US3108477A

US3108477A - Instrument casing

Info

Publication number: US3108477A
Application number: US832750A
Authority: US
Inventors: Porter Norman
Original assignee: Ametek Inc
Current assignee: Ametek Inc
Priority date: 1959-08-10
Filing date: 1959-08-10
Publication date: 1963-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-29

Description

Oct. 29, 1963 N. PORTER INSTRUMENT CASING Filed Aug. 10, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR NORMAN PORTER BY TMWfigW} 534m TORNEYS N. PORTER INSTRUMENT CASING Oct. 29, 1963 5 Sheets-sheaf; 2

Filed Aug. 10, 1959 INVENTOR NORMAN PORTER ATTO ms NEYS Oct. 29, 1963 N. PORTER INSTRUMENT CASING SSheets-Shet 3 Filed Aug. .10, 1959 INVENTOR NORMAN P R P a i m m TORNEY-S United States Patent ice 3,108,477 INSTRUMENT CASING Norman Porter, Sellersville, Pa., assignor to Ametek, Iuc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 832,750 Claims. (Cl. 73-431) This invention relates to instrument casings or enclosures adapted to house indicating, recording and control instruments and the like.

Casings of the above described type generally have a front door hinged to the casing that is provided with a central window through which a recording chart may be viewed. The various instruments, such as Bourdon tube gauges and the like for measuring pressure and temperature, etc., are usually back mounted on the back Wall of the casing, and the armor cable for thermal elements as well as the pressure lines for pressure gauges generally pass through knock out holes in the base of the casing and are bottom connected to the instruments, which latter are back mounted on the back wall of the casing.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an instrument casing of such construction that the various instruments to be housed therein may, with facility, be mounted within, and removed from the casing while still attached to the armor cable or pressure lines required for their proper functioning.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a casing having a hinged front door that includes a door catch capable of effecting a tight closure of the door and the casing by only a slight force being applied to the door handle.

In one aspect of the invention, a casing may be provided with a back wall surrounded by four side walls having integral flanges that are parrellel with the back wall. Parallel flanges that are also parallel with the upper and lower side walls may extend outwardly from the top and bottom of the casing for receiving between them the top and bottom flanges of a door that may be hinged by removable pins to and at one end of, the top and bottom parallel flanges of the casing.

In another aspect of the invention, a ledge or shelf may be formed within the casing and spaced a distance from the bottom Wall thereof for a purpose to be described. The ledge acts as one part of a stepped bottom Wall of the casing, and the forward edge of the ledge is connected to the other part of the stepped bottom wall of the casing by a wall that is parallel to the back wall. This construction defines at the outside back of the casing, a recess beneath the ledge for a purpose to be described. The wall beneath the ledge may be provided with openings large enough to receive the various instruments to be mounted within the casing, and cover plates may be provided to close these openings when the instruments are mounted within the casing.

In still another aspect of the invention, parallel slots or grooves may be provided extending partly through the ledge, some of which may be opened by a knock out process for receiving the armor cable leading to temperature instruments and lines leading to pressure gauges mounted within the casing.

From the foregoing it is evident that instruments attached to their supply lines or armor cable may be inserted from the back of the wall or panel-mounted casing through the large openings beneath the ledge, and

the lines or cable may be threaded into the parallel Patented Oct. 29, 1963 In still another aspect of the invention, the hinged door for the casing may include a recess for receiving a pivotally mounted door handle in a manner to be flush with the exterior of the door when in its latched position. A latch may be fixed to the door handle and it may extend inwardly of the casing. The latch may include a large hook-like element adapted to cooperate with a roller mounted interiorly of the casing and on a side wall thereof, and a locking device may be provided on the door for interfering with, and permitting the movement of, the latch depending upon whether it is efiiective or ineffective.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

' FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a casing to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the casing shown in FIG. 1, with the door open and removed from the casing;

FIG. 3 is a view along line 3-3 of the casing of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing one method of fabrication of a detail of the locking mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a view along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 7, showing how a knock out operation provides an opening through the door to receive a gauge or the like;

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 99 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the casing and door showing details of the door latching and locking mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to a casing including a back wall 10 surrounded by

side walls

11, 12, 13 and 14. Integral with, and surrounding the side Walls 11 to 14 are

flanges

15, 16, 17 and 18 parallel with back wall 10. Overhanging

flanges

19 and 20 may be provided along the flanges 16 and 18 that are parallel with each other and parallel with

side walls

12 and 14.

A door 21 may comprise a wall 22 having a large window 23 therein through which a recording chart may be viewed. The wall 22 of door 21 may have

upstanding flanges

24, 25, 26 and 27 of a height substantially equal to that of the overhanging

flanges

19 and 20, so that when closed, the door is flush with the outer edges of

flanges

19 and 20. The door 21 may include aligned recesses 19 adapted to be aligned with corresponding recesses 20' within

flanges

19 and 20 on the casing. Pins 21', one of which may include a springpressed detent, may extend through the recesses 19' and 2% to hingedly mount the door 21 to the

casing flanges

19 and 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 9, a ledge or shelf 28 may be provided at a substantial elevation above bottom wall 14 for a purpose to be described later. The forward edge 29 of ledge 28 may be joined to bottom wall 14-by a wall 30, and openings 31 and 32 may be provided in wall 30 which may be covered with removable plates to close said openings.

Parallel spaced slots 33 may extend partly through the wall 28 and may extend rearwardly therealong as shown in FIG. 9. When it is desired to mount various instruments having flexible lines leading thereto to the back wall of the casing, they may be inserted from the outside and back of the casing through the openings 31 and 32. Prior to such insertion through openings 31 and 32, some of the slots 33 may be knocked out or cut through so that the lines leading to the instruments may be threaded thereinto so as not to interfere with the application of the closure plates to the openings 31 and 32 when all of the instruments have been mounted within the casing.

From the foregoing it is evident that the instruments to be mounted within the casing may also be removed therefrom for repair, or checking, in a reverse manner as disclosed above without disconnecting them from the lines leading from the instruments to the process being controlled by the instruments involved.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 10, and particularly FIG. 10, the plate 22 of door 21 may be provided with a recess 34 formed 'by an offset portion 35 of the wall 26 (FIG. 2). A bracket 36 may be fixed to the offset portion 35 of wall 26 in a manner to oscillatably support a pin 37 that extends from within recess 34 through offset portion 35 of wall 26 to the interior of the case. A door handle 38 of generally angular section may have its one wall 39 fixed to pin 37. The portion 35 of wall 26 may be provided with a recess 40 for receiving the door handle 38 so that when latched, the handle 38 is flush with the outer surface of the plate 22 of door 21.

The end of pin 37 within the casing may have an element 41 fixed to it. The element 41 may include a large hook 42 spaced a substantial distance from the pin 37 so that the movement of the handle 38 will provide a large movement of hook portion 42. The effective end of the hook 42 may include a cam surface 43 that is adapted to cooperate with a roller 44 journaled in a boss 45 (FIG. 2) on the interior of wall 11 of the casing. The cam 43 is so constructed as to apply an increasing closing force to the door 21 as the handle 38 is moved toward the position shown in FIG. 10. The cam 43 also includes a portion 44, the configuration of which is such as to retain the door latched when handle 38 is in the position shown in FIG. 10.

In order to lock the door 21 in closed position to prevent unauthorized opening thereof, the element 41 may include an arm 45 at its end opposite that including hook 42. The arm 45 is adapted to cooperate, in a known manner, with a plate 46 that is connected to the rotatable barrel of a lock 47. Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a boss 48 may be provided on the inside of plate 22 havin an elongated recess 49 therein for receiving the elongated barrel housing for the lock 47 in a manner to prevent it from turning. By running an end mill 50' from the outer face of plate 22 inwardly, a circular opening 51 is pro vided for the reception of the face end of the lock 47. Insertion of a key 52 (FIG. 10) into lock 47 and turning it will remove plate 46 from interfering with arm 45 of element 41 so that handle 38 may be pivoted outwardly to release hook 42 from roller 44. The flange 15 of the casing (FIG. 2) may be provided with a recess 53 to facilitate grasping the handle 38.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the plate 22 may be provided with concentrically arranged flanges 54 and 55 forming a mounting for a gauge or the like. The metal Within the confines of flange 55 may be removed, as shown in FIG. 8, for the reception of a gauge face.

Referring to FIG. 1, grooves 56 may be provided at the same elevation in the exterior of

side walls

11 and 13 for the reception of mounting brackets 57 having the same thickness as the depth of the grooves 56.

Although the various features of the new and improved casing have been described in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

Ones,

1. In a controller casing, a back wall; side walls integral with, and surrounding said back Wall; a door for said casing hingedly attached to said casing; flanges integral with, and surrounding said door; a pivot pin mounted within a recess in one of said flanges; a door handle fixed to said pin and normally located entirely within said recess; a latching arm fixed to said pin and located within the confines of said casing; a roller mounted on one of the side walls of said casing; and means on said latching arm for cooperating with said roller, whereby said door is latched in its closed position on said casing by said means when said handle is moved to its latching position within said recess.

