Patent ID: 8049522

Claim:
An ice thickness probe assembly configured to releasably connect to a tube, the ice thickness probe assembly comprising: a frame structure including an elongated support member and a pair of clamp members, each clamp member including a first half-block clamp part and a second half-block clamp part operative to releasably connect to each other with the tube being clamped therebetween, the support member being connected to and disposed between respective ones of the first half-block clamp parts and extending parallel to the tube; a reference bar including a pair of arms and a cross member interconnecting the pair of arms to form a generally U-shaped configuration, respective ones of the pair of arms connected to and extending perpendicularly from the support member in a forward direction, the reference bar fabricated from an electrically conductive material; and at least one ice thickness probe connected to and extending perpendicularly from the support member in the forward direction with the at least one ice thickness probe and the reference bar being disposed apart from one another, the reference bar and an end of the at least one ice thickness probe being retained by the support member to maintain the at least one ice thickness probe in a spaced parallel relationship to the pair of arms of the reference bar, with a gap between the end of the at least one ice thickness probe and the cross member of the reference bar, the at least one ice thickness probe including a probe rod fabricated from an electrically conductive material.