阅读说明：本技术 液体膨胀温度计及其制造方法 (Liquid expansion thermometer and method for manufacturing same ) 是由 让-马尔卡·阿拉 于 2018-06-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种液体膨胀温度计(1),包括：-测温液体(4)的贮液器(3),与毛细管(2)的第一端(22)一体制成；-透明材料的管状壳体(7),包括壳体的第一端(74)和壳体的第二端(76)；以及-刻度尺(5),面向所述毛细管(2)的至少一部分；所述贮液器(3)包括外表面(33),该外表面延伸至管状壳体(7)的第二端(76)的内表面(721),并且该温度计包括固定装置(8),该固定装置一方面用于固定管状壳体(7)第二端的所述内表面(721),并且另一方面用于固定所述贮液器(3)的所述外表面(33)或所述毛细管(2)。(The invention relates to a liquid expansion thermometer (1) comprising: -a reservoir (3) for a temperature measuring liquid (4), made integral with the first end (22) of the capillary tube (2); -a tubular housing (7) of transparent material comprising a first end (74) of the housing and a second end (76) of the housing; -a scale (5) facing at least a portion of the capillary tube (2); the reservoir (3) comprises an outer surface (33) extending to an inner surface (721) of the second end (76) of the tubular housing (7), and the thermometer comprises fixation means (8) for fixing said inner surface (721) of the second end of the tubular housing (7) on the one hand, and for fixing said outer surface (33) of the reservoir (3) or said capillary tube (2) on the other hand.)

1. A liquid expansion thermometer comprising:

a/liquid receiver (3) of temperature measuring liquid (4)

b/a capillary tube (2) in fluid communication with the reservoir (3) comprising a first end (22) and a second end (23)

c/a tubular casing (7) of transparent material comprising:

-an outer surface (71),

an inner surface (72) delimiting an inner volume (73),

-a first end (74) of the housing,

-a second end (76) of the housing comprising a closing wall (77) closing said inner volume (73) and comprising an inner surface (721) formed by a portion of said inner surface (72) of said tubular housing (7),

the reservoir (3) is located at a second end (76) of the housing,

the capillary tube (2) extending into the inner volume (73) of the tubular housing (7), and

d/scale (5) facing at least a portion of the capillary tube (2);

characterized in that the reservoir (3) is formed integrally with the first end (22) of the capillary tube (2),

the reservoir (3) comprising an outer surface (33), an inner surface (721) extending to the second end (76) of the tubular housing (7),

the liquid expansion thermometer comprises a fixation means (8) located between the inner surface (721) of the second end (76) of the tubular housing (7) and the outer surface (33) of the reservoir (3) or the capillary tube (2).

2. Liquid expansion thermometer according to claim 1, the closing wall (77) of the second end (76) of the housing having an inner surface (771) in the shape of a concave spherical cap.

3. Liquid expansion thermometer according to claim 2, the reservoir (3) having a free end (32) the outer surface (331) of which is a convex spherical cap.

4. Liquid expansion thermometer according to claim 1 or 2, the tubular housing (7) comprising a tubular body (7a) of circular cross-section with a constant or substantially constant diameter D, the tubular body (7a) being extended by a tubular joint (7c) of circular cross-section with a constant or substantially constant diameter D smaller than D, the free end of the tubular joint (7c) constituting the second end (76) of the tubular housing.

5. Liquid expansion thermometer according to any of the claims 1 to 4, the fixation means (8) comprising adhesive means (8) located between the outer surface (33) of the reservoir (3) and the inner surface (721) of the second end (76) of the tubular housing.

6. Liquid expansion thermometer according to claim 5, the adhesive means (8) consisting of a silicone type adhesive (8).

7. Liquid expansion thermometer according to claim 5 or 6, the adhesive means (8) consisting of a glue (8) at least partially coating the reservoir (3) and having a color which is the same as or at least similar to the color of the temperature measuring liquid (4).

