US 7,063,537 B2 · Rotatable assemblies and methods of securing such assemblies

Abstract

A rotatable assembly and a method to use the same are provided. In particular, the assembly includes a first field device housing arrangement associated with a first electrical system, and a second field device housing arrangement associated with a second electrical system are connected by a connector arrangement. The connector arrangement may include probes (e.g., spring probes) that are adapted to engage with contacts (e.g., electrical contacts), and is configured to allow an unrestricted rotation of the first field device housing arrangement relative to the second field device housing arrangement while maintaining a continuous electrical coupling between the first electrical system and the second electrical system. For example, the assembly can be a field device, such as a smart field device. Two devices may be secured to one another by use of a captive locking screw which can be used to secure the first device in desired positions.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An assembly, comprising:

a first field device housing arrangement associated with a first electrical system;
a second field device housing arrangement associated with a second electrical system;
and
a connector arrangement configured to allow an unrestricted rotation of the first field device housing arrangement relative to the second field device housing arrangement while maintaining a continuous electrical coupling between the first electrical system and the second electrical system, the connector arrangement comprising a locking system configured to fix the first field device housing arrangement to the second field device housing arrangement, wherein the locking system comprises:
at least one securing element adapted to secure the first field device housing arrangement to the second field device housing arrangement, and including a head portion, and
a cap element adapted to cover at least one portion of the securing element, wherein the cap element includes a bore formed therethrough, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the bore is less than a cross-sectional area of the head portion of the at least one securing element.

3 more elements

A method of securing an assembly which includes a first field device housing arrangement associated with a first electrical system, a second field device housing arrangement associated with a second electrical system, and a connector arrangement configured to secure the first field device housing arrangement to the second field device housing arrangement, the method comprising:

maintaining a continuous electrical coupling between the first electrical system and the second electrical system while enabling an unrestricted rotation of the first field device housing arrangement relative to the second field device housing arrangement;
and
securing the first field device housing arrangement to the second field device housing arrangement after the first field device housing arrangement reaches a predetermined position relative to the second field device housing arrangement, the connector arrangement comprising a locking system configured to fix the first field device housing arrangement to the second field device housing arrangement, wherein the locking system comprises:
at least one securing element adapted to fix the first field device housing arrangement to the second field device housing arrangement, and including a head portion, and
a cap element adapted to cover at least one portion of the securing element, wherein the cap element includes a bore formed therethrough, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the bore is less than a cross-sectional area of the head portion of the at least one securing element.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rotatable assemblies and methods of securing such assemblies

Life of this patent

Rotatable assemblies and methods of securing such assemblies

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8