 , will be removably connected to the second bracket  36  by engagement of the first and second portions  52 ,  56  of the closing mechanism, such that the lid  40  will at least partially enclose the body  24  to protected the body  24  and/or the filament  28  from the environment. For example, when the lid  40  and the first bracket  34  are pivotally connected, the user may grasp the lid  40  by the knob  54  and rotate the lid  40  about the pivot pin  58 , such that the side of the lid  40  opposite the pivot holes  49  rotates toward the second bracket  36  until the first and second portions  52 ,  56  of the closing mechanism engage.  
         [0023]    The first bracket  34  and the mounting holes  48  thereon may be used to mount the temperature measuring device  20  to a machine  60  or other mounting surface. More specifically, the user, when the lid  40  is pivotally connected to the first bracket  34 , may desire to mount the temperature measuring device  20  via the first bracket  34 , thereby pivoting the lid  40  on the first bracket  34  and allowing the user a more direct access to the body  24  and filament  28  without having to encounter the lid  40  as an obstacle. The user may mount the temperature measuring device  20  via the mounting holes  48 , for example, by fastening the first bracket  34  to the machine  60  or other mounting surface with fasteners  62 , such as bolts or screws, via the mounting holes  48 . It is conceivable that the user may desire to mount the temperature measuring device  20  via the second bracket  36  even though the lid  40  is pivotally connected to the first bracket  34 , but the lid  40  would pivot near the front of the temperature measuring device  20  causing the user to encounter the lid  40  in order to access the body  24  and the filament  28 .  
         [0024]    The mounting scheme of the user may not be known prior to manufacture of the temperature measuring device  20 . That is to say, the manufacturer may not know prior to the manufacture of the temperature measuring device  20 , whether the user will mount the temperature measuring device  20  via the first bracket  34  or the second bracket  36 . To enable the mounting of the temperature measuring device  20  via either the first bracket  34  or the second bracket  36 , without need for any additional hardware, the brackets  34 ,  36  may be identical and may be mounted on the temperature measuring device  20  such that the brackets  34 ,  36  are mirror images of each other. By providing matching brackets  34 ,  36 , the user may mount the temperature measuring device  20  via either the first bracket  34  or the second bracket  36 , and may pivotally connect the pivot holes  49  of the lid  40  to the pivot holes  50  of either the first bracket  34  or the second bracket  36 , while engaging the second part  56  of the closing mechanism on either the second bracket  36  or the first bracket  34 , respectively.  
         [0025]    In this embodiment, wherein for illustrative proposes only, the temperature measuring device  20  is a dual reference zone non-contact temperature measuring device, the body  24  includes, as depicted in FIG. 2, an inlet  64 , an outlet  66 , the first reference zone  30  including an upper surface  68  and a lower surface  70 , the second reference zone  32  including an upper surface  68  and a lower surface  70 , and a first and a second temperature flow sensor (not shown) located within or near the first and second reference zones  30 ,  32 , respectively. The body  24  may further include an inlet spacer  72  and/or an outlet spacer  74  located adjacent the inlet  64  and the outlet  66  of the body  24 , respectively.  
         [0026]    The first reference zone  30  includes, near a first end  76 , the inlet  64  of the body  24 . Abutting the first reference zone  30  at a second end  78  is a first end  80  of the second references zone  32 . Similarly, located near a second end  82  of the second reference zone  32  is the outlet  66  of the body  24 . Located near the center of the first and second reference zones  30 ,  32  and extending from the inlet  64  to the outlet  66  of the body  24  is a groove  84 , adapted to allow for placement of the filament  28  into a filament bore  86 . The filament bore  86 , located at the closed end of the groove  84  is generally located toward the middle of the upper and lower surfaces  68 ,  70  of the first and second reference zones  30 ,  32 . The first and second reference zones  30 ,  32  may be constructed of a heat conductive material, including but not limited to, aluminum.  
         [0027]    The inlet and outlet spacers  72 ,  74 , as shown in FIG. 2, may be constructed of the same or similar material as the reference zones  30 ,  32 , such as for example, if it is desired for the inlet and outlet spacers  72 ,  74  to conduct the heat of the reference zones  30 ,  32 . It is also conceivable, however, that it may be desirable for the heat of the reference zones  30 ,  32  not be conducted to the inlet and outlet spacers  72 ,  74 , in which case, the inlet and the outlet spacer  72 ,  74  may be constructed of a non-conductive material such as plastic, or the like. The groove  84  and filament bore  86  located within the reference zones  30 ,  32  may extend into the inlet and outlet spacers  72 ,  74  to allow the passing of the filament  28 .  
