Environmentally sealed instrument loop adapter

Details Environmentally sealed instrument loop adapter Environmentally sealed instrument loop adapter

2000-09-27

2003-01-28

Nasri, Javaid (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...

Coupling part with relatively pivotable concentric...

C439S206000, C439S604000, C439S912000, C439S447000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06511337

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to instruments such as transmitters used to measure fluid characteristics in industrial fluid processing plants. In particular, the present invention relates to electrically connecting process transmitters to transmit over an instrument loop in an industrial environment where contaminants may be present.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Process transmitters are used to monitor the operation of industrial processes such as those in oil refineries, chemical processing plants and the like. Process transmitters such as pressure transmitters are typically situated in a fluid processing plant in locations where liquids, dust and humidity and various industrial contaminants may be present. In some environments, process liquids such as an acid or base solution can be present. Liquids can also include spray from hoses used to clean plant equipment. The liquids can drip, splash or spray onto the process transmitter and its electrical connections. Dust, humidity, and liquids in the environment can contaminate and degrade the electrical connections to the process transmitter.
Process transmitters are often fitted with sealed wiring compartments that can be connected with sealed electric conduits to protect the loop wiring and electrical connections from deterioration by contaminants. In the case of a miniaturized process transmitter that uses a header-type connector, however, there is no sealed wiring compartment to protect exposed electrical contact pins in the header from contaminants.
Protective adapters are needed that can connect to contact pins in a header on a process transmitter and that can protect the contact pins and the wiring from contaminants without the addition of a costly and bulky wiring compartment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the present invention, An environmentally sealed electrical adapter protects contact pins, contact sockets and wiring from liquids, humidity and other contaminants.
The adapter includes wires that have one end connected to sockets that can be mated with contact pins inside a header on a process transmitter. The adapter can include a sleeve that screws onto the header. The sleeve has a lip that faces toward the cylindrical header.
An environmentally sealing elastomeric part and a washer are compressed between the lip and the cylindrical header. The washer has a washer surface that slides relative to the lip as the threads are tightened. The elastomeric part is compressed and a liquid-proof seal is formed between the elastomeric part and the sealing surface.
The contact pins, contact sockets and wire ends are effectively environmentally sealed by the elastomeric part and protected from damage from environmental contaminants.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3040287 (1962-06-01), Agron et al.
patent: 3701280 (1972-10-01), Stroman
patent: 3945701 (1976-03-01), Boeke et al.
patent: 3968694 (1976-07-01), Clark
patent: 4120206 (1978-10-01), Rud, Jr.
patent: 4125027 (1978-11-01), Clark
patent: 4238825 (1980-12-01), Geery
patent: 4250490 (1981-02-01), Dahlke
patent: 4287501 (1981-09-01), Tominaga et al.
patent: 4414634 (1983-11-01), Louis et al.
patent: 4419898 (1983-12-01), Zanker et al.
patent: 4446730 (1984-05-01), Smith
patent: 4455875 (1984-06-01), Guimard et al.
patent: 4485673 (1984-12-01), Stern
patent: 4528855 (1985-07-01), Singh
patent: 4562744 (1986-01-01), Hall et al.
patent: 4598381 (1986-07-01), Cucci
patent: 4602344 (1986-07-01), Ferretti et al.
patent: 4617607 (1986-10-01), Park et al.
patent: D287827 (1987-01-01), Broden
patent: 4644797 (1987-02-01), Ichikawa et al.
patent: 4653330 (1987-03-01), Hedtke
patent: 4677841 (1987-07-01), Kennedy
patent: 4745810 (1988-05-01), Pierce et al.
patent: D296995 (1988-08-01), Lee
patent: D297314 (1988-08-01), Hedtke
patent: D297315 (1988-08-01), Pierce et al.
patent: 4783659 (1988-11-01), Frick
patent: 4798089 (1989-01-01), Frick et al.
patent: 4818994 (1989-04-01), Orth et al.
patent: 4825704 (1989-05-01), Aoshima et al.
patent: 4833922 (1989-05-01), Frick et al.
patent: 4850227 (1989-07-01), Luettgen et al.