8. Liquid expansion thermometer according to one of the claims 1 to 7, the tubular housing (7) and the capillary tube (2) being made of glass.

9. Liquid expansion thermometer according to one of the claims 1 to 8, the capillary tube (2) comprising a flat outer surface on which a label (6) with the scale (5) is fixed.

10. Method of manufacturing a liquid expansion thermometer (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps of:

-preparing a tubular housing (7) having an inner volume (73) open outwards at a first end (74) and closed by a closing wall (77) at a second end (76),

-preparing a capillary tube (2) having a reservoir (3) for liquid at a first end (22) and containing the temperature measuring liquid (4),

-introducing the capillary tube (2) into the tubular housing (7) to position the reservoir (3) at a second end (76) of the tubular housing (7) closed by the closing wall (77),

-fixing the reservoir (3) and/or the capillary tube (2) with the tubular housing (7), and

-closing a first end (74) of the tubular housing (7).

11. Method of manufacturing a liquid expansion thermometer (1) according to claim 10, comprising the preparation of a capillary tube (2) provided with a reservoir (3) at a first end (22), comprising the following sequence of operations:

-a capillary (2) for supplying glass, the internal volume of which is open towards the outside at both ends (22, 23) thereof,

-heating a first end (22) of the capillary tube (2) in order to soften the material at the first end,

-closing the first end (22) of the capillary tube (2) and placing the reservoir (3) at the closed first end (22).

12. Method for manufacturing a liquid expansion thermometer (1) according to claim 11, the shaping operation of the reservoir (3) being effected rationally by blowing air into the capillary tube (2) through the open second end (23) after placing the first end (22) in a shaping mold (M).

13. Method of manufacturing a liquid expansion thermometer (1) according to claim 11 or 12, comprising the steps of: -introducing a liquid or semi-liquid adhesive into the inner volume (73) of the tubular housing (7) at the second end (76) of the tubular housing, at least on the inner surface (771) of the closing wall (77) of the second end, before the operation of introducing the capillary tube (2) into the tubular housing (7) and bringing the reservoir (3) into contact with an adhesive means (8) to adhere the reservoir (3) to the inner surface (721) of the second end (76) of the tubular housing (7).

14. Method of manufacturing a liquid expansion thermometer (1) according to any of the claims from 10 to 13, comprising the following operations: -fixing a label (6) provided with the scale (5) with the capillary tube (2) before introducing the capillary tube (2) into the tubular housing (7).

Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to the field of temperature measurement instruments.

In particular, the present invention relates to liquid expansion thermometers and methods of making such thermometers.

Background

We are familiar with a method of manufacturing a liquid expansion thermometer which comprises forming a blank from a tube of transparent material, in particular glass, the blank comprising a main body portion (a smaller diameter tube portion) extending from a plunger, the blank being open at both ends.

In parallel, starting from a capillary tube open at both ends, a circular flange is formed at one of the open ends, the outer diameter and play of which correspond to the inner diameter of the plunger.

Introducing the flanged capillary end into the blank to a position slightly above the free end of the plunger; the outer boundary of the flange is fixed to the inner wall of the plunger.

The free end of the plunger is then closed to form a reservoir in communication with the capillary wick.

Then, with the capillary tube remaining open at the end, the reservoir and a portion of the capillary tube are filled with a thermally expandable liquid (referred to as a temperature measuring liquid). The open capillary end is closed; the label with the measuring scale is fixed in the core of the blank by gluing to a capillary.

Finally, the ends of the blank that may remain open are subjected to a closing process.

However, such a procedure requires a large number of relatively long and delicate manual operations, which increases the production costs of the thermometer.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention proposes a liquid expansion thermometer comprising:

a/a liquid reservoir for measuring temperature,

b/a capillary tube in fluid communication with the reservoir, comprising a first end and a second end

c/a tubular casing of transparent material, comprising

-an outer surface,

-an inner surface delimiting an inner volume,

-a first end of the housing,

-a second end of the housing comprising a closing wall closing the inner volume and comprising an inner surface formed by a portion of the inner surface of the tubular housing,

the reservoir is located at the second end of the housing,

the capillary tube extending into the interior volume of the tubular housing, and

d/scale facing at least a portion of the capillary;

in the thermometer, the liquid reservoir is formed integrally with the first end of the capillary tube,

the reservoir includes an outer surface extending to the inner surface of the second end of the tubular housing,

wherein it comprises fixation means between said inner surface of the second end of the tubular housing and said outer surface of the reservoir or said capillary.

