Quick connect thermocouple mounting device and associated method of use
AssigneeRobertshaw Controls Company
InventorCan Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermocouple mounting assembly is provided. A plurality of retainers includes portions that are interengageable, some portions carried by a body and some portions carried by a thermocouple assembly to effect releasable mounting of a thermocouple assembly to a body. The retainers are constructed and shaped to provide for their formation by a molding process such as die-casting or investment casting, eliminating or substantially eliminating the need for machining of the retainer components. Preferably, there is an audible sound, e.g., click, present to signify when the retainers are interengaged.
Claims19
A thermocouple contact mounting arrangement comprising:
- a body;
- a first retainer removably mounted to the body, said first retainer having an internal chamber and a first opening providing a first access to the chamber and a second opening providing a second access to the chamber;
- a thermocouple assembly includes a portion thereof in the chamber and extending through the second opening;
- a second retainer associated with the thermocouple assembly and includes a portion extending through the second opening and into the chamber;
- a bayonet mounting arrangement associated with the first retainer and the second retainer for securing the second retainer to the first retainer by relative rotation, the bayonet mounting arrangement including an ear mounted to one of the first retainer and the second retainer and a shoulder mounted to the other of the first retainer and the second retainer and interengageable with the ear to releasably mount the second retainer to the first retainer, the ear and the shoulder being positioned in the chamber when the second retainer is mounted to the first retainer.
A method for utilizing a thermocouple contact mounting arrangement comprising:
- removably mounting a first retainer to a body, wherein the first retainer includes an internal chamber and a first opening providing a first access to the chamber and a second opening providing a second access to the chamber;
- positioning a portion of a thermocouple assembly in the chamber;
- extending the thermocouple assembly through the second opening;
- and
- securing a second retainer to the first retainer by relative rotation, wherein the second retainer is associated with the thermocouple assembly and includes a portion extending through the second opening and into the chamber and there is a bayonet mounting arrangement associated with the first retainer, wherein the bayonet mounting arrangement includes an ear mounted to one of the first retainer and the second retainer and a shoulder mounted to the other of the first retainer and the second retainer and interengageable with the ear to releasably mount the second retainer to the first retainer, the ear and the shoulder being positioned in the chamber when the second retainer is mounted to the first retainer.
A method for manufacturing and assembling a thermocouple contact mounting arrangement comprising:
- molding a first retainer that includes an internal chamber and a first opening providing a first access to the chamber and a second opening providing a second access to the chamber;
- removably mounting the first retainer to a body and a thermocouple assembly includes a portion thereof in the chamber and extending through the second opening;
- and
- molding a second retainer;
- and
- securing the second retainer to the first retainer by relative rotation, wherein the second retainer is associated with the thermocouple assembly and includes a portion extending through the second opening and into the chamber and there is a bayonet mounting arrangement associated with the first retainer, wherein the bayonet mounting arrangement includes an ear mounted to one of the first retainer and the second retainer and a shoulder mounted to the other of the first retainer and the second retainer and interengageable with the ear to releasably mount the second retainer to the first retainer, the ear and the shoulder being positioned in the chamber when the second retainer is mounted to the first retainer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.