         [0028]    The inlet and outlet spacers  72 ,  74  may each contain a filament guide  88  (shown best in FIG. 5), and more specifically may each contain a filament guide  88  located in line with the filament bore  86 . The filament guide  88  may be constructed from hard, non-conductive materials, such as from a ceramic, but may be constructed from any material able to achieve its intended purpose. Alternatively and/or additionally, filament guides  88  may be located in the body  24  and/or the baffle  26 .  
         [0029]    The baffle  26 , as depicted in FIGS. 3, 4 and  5 , includes a top  90 , a bottom  92 , a front side  94 , a rear side  96 , a first side  98 , and a second side  100 . The baffle  26  further includes a continuation of the groove  84 , a continuation of the filament bore  86 , a pair of mounting holes  102 , one or more apertures  104 , and one or more fins  106 . The baffle  26  as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, may be mounted directly to the first reference zone  30  and may be constructed of similar heat conductive material as the reference zones  30 ,  32 , such that the baffle  26  may receive and conduct heat from the first reference zone  30 .  
         [0030]    More specifically, the rear side  96  of the baffle  26  may be mounted to the first end  76  of the first reference zone  30 , such that the groove  84  and filament bore  86  extent contiguously from the baffle  26  through the first and the second reference zones  30 ,  32  and spacers  72 ,  74 , if applicable. The baffle  26  can be mounted in any number of ways, and may be mounted to the first reference zone  30  via a pair of fasteners (not shown) through the mounting holes  102  of the baffle  26 . The one or more fins  106  and the one or more apertures  104  are located toward the bottom  92  half of the baffle  26  and may be situated perpendicular to the groove  84  and filament bore  86 . More specifically, the one or more apertures  104  and the one or more fins  106  may extend from the first side  98  of the baffle  26  to the second side  100  of the baffle  26 , and may only be interrupted by the groove  84  and the filament bore  86 . The depth of the one or more of fins  106  and the one or more apertures  104  may be deep enough to ensure the one or more of fins  106  and the one or more apertures  104  be at least near the filament bore  86 .  
         [0031]    The baffle  26  may further include chamfers  108  located along the intersections of the groove  84  and the bottom  92  of the baffle  26  to aid in the installation of the filament  28  into the temperature sensing device  20 . Conversely, the edges of the fins  106  located at the groove  84  and filament bore  86  may be sharp to enable better engagement of the fins  106  with the fluid film being dragged by the moving filament  28 .  
         [0032]    The baffle  26  may include various other configurations of fins  106  and apertures  104 , as shown in another exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, not all of the fins  106  and apertures  104  extend from the first side  98  to the second side  100  of the baffle  26 , but may rather be any length or depth able to accomplish the reduction of the fluid film into the temperature sensing device  20 . For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the fins  106  and apertures  104  may only be fractions of an inch wide and deep, and may be staggered in a particular pattern to, once again, reduce the amount of the fluid film into the temperature sensing device  20 .  
         [0033]    In another exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, the baffle  26  may included a cover portion  110 , and may include one or more additional filament guides  88 . The cover portion  110  may be an attached to the lid  40 , such that when the lid  40  is opened and closed, the cover portion  110  of the baffle  26  disengages and engages the baffle  26 . As shown in this embodiment, the orientation of the fins  106  and apertures  104  relative to the filament bore  86  is not restricted to any particular side, but may be oriented to any and all sides of the filament bore  86 . Similarly, the baffle  26  may be of any shape and size, including round, square, or any other conceivable shape.  
         [0034]    Located on the fins  106  may be additional holes  112  or venting means to distribute the fluid flow within the baffle  26 . More particularly, as shown in FIG. 5, the fins  106  may include one or more venting holes  112  that may double as mounting holes  102  (shown in FIG. 1). The venting means may further include any means of providing a flow of fluid between fins  106 , including but not limited to, manufacturing the fins  106  from screen-like material.  
         [0035]    In operation, it is desired to obtain the most accurate temperature of the filament  28  as it passes through the temperature sensing device  20 . The temperature sensing device  20  may be installed and mounted according to the moving direction of the filament  28 , such that the filament  28  moves from the inlet  64  of the temperature sensing device  20  toward the outlet  66  of the temperature sensing device  20 . For ease of description, the operation of the temperature sensing device  20  will herein be described as if the temperature sensing device  20  is mounted via the first bracket  34 , and the lid  40  is pivotally connected to the first bracket  34  via the pivot holes  49 ,  50  and pivot pin  58 .  
         [0036]    In one exemplary embodiment, as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and  7 , the user may insert the filament  28  into the filament bore  86 , by first opening and disengaging the second portion  56  of the closing mechanism from the first portion  52  of the closing mechanism, thereby opening the lid  40  and allowing for the insertion the filament  28  into the filament bore  86  through the groove  84 . Once the filament  28  is located within the filament bore  86 , the user may close the lid  40  by rotating the lid  40  by the knob  54  toward the second bracket  36 , eventually engaging the first and second portions  52 ,  56  of the closing mechanism. Prior to moving and measuring the temperature of the filament  28 , the user may properly prepare the temperature sensing device  20  for use such as calibrating, powering-up or warming-up the temperature sensing device  20 .  
         [0037]    Once the filament  28  begins to move the temperature sensing device  20  may begin to measure the temperature of the moving filament  28 . The temperature of the filament  28  may be any temperature, but most often is in the range from about 50° F. to about 525° F. and may be any speed, but once again is most often in the range from about 60 meters per minute to about 4000 meters per minute. This discloser is, however, not limited to the value ranges of temperature and speed identified above, but as those skilled in the art will recognize, may include both temperatures and speeds above and below the ranges identified.  
         [0038]    Once the filament  28  is moving, especially at higher speeds, the filament  28  may flutter thereby creating a wave-like or up-and-down motion in the filament  28 . This fluttering phenomenon may cause the moving filament  28 , which may be at temperatures upwards of 525° F., to contact or brush against various portions of the temperature sensing device  20 . To prevent damage to either the filament  28  and/or the temperature sensing device  20 , one or more filament guides  88  may be strategically located along the filament bore  86  to buffer contact between the fast moving heated filament  28  and the temperature sensing device  20 . For example, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2,  4 , and  5  filament guides  88  may be located in the baffle  26 , the spacers  72 ,  74  and/or the reference zones  30 ,  32 .  
         [0039]    As the filament  28  moves through the fluid, in this example air, an air film is created a round the filament  28  causing the moving filament  28  to drag unwanted air into the temperature sensing device  20 , thereby affecting the accuracy of the temperature measurement of the filament  28 . The baffle  26 , located prior to the body  24  of the temperature sensing device  20  may reduce the amount of the air film that is dragged into the temperature sensing device  20 , by forcing the air film to pass one or more fins  106  and apertures  104 . More specifically, as the filament  28  moves through the baffle  26 , the one or more fins  106  and apertures  104  may change the aerodynamics of the air film around the filament  28 . The one or more fins  106  and apertures  104  may, for example, create a turbulent airflow around the filament  28  by the passage of the air film past the one or more fins  106  and apertures  104 , thereby reducing the amount of air film that enters the body  24  of the temperature sensing device  20 , and ultimately reducing the inaccuracy of the temperature measurement of the filament  28 .  
         [0040]    Additionally or alternatively, to reduce the amount of air film that enters the body  24  of the temperature sensing device  20 , the baffle  26  may be heated to preheat the air entering the temperature sensing device  20 , to reduce the inaccuracies of the temperature measurement of the filament  28  caused by the entering air. For example, because the temperature measurement of the filament  28  may be accomplished by the relative difference of the filament  28  to the reference zone  30 , any air that enters into the filament bore  86  that is not at the temperature of the reference zone  30  or filament  28 , may reduce the accuracy of the temperature measurement of the filament  28 . By heating or preheating the air prior to entering the temperature sensing device  20 , the air that does eventually enter may be at a closer temperature to either the filament  28  or the reference zone  30 , thereby making the temperature reading of the filament  28  more accurate.  
         [0041]    The baffle  26  may be heated in any number of ways, and may be heated by the first reference zone  30 . More specifically, the baffle  26  may be mounted to the first reference zone  30  either directly or indirectly. If mounted directly, such as in FIG. 1, the baffle  26  need only be constructed of heat conducting material, thereby conducting heat from the first reference zone  30  to the baffle  26 . If mounted indirectly to the first reference zone  30 , such as in FIG. 2, wherein the inlet spacer  72  separates the baffle  26  and the first reference zone  30 , the inlet spacer  72  and the baffle  26  can be constructed of heat conducting material, thereby conducting heat from the first reference zone  30 , to the inlet spacer  72  and then to the baffle  26 .  
         [0042]    The preheating of the air entering the temperature sensing device  20  may further be aided by proper positioning and orientation of the baffle  26 . More specifically, as is known in the art, warm air rises and cooler air settles, and as seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, the filament bore  86  has an enclosure located above it. For example, in FIG. 1 the apertures  104  of the baffle  26  only open to the bottom  92  and the first and second sides  98 ,  100  of the baffle  26 , thereby preventing a substantial amount of heated air from escaping in an upward direction from the baffle  26 . By preventing the heated air from escaping in an upward directing, the filament bore  86  can entrap heated air in the filament bore  86 . Similarly, as seen in FIG. 5, the apertures  104  of the baffle  26  are enclosed by the cover portion  110  of the baffle  26 , thereby preventing heated air from escaping in an upward direction.  
         [0043]    The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.