A cooking appliance having a thermocouple for measuring the temperature of an electrically conducting cooking utensil is provided. The cooking appliance includes a first probe formed of a first electrically conducting material and a second probe formed of a dissimilar second electrically conducting material. The first probe and second probe are spaced from one another. When the cooking utensil is placed on a heating assembly and heat is applied thereto, the first probe and the second probe electrically contact the cooking utensil. The cooking utensil acts as an intermediate material and completes the thermocouple circuit thereby allowing current to flow between the probes. Consequently, a voltage differential is produced. The voltage differential is measured, and as the voltage differential is indicative of the temperature of the cooking utensil, the temperature of the cooking utensil may be determined.

A cooking appliance having a thermocouple for measuring the temperature of an electrically conducting cooking utensil is provided. The cooking appliance includes a first probe formed of a first electrically conducting material and a second probe formed of a dissimilar second electrically conducting material. The first probe and second probe are spaced from one another. When the cooking utensil is placed on a heating assembly and heat is applied thereto, the first probe and the second probe electrically contact the cooking utensil. The cooking utensil acts as an intermediate material and completes the thermocouple circuit thereby allowing current to flow between the probes. Consequently, a voltage differential is produced. The voltage differential is measured, and as the voltage differential is indicative of the temperature of the cooking utensil, the temperature of the cooking utensil may be determined.

A resistance temperature detector (RTD) that uses a ceramic matrix composite (CMC), such as a silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide matrix, as an active temperature sensing element, which can operate at temperatures greater than 1000 C. or even 1600 C. Conductive indium tin oxide or a single elemental metal such as platinum is deposited on a dielectric or insulating layer such as mullite or an environmental barrier coating (EBC) on the substrate. Openings in the layer allow etching of the CMC surface in order to make high quality ohmic contacts with the conductive material, either directly or through a silicide diffusion barrier such as ITO. The RTD can measure both temperature and strain of the CMC. The use of an EBC, which typically is deposited on the CMC by the manufacturer, as the insulating or dielectric layer can be extended to other devices such as strain gages and thermocouples that use the CMC as a sensing element. The EBC can be masked and etched to form the openings. A conductive EBC can be used as the silicide diffusion barrier.

A resistance temperature detector (RTD) that uses a ceramic matrix composite (CMC), such as a silicon carbide fiber-reinforced silicon carbide matrix, as an active temperature sensing element, which can operate at temperatures greater than 1000 C. or even 1600 C. Conductive indium tin oxide or a single elemental metal such as platinum is deposited on a dielectric or insulating layer such as mullite or an environmental barrier coating (EBC) on the substrate. Openings in the layer allow etching of the CMC surface in order to make high quality ohmic contacts with the conductive material, either directly or through a silicide diffusion barrier such as ITO. The RTD can measure both temperature and strain of the CMC. The use of an EBC, which typically is deposited on the CMC by the manufacturer, as the insulating or dielectric layer can be extended to other devices such as strain gages and thermocouples that use the CMC as a sensing element. The EBC can be masked and etched to form the openings. A conductive EBC can be used as the silicide diffusion barrier.

A heat-flux sensor includes first and second pieces made of different materials and arranged to constitute a contact junction for generating electromotive force in response to a temperature difference between the first and second pieces. The heat-flux sensor includes a first electric conductor connected to the first piece and a second electric conductor connected to the second piece so that the electromotive force is detectable from between ends of the first and second electric conductors. The mass and the heat capacity of the second piece are significantly greater than those of the first piece so that a heat-flux across the contact junction causes a temperature difference between the first and second pieces but no significant temperature change in the second piece. Thus, the electromotive force caused by the temperature difference is indicative of the heat-flux.

A heat-flux sensor includes first and second pieces made of different materials and arranged to constitute a contact junction for generating electromotive force in response to a temperature difference between the first and second pieces. The heat-flux sensor includes a first electric conductor connected to the first piece and a second electric conductor connected to the second piece so that the electromotive force is detectable from between ends of the first and second electric conductors. The mass and the heat capacity of the second piece are significantly greater than those of the first piece so that a heat-flux across the contact junction causes a temperature difference between the first and second pieces but no significant temperature change in the second piece. Thus, the electromotive force caused by the temperature difference is indicative of the heat-flux.

The subject of the present invention relates to a device that can be applied to the surface of a ceramic matrix composites (CMC) in such a way that the CMC itself will contribute to the extraordinarily large thermoelectric power. The present invention obtains greater resolution of temperature measurements, which can be obtained at exceedingly high temperatures.

The subject of the present invention relates to a device that can be applied to the surface of a ceramic matrix composites (CMC) in such a way that the CMC itself will contribute to the extraordinarily large thermoelectric power. The present invention obtains greater resolution of temperature measurements, which can be obtained at exceedingly high temperatures.

An appliance includes an appliance interface forming a plug connection with an appliance-side interface unit of a power cable. The appliance interface includes at least one power contact part forming a power connection with a power contact part of the appliance-side interface unit supplying the appliance with electrical energy from a supply grid. The appliance interface includes a first thermoelectric element contacting a second thermoelectric element of the appliance-side interface unit, when the power connection exists. The first thermoelectric element is coupled to a first measurement input of a control unit. The appliance interface includes a measurement contact part forming a measurement connection, between the second thermoelectric element and a second measurement input of the control unit, with a measurement contact part of the appliance-side interface unit. The control unit determines measurement data relating to a measurement voltage between the first and second measurement inputs.

An appliance includes an appliance interface forming a plug connection with an appliance-side interface unit of a power cable. The appliance interface includes at least one power contact part forming a power connection with a power contact part of the appliance-side interface unit supplying the appliance with electrical energy from a supply grid. The appliance interface includes a first thermoelectric element contacting a second thermoelectric element of the appliance-side interface unit, when the power connection exists. The first thermoelectric element is coupled to a first measurement input of a control unit. The appliance interface includes a measurement contact part forming a measurement connection, between the second thermoelectric element and a second measurement input of the control unit, with a measurement contact part of the appliance-side interface unit. The control unit determines measurement data relating to a measurement voltage between the first and second measurement inputs.