Patent ID: 7168852

Claim:
In combination, a thermocouple unit useful in recording cooling curves in connection with thermal analysis of molten cast irons, said thermocouple unit comprising: a) a first thermocouple; b) a second thermocouple; c) a central part joined to said first thermocouple and said second thermocouple, said central part including means for connecting said first and second thermocouples to a calculation device; and d) information transfer means to transfer to the calculation device calibration data and/or traceability data relating to said first and second thermocouples, said information transfer means being provided on the central part; wherein said first thermocouple is adapted for recording cooling curves in the center of a molten cast iron sample contained in a sample vessel, and said second thermocouple is adapted for recording cooling curves in said cast iron sample adjacent to the sample vessel wall; and a thermocouple holder useful in recording cooling curves in connection with thermal analysis of molten cast irons, said thermocouple holder comprising: a) a cylindrical bushing adapted to be fixed to the first and second thermocouples of the thermocouple unit, said cylindrical bushing also having a position indicator; and b) a head part having a fastener to attach the thermocouple holder to a sampling unit, said head part allowing access to the information transfer means of the thermocouple unit, wherein said cylindrical bushing is flexibly coupled to the head part in an axially compliant manner.