2. In a controller casing, aback wall; side walls integral with, and surrounding said back wall; a door for said casing hingedly attached to said casing; flanges integral with, and surrounding said door; a pivot pin mounted within a recess in one of said flanges; a door handle fixed to said pin and normally located entirely within said recess; a latching arm fixed to said pin and located within the confines of said casing; a roller mounted on one of the side walls of said casing; and means on said latching arm and including an effective portion a substantial distance from said pin for cooperation with said roller, whereby said door is latched in its closed position on said casing by said means when said handle is moved to its latching position within said recess.

3. In a controller casing, a back wall; side walls integral with, and surrounding said back wall; a roller mounted on one side wall of said casing; a door for said casing hingedly attached to said casing; flanges integral with, and surrounding said door; a pivot pin mounted within a recess in one of said flanges; a door handle fixed to said pin and normally located entirely within said recess; a latching arm in the form of a bell crank fixed to said pin and located within the confines of said casing, one arm of said bell crank including means for cooperating with said roller; and a lock having a movable element adapted to interfere with the other arm of said bell crank, whereby said door is latched in its closed position on said casing by said means when said handle is moved to its latching position within said recess.

4. In a controller casing, a back wall; side and top walls integral with said back wall; a stepped bottom wall forming a ledge a substantial distance above the bottom of said casing and joined to the bottom of said casing by a wall substantially parallel with said back wall; removable plates adapted to cover relatively large openings within said joining wall through which instruments to be mounted within said casing may pass; means within said ledge for accommodating connecting means leading from said instruments within said casing to the exterior of said casing; a door for said casing hingedly attached to said casing; flanges integral with, and surrounding said door; a pivot pin mounted within a recess in one of said flanges; a door handle fixed to said pin and normally located entirely Within said recess; a latching arm fixed to said pin and located within the confines of said casing; a roller mounted on one of the side walls of said casing; and means on said latching arm for cooperating with said roller, whereby said door is latched in its closed position on said casing by said means on said latching arm when said handle is moved to its latching position within said recess.

5. In a controller casing, a back wall; side walls integral with, and surrounding said back wall; a ledge integral with said back wall and joined to one of said side walls by a wall that is substantially parallel with said back wall; cover plates adapted removably to be attached to said joining wall and adapted to cover relatively large openings within said joining wall through which instruments to be mounted within said casing may pass; means within said ledge for accommodating connecting means leading from said instruments within said casing to the exterior of said casing; a door for said casing hingedly attached to said casing; flanges integral with, and surrounding said door; a pivot pin mounted within a recess in one of said flanges; a door handle fixed to said pin and normally located entirely within said recess; a latching arm fixed to said pin and located within the confines of said casing; a roller mounted on one of the side walls of said casing; and means on said latching arm for cooperating with said roller, whereby said door is latched in its closed position on said casing by said means on said latching arm when said handle is moved to its latching position within said recess.

6. In a controller casing, aback wall; side walls integral with, and surrounding said back wall; flanges connected to said side walls and extending in a plane substantially parallel with said back wall; a door hingedly attached to said casing; other flanges surrounding said door adapted to 'form a sea with said casing flanges; a ledge integral with said back wall and joined to one of said side walls by a wall that is substantially parallel with said back wall; cover plates adapted removably to be attached to said joining wall and adapted to cover relatively large openings within said joining Wall through Which instruments to be mounted Within said casing may pass; means within said ledge for accommodating connecting means leading from said instruments within said casing to the exterior of said casing; a pivot pin mounted within a recess in one of said door flanges; a door handle fixed to said pin and normally located entirely within said recess; a latching arm fixed to said pin and located within the confines of said casing; a roller mounted on one of the side walls of said casing; and means on said latching arm for cooperating with said roller, whereby said door is latched in its closed position on said casing by said means on said latching arm when said handle is moved to its latching position within said recess.

7. In a controller casing, a back Wall; side walls integral with, and surrounding said back wall; flanges connected to said side walls and extending in a plane substantially parallel with said back wall; a door hingedly attached to said casing; other flanges surrounding said door adapted to form a sea with said casing flanges; a ledge integral with said back wall and joined to one of said side walls by a wall that is substantially parallel with said back wall; cover plates adapted removably to be attached to said joining wall and adapted to cover relatively large openings within said joining wall through which instruments to be mounted within said casing may pass; slots within said ledge for accommodating connecting means leading from said instruments within said casing to the exterior of said casing; a pivot pin mounted within a recess in one of said door flanges; a door handle fixed to said pin and normally located entirely within said recess; a latching arm fixed to said pin and located within the confines of said casing; a roller mounted on one of the side walls of said casing; and means on said latching arm for coopcrating with said roller, whereby said door is latched in its closed position on said casing by said means on said latching arm when said handle is moved to its latching position within said recess.

