Patent ID: 8545096

Claim:
A sensor assembly comprising: a sensor housing having a first bore with a first diameter; a sensor tube configured to fit within said first bore of said sensor housing, said sensor tube having a first section, a second section and a second bore; a thermal sensor element disposed in said second bore of said sensor tube, wherein said first section of said sensor tube comprises a cross-sectional shape with at least three ribs formed integrally with and equally spaced about the circumference of said sensor tube, wherein the at least three ribs of the sensor tube extend axially along the sensor tube from a first end proximate a first open end of the first bore to a second end proximate a second open end of the first bore, wherein the sensor tube forms a shoulder at the first end, the shoulder having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter of the first bore, wherein the shoulder is disposed in a corresponding feature of the sensor housing at the first open end, wherein the at least three ribs are configured to reduce thermal conductivity from said sensor tube to said sensor housing, and wherein said first section of said sensor tube is configured to contact a surface of said first bore at said at least three ribs.