Locking mechanism and method for an electro-pneumatic controller
AssigneeTescom Corporation
InventorsJacob T. R. Renollett, Eric J. Burgett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electro-pneumatic controller for use with a regulator. The electro-pneumatic controller includes a base having a body, a top surface, and a bore formed within the body. A locking mechanism is disposed within the bore of the body of the base, the locking mechanism having a top surface flush with the top surface of the base. A cover is coupled to the base and includes an open end with a rim, the rim contacting the top surface of the base and a portion of the top surface of the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is rotated via a tool in a counter-clockwise direction after the cover contacts a portion of the top surface of the locking mechanism to lock the cover to the base.
Claims19
An electro-pneumatic controller for use with a regulator, the electro-pneumatic controller comprising:
- a base having a body, a top surface, and a bore formed within the body;
- a locking mechanism disposed within the bore of the base, the locking mechanism having a top surface flush with the top surface of the base;
- and
- a cover coupled to the base, the cover having an open end with a rim, the rim contacting the top surface of the base and a portion of the top surface of the locking mechanism,
- where the locking mechanism is arranged to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction after the cover contacts a portion of the top surface of the locking mechanism to lock the cover to the base, and
- where the cover including an elongate body extending from the open end to a closed end, the cover adapted to enclose components of the controller.
A process control system comprising:
- a regulator having a housing with a top portion;
- an electro-pneumatic controller having an outlet port operatively coupled to the top portion of the regulator housing, the electro-pneumatic controller to maintain a setpoint pressure within the regulator, the electro-pneumatic controller comprising:
- a base having a body, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a bore formed within the body, the outlet port formed in the bottom surface of the base;
- a locking mechanism disposed within the bore of the base, the locking mechanism having a top surface flush with the top surface of the base;
- and
- a cover coupled to the base, the cover having an open end with a rim, the rim contacting the top surface of the base and a portion of the top surface of the locking mechanism,
- where the locking mechanism is arranged to rotate upwardly in a counter-clockwise direction after the cover contacts a portion of the top surface of the locking mechanism to lock the cover to the base.
A method for locking a cover of an electro-pneumatic controller operatively coupled to a regulator, the electro-pneumatic controller comprising a base having a top surface and a bore disposed within the base, the method comprising:
- disposing a locking mechanism within a bore of the base until a top surface of the locking mechanism is flush with the top surface of the base;
- securing an annular rim of an open end of a cover to the base, the annular rim contacting the top surface of the base and a portion of the top surface of the lock screw;
- and
- rotating the locking mechanism in a counter-clockwise direction until a portion of the locking mechanism one or more of jars or pinches against the rim of the cover to lock the cover to the base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.