Patent ID: 6575048
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: G01D

Abstract:
A positioning assembly for positioning a sensor in a body having an environment contained therein, the body having a wall with an internally-threaded opening including an internal axial surface, and the sensor being of a variety including an elongate terminal portion which extends along a longitudinal axis of the sensor from a lower probe end to an upper compression surface, the probe end being receivable through the opening of the body wall for disposition in sensing contact with the environment contained in the body, and the sensor terminal portion being externally-threaded intermediate the probe end and the compression surface, said positioning assembly comprising:a generally annular adapter member extending intermediate an upper first end and a lower second end, said adapter member having an inner surface configured for a threaded engagement with the externally-threaded terminal portion of the sensor, and an outer surface including a bearing portion; and a generally annular fastening member having an inner surface receivable coaxially over the outer surface of said adapter member and an outer surface configured for a threaded engagement with the body wall opening, whereby with said fastening member being received over said adapter member and said adapter member being threadably engaged with the sensor terminal portion, said fastening member is threadably engagable with the body wall opening for movement into an abutting, force-transmitting contact with the bearing portion of said adapter member urging the second end of said adapter member into a compressive engagement with the axial surface of the body wall opening and positioning the sensor at a select angular orientation relative to its longitudinal axis, and whereby the sensor is rotatable about its longitudinal axis for the, positioning thereof at said select angular orientation prior to the compressive engagement of said adapter member with the body wall opening axial surface, wherein the probe end of the sensor is disposed at a predetermined angular orientation relative to the environment contained within said body, and wherein the sensor is rotated about its longitudinal axis to position the probe end thereof at said predetermined angular orientation prior to the compressive engagement of said adapter member with the body wall opening axial surface.