Process fluid transmitter with an environmentally sealed service block

• US 6,546,805 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: LaRoche, Robert, Hausler, George C., Fandrey, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ellington, Alandra
• Application Number:
  US09/867,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20020007681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 737/08, 737/29, 737/06, 737/53, 737/56, 737/28, 738/614.2, 738/610.2, 738/610.4, 361/816, 340/626
• US Class Current: 73/753
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/003 using a detachable interface or adapter between the process medium and the pressure gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/0645 using isolation membranes, specially adapted for protection
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/141 Monolithic housings, e.g. molded or one-piece housings

Abstract

An environmentally sealed service block is mounted inside a field wiring compartment of a process fluid transmitter. The service block has field wiring terminals, sealed jumper assemblies and sealed pushbutton switches connected to a sealed cable and plug. The sealed plug plugs into a permanently sealed transmitter assembly. High impedance programming circuitry connected to the jumper assemblies and pushbutton switches is completely sealed and not subject to malfunction due to contamination present in the field wiring compartment.

Claims

1. A process fluid transmitter, comprising:

a field wiring housing having a removable compartment cover, a wiring compartment that is covered by the removable compartment cover, and the field wiring housing having at least one mounting member inside the wiring compartment and the field wiring housing having an opening adapted to receive a transmitter electrical connector;

a permanently sealed transmitter assembly having a transmitter electrical connector disposed in the opening and accessible inside the wiring compartment; and

a service block that is environmentally sealed and mounted to the mounting member, the service block including;

terminals adapted for connection to field wiring;

sealed programming jumper assemblies that are accessible upon removal of the removable compartment cover;

sealed programming pushbutton switches that are accessible upon removal of the removable compartment cover; and

a sealed cable connected to the terminals, the jumper assemblies, and the pushbutton switches and including a plug plugged into the transmitter electrical connector.

2. The process fluid transmitter of claim 1 wherein each jumper assembly includes:

electrical contacts;

a generally polygon-shaped jumper cavity formed in the service block around the electrical contacts; and

a removable polygon-shaped jumper body keyed to insert into the generally polygon-shaped jumper cavity in a selected one of two selectable positions, the jumper body having a metal jumper that contacts a different pair of the electrical contacts in each selectable position.

3. The process fluid transmitter of claim 2 wherein the polygon-shaped jumper body engages the generally polygonal-shaped jumper cavity before the metal jumper engages the electrical contacts as the jumper body is inserted in the jumper cavity.

4. The process fluid transmitter of claim 2 wherein the polygon-shaped jumper body includes an indicator pointer and a rim of the polygon-shaped jumper cavity has first and second positions for the indicator pointer that provide a visible indication of jumper assembly operation when the compartment cover is removed.

5. The process fluid transmitter of claim 2 wherein the jumper body includes a retention spring that is compressed by the compartment cover.

6. The process fluid transmitter of claim 1 wherein each sealed jumper assembly comprises an O-ring seal.

7. The process fluid transmitter of claim 1 wherein the mounting member is formed as a mounting ear.

8. The process fluid transmitter of claim 1 wherein the service block includes screws that mount the service block to the mounting member.

9. The process fluid transmitter of claim 8 wherein the screws are removable from the mounting member by use of a screwdriver and the plug is manually unpluggable from the transmitter electrical connector such that the service block is field replaceable.

10. The process fluid transmitter of claim 1 wherein the service block includes electrical transient and RFI suppression components connected to the terminals.

11. The process fluid transmitter of claim 10 wherein one of the suppression components is grounded to the field wiring housing.

12. The process fluid transmitter of claim 2 wherein the transmitter assembly includes high impedance circuits connected to the electrical contacts.

13. The process fluid transmitter of claim 1 wherein the field wiring housing includes a ledge shielding the sealed cable when the compartment cover is removed, and the service block includes a ground plane shielding the sealed cable when the compartment cover is removed.