# US 10,866,078 B2 · Arrangement and a method for inserting and removing a head of a measuring device to and from a process space > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,866,078 B2 - Document ID: US10866078B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/003,955 - Filed: 2018-06-08 - Published: 2018-12-13 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-12 - Assignees: Vaisala Oyj - Applicants: Vaisala Oyj - Inventors: Harri Salo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10866078B2 ## CPC - G01B 5/0002: {Arrangements for supporting, fixing or guiding the measuring instrument or the object to be measured} - F01D 17/02: Arrangement of sensing elements - F01D 21/003: {Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H)} - F01D 25/285: {Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures} - F16M 11/04: Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand - F16M 11/20: Undercarriages with or without wheels - F16M 11/425: {along guiding means} - G01B 5/0004: {Supports (G01B5/025 takes precedence)} - G01D 11/00: Component parts of measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable (G01D13/00, G01D15/00 take precedence) - G01F 15/00: Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus - G01F 15/18: Supports or connecting means for meters - G01N 1/2035: {by deviating part of a fluid stream, e.g. by drawing-off or tapping} - G01N 27/283: {Means for supporting or introducing electrochemical probes} - G01N 33/00: Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00 - F05D 2260/80: Diagnostics - F05D 2260/83: Testing, e.g. methods, components or tools therefor - G01N 2001/205: {using a valve} - G01N 2021/9542: {using a probe} - Y10S 901/44: inspection - Y10T 29/53848: having screw operator - Y10T 137/0458: Tapping pipe, keg, or tank - Y10T 137/612: Tapping a pipe, keg, or apertured tank under pressure - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An arrangement and method are disclosed for inserting and removing a head of a measuring device to and from a process space. The arrangement includes a measuring device with a measuring head and a retractor tool connected to a valve member. The retractor tool includes rails, a cradle for receiving the measuring device and arranged to slide along the rails, and a driving mechanism for moving the cradle. A valve lock mechanism prevents opening of the valve member if the measuring device is not at a location barring a fluid flow from the process space, and the head of the measuring device is insertable to the process space when the measuring device is received in the cradle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An arrangement for inserting and removing a head of a measuring device to and from a process space, the arrangement comprising[H]: a measuring device having a measuring head at one end and a retractor tool; a valve member configured to be connected to a process space, the retractor tool being connected to the valve member, wherein the retractor tool includes: rails, first ends of the rails being attached to the valve member and second ends of the rails being connected with a cross beam, a cradle configured to receive the measuring device and arranged to slide along the rails, the measuring device being arranged to slide between the rails when received in the cradle, and a driving mechanism configured to move the cradle; a valve lock mechanism configured to prevent opening of the valve member when the measuring device is not at a location barring a fluid flow from a process space, the head of the measuring device being configured to be insertable to a process space and removable from that process space when the measuring device is received in the cradle; and a collision prevent part configured to prevent the measuring device from colliding with the valve member when closed by blocking an axial movement of the valve lock operator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the valve member comprises: an isolation valve, a valve handle being configured to operate the isolation valve and a sealing gasket part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the valve lock mechanism comprises: a curved guide bar connected to the valve handle, a valve lock part and a valve lock operator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the valve lock operator comprises: a protruding part arranged relative to the measuring device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the curved guide bar comprises: a guide groove where the protruding part of the valve lock operator is moveable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An arrangement according to claim 5, comprising: a collision prevent part configured to prevent the measuring device from colliding with the closed valve member when closed by blocking an axial movement of the valve lock operator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An arrangement according to claim 6, comprising: a closing mechanism configured to close the valve member when the measuring device is at a location barring a fluid flow from a process space and outside an isolation valve of the valve member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the valve handle comprises: a stop bar at its axial side, the stop bar having a slot at its end for the valve lock operator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An arrangement according to claim 8, in combination with a process space, wherein the valve member, the measuring device and the retractor tool are positioned in one side of the process space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the collision prevent part comprises: a vertical surface of the curved guide bar facing the valve member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An arrangement according to claim 1, comprising: a closing mechanism configured to close the valve member when the measuring device is at a location barring a fluid flow from a process space and outside an isolation valve of the valve member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the valve handle comprises: a stopper, the stopper being capable of halting movement of the measuring device and thereby being configured to prevent a removal of the head of the measuring device from the valve member when a closure element of the valve member is open. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the valve handle comprises: a stop bar at its axial side, the stop bar having a slot at its end for the valve lock operator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises: projecting parts, and the cradle includes recesses providing a form locking connection between the measuring device and the cradle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An arrangement according to claim 1, in combination with a process space, wherein the valve member, the measuring device and the retractor tool are positioned in one side of the process space. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the measurement device is a sensor, an analyser or an optical analyser. ### Claim 17 A method for inserting and removing a head of a measuring device to and from a process space, the measuring device having a measuring head at its one end and a retractor tool, a valve member to the process space and connecting the retractor tool, the method comprising: connecting to the valve member, wherein the retractor tool includes rails, first ends of the rails being attached to the valve member and second ends of the rails being connected with a cross beam, a cradle and a driving mechanism, wherein the cradle is configured to receive the measuring device and slide along the rails; sliding the measuring device between the rails when received in the cradle via the driving mechanism; actuating a valve lock mechanism of the valve member for preventing opening of the valve member when the measuring device is not at a location barring a fluid flow from the process space; inserting and the head of the measuring device to the process space and removing the head from that process space after placing the measuring device in the cradle and operating the driving mechanism and the valve member, wherein the valve lock mechanism includes a valve handle, a curved guide bar connected to the valve handle, a valve lock part arranged to the cradle and a valve lock operator arranged to the measuring device; and releasing the valve lock mechanism by moving the cradle containing the measuring device towards the process space with the driving mechanism until the valve lock part has advanced through a notch formed to the curved guide bar and the valve lock operator is in a guide groove of the curved guide bar which unlocks a rotation of the valve handle. ### Claim 18 An apparatus comprising: a valve member connectable to a process space; a measuring device having a measuring head at one end; a retractor tool connected to the valve member, wherein the retractor tool includes rails, first ends of the rails being attached to the valve member and second ends of the rails being connected with a cross beam, a cradle configured to receive the measuring device and arranged to slide along the rails, the measuring device being arranged to slide between the rails when received in the cradle, and a driving mechanism configured to move the cradle, the driving mechanism being configured to move the measuring head of the measuring device through the valve member into a process space and out of the process space; a valve lock mechanism configured to prevent opening of the valve member when the measuring head is not located in the valve member; and a closing mechanism configured to close the valve member when the measuring device is at a location barring a fluid flow from a process space and outside an isolation valve of the valve member.