Patent Description:
Gage and absolute sensors may be deployed in some of the world's most rugged environments. For example, various deployment environments may include operations pertaining to the include oil and gas industry. Electrical connectors used in these deployments may be designed, manufactured and tested to meet demanding specifications. Some sensor manufacturers may develop and refine their designs to meet specific end-user applications. In various examples, industry-standard DIN <NUM> circular connectors may employ a fast-lock technology to avoid screwing operations, which may be viewed as cumbersome in field installation situations. <CIT> discloses a sensor unit with a sensor, sensor electronics connected to the sensor and a first connection unit which is connected to the sensor electronics, the sensor, the sensor electronics and the first connection unit are arranged in a tubular housing and the first connection unit can be contacted with a correspondingly designed second connection unit, a molded part with an inner contour in the housing. is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner, the inner contour and an outer contour of the first connecting unit and / or the second connecting unit being at least partially designed to correspond to one another. <CIT> discloses a pressure measuring device corresponding to a receiving tube in which a pressure sensor element is axially clamped by means of a screw element. A transmission element is arranged in between the screw element and the pressure sensor element for transmitting the axial clamping forces. The pressure measuring device has at least one detent member which is unable to rotate in relation to the receiving tube. The transmission member comprises at least one second detent member which engages with the at least one first detent member in order to prevent the transmission member from rotating, thereby preventing torque from being transmitted to the pressure sensor element during assembly. <CIT> discloses an active input/output connector which includes a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board enclosed within a housing. A first plug is in electronic communication with the first printed circuit board. A second plug is in electronic communication with the second printed circuit board. The first and second printed circuit boards are connected for communication of sensor signals from the first plug to the second plug. <CIT> discloses a backshell of an electrical connector which has an outer nut screwed onto the rear of the connector front assembly, which is formed with triangular locking teeth. An internal assembly within the nut prevents rotation of the backshell on the connector when locked in position. The internal assembly includes a rear cylinder and a forward annular member located between the cylinder and the front assembly. The cylinder is of metal-plated plastics, which makes electrical connection at its rear end with screens of cables within the connector. The annular member is of a metal and at its forward end has triangular teeth that engage the teeth at the rear of the front assembly. The rear of the annular member and the forward end of the cylinder both have rounded teeth and that engage with one another so as to avoid sharp edges on the cylinder that could lead to damage to its plating caused by electrical transients.

A sensor assembly according to the invention is defined in independent claim <NUM> and comprises an anti-rotation device including a cylindrical ring extending along a longitudinal axis, the ring including proximal and distal faces. In an illustrative example, the ring includes proximal coupling members extending from the proximal face insertably engaging with mating recesses within a connector-disk. The ring may includes distal coupling members extending from the distal face insertably engaging with mating recesses within a body-assembly, for example. The coupling members extend parallel to the longitudinal axis. The anti-rotation device is captured between the connector-disk and the body-assembly and is retained by a proximal twist-lock cap screwably engaged with the body-assembly, such that relative rotational motion between the connector-disk and the body-assembly is substantially restricted. Various anti-rotation devices substantially restrict relative rotational motion between connector-disks and body-assemblies advantageously mitigating disconnection of wiring harnesses in circular connector applications.

Various embodiments achieve one or more advantages. For example, some implementations may extend the life of various sensors and other electronic equipment, reducing costly down-time, field diagnosis and repair operations. Various implementations may improve dependability in DIN-mounted (Deutsches Institut für Normung) electrical equipment, by avoiding twist-stress which may induce marginal wiring harness connections that pass manufacturing tests but may cause latent failures in the field. Various anti-rotation devices may be injection molded with thermoplastic withstanding up to <NUM> or more. Some examples may be cost-effectively implemented in various Honeywell electronic sensors. Various embodiments may be deployed in harsh environments, such as oil and gas applications. Some embodiments may be intuitively implemented with various connector disks and top covers. Some embodiments may include various metals and may provide a robust quality measure.

The details of various embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.

To aid understanding, this document is organized as follows. First, an illustrative implementation of an exemplary anti-rotation device is briefly introduced with reference to <FIG>. Second, with reference to <FIG> an exemplary anti-rotation device is described in more detail. In <FIG>, the discussion turns to exemplary features in proximate components. Finally, with reference to <FIG>, various anti-rotation embodiments are presented. Throughout this document, "connector disk" may be an electrical connector that is detachable.

<FIG> depicts an exploded perspective view of an exemplary anti-rotation device incorporated within a sensor assembly stack-up including a DIN connector disk. A sensor assembly <NUM> includes a sensor body <NUM>. The sensor body <NUM> is fixedly coupled to a sensing module <NUM>. The sensing module <NUM> is fixedly coupled to one or more module terminals <NUM>. The sensor body <NUM> is fixedly coupled to a top cover <NUM>. An anti-rotation device <NUM> fits inside the top cover <NUM>.

