Methods and apparatus for mounting and aligning an occupancy sensor

• US 6,725,552 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Jonathan D., Bender, R. Kurt, Myron, Douglas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US10/159,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20030221324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 332/86, 332/27, 332/28, 332/63, 332/75.R
• US Class Current: 33/286
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for mounting and aligning a modular lamp controller. A representative embodiment includes a mounting adapter assembly and a laser alignment tool. The mounting adapter assembly is configured to couple to a housing of the modular lamp controller and includes a jam nut and a mounting adapter. The mounting adapter includes internal threads for connecting to a mounting pipe, external threads for locating the jam nut, and a step configured to revolve around an axis of the mounting adapter. The step is configured to rotatably lock the housing. The laser alignment tool is configured to couple to the housing and includes a bracket configured to couple to the housing and a laser coupled to the bracket.

Claims

1. A laser alignment system for an occupancy sensor, the system comprising:

an occupancy sensor;

a bracket;

a clip coupled to the bracket and removably coupled to the occupancy sensor; and

a laser coupled to the bracket and positioned to align a field of view of the occupancy sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, the clip being coupled to a recess of the occupancy sensor.

3. The system of claim 2, the clip and recess being configured to couple together upon rotation of the clip within the recess.

4. A mounting adapter assembly for mounting an occupancy sensor, the mounting adapter assembly comprising:

a jam nut; and

a mounting adapter comprising internal threads for connecting to a mounting pipe, external threads for locating the jam nut, and a step configured to revolve around an axis of the mounting adapter, the step being configured to rotatably lock the occupancy sensor.

5. The mounting adapter assembly of claim 4, the step being configured to rotatably lock the occupancy sensor and a modular lamp controller coupled to the occupancy sensor.

6. An apparatus for mounting and aligning a modular lamp controller, comprising:

a mounting adapter assembly configured to couple to a housing of the modular lamp controller, the mounting adapter assembly comprising;

a jam nut; and

a mounting adapter comprising internal threads for connecting to a mounting pipe, external threads for locating the jam nut, and a step configured to revolve around an axis of the mounting adapter, the step being configured to rotatably lock the housing; and

a laser alignment tool configured to couple to the housing, the laser alignment tool comprising;

a bracket configured to couple to the housing; and

a laser coupled to the bracket.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, the step being configured to revolve around a center axis of the mounting adapter.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, the laser alignment tool further comprising a clip coupled to the bracket, the clip being configured to fit into a recess of the housing to secure and position the laser alignment tool relative to the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, the clip being configured to fit into the recess and rotate therein to secure and position the laser alignment tool relative to the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, the clip being configured to fit into the recess and rotate 90 degrees therein to secure and position the laser alignment tool relative to the housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a lock nut configured to connect to the mounting pipe.

12. A method for mounting and aligning a modular lamp controller, comprising:

threading a mounting adapter onto a mounting pipe using interior threads of the mounting adapter;

threading a jam nut onto the mounting adapter using exterior threads of the mounting adapter;

inserting a step of the mounting adapter into a housing of the modular lamp controller to rotatably lock the housing;

aligning the modular lamp controller using a laser alignment tool coupled to the housing; and

tightening the jam nut against the housing to lock the modular lamp controller in place.

13. The method of claim 12, the aligning the modular lamp comprising rotating the housing until a laser spot from the laser alignment tool is aligned with a target.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising attaching a lock nut to the mounting pipe.