Patent ID: 7024956

Claim:
An interlocked ball valve sensor insertion assembly for use in a manufacturing process comprising: a ball valve configured for being couplable to the manufacturing process; a retraction chamber coupled to the ball valve; the ball valve disposed to alternately couple and decouple the retraction chamber with the process; an insertion assembly coupled to the retraction chamber; the insertion assembly including an axially slidable insertion tube; the tube having a sensor supportably disposed on an end thereof; the tube having a range of motion extending from an insertion position to a retraction position; the sensor extending into the ball valve and into operative engagement with the process when in the insertion position; the sensor being disposed on an opposite side of the ball valve from the process when in the retraction position; a first fastener coupled to the tube, the first fastener configured to selectively permit and prevent movement of the tube within the range of motion; a second fastener coupled to the tube, the second fastener configured to selectively permit and prevent removal of the tube from the retraction chamber; an actuator coupled to the ball valve; the actuator configured to effect the alternate coupling and decoupling; the actuator configured for alternate engagement and disengagement with the second fastener; the alternate engagement and disengagement respectively inhibiting and enabling operational access to the second fastener; wherein the actuator is configured to effectively couple the process fluid with the retraction chamber and to inhibit operational access to the second fastener when the tube is disposed in the insertion position; and wherein the actuator is configured to effectively decouple the process fluid from the retraction chamber and to enable operational access to the second fastener when the tube is disposed in the retracted position.