US 11,598,675 B1Granted

Cable system comprising in-line sensors

AssigneeAgi Suretrack LLC

InventorsCole Fincham, Corey Barkhurst

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Abstract

A cable having a sensor for measuring variables comprises an insulation displacement contact (IDC) that is at least partially enclosed within a sensor housing having the sensor disposed therein. The IDC comprises one or more IDC sheath prongs that extend through an insulating sheath to the conducting wire of the cable. The IDC continuously extends from an IDC longitudinal first end to an IDC longitudinal second end. The sensor housing comprises a first housing side and a second housing side. When the IDC is at least partially enclosed by the sensor housing, a first housing side longitudinal first end and a second housing side longitudinal first end are proximate the IDC longitudinal first end, and a first housing side longitudinal second end and a second housing side longitudinal second end are proximate the IDC longitudinal second end.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A cable comprising:

a conducting wire encased within an insulating sheath;
an insulation displacement contact (IDC) comprising one or more IDC sheath prongs extending through the insulating sheath to the conducting wire, the IDC continuously extending from an IDC longitudinal first end to an IDC longitudinal second end;
a sensor housing at least partially enclosing the IDC, the sensor housing comprising a first housing side configured to couple with a second housing side, the first housing side continuously extending from a first housing side longitudinal first end to a first housing side longitudinal second end, the second housing side continuously extending from a second housing side longitudinal first end to a second housing side longitudinal second end, wherein the first housing side longitudinal first end and the second housing side longitudinal first end are proximate the IDC longitudinal first end, and wherein the first housing side longitudinal second end and the second housing side longitudinal second end are proximate the IDC longitudinal second end;
and
a sensor disposed within the sensor housing and in communication with the IDC.

2 more elements

An sensor system comprising:

an insulation displacement contact (IDC) comprising:
a first IDC sheath prong at an IDC longitudinal first end and a second IDC sheath prong at an IDC longitudinal second end;
a first IDC planar portion extending from the first IDC sheath prong to the second IDC sheath prong, wherein the first IDC sheath prong curves away from the first IDC planar portion at the IDC longitudinal first end and the second IDC sheath prong curves away from the first IDC planar portion at the IDC longitudinal second end;
a third IDC sheath prong at the IDC longitudinal first end and a fourth IDC sheath prong at the IDC longitudinal second end;
a second IDC planar portion extending from the third IDC sheath prong to the fourth IDC sheath prong, wherein the third IDC sheath prong curves away from the second IDC planar portion at the first IDC longitudinal first end and the fourth IDC sheath prong curves away from the second IDC planar portion at the IDC longitudinal second end;
and
a sensor housing comprising:
a first housing side extending from a first housing side longitudinal first end to a first housing side longitudinal second end, the first housing side comprising a first housing side first curved portion and a first housing side second curved portion, wherein the first housing side first curved portion is congruent with at least a portion of the first IDC sheath prong, and wherein the first housing side second curved portion is congruent with at least a portion of the second IDC sheath prong;
and
a second housing side extending from a second housing side longitudinal first end to a second housing side longitudinal second end, the second housing side comprising a second housing side first curved portion and a second housing side second curved portion, wherein the second housing side first curved portion is congruent with at least a portion of the third IDC sheath prong and the second housing side second curved portion is congruent with at least a portion of the fourth IDC sheath prong.

7 more elements

A method of assembling a sensor housing, the method comprising:

securing an insulation displacement contact (IDC) to a cable comprising a conducting wire encased within an insulating sheath, the IDC secured to the conducting wire by penetrating the insulating sheath with one or more IDC sheath prongs of the IDC, such that the one or more IDC sheath prongs engage the conducting wire, wherein the IDC continuously extends from an IDC longitudinal first end to an IDC longitudinal second end;
and
enclosing the IDC at least partially within a sensor housing by coupling a first housing side of the sensor housing with a second housing side of the sensor housing, the first housing side extending from a first housing side longitudinal first end to a first housing side longitudinal second end, the second housing side extending from a second housing side longitudinal first end to a second housing side longitudinal second end, and wherein, when the IDC is at least partially enclosed by the sensor housing, the first housing side longitudinal first end and the second housing side longitudinal first end are proximate the IDC longitudinal first end, and the first housing side longitudinal second end and the second housing side longitudinal second end are proximate the IDC longitudinal second end.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/815,090Filed 26 Jul 2022
Granted: 7 Mar 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G01D 11/245
Housings ; Casings for instruments: housings for sensors
G01K 1/14
Details of thermometers not specially adapted for particular types of thermometer: supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting…
G01K 1/08
Details of thermometers not specially adapted for particular types of thermometer: protective devices, e.g. casings
G01K 13/02
Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes: for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow