Wireless communication adapter for field devices

• US 8,929,948 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Vanderaa, Joel D., Grunig, Christina A., Hurd, Ronald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRANDAI, CINDY HUYEN
• Application Number:
  US12/485,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20090311975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90.3, 455/90.1, 455/41.3, 455/575.3, 455/456.1, 455/550, 455/128, 455/68, 455/862.333, 455/54.41, 455/343.1, 343/702, 361/728, 298/54, 439/709, 738/623.33, 73/544.1, 710/62
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31121 Fielddevice, field controller, interface connected to fieldbus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34481 EFC explosion free control, intrinsically safe
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A wireless process communication adapter is provided. The adapter includes a housing having a plurality of openings. An end cap is coupled to a first opening of the plurality of openings. A field device coupling is disposed at the second of the plurality of openings. The housing, end cap and field device coupling define a chamber therein. At least one circuit board is disposed within the chamber, the circuit board has wireless communication circuitry disposed thereon and is coupleable to a field device through the field device coupling. In one aspect, substantially all remaining volume in the chamber is filled with a solid material. In another aspect, an explosion-proof barrier is provided in the field device coupling. Combinations of the aspects are also provided.

Claims

1. A wireless process communication adapter coupleable to a field device, the wireless process communication adapter having:

a housing having a plurality of openings;

an end cap coupled to a first opening of the plurality of openings;

a field device coupling disposed at a second of the plurality of openings, the field device coupling configured to mount to a housing of the field device;

wherein the housing, end cap and field device coupling define a chamber therein;

at least one circuit board disposed within the chamber, the circuit board having wireless communication circuitry and being coupleable to a two-wire process communication loop and at least one additional wired connection coupleable to transmitter circuitry of the field device by a plurality of discrete wires passing through the field device coupling; and

wherein the chamber is completely filled with a solid material; and

wherein the field device coupling includes an explosion-proof barrier and wherein the explosion-proof barrier includes a pressure-blocking feedthrough.

2. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuitry is intrinsically safe.

3. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 1, wherein the solid material is an epoxy.

4. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 1, wherein the housing is cylindrically shaped.

5. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed at least in part from metal.

6. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 5, wherein a chassis of the wireless process communication adapter is coupleable to an electrical ground of the field device.

7. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 1, wherein the pressure blocking feedthrough includes a surface that bears against a shoulder of the field device coupling.

8. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 1, wherein the pressure-blocking feedthrough has an outer diameter that cooperates with an inner diameter of the field device coupling to form a gap sized to extinguish burning gasses.

9. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 1, and further comprising an o-ring disposed about the field device coupling.

10. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 1, wherein the explosion-proof barrier includes a cemented joint passing conductors therethrough.

11. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit board includes a plurality of circuit boards disposed substantially parallel to one another and separated by a gap that is filled with the solid material.

12. A wireless process communication adapter coupleable to a field device, the wireless process communication adapter comprising:

a housing having a plurality of openings;

an end cap coupled to a first opening of the plurality of openings;

a field device coupling disposed at a second of the plurality of openings configured to mount to a housing of the field device;

wherein the housing, end cap and field device coupling define a chamber therein;

at least one circuit board disposed within the chamber, the circuit board having wireless communication circuitry and being coupleable to a a two-wire process communication loop and at least one additional wired connection coupleable to transmitter circuitry of the field device by a plurality of discrete wires passing through the field device coupling; and

wherein the field device coupling is configured to include an explosion-proof barrier and wherein the explosion-proof barrier includes a pressure-blocking feedthrough.

13. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 12, wherein the explosion blocking feedthrough includes a surface that bears against a shoulder of the field device coupling.

14. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 12, and further comprising an o-ring disposed about the field device coupling.

15. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 12, wherein the explosion-proof barrier includes a cemented joint passing conductors therethrough.

16. The wireless process communication adapter of claim 12, wherein the pressure-blocking feedthrough has an outer diameter that cooperates with an inner diameter of the field device coupling to form a gap sized to extinguish burning gasses.