The anti-rotation device <NUM> includes one or more unitarily formed extrusions <NUM>. The extrusions <NUM> are exemplary of distal coupling members. The one or more extrusions <NUM> are configured to fit within one or more apertures (not shown) located within the top cover <NUM>. The extrusions <NUM> inserted into the apertures mitigate relative rotation between the top cover <NUM> and the anti-rotation device <NUM> about a longitudinal axis <NUM>.

The anti-rotation device <NUM> includes one or more unitarily formed castellated protrusions <NUM>. The castellated protrusions <NUM> are configured to fit within various recesses in a connector disk <NUM>. The connector disk <NUM> is fixedly coupled to one or more connector terminals <NUM>. The connector terminals <NUM> are operatively coupled to the module terminals <NUM> via a wiring harness <NUM>. In various embodiments, the connector disk <NUM> may be a DIN <NUM> male connector. The castellated protrusions <NUM> inserted into the recesses mitigate relative rotation between the connector disk <NUM> and the anti-rotation device <NUM> about the longitudinal axis <NUM>.

Accordingly, the anti-rotation device <NUM> mitigates relative rotation between the top cover <NUM> and the connector disk <NUM>. Since the top cover <NUM>, the sensor body <NUM>, the sensing module <NUM> and the module terminals <NUM> are all in fixed spatial relationships, and since the anti-rotation device <NUM> holds the top cover <NUM> and the connector disk <NUM> in a fixed rotational relationship, then the connector terminals <NUM> and the module terminals <NUM> are advantageously held in a fixed rotational relationship about the longitudinal axis <NUM>. This fixed rotational relationship advantageously mitigates twisting stresses of the wiring harnesses <NUM> about the longitudinal axis <NUM>.

The top cover <NUM>, the anti-rotation device <NUM> and the connector disk <NUM> are captured and held within the sensor body <NUM> by a twist-lock cap <NUM>. Although a bottom-facing inside surface of the twist-lock cap <NUM> is in contact with a top surface of the connector disk <NUM> while the twist-lock cap <NUM> is rotated with respect to the sensor body <NUM>, the connector disk <NUM> remains in a fixed rotational relationship with the sensor body <NUM>, the sensing module <NUM> and the module terminals <NUM> due to the inclusion of the anti-rotation device <NUM>.

The anti-rotation device <NUM> mitigates twisting stresses during manufacture of the sensor assembly <NUM>, reducing the occurrence of compromised connections on the wiring harness <NUM>. Mitigation of compromised connections on the wiring harness <NUM> may advantageously increase the working life and overall quality of various sensor assemblies <NUM>.

The anti-rotation device <NUM> mitigates twisting stresses in the field due to vibration, in various implementations. For example, an industrial machine may include a sensor assembly, such as sensor assembly <NUM> implemented with a DIN <NUM> connector. As the machine vibrates, rotation of the connector disk <NUM> with respect to the internal sensing module <NUM> is mitigated. The wiring harness <NUM> remains intact during deployment, which may avoid latent failure and expensive down-time.