8. In a controller casing, a back wall; side walls integral with, and surrounding said back wall; flanges connected to said side walls and extending in a plane substantially parallel with said back wall; a door hingedly attached to said casing; other flanges surrounding said door adapted to form a sea with said casing flanges; a ledge integral with said back wall and joined to one of said side Walls by a wall that is substantially parallel with said back wall; cover plates adapted removably to be attached to said joining wall and adapted to cover relatively large openings within said joining wall through which instruments to be mounted within said casing may pass; means within said ledge for accommodating connecting means leading from said instruments within said casing to the exterior of said casing; a pivot pin mounted within a recess in one of said door flanges; a door handle fixed to said pin and normally located entirely within said recess; a latching arm fixed to said pin and located within the confines of said casing; a roller mounted on one of the side walls of said casing; and means on said latching arm including an eifective portion a substantial distance from said pin for cooperation with said roller, whereby said door is latched in its closed position on said casing by said means on said latching arm when said handle is moved to its latching position within said recess.

9. In a controller casing, aback wall; side walls integral with, and surrounding said back wall; flanges connected to said side walls and extending in a plane substantially parallel with said back wall; a roller mounted on one side wall of said casing; a door hingedly attached to said casing; other flanges surrounding said door adapted to form a seal with casing flanges; a ledge integral with said back wall and joined to one of said side walls by a Wall that is substantially parallel with said back wall; cover plates adapted removnbly to be attached to said joining wall and adapted to cover relatively large openings within said joining wall through which instruments to he mounted within said casing may pass; means within said ledge for accommodating connecting means leading from said instruments within said casing to the exterior of said casing; a pivot pin mounted within a recess in one of said door flanges; a door handle fixed to said pin and normally located entirely within said recess; a latching arm in the form of a bell crank fixed to said pin and located within the confines of said casing, one arm of said bell crank including means for cooperating with said roller; and a lock having a movable element adapted to interfere with the other arm of said bell crank, whereby said door is latched in its closed posit-ion on said casing by said roller cooperating means on said latching arm when said handle is moved to its latching position within said recess.

10. In a controller casing, a back wall; side and top walls integral with said back wall; a stepped bottom wall forming a ledge a substantial distance above the bottom of said casing and joined to the bottom of said casing by a wall substantially parallel with said back wall; removable plates adapted to cover relativey large openings within said joining wall through which instruments to be mounted within said casing may pass; means within said ledge for accommodating connecting means leading from said instruments within said casing to the exterior of said casing; a door for said casing hingedly attached to said casing; flanges integral with, and surrounding said door; a pivot pin mounted within a recess in one of said flanges; a door handle fixed to said pin and normally located entirely within said recess; a latching arm fixed to said pin and located within the confines of said casing; a roller mounted on one of the side walls of said casing; means on said latching arm for cooperating with said roller; parallel grooves formed on the outer surface of certain of said side walls; and mounting brackets slidingly fitting said grooves and being of a thickness equal to the depth of said grooves adapted to support said casing, whereby said door is latched in its closed position on said casing by said means on said latching arm when said handle is moved to its latching position said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,080,000 Apple May 11, 1937 2,241,233 Young May 6, 1941 2,317,700 Thompson Apr. 27, 1943 2,319,845 Caldwell May 25, 1943 2,423,937 Humer July 15, 1947 2,528,735 Bristol Nov. 7, 1950 2,574,203 Wills Nov. 6, 1951

Claims

1. IN A CONTROLLER CASING, A BACK WALL; SIDE WALLS INTEGRAL WITH, AND SURROUNDING SAID BACK WALL; A DOOR FOR SAID CASING HINGEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID CASING; FLANGES INTEGRAL WITH, AND SURROUNDING SAID DOOR, A PIVOT PIN MOUNTED WITHIN A RECESS IN ONE OF SAID FLANGES; A DOOR HANDLE FIXED TO SAID PIN AND NORMALLY LOCATED ENTIRELY WITHIN SAID RECESS; A LATCHING ARM FIXED TO SAID PIN AND LOCATED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID CASING; A ROLLER MOUNTED ON ONE OF THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID CASING; AND MEANS ON SAID LATCHING ARM FOR COOPERATING WITH SAID ROLLER, WHEREBY SAID DOOR IS LATCHED IN ITS CLOSED POSITION ON SAID CASING BY SAID MEANS WHEN SAID HANDLE IS MOVED TO ITS LATCHING POSITION WITHIN SAID RECESS.