Mounting device for sensors

• US 20050029416A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I F M Electronic GmbH
• Original Assignee: I F M Electronic GmbH
• Inventors: Buck, Bernd, Sauter, Franz, Schocker, Berthold
• Granted Patent: US 7,178,776 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/200
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/1008 with two members engaging the pipe, cable or tubing, both being made of thin band material completely surrounding the pipe F16L3/1033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/12 comprising a member substantially surrounding the pipe, cable or protective tubing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/123 and extending along the attachment surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/13 and engaging it by snap action F16L3/1203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments

Abstract

A mounting device for contactlessly-operating proximity switches includes a continuous cylindrical or cuboidal recess for holding the proximity switch which is formed by at least two legs. The mounting device can also include at least one through pocket, connected to the recess, into which an actuating tool can fit. The recess of the mounting device, when in a relieved state, has a smaller diameter than the proximity switch which is to be mounted. Additionally, the recess can be spread into an enlarged state by the actuating tool being positioned into the pocket and turned.

Claims

1. Mounting device for a sensor comprising,

at least two legs elastically connected to one another to define a recess for holding the sensor,

wherein the legs are displaceable from a first state into a second state against the elastic connection of the at least two legs such that, in the first state, the sensor is held in the mounting device by the legs, the legs being aligned at an acute angle relative to each other, and in the second state, the sensor is insertable into removable from the mounting device, the legs being aligned relative to one another at an angle smaller than the acute angle.

2. Mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a spine between the two legs, said spine connecting the legs so that the mounting device is approximately U-shaped.

3. Mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting device is approximately V-shaped and one leg transitions to a mounting leg angled at about 90°

from the one leg.

4. Mounting device as claimed in claim 3, further including at least a third leg, wherein the at least two legs have an angle of 10°

to 30°

relative to a vertical plane and the at least two legs, when in the second state, are deflected from different sides of the vertical plane.

5. Mounting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the second state, the at least two legs are parallel.