Pressure monitor housing with cap-engaging projection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11313748-B2
Application number	US-201916399109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2019
Priority date	Jan 18, 2019
Publication date	Apr 26, 2022
Grant date	Apr 26, 2022

Abstract

Example aspects of an outer housing for a pressure monitoring system and a pressure monitoring system for a wet barrel hydrant are disclosed. The outer housing for a pressure monitoring system can comprise a sidewall shell defining an axis extending centrally therethrough and comprising an annular inner sidewall projection extending from a top end thereof; and a cap mounted to the sidewall shell, the cap defining an annular cap recess, wherein the annular inner sidewall projection is configured to engage the annular cap recess.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An outer housing for a pressuring monitoring system comprising:
a sidewall shell defining a sidewall top end, a sidewall bottom end opposite the sidewall top end, a sidewall inner surface extending from the sidewall top end to the sidewall bottom end and defining an interior of the sidewall shell, and an axis extending centrally through the sidewall shell from the sidewall top end to the sidewall bottom end, the sidewall shell further defining an annular inner sidewall projection extending from the sidewall top end, the sidewall inner surface defining a ridge extending radially inward;
a cap mounted to the sidewall shell, the cap defining an inner cap surface, an outer cap surface, a cap bottom end, and an annular cap recess extending into the cap at the cap bottom end between the outer cap surface and the inner cap surface, wherein the annular inner sidewall projection engages the annular cap recess, the cap defining a clip extending from the cap bottom end into the interior, the clip defining a clip engagement surface distal to the cap bottom end and extending radially outward, the clip engagement surface configured to engage the ridge to couple the cap to the sidewall shell; and
an antenna assembly directly mounted to the inner cap surface, the antenna assembly comprising an antenna;
wherein the cap defines a substantially cylindrical cap sidewall extending from a sidewall bottom end to a sidewall top end and a substantially planar, circular cap end wall arranged at the sidewall top end, such that the outer housing defines an overall cylindrical shape, and wherein the antenna is disposed between the sidewall bottom end and the sidewall top end.

2. The outer housing of claim 1 , further comprising an annular outer sidewall projection extending from the top end of the sidewall shell, wherein the annular outer sidewall projection positioned radially outward from the annular inner sidewall projection.

3. The outer housing of claim 2 , wherein the annular inner sidewall projection defines a height that is greater than a height of the annular outer sidewall projection.

4. The outer housing of claim 2 , wherein an inner surface of the annular outer sidewall projection abuts the outer cap surface of the cap.

5. The outer housing of claim 4 , wherein;
the cap defines an annular outer cap projection extending from the cap bottom end between the annular cap recess and the outer surface;
the sidewall shell defines an annular sidewall recess between the annular inner sidewall projection and the annular outer sidewall projection; and
the annular outer cap projection is received in the annular sidewall recess.

6. The outer housing of claim 1 , wherein:
the sidewall shell defines a first annular sidewall mounting ledge extending radially inward from the annular inner sidewall projection;
the cap defines a first annular cap mounting shoulder extending radially inward from the annular cap recess; and
the first annular cap mounting shoulder is configured to engage the first annular sidewall mounting ledge.

7. The outer housing of claim 6 , wherein;
the sidewall shell defines a second annular sidewall mounting ledge extending radially between the first annular sidewall mounting ledge and the annular inner sidewall projection;
the cap defines a second annular cap mounting shoulder extending radially between the first annular cap mounting shoulder and the annular cap recess; and
the second annular cap mounting shoulder is configured to engage the second annular sidewall mounting ledge.

8. The outer housing of claim 1 , wherein the annular inner sidewall projection defines a slanted sidewall projection surface and the annular cap recess defines a slanted cap recess surface configured to confront the slanted sidewall projection surface.

9. The outer housing of claim 1 , wherein the annular inner sidewall projection defines either a rectangular cross-sectional shape or a triangular cross-sectional shape.

10. The outer housing of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall shell comprises a metal material and the cap comprises a plastic material.

11. The outer housing of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is mounted directly on the antenna board.

12. The outer housing of claim 11 , wherein the antenna board is substantially planar.

13. The outer housing of claim 11 , wherein the antenna assembly is disposed external to the sidewall shell.

14. The outer housing of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall shell defines an annular outer sidewall projection extending along the outer cap surface proximate to the cap bottom end.

15. The outer housing of claim 14 , wherein the annular outer sidewall projection defines a height that is less than a height of the annular inner sidewall projection.

16. The outer housing of claim 1 , wherein the clip is one of a plurality of clips, the plurality of clips spaced apart about a circumference of the cylindrical cap sidewall.

17. A pressure monitoring system for a wet barrel hydrant comprising:
a pressure sensor assembly comprising a pressure sensor and a connector, the pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of a fluid received in the wet barrel hydrant, the connector configured to attach the pressure monitoring system to the wet barrel hydrant;
a base assembly comprising a mounting flange, the pressure sensor assembly coupled to the base assembly, wherein the mounting flange is spaced from the connector to define an annular groove therebetween, the annular groove configured to receive a hydrant flange formed at a top end of the wet barrel hydrant;
an outer housing coupled to the mounting flange, the outer housing comprising a sidewall shell and a cap, the cap defining an outer cap surface, an inner cap surface, and an annular cap recess defined between the inner cap surface and outer cap surface, the sidewall shell comprising an annular inner sidewall projection engaging the annular cap recess of the cap; and
an antenna assembly comprising an antenna and an antenna board, the antenna directly mounted on the antenna board, the antenna board secured to the inner cap surface, the antenna assembly disposed external to the sidewall shell.

18. The pressure monitoring system of claim 17 , further comprising a main PCB connected to the pressure sensor and configured to process the pressure data measured by the pressure sensor.

19. The pressure monitoring system of claim 17 , wherein; the sidewall shell extends vertically to a first elevation that is less than a second elevation of the antenna; and the annular inner sidewall projection extends to the first elevation.

20. The pressure monitoring system of claim 19 wherein;
the sidewall shell further comprises an annular outer sidewall projection; and
the annular outer sidewall projection extends to a third elevation between the first elevation and the second elevation.

21. The pressure monitoring system of claim 17 , wherein the cap defines a cap sidewall extending from a sidewall bottom end to a sidewall top end and a cap end wall arranged at the sidewall top end, and wherein the antenna is disposed between the sidewall bottom end and the sidewall top end.

22. A pressure monitoring system comprising:
a sidewall shell defining an inner sidewall surface and an outer sidewall surface, the sidewall shell further defining an axis extending centrally therethrough and an annular outer sidewall projection, an annular flange extending from the inner sidewall surface and having a top flange end and a bo

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Moreno Carlos Stephen
• Mitchell Timothy J

Classifications

• G01M3/2815

  using pressure measurements · CPC title

• G01L19/0084

  to the outside of the housing (other details about the housing see G01L19/14) · CPC title

• G01L19/141 Primary

  Monolithic housings, e.g. molded or one-piece housings · CPC title

• G01M3/3272

  for verifying the internal pressure of closed containers · CPC title

• G01L19/003

  using a detachable interface or adapter between the process medium and the pressure gauge · CPC title