patent: 4866989 (1989-09-01), Lawless
patent: 4881412 (1989-11-01), Northedge
patent: 4930353 (1990-06-01), Kato et al.
patent: 4958938 (1990-09-01), Schwartz et al.
patent: 4970898 (1990-11-01), Walish et al.
patent: 4980675 (1990-12-01), Meisenheimer, Jr.
patent: 5000047 (1991-03-01), Kato et al.
patent: D317266 (1991-06-01), Broden et al.
patent: D317269 (1991-06-01), Selg
patent: D318432 (1991-07-01), Broden et al.
patent: 5028746 (1991-07-01), Petrich
patent: 5035140 (1991-07-01), Daniels et al.
patent: 5051937 (1991-09-01), Kawate et al.
patent: 5058437 (1991-10-01), Chaumont et al.
patent: 5070732 (1991-12-01), Duncan et al.
patent: 5083091 (1992-01-01), Frick et al.
patent: 5087871 (1992-02-01), Losel
patent: 5094109 (1992-03-01), Dean et al.
patent: D329619 (1992-09-01), Cartwright
patent: 5142914 (1992-09-01), Kusakabe et al.
patent: 5157972 (1992-10-01), Broden et al.
patent: 5162725 (1992-11-01), Hodson et al.
patent: 5187474 (1993-02-01), Kielb et al.
patent: 5212645 (1993-05-01), Wildes et al.
patent: 5227782 (1993-07-01), Nelson
patent: 5236202 (1993-08-01), Krouth et al.
patent: 5245333 (1993-09-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5248167 (1993-09-01), Petrich et al.
patent: D342456 (1993-12-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5276631 (1994-01-01), Popovic et al.
patent: 5287746 (1994-02-01), Broden
patent: 5353200 (1994-10-01), Bodin et al.
patent: 5369386 (1994-11-01), Alden et al.
patent: 5377547 (1995-01-01), Kusakabe et al.
patent: 5381355 (1995-01-01), Birangi et al.
patent: D358784 (1995-05-01), Templin, Jr. et al.
patent: 5436824 (1995-07-01), Royner et al.
patent: 5448180 (1995-09-01), Kienzler et al.
patent: 5469150 (1995-11-01), Sitte
patent: 5471885 (1995-12-01), Wagner
patent: D366000 (1996-01-01), Karas et al.
patent: D366218 (1996-01-01), Price et al.
patent: 5495768 (1996-03-01), Louwagie et al.
patent: 5498079 (1996-03-01), Price
patent: 5502659 (1996-03-01), Braster et al.
patent: 5524333 (1996-06-01), Hogue et al.
patent: 5524492 (1996-06-01), Frick et al.
patent: 5546804 (1996-08-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5600782 (1997-02-01), Thomson
patent: 5606513 (1997-02-01), Louwagie et al.
patent: 5649835 (1997-07-01), Weed
patent: 5650936 (1997-07-01), Loucks et al.
patent: 5656782 (1997-08-01), Powell, II et al.
patent: 5665899 (1997-09-01), Willcox
patent: 5668322 (1997-09-01), Broden
patent: 5669713 (1997-09-01), Schwartz et al.
patent: 5670722 (1997-09-01), Moser et al.
patent: 5677476 (1997-10-01), McCarthy et al.
patent: 5710552 (1998-01-01), McCoy et al.
patent: 5754596 (1998-05-01), Bischoff et al.
patent: 5764928 (1998-06-01), Lancott
patent: 5823228 (1998-10-01), Chou
patent: 5870695 (1999-02-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5899692 (1999-05-01), Louwagie et al.
patent: 5920016 (1999-07-01), Broden
patent: 5948988 (1999-09-01), Bodin
patent: 5954526 (1999-09-01), Smith
patent: 5955684 (1999-09-01), Gravel et al.
patent: 5973942 (1999-10-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 5983727 (1999-11-01), Wellman et al.
patent: 5988203 (1999-11-01), Hutton
patent: 6006338 (1999-12-01), Longsdorf et al.
patent: 6038927 (2000-03-01), Karas
patent: 6050145 (2000-04-01), Olson et al.
patent: 6059254 (2000-05-01), Sundet et al.
patent: 6105437 (2000-08-01), Klug et al.
patent: 6111888 (2000-08-01), Green et al.
patent: 6115831 (2000-09-01), Hanf et al.
patent: 6123585 (2000-09-01), Hussong et al.
patent: 6131467 (2000-10-01), Miyano et al.
patent: 6140952 (2000-10-01), Gaboury
patent: 6151557 (2000-11-01), Broden et al.
patent: 6216172 (2001-04-01), Koblin et al.
patent: 6233532 (2001-05-01), Boudreau et al.
patent: 6295875 (2001-10-01), Frick et al.
patent: 6311568 (2001-11-01), Kleven
patent: 6321166 (2001-11-01), Evans et al.
patent: 37 41 648 (1988-07-01), None
patent: G 91 09 176.4 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 197 45 244 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 299 03 260 (2000-05-01), None
patent: 0 063 685 (1982-11-01), None
patent: 0 214 801 (1987-03-01), None
patent: 0 223 300 (1987-05-01), None
patent: 0 268 742 (1987-07-01), None
patent: 6390391 (1995-02-01), None
patent: 0

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Environmentally sealed instrument loop adapter does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Environmentally sealed instrument loop adapter, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Environmentally sealed instrument loop adapter will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3047616