Furnace Temperature Monitoring Device and Method

Abstract

A method for measuring the temperature at various locations in a furnace adapted to heat-treat a metal part commences by placing one or more devices at various location within the furnace. Each device is an inorganic/metallic skeletal structure residual from firing a mixture of binder and one or more of inorganic or metallic particles at a temperature that chars the binder to form the inorganic/metallic skeletal structure of a determined shape. A physical parameter of the skeletal structure determined shape is monitored after firing of the furnace. Then, the monitored physical parameter is compared to a plot of temperature versus the physical parameter to determine the temperature of the furnace at the various locations.

1 . A method for measuring the temperature at various locations in a metal treating furnace that heat-treats a metal part, which comprises the steps of:
 (a) placing one or more calibrated devices at various location within said furnace, each said device comprising an inorganic-metallic skeletal structure residual from firing a mixture of binder and inorganic, metallic, or inorganic-metallic particles at a temperature that chars said binder to form said inorganic/metallic skeletal structure of a determined shape;   (b) monitoring a physical parameter of said skeletal structure determined shape during firing of said furnace; and   (c) comparing said monitored physical parameter to a calibration plot of temperature versus a physical parameter of said calibrated device to determine the temperature of said furnace at said various locations, said calibration plot generated by firing said skeletal structure at various metal treating temperatures and measuring a physical parameter of said skeletal structure for generating said calibration plot of temperature versus said physical parameter over a wide range of temperatures.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said monitored physical parameter comprises measuring a length of said skeletal structure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mixture of binder and one or more of inorganic or metallic particles comprises between about 40% and 88% calcined kaolin, between about 20% and 40% ball clay, between about 20% and 40% kaolin, between about 12% and 50% of a frit, between about 1% and 2% of a cellulose binder, and between about 0.2% and 0.5% of a lubricating agent, all percentages by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said mixture of binder and one or more of inorganic or metallic particles comprises about 20% kaolin clay, about 20% ball clay, about 60% kaolin, about 1% cellulose binder, and about 0.3% lubricating agent; or about 88% kaolin, about 12% frit, about 1% cellulose binder, and about 0.3% lubricating agent. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mixture of binder and one or more of inorganic or metallic particles is heated to between about 600° and 700° C. to form said skeletal structure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said skeletal is formed into a circular disk shape and said monitored physical parameter comprises measuring the diameter. 
     
     
         7 . A kit for us in determining the temperature at various locations in a metal treating furnace that heat-treats a metal part, which comprises:
 (a) a calibrated device comprising an inorganic/metallic skeletal structure residual from firing a mixture of binder and inorganic, metallic, or inorganic-metallic particles at a temperature that chars said binder to form said inorganic/metallic skeletal structure of a determined shape; and   (b) a calibration plot of temperature versus a physical parameter of said calibrated device, said calibration plot generated by firing said skeletal structure at various metal treating temperatures and measuring a physical parameter of said skeletal structure for generating said calibration plot of temperature versus said physical parameter over a wide range of temperatures,   whereby said calibrated device can be placed in said metal treating furnace at various locations and said physical parameter monitored and compared to said calibration plot to determine the metal treating furnace temperature at said various locations over a wide range of temperatures.   
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 7 , wherein said monitored physical parameter comprises measuring a length of said skeletal structure. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 7 , wherein said mixture of binder and one or more of inorganic or metallic particles comprises between about 40% and 88% calcined kaolin, between about 20% and 40% ball clay, between about 20% and 40% kaolin, between about 12% and 50% of a frit, between about 1% and 2% of a cellulose binder, and between about 0.2% and 0.5% of a lubricating agent, all percentages by weight. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein said mixture of binder and one or more of inorganic or metallic particles comprises about 20% kaolin clay, about 20% ball clay, about 60% kaolin, about 1% cellulose binder, and about 0.3% lubricating agent; or about 88% kaolin, about 12% frit, about 1% cellulose binder, and about 0.3% lubricating agent. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 7 , wherein said mixture of binder and one or more of inorganic or metallic particles is heated to between about 600° and 700° C. to form said skeletal structure. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein said skeletal is formed into a circular disk shape and said monitored physical parameter comprises measuring the diameter.