In various examples, a body-assembly may include the sensor body <NUM>, the sensing module <NUM>, the module terminals <NUM>, the top cover <NUM>, and the wiring harnesses <NUM>. The components making up the body-assembly may be fixedly coupled to one another. In some examples, the wiring harness <NUM> is fixedly coupled on a distal end, to the module terminals <NUM>. During various assembly processes, the body-assembly, via the wiring harness <NUM>, may be fixedly coupled on a proximal end, to the connector-disk <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of an exemplary anti-rotation device. An anti-rotation device <NUM> includes one or more castellations <NUM>. The anti-rotation device <NUM> includes one or more pins <NUM>. The pins <NUM> are exemplary of distal coupling members. The castellations <NUM> and the pins <NUM> are fixedly coupled to a cylindrical ring <NUM>. In the depicted example, the castellations <NUM> protrude proximally (e.g., upward), and the pins protrude distally (e.g., downward) from the cylindrical ring <NUM>. The one or more castellations <NUM> hold a connector (e.g., <FIG>, connector disk <NUM>) from rotating with respect to an assembly body (e.g., <FIG>, sensor body <NUM>) during various manufacturing operations. In some examples, the pins <NUM> may be locating features to facilitate user assembly of various anti-rotation devices (e.g., anti-rotation device <NUM>) into a proper position. An inherent shear strength of the pins <NUM> and/or the castellations <NUM> may resist substantially high torque about a longitudinal axis <NUM>. The pins <NUM> and the castellations <NUM> provide resistance to one or more degrees of freedom. In some implementations, "substantially high torque" may include anti-rotation device pins <NUM> and/or castellations <NUM> withstanding torques applied to anti-rotation devices <NUM> of up to, for example, about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or up to about <NUM> or more.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of an exemplary anti-rotation device anchor point in an exemplary top cover. A sensor subassembly <NUM> includes an exemplary top cover <NUM>. A connector disk <NUM> is proximate to, and concentrically seated on top of the top cover <NUM>. In various examples, an anti-rotation device (e.g., <FIG>, anti-rotation device <NUM>) may be sandwiched between the top cover <NUM> and the connector disk <NUM>. The top cover <NUM> includes an anchoring aperture <NUM>. The anchoring aperture <NUM> may mate with a pin (e.g., <FIG>, pin <NUM>) of the anti-rotation device. The connector disk <NUM> may include one or more slots <NUM> on a bottom side. The one or more slots may mate with a castellation (e.g., <FIG> castellation <NUM>). An anti-rotation device, located between the top cover <NUM> and the connector disk <NUM> holds the top cover <NUM> and the connector disk <NUM> in a fixed rotational relationship about a longitudinal axis <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a perspective bottom view of an exemplary anti-rotation device. An anti-rotation device <NUM> is fixedly coupled to two anti-rotation pins <NUM>. The anti-rotation pins are exemplary of distal coupling members. In various examples, the anti-rotation device <NUM> may include one or more anti-rotation pins <NUM>. <FIG> depicts a perspective top view of the exemplary anti-rotation device <NUM>. The anti-rotation device <NUM> is fixedly coupled to four anti-rotation tabs <NUM>. In various examples, the anti-rotation device <NUM> may include one or more anti-rotation tabs <NUM>. <FIG> depicts a mechanical drawing of an exemplary anti-rotation device having exemplary dimensions.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of an exemplary anti-rotation device which is not in accordance with the claimed invention. In the depicted example, an anti-rotation device <NUM> includes a ring <NUM>. The ring <NUM> includes one or more slots <NUM>. In the depicted example, the slots <NUM> are disposed around the lower circumference of the ring <NUM>, each slot <NUM> having an axis radial to the axis of the ring <NUM>. The ring <NUM> includes one or more protruding tabs <NUM>. In the depicted example, the tabs <NUM> are unitary with the ring <NUM> and protrude upward from an upper circumference of the ring <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of an exemplary anti-rotation device which is not in accordance with the claimed invention. In the depicted example, an anti-rotation device <NUM> includes a ring <NUM>. The ring <NUM> is fixedly coupled to one or more top side pins <NUM> and one or more bottom side pins <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of an exemplary anti-rotation device which is not in accordance with the claimed invention. In the depicted example, an anti-rotation device <NUM> includes a unitary ring <NUM>. The unitary ring <NUM> includes one or more top castellated slots <NUM> and bottom castellated slots <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of an exemplary anti-rotation device which is not in accordance with the claimed invention. In the depicted example, an anti-rotation device <NUM> includes a detent <NUM> and a slot <NUM>. The anti-rotation device <NUM> may include one or more detents <NUM> and/or slots <NUM>. The slots <NUM> and detents <NUM> may aid in manufacture of the anti-rotation device <NUM>. For example, various slots <NUM> and/or detents <NUM> may provide a snap-in-place feature, holding the anti-rotation device <NUM> in place while the rest of the assembly comes together.

Although various embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, other embodiments are possible. For example, various anti-rotation devices may be press-fit into a top cover (e.g., <FIG>, top cover <NUM>).

In an exemplary aspect, an anti-rotation apparatus may fit within a cylindrical sensor assembly. The cylindrical sensor assembly may include a cylindrical housing. The cylindrical housing may be proximate to a connector disk. The anti-rotation apparatus substantially restricts a relative motion between a connector disk and a cylindrical housing. In various implementations, "substantially restrict" may be characterized by relative motion, for example, of about <NUM>° or less than about <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>° or about <NUM>°.

The anti-rotation apparatus includes a substantially shallow and hollow cylindrical housing having a first longitudinal axis. The substantially shallow cylindrical housing is a cylindrical ring. The anti-rotation apparatus includes one or more protrusions extending downward from the bottom of the cylindrical ring. In some examples, the protrusions include a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis. The anti-rotation apparatus may include one or more extrusions extending upward from the top of the cylindrical ring. In some examples, the extrusions may include a third longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis. In various examples, "substantially parallel" angle deltas may be, for example, about <NUM>° or about <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>°, <NUM>° or up to about <NUM>° or more. In various examples, "substantially shallow" cylindrical housings may be characterized as having a depth of about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or up to about <NUM> or more.