Considering the invention alone or in any technically possible combination, other non-limiting and advantageous features of the thermometer are as follows:

the closing wall of the second end of the housing has the inner surface of a concave spherical cap.

-the outer surface of the free end of the reservoir is a convex spherical cap.

-said tubular housing comprises a tubular body of circular section with a constant or substantially constant diameter D, extended by a tubular joint of circular section with a constant or substantially constant diameter D (smaller than D), the free end of said tubular joint constituting said housing second end;

-said fixation means comprise bonding means between the outer surface of said reservoir and the inner surface of said second end of said tubular housing.

-said adhesive means consist of a silicone-type adhesive;

-the adhesive means consists of a glue at least partially coating the reservoir and having a color which is the same as or at least similar to the color of the temperature measuring liquid;

the tubular housing and the capillary tube are made of glass;

the capillary comprises a flat outer surface on which a label with said scale is fixed.

The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing an expansion thermometer as described above, comprising the steps of:

-preparing a tubular housing whose inner volume is open outwards at a first end and closed off at a second end by a closing wall,

-preparing a capillary tube having a liquid reservoir at a first end and containing the temperature measuring liquid,

-introducing the capillary tube into the tubular housing to position the reservoir at the second end of the tubular housing closed by the closing wall,

-fixing the reservoir and/or the capillary tube with the tubular housing, and

-closing the first end of the tubular housing.

Preferably, the preparation of the capillary tube provided with the reservoir at the first end comprises the following series of operations:

-supplying a glass capillary, the inner volume of which is open towards the outside at both ends thereof,

-heating the first end of the capillary tube so that the material there softens

-closing said first end of said capillary and placing a reservoir in said first closed end.

The shaping of the reservoir is effected in a rational manner by blowing air into the capillary through the second open end after the first end has been placed in the shaping mould.

According to another feature, the method comprises the steps of: a liquid or semi-liquid adhesive is introduced into the interior volume of the tubular housing at its second end, at least on the inner surface of its closure wall, prior to the operation of introducing the capillary tube into the housing and contacting the reservoir with the adhesive to bond the reservoir to the inner surface of the second end of the housing.

According to another feature, the method comprises the operation of fixing with the capillary a label provided with the scale before introducing it into the tubular housing.

Detailed Description

The following description, given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, will make clear what constitutes the invention and how it may be carried out.

In the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section of an expansion thermometer according to the invention;

figures 2 to 11 illustrate the main steps of a possible manufacturing process of the dilatometric thermometer shown in figure 1.

Device

The thermometer 1 illustrated in fig. 1 comprises a capillary tube 2 having a reservoir 3 containing a temperature measuring liquid 4 and associated with a graduated scale 5 printed on a label 6, the assembly being housed in a tubular housing 7 made of transparent material.

The capillary 2 is linear. The inner core 21, preferably having a circular cross-section, has a diameter of about 0.30 to 0.60 mm.

Its external profile may be of circular section, prismatic or other shape, its diameter (or maximum dimension) may be between 2 and 3 mm; the outer profile preferably comprises a prism (or flat) for fixing the label 6 with the scale 5.

The cross-section of the capillary is preferably triangular.

As a result, the label 6 can be effectively fixed by gluing on one of the three faces of the triangular portion. Furthermore, the triangular cross-section may optimize the level reading of the temperature measuring liquid.

The length of the capillary 2 is between a few centimeters and a few tens of centimeters.

The capillary tube 2 is made of a transparent material, preferably glass.

