Mounting mechanism for securing an antenna in a level measurement device
AssigneeSiemens Milltronics Process Instruments, Inc.
InventorMichael Dolson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mounting mechanism for detachably coupling an antenna to a level measurement device. The mounting mechanism is coupled to the housing of the level measurement device and comprises an outer ring and an inner ring. The inner ring has a centred opening for receiving an end of the antenna. The inner ring is coupled to the outer ring and rotatable with respect to the outer ring between a locking or engaged position and an unlocking or release position. The inner ring includes one or more cams or pawls, which engage the end of the antenna when in the locked or engaged position. The cams or pawls may include a gripping surface for further securing the antenna end when in the locked position.
Claims20
A mounting mechanism for attaching an antenna to a level measurement device, said level measurement device including a housing and said antenna having a shaft end, said mounting mechanism comprising:
- an outer ring, said outer ring being coupled to a section of said housing;
- an inner ring, said inner ring being mounted inside said outer ring, and said inner ring having an inner opening for receiving the shaft end of the antenna;
- a plurality of cams, said cams having a connection for coupling to said inner ring, and said cams having another pivot connection for coupling to said outer ring, said pivot connections permitting said inner ring to rotate with respect to said outer ring between a locking position and an unlocking position;
- in said locking position, said cams engaging the shaft end of the antenna, and in said unlocking position, said cams being disengaged from the shaft end of the antenna.
A mounting mechanism for detachably attaching an antenna to a level measurement device, said level measurement device including a housing and said antenna having a shaft end, said mounting mechanism comprising:
- an outer ring, said outer ring being coupled to said housing;
- an inner ring, said inner ring being mounted inside said outer ring, and said inner ring having an inner opening for receiving the shaft end of the antenna;
- a plurality of means for engaging the shaft end of the antenna, said means for engaging having means for coupling to said inner ring, and said means for engaging having pivoting connection means for connecting to said outer ring, said pivoting connection means permitting said inner ring to rotate with respect to said outer ring between a locking position and an unlocking position;
- in said locking position, said means for engaging coupling the shaft end of the antenna, and in said unlocking position, said means for engaging being disengaged from the shaft end of the antenna.
A level measurement device for determining the level of a material in vessel, said level measurement device comprising:
- an enclosure,
- an antenna;
- an antenna mounting mechanism, said antenna mounting mechanism being connected to said enclosure and including a mechanism for detachably coupling said antenna;
- said enclosure containing a controller and a transceiver module, said controller including a receiver module coupled to said transceiver module and a transmitter module coupled to said transceiver module, said transceiver module being coupled to said antenna, said transmitter module being responsive to control signals from said controller for exciting said antenna to emit energy pulses, and said receiver module receiving reflected energy pulses detected by said antenna and converting said detected reflected energy pulses into electrical signals, said controller including processing means for processing said electrical signals and processing means for generating an echo profile for determining level measurements;
- said mechanism for detachably coupling said antenna comprising, an outer ring, said outer ring being coupled to said housing;
- an inner ring, said inner ring being mounted inside said outer ring, and said inner ring having an inner opening for receiving the shaft end of the antenna;
- a plurality of pawls, said pawls having a connection for coupling to said inner ring, and said pawls having another pivot connection for coupling to said outer ring, said pivot connections permitting said inner ring to rotate with respect to said outer ring between a locking position and an unlocking position;
- in said locking position, said pawls engaging the shaft end of the antenna, and in said unlocking position, said pawls being disengaged from the shaft end of the antenna.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.