Patent US6511337B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6511337B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Environmentally sealed instrument loop adapter
Assignee: Rosemount Inc
•
Filing: 2000-09-27
•
Granted: 2003-01-28
•
Expires: 2020-09-27
Abstract
Abstract An environmentally sealed instrument circuit adapter connecting a process transmitter to instrument wiring. An environmentally sealing elastomeric part seals between a lip on an outer sleeve and a connector header of the process transmitter. One or more washers can provide sealing between the lip and the elastomeric part when tightened. The adapter protects contact pins, sockets and loop wires from damage due to liquids, humidity, dust and other contaminants.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark C. Fandrey
- 👤 Paul Sundet
- 👤 Rob LaRoche
- 👤 Scott D. Nelson
- 👤 George C. Hausler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D1/00; G01L; G01L13/00; G01L13/02; G01L13/025; G01L13/026; G01L19/00; G01L19/0061; G01L19/0084; G01L19/06; G01L19/0663; G01L19/069; G01L19/08; G01L19/083; H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/14; H05K7/1462; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/527; H01R29/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/912; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An environmentally sealed instrument circuit adapter, comprising: contact sockets configured to mate with contact pins inside a connector header on a process transmitter, the connector header having a sealing surface, and also configured to connect with conductors of an instrument circuit; a rigid insulating support that supports the contact sockets; a sleeve with threads configured to screw onto the connector header, the sleeve having a lip; an environmentally sealing elastomeric boot configured to seal the circuit conductors of the instrument circuit and having a elastomeric rim between the lip and the sealing surface; and at least one washer located between the lip and the elastomeric rim, the washer having a washer surface that slides relative to the lip as the sleeve is screwed on so that twisting of the elastomeric rim is limited as the sleeve is tightened on the connector header to form a liquid-proof seal between the elastomeric rim and the sealing surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
An environmentally sealed instrument circuit adapter, comprising: contact sockets configured to mate with contact pins inside a connector header on a process transmitter, the connector header having a sealing surface, and also configured to connect with conductors of an instrument circuit; a rigid insulating support that supports the contact sockets; a sleeve with threads configured to screw onto the connector header, the sleeve having a lip; an environmentally sealing elastomeric boot configured to seal the circuit conductors of the instrument circuit and having a elastomeric rim between the lip and the sealing surface; and at least one washer located between the lip and the elastomeric rim, the washer having a washer surface that slides relative to the lip as the sleeve is screwed on so that twisting of the elastomeric rim is limited as the sleeve is tightened on the connector header to form a liquid-proof seal between the elastomeric rim and the sealing surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of washers with sliding washer surfaces between the lip and the elastomeric rim.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein the conductors are sealed to the adapter with a cable gland seal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric boot is molded around the circuit conductors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a drip shield that extends beyond an outer periphery of the sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The adapter of claim 5 wherein the drip shield has a bottom surface that is beveled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric boot includes a boot extension that extends along the conductors to a boot end, and the length of the boot extension is adequate to bend the boot extension more than 90 degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein the circuit wires have second wire ends connected to service contacts that are adapted for connection to electrical test hooks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein the circuit wires have second wire ends connected to an electrical connector generally in conformance with ANSI Standard B93.55M.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein the circuit wires have second wire ends connected to an electrical connector generally in conformance with IEC 60947-5-2.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric boot is formed of Santoprene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The adapter of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric boot is formed of Monoprene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
130 words
An environmentally sealed instrument circuit adapter, comprising: contact sockets configured to mate with contact pins inside a connector header on a process transmitter; a sleeve configured to screw on the header, the sleeve having a lip that is configured to face the header; a cup-shaped washer located between the lip and the header, the cup-shaped washer having a washer surface that faces the lip and includes a sealing groove; a circular electrical connector integrally formed in the center of the cup-shaped washer, the circular electrical connector having second pins connecting with the contact sockets and also configured to connect with conductors of an instrument circuit; and a liquid-proofing elastomeric seal disposed in the sealing groove and configured to seal to the lip as the sleeve is screwed on the header.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
An environmentally sealed instrument circuit adapter, comprising: contact sockets configured to mate with contact pins inside a connector header on a process transmitter; a sleeve configured to screw on the header, the sleeve having a lip that is configured to face the header; a cup-shaped washer located between the lip and the header, the cup-shaped washer having a washer surface that faces the lip and includes a sealing groove; a circular electrical connector integrally formed in the center of the cup-shaped washer, the circular electrical connector having second pins connecting with the contact sockets and also configured to connect with conductors of an instrument circuit; and a liquid-proofing elastomeric seal disposed in the sealing groove and configured to seal to the lip as the sleeve is screwed on the header.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The adapter of claim 13 wherein the second pins connect with the contact sockets through an RFI/EMI filter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
An environmentally sealed instrument circuit adapter, comprising: contact sockets configured to mate with contact pins inside a connector header on a process transmitter and also configured to connect with first wire ends of a two wire 4-20 mA loop; a rigid insulating support that supports the contact sockets; a sleeve configured to screw on the header, the sleeve having a lip that is configured to face a sealing surface on the header; and an environmentally sealing elastomeric boot configured to seal to loop conductors of an instrument loop and having a elastomeric rim between the lip and the sealing surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
100 words
An environmentally sealed instrument circuit adapter, comprising: contact sockets configured to mate with contact pins inside a connector header on a process transmitter and also configured to connect with first wire ends of a two wire 4-20 mA loop; a rigid insulating support that supports the contact sockets; a sleeve configured to screw on the header, the sleeve having a lip that is configured to face a sealing surface on the header; and an environmentally sealing elastomeric boot configured to seal to loop conductors of an instrument loop and having a elastomeric rim between the lip and the sealing surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The adapter of claim 15 , further including the process transmitter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The adapter of claim 15 further comprising a circuit board in the elastomeric boot.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The adapter of claim 17 wherein the circuit board comprises an RFI/EMI filter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The adapter of claim 15 further comprising an O-ring seal between an outer surface of the connector header and the sleeve.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-01-27 | 2006-07-29 | 2007-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-27 | 2010-07-29 | 2011-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-27 | 2014-07-29 | 2015-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |