90 Degree Temperature Sensor

Keep Temperatures in Line with a Right Angle Sensor

Temperature sensors can be complex devices, but they must perform two simple tasks:

1. Accurately measure the temperature of a substance, whether gas or liquid
2. Report temperatures outside the normal parameters within an acceptable interval

Yet while temperature sensors protect vital equipment and systems in the operation of rail designs, they are only as accurate as their installation allows. Typical temperature sensors, therefore, have two installation design weaknesses:

1. Sensors must have immediate contact with the substance they are meant to measure. In rail operations, even a minor variation can mean the difference between functionality and failure.
2. Because sensors cannot be shielded from the high temperatures or potential hazards they measure, they are often difficult to access for maintenance or replacement.

Smith Systems, Inc. — a privately owned manufacturer of sensors for speed, motion and temperature — has devised temperature sensors that overcome both of these limitations.

A Better Right Angle Sensor

Smith Systems, Inc. has developed a pivoting 90-degree temperature sensor. The pivoting design allows you to install the device so that the sensor is set exactly where it needs to be, but its cable is out of the way of the substance being measured. This pivoting feature makes the sensor much easier to install and eliminates the need for large service loops in the cabling, which greatly reduces the incidence of fatigued, snagged or cut cables.

The right angle temperature sensor also has improved long-term reliability. With its 360-degree cable exit, the sensor is easier to maintain, as well. This design represents just one of many innovations available at Smith Systems, Inc., which holds the patent on this sensor design.

Industry Requirements

Changes in temperature can affect a train’s physical and chemical systems. Since trains operate in constantly changing conditions, the temperatures of those systems can change rapidly, especially as trains move through different environments or as they increase or reduce speed. High temperatures can permanently damage important circuits, electronic components and mechanical parts.

As the railroad industry pushes for higher thrust and greater efficiencies to drive engine temperatures closer to their optimum limits, it has become increasingly crucial to measure temperatures more accurately. Engine developers need to know how design changes will affect the temperatures of their engines and which components are exposed to those temperatures. Maintenance personnel need to know how much temperatures can vary in changing weather conditions.

Temperature Sensors Ensure Safety

Accurate temperature measurements ensure that a train’s systems function properly. Regardless of a temperature sensor’s quality, however, the device can only provide this necessary information if they are set properly. In the past, sensors often have been cumbersome to install, which can lead to inaccurate or less than optimal readings.

Temperature sensors must measure to industry standards and accurately report temperature changes. Properly functioning sensors prevent circuit degradation and system failures by detecting high temperature levels before they become a fatal problem. In this sense, temperature sensors are by their very nature responsible for safe and secure transport.

Maintenance and Reliability

Sensors must receive regular maintenance to ensure their continued accuracy. Even right angle temperature sensor requires proper care and service to monitor and protect a train’s systems. Yet sensor system maintenance is not an easy task in many applications.

The pivoting right angle temperature sensor by Smith Systems, Inc. is easier to install because of its pivoting capability. Because it is easier to install, it is easier to access, which makes it easier to maintain.

At the same time, the orientation of the sensor has made it more reliable. Because it is easier to set correctly, the temperature readings it provides are more accurate. With a wide range of temperature sensors in stock, check with Smith Systems, Inc. for your next order. Smith Systems, Inc. also produces custom products to meet the most unique specifications.