It comprises a first end 22 in fluid communication with the reservoir 3 and a second end 23 closed by a blocking wall 24.

The reservoir 3 is made integral with the first end 22 of the capillary tube 2.

The inner core 21 of the capillary tube 2 is closed on one side by a closure wall 24 and on the other side by the reservoir 3.

The blocking wall 24 should be made integral with the second end 23 of the capillary tube 2.

The reservoir 3 is generally spherical or tubular in elongated shape; one of its ends 31 is integrally connected with the first end 22 of the capillary 2, while the other end 32 is free.

The reservoir 3 comprises an outer surface 33.

The portion 331 of the outer surface 33 corresponding to the free end 32 of the reservoir 3 is a convex spherical cap.

The tubular housing 7 is made of a transparent material, preferably glass. It has an outer surface 71 and an inner surface 72; the thickness l between said outer surface 71 and inner surface 72 is constant or substantially constant and ranges between 0.7 and 0.9 mm.

The inner volume 73 of this tubular housing 7, delimited by the inner surface 72, is suitable for housing the capillary tube 2 and the label 6 provided with the scale 5.

The tubular housing 7 comprises:

a first end 74 of the housing with a blocking wall 75, and

a second end 76 of the housing with a closing wall 77.

The blocking wall 75 is preferably made integral with the first end 74 of the tubular housing 7; it has an inner surface 751 in the shape of a concave spherical cap.

As such, the closing wall 77 is preferably made integral with the second end 76 of the tubular casing 7; it has an inner surface 771 in the shape of a concave spherical cap.

The second end 76 of the tubular housing 7 has an inner surface 721 which forms part of the inner surface 72 of said tubular housing 7. This inner surface 721 of the second end 76 of the tubular housing 7 comprises an inner surface 771 in the shape of a concave spherical cover closing off the wall 77.

In particular, the tubular casing 7 comprises a tubular body 7a of circular section with a constant or substantially constant diameter D, the tubular body 7a extending in impregnated form at the throat 7b by a tubular joint 7c of circular section with a constant or substantially constant diameter D smaller than D.

The free end of the tubular body 7a constitutes a first end 74 of the housing and the other side, the free end of the tubular joint 7c constitutes a second end 76 of the housing.

As shown in fig. 1, the capillary tube 2 is accommodated in an inner volume 73 of the tubular housing 7, the first end 22 of which comprises said reservoir 3, laterally to the second end 76 of said housing. The second end 23 of which is located laterally to the first end 74 of the tubular housing 7.

The reservoir 3 is located at the bottom of the tubular joint 7c with its free end 32 abutting or substantially abutting the closing wall 77.

The outer surface 331 of the free end 32 of the reservoir 3 extends towards a portion of the inner surface 721 of the second end 76 of the tubular housing 7, more specifically towards the concave spherical inner surface 771 of the closing wall 77.

At this level, the outer diameter of the free end 32 of the convex spherical cap-like reservoir 3, with or without clearance, is preferably the same as the inner diameter of the concave spherical cap-like inner surface 771 of the closing wall 77.

In addition, the thermometer 1 comprises means for fixing between the inner surface 721 of the second end 76 of the tubular housing 7 and the outer surface 33 of the reservoir 3, in the form of adhesive means 8.

These adhesive means 8 consist of an adhesive placed between the two surfaces 33 and 721 to be fixed; these adhesive means 8 enclose at least a part of the reservoir 3 and are preferably entirely sealed.

The adhesive means 8 should be a silicone type adhesive.

This silicone gel 8 is suitable for use in a temperature range of-10 ℃ to +120 ℃, corresponding to the current temperature range of the thermometer, and also ensures an effective bond between the two glass materials of the tubular housing 7 and the reservoir 3 of the capillary tube 2 in this temperature range.

The colour of the adhesive 8 used is preferably the same as or at least similar to the colour of the temperature measuring liquid 4. For example, a red glue is used that is the same as or similar to the red of the temperature measuring liquid 4; but any other color is also contemplated.

