Lightweight, compact probe structure has low thermal conductance to enable accurate measurement of slight temperature gradients. Probe combines ruggedness, high precision, accuracy, and stability. Device can withstand vibration, shock, acceleration, temperature extremes, and high vacuums, and should interest industrial engineers and geologists

Boudreau, E. J.

Hinckley, R. B.

Lucas, R. M.

Mc Cullough, J. E.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

December 1970	 Brief 70-10622 
NASA TECH BRIEF H 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, 
Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief progam may be directed to the Tech-
nology Utilization Division, NASA, Code UT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Rugged, Low-Conductance, Heat-Flow Probe 
A newly developed heat-flow probe combines rug-
gedness high precision, accuracy, and stability. The 
device can withstand vibration, shock, acceleration, 
temperature extremes, and high vacuums, and should 
interest geologists, meteorologists, oceanographers, 
and industrial engineers. 
The probe structure has low thermal conductance 
to enable accurate measurement of slight temperature 
gradients. The probe is lightweight, and is compact 
when folded for shipment. When the two 21-in. sec-
tions are joined by a coiled spring, the total length of 
the unit is 43 in. 
The sections each contain a gradient sensor bridge 
and a ring sensor bridge for measuring temperature. 
Each section ismade of filament-wound epoxy fiber- 
glass, with a three-piece outer sheath housing the 
temperature sensors and angular spacers and an inner 
sheath containing the wiring connecting the sensors. 
The sensors are mounted on the outer sheath such 
that strain-free differential expansion is permitted 
while sufficient mechanical strength is retained. The 
guards around the sensors protect them dtring hand-
ling but permit the exchange of radiation between the 
sensors and the surroundings. Alignment springs over 
the sensors align the probe in a borehole, and a stand- 
off spring cushions the lowered probe and keeps it 
clear of the borehole bottom.
The probe is blackened with a thermal-control 
paint to aid radiative heat transfer. Two radiation 
shields protect the probe from direct sunshine: the 
lower one, at the top of the probe, is a disk of alumin-
ized polytetrafluoroethylene with a foam spacer; the 
upper one, covering the mount of the borehole, is an 
aluminized composite of nylon fabric and polytetra-
fluoroethylene. 
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Manned Spacecraft Center, Code BM7 
Houston, Texas 77058 
Reference: TSP70- 10622 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: John E. McCullough, Richard B. Hinckley, 
Robert M. Lucas, and Edward J. Boudreau of 
Arthur D. Little, Inc. 
under contract to 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
(MSC-13443) 
Category 03 
MW
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Governmãnt assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free fràm privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700000602 2020-03-17T00:58:25+00:00Z


Rugged, low-conductance, heat-flow probe

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