Mounting flange for measuring devices

{
  "publication_number": "US10048136B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Mounting flange for measuring devices",
  "abstract": "Advantageous mounting flanges for measuring devices and related methods of use are provided. The present disclosure provides advantageous mounting flanges configured to be mounted to measuring devices/instruments (e.g., pressure or temperature measuring devices/instruments), and related methods of use. More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous systems/methods for the design and use of user-friendly press-on mounting flanges configured to be mounted to pressure and temperature instruments (e.g., to the case of pressure or temperature gauges) to allow the instruments to be secured to a supporting structure (e.g., to a panel) via the mounting flanges. Disclosed herein is an advantageous mounting flange configured to be mounted to a case of a measuring device/gauge, thereby allowing the measuring device/gauge to be mounted to and held in a panel via the mounting flange. As such, the gauge case mounting flange is configured to hold the measuring gauge in place in the panel.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A measuring device mounting assembly comprising: a mounting flange having a front wall and a rear wall, the front wall extending from an inner perimeter to an outer perimeter, and the rear wall extending from the inner perimeter to the outer perimeter; a central opening through the front and rear walls; a first grip member extending from the rear wall, and a second grip member extending from the rear wall; wherein the first and second grip members are each configured and dimensioned to releasably abut against a measuring device to releasably secure the mounting flange to the measuring device.",
    "2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is a pressure or temperature measuring device.",
    "3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second grip members extend from the rear wall and angle toward a central longitudinal axis of the central opening.",
    "4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the front wall is a circular or ring-like front wall, and the rear wall is a circular or ring-like rear wall; and wherein the planar surface defined by the front wall is substantially parallel to the planar surface defined by the rear wall.",
    "5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second grip members each include an extending portion and a gripping portion, each gripping portion configured and dimensioned to releasably grip against a case of the measuring device to releasably secure the mounting flange to the measuring device, with each gripping portion providing a spring-force against the case.",
    "6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second grip members each define a curved arcuate wall portion that extends from a first end to a second end.",
    "7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising an outer wall that extends from the rear wall, the outer wall extending around the outer perimeter of the rear wall; wherein the outer wall is configured to abut against a front wall of a supporting structure when the measuring device and the releasably secured mounting flange are mounted to the supporting structure.",
    "8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is positioned within the central opening when the mounting flange is releasably secured to the measuring device.",
    "9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the front wall of the mounting flange is configured to be positioned adjacent to a rear side of a front ring or bezel of the measuring device when the mounting flange is releasably secured to the measuring device.",
    "10. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first aperture extending through the front and rear walls, the first aperture configured to be aligned with a hole of a supporting structure to mount the measuring device and the releasably secured mounting flange relative to an aperture of the supporting structure.",
    "11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the supporting structure is a panel member.",
    "12. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising second and third apertures extending through the front and rear walls, the second and third apertures each configured to be aligned with a respective hole of the supporting structure to mount the measuring device and the releasably secured mounting flange relative to the aperture of the supporting structure.",
    "13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the first, second and third apertures are each spaced 120° apart from each adjacent respective aperture around the front and rear walls.",
    "14. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising third, fourth, fifth and sixth grip members extending from the rear wall; and wherein the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grip members are each configured and dimensioned to releasably abut against the measuring device to releasably secure the mounting flange to the measuring device.",
    "15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth grip members are each spaced equidistantly apart from each adjacent respective grip member around the rear wall.",
    "16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth grip members each extend 30° around the inner perimeter of the rear wall.",
    "17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting flange is configured to be releasably secured to the measuring device utilizing user force.",
    "18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the releasably secured mounting flange is configured to be removed from the measuring device utilizing user force.",
    "19. A measuring device mounting assembly comprising: a mounting flange having a circular or ring-like front wall and a circular or ring-like rear wall, the front wall extending from an inner perimeter to an outer perimeter, and the rear wall extending from the inner perimeter to the outer perimeter; a central opening through the front and rear walls; a first aperture extending through the front and rear walls; first and second grip members extending from the rear wall, the first and second grip members angled toward a central longitudinal axis of the central opening; wherein the first and second grip members each include an extending portion and a gripping portion, each gripping portion configured and dimensioned to releasably grip against a case of a measuring device to releasably secure the mounting flange to the measuring device, with each gripping portion providing a spring-force against the case; wherein the measuring device is positioned within the central opening when the mounting flange is releasably secured to the measuring device; wherein the front wall of the mounting flange is configured to be positioned adjacent to a rear side of a front ring or bezel of the measuring device when the mounting flange is releasably secured to the measuring device; wherein the mounting flange is configured to be releasably secured to the measuring device utilizing user force; and wherein the first aperture is configured to be aligned with a hole of a supporting structure to mount the measuring device and the releasably secured mounting flange relative to an aperture of the supporting structure.",
    "20. A measuring device mounting assembly comprising: a mounting flange having a front wall and a rear wall, the front wall extending from an inner perimeter to an outer perimeter, and the rear wall extending from the inner perimeter to the outer perimeter; a central opening through the front and rear walls; first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth grip members extending from the rear wall, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth grip members angled toward a central longitudinal axis of the central opening; an outer wall that extends from the rear wall, the outer wall extending around the outer perimeter of the rear wall; wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth grip members are each spaced equidistantly apart from each adjacent respective grip member around the rear wall; wherein the first, second third, fourth, fifth and sixth grip members are each configured and dimensioned to releasably abut against a measuring device to releasably secure the mounting flange to the measuring device; wherein the mounting flange is configured to be releasably secured to the measuring device utilizing user force; and wherein the outer wall is configured to abut against a front wall of a supporting structure when the measuring device and the releasably secured mounting flange are mounted to the supporting structure."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to mounting flanges configured to be mounted to measuring devices/instruments (e.g., pressure or temperature measuring devices/instruments) and, more particularly, to the design and use of user-friendly press-on mounting flanges configured to be mounted to pressure and temperature instruments (e.g., to the case of pressure or temperature gauges) to allow the instruments to be secured to a supporting structure (e.g., to a panel member or the like) via the mounting flanges.\n\nIn general, measuring devices, such as instruments and gauges used for measuring temperature and pressure, have innumerable uses in industry. For example, pressure gauges to measure the pressure of process media are well known. Pressure gauges are useful in a myriad of different environments for commercial and industrial applications. Some exemplary assemblies/systems in this general field are described and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,437,936 and 7,628,068, the entire contents of each being hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.\n\nThere are some conventional panel mounting flange designs for measuring devices in the marketplace.\n\nOne conventional design is referred to as factory press fit. In this design, the measuring device/gauge comes with the flange pre-installed and is held together with an interference fit. These designs generally need mechanical assistance to assemble.\n\nAnother is the capturing flange design. Such flanges typically do not go around the gauge case at all.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01K 1/14",
    "F16B 2/245",
    "F16B 9/07",
    "G01L 19/00",
    "G01L 19/0038",
    "G01L 19/147"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16B 2/24",
    "G01K 1/14",
    "G01L 19/00",
    "G12B 9/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Ashcroft Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Tyler Jon Bessette"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-12-21",
  "publication_date": "2018-08-14",
  "grant_date": "2018-08-14",
  "priority_date": "2016-12-21",
  "application_number": "US-201615386585-A",
  "family_id": "62562330",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US7437936B1",
    "US7628068B2"
  ]
}