In a conventional manner, the temperature measuring liquid 4 is present in the reservoir 3 and in a part of the capillary tube 2. Its higher level in the capillary tube 2 indicates the ambient temperature relative to the scale 5.

The temperature measuring liquid 4 is of conventional nature. For example, products derived from petroleum may be used.

Method of producing a composite material

A possible method for manufacturing the thermometer of fig. 1 is illustrated in fig. 2 to 11.

In these fig. 2 to 11, for the sake of simplicity, reference numerals of fig. 1 are used to indicate the structural elements of the thermometer to be shaped.

Generally, in this method, the blank of the tubular casing 7 is open at its first end 74 and closed at its second end 76; preparing an assembly E formed by a capillary 2, a reservoir 3 and a label 6 with a scale 5; placing a small amount of adhesive 8 into the closed end 76 of the shell blank; the assembly E is introduced into the housing blank with the reservoir 3 at the closed end of the housing blank. And finally closes the first end 74 of the housing.

In particular, the tubular casing blank 7 is made of a tube T of transparent material, preferably glass, as shown in fig. 2. The tube T has a circular cross-section with an internal diameter D and a wall thickness l; which is open at its first end 74 and second end 76.

As shown in fig. 3, the second end 76 of the glass tube T is heated, stretched and shaped to form a closing wall 77 and obtain a tubular joint 7c of slightly smaller diameter.

This operation is performed manually or automatically by flame heating.

In addition to this, a capillary tube equipped with a reservoir 3 at a first end is prepared, which preparation comprises the following series of operations:

as shown in fig. 4, a glass capillary tube 2 is provided, the inner volume of which is open towards the outside at its two ends 22 and 23.

Heating the first end 22 of the capillary 2 to soften the material there,

closing the first end 22 of the capillary 2 and placing the reservoir 3 at this first closed end;

as shown in fig. 5, this configuration of the reservoir 3 is achieved by blowing air into the capillary tube 2 through the second open end 23 of the capillary tube 2 after the first end 22 has been placed in a suitable forming die M.

In this way a capillary tube 2 is obtained in connection with the integral reservoir 3 shown in fig. 6, the second end 23 of which is open.

Filling the reservoir 3 and a portion of the capillary tube 2 with a temperature measuring liquid 4 by any conventional technique, for example by means of a vacuum pump (fig. 7); and

closing the second end 23 of the capillary 2 to form a closing wall 24 (fig. 7); this closure can be achieved by heating with the material of the capillary and the formation of the closure wall 24; additional plugs may also be used;

finally, after calibration, the label 6 with the scale 5 is fixed on the capillary tube 2.

The fixing is preferably performed in a plane along the length of the capillary tube 2 (which should be a triangular cross-section).

An assembly E of capillary 2 and label 6 of reservoir 3 shown in fig. 3 is thus obtained.

The next operation consists in introducing the gluing means 8 in the form of a liquid or semi-liquid glue, preferably of a silicone type glue, into the internal volume 73 of the tubular casing 7 at its second end 76 (at the bottom of the portion of the fitting 7c), on the internal surface 721 of the second end 76 of the casing, more particularly at least on the internal surface 771 of the closing wall 77.

As shown in fig. 9, this operation may be performed by a cannula C introduced through the open end 74 of the housing blank 7, which cannula C may be connected to a suction/evacuation device, for example.

The assembly E of capillary 2, reservoir 3 and label 6 is then introduced into the internal volume 73 of the housing blank 7 through its open end 74, so that the reservoir 3 is at the bottom of the portion of the joint 7c and in contact with the adhesive 8, so as to adhere said reservoir 3 to the internal surface 721 of the housing second end 76 (fig. 10).

As shown in fig. 11, the first end 74 of the tubular housing 7 is closed by heating with the material of the original tube T and forming a blocking wall 75, or using an added blocking plug).

The manufacturing time of such a thermometer is reduced while reducing the cost. The obtained thermometer is also very durable.