In various implementations, the protrusions may be press-fit into the ring. For example, the protrusions may be a cylindrical metal pin, which may be press-fit into the ring. The ring may include various synthetic materials and/or polymers (e.g., plastics, nylon, urethane). In some examples, the ring may include rubber.

In various implementations, the cylindrical ring, the protrusions and the extrusions may be integrally formed in a mold. For example, various integrally formed anti-rotation devices may be injection molded. Various exemplary anti-rotation devices may be manufactured with two-plate molds. In various examples, the anti-rotation device may be stamped sheet steel. Further, various anti-rotation devices may be stamped or die-cut sheet plastic.

Some embodiments may include various polymers. For example, nylon may be included in various anti-rotation devices and may provide strong rotational resistance cost-effectively. Nylon may provide resistance to substantially high torque. In some implementations, "substantially high torque" may include anti-rotation device withstanding torques, for example, of up to about <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or up to about <NUM> or more.

In some examples, the anti-rotation devices may include thermoplastic rubber (TPR), which may advantageously provides flexibility and energy absorption from various impacts. In some embodiments, various anti-rotation devices may include styrene-ethylenebutylene-styrene (SEBS), which advantageously provides weather resistance and heat resistance. In various examples, various anti-rotation devices may include thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which advantageously provides exceptional performance in cold temperatures, and resistance to water and various petroleum products. In some examples, various anti-rotation devices may include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which advantageously mixes well with other substances, and provides impact resistance. Various examples of anti-rotation devices may include silicon rubber, which advantageously provides heat resistance, resistance to cold temperatures and electrical insulation. In some embodiments, various anti-rotation devices may include thermoset, which advantageously provides high strength and durability. In various implementations, various anti-rotation devices may include various forms of metal or metal alloys, which may provide exceptional strength. In various implementations, some anti-rotation devices may include carbon fiber, which advantageously is lightweight and provides high strength and rigidity. Various anti-rotation devices may include fiberglass, which is cost-effective, lightweight and rigid. Various anti-rotation devices may include ceramic, which is heat resistant, lightweight and rigid.

In various examples, the anti-rotation devices may include one or more colors. The color(s) may be indicative of the manufacturer or company colors. In some implementations, various colors may be combined to depict various images or lettering. Further, various anti-rotation devices may be transparent which may, for example, aid inspection and increase quality. In some implementations, various anti-rotation devices may include polyamide. Polyamide advantageously withstands substantially high torque.

In various examples, the anti-rotation device may include one or more metals. For example, various embodiments may include aluminum, which advantageously provides light weight and high strength. In some examples, anti-rotation device may include steel, which provides high strength cost-effectively. Various examples of protrusions, tabs, castellations and/or pins may be rectangular prisms, which provide straight-forward mold design. Various examples of protrusions, tabs, castellations and/or pins may be frustoconical, which facilitate mold release. Various examples of protrusions, tabs, castellations and/or pins may be cylindrical, which optimize strength.

Claim 1:
A sensor assembly (<NUM>) for wired assemblies having a circular connection, the apparatus comprising:
a sensor body (<NUM>) defining a first tubular interior chamber that extends between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a top cover (<NUM>) disposed in the first tubular interior chamber and defining at least one anchoring aperture (<NUM>), the top cover (<NUM>) being fixedly coupled to the sensor body (<NUM>);
a connector disk (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a detachable electrical connector and at least one recess;
a twist-lock cap (<NUM>) configured to threadedly engage the sensor body (<NUM>) to securably capture the connector disk (<NUM>, <NUM>) proximally and concentrically registered with a proximal end of the sensor body (<NUM>);
a wiring harness (<NUM>) extending through the first tubular interior chamber, wherein a distal end of the wiring harness fixedly attaches proximate to the distal end of the sensor body (<NUM>); and,
an anti-rotation device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a ring (<NUM>) configured in a cylindrical shape and to extend along the longitudinal axis between a proximal face and a distal face, the ring (<NUM>) comprising:
at least one distal coupling member (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extending from the distal face and configured to insertably engage with a corresponding one of the at least one anchoring apertures (<NUM>); and
at least one castellation (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extending from the proximal face of the ring (<NUM>) and configured to insertably engage with a corresponding one of the at least one recess (<NUM>) of the connector disk (<NUM>, <NUM>), so as to mitigate relative rotation between the connector disk (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the anti-rotation device (<NUM>) about the longitudinal axis (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
wherein, when the twist-lock cap (<NUM>) screwably engages the sensor body (<NUM>) during assembly, the anti-rotation device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is captured between the connector-disk (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the sensor body (<NUM>) and retained in a fixed orientation within the first tubular interior chamber such that the anti-rotation device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) substantially restricts relative rotation between the connector disk (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the sensor body (<NUM>).