INSTRUMENT ENCLOSURE

Abstract

An instrument enclosure includes top and bottom sections, the bottom section having a first part fastened to a second part, and hinges hinging the top and bottom sections to enable the top section to rotate between a close positioned and an open position. When closed, the instrument enclosure defines an enclosed space suitable for receiving a field instrument. The bottom section may be fastened to a standpipe or to a bracket fastened to the standpipe. The bottom section may define an opening configured to receive the standpipe and/or an opening to receive process line tubing carrying process line signals to the field instrument. The field instrument may be affixed to an end portion of the standpipe received in the enclosed space, removably attached to an interior of the instrument enclosure, or affixed to a mounting plate attached to the standing pipe.

Claims

1. One or more instrument enclosures, comprising: a top section casing with a first, second, third, and fourth edge and a bottom section casing with a first, second, third, and fourth edge, wherein said first edge of said bottom section casing is hinged and/or rotatably-affixed to said first edge of said top section casing via one or more hinges and wherein second, third, and fourth edges of said top casing section are in contact with or in close proximity to s aid second, third, and fourth edges of said bottom section casing that provides a housing that encloses at least a portion of said instrument enclosures such that one or more instruments within said enclosures is rotatable and wherein one or more hinges are configured to enable both said top section casing and said bottom section casing to rotate between a close positioned and one or more open positions.

2. The instrument enclosures of claim 1, wherein hinges between said top section casing and said bottom section casing along first edges of said top section casing and said bottom section casing includes additional hinging between top casing and bottom casing sections that provides multiple variations of open and closed configurations of said instrument enclosures wherein said additional hinging includes fixed and/or detachable hinging between any of second, third and fourth edges.

3. The instrument enclosures of claim 1, wherein a first part of said bottom section casing possesses a first notch; a second part of said bottom section casing possesses a second notch; and wherein said first notch and said second notch are configured to define an opening in said bottom section casing.

4. The instrument enclosures of claim 1, wherein an opening in said bottom section casing is configured to accept and connect with a standpipe and wherein said standpipe is attached to said bottom section casing and/or resides within an instrument enclosure.

5. The instrument enclosures of claim 4, wherein: one or more interior surfaces of said bottom section casing includes one or more instrument attachment elements that allow for attachment to, removal of, and/or rotation for a field instrument to said bottom section casing; and wherein said enclosed space exists to receive one or more field instruments removably attached to said bottom section casing.

6. The instrument enclosures of claim 2, wherein an opening in said bottom section casing is configured to receive one or more process line conduits that convey one or more measurable process parameters to said one or more field instruments.

7. The instrument enclosures of claim 6, wherein: said one or more process line conduits are enclosed in-process line tubing; and said opening in said bottom section casing is configured to engage said process line tubing.

8. The instrument enclosures of claim 1, wherein: a first portion of said bottom section casing defines a first pipe notch and a first line notch; and a second portion of said bottom section casing defines a second pipe notch and a second line notch such that said first pipe notch and said second pipe notch are configured to define a standpipe opening in said bottom section casing such that said standpipe opening is configured to engage said standpipe; and wherein said first line notch and said second line notch are configured to define a process line opening in said bottom section casing; wherein said process line opening is configured to receive process line tubing enclosing one or more process line signals conveying one or more process line parameters to said one or more field instruments.

9. The instrument enclosures of claim 1, wherein: said bottom section casing is configured to be fastened to bracket affixed to the standpipe; wherein said bracket includes a plurality of openings suitable for receiving fasteners; and wherein said bottom section casing includes a plurality of openings corresponding to said plurality of openings in said bracket.

10. The instrument enclosures of claim 1, wherein, said instrument enclosures comprise a convex polyhedral instrument enclosure.

11. The instrument enclosures of claim 10, wherein said convex polyhedral instrument enclosures comprise a hexahedral instrument enclosure comprising six planar surfaces including an upper surface, a lower surface, a forward surface, a rearward surface, a left surface, and a right surface.

12. The instrument enclosures of claim 11. wherein: said top section casing includes an upper surface, a forward surface, a first portion of a left surface, and a first portion of a right surface; and said bottom section casing includes a lower surface, a rearward surface, a second portion of a left surface, and a second portion of a right surface.

13. The instrument enclosures of claim 12, wherein: said first part of said bottom section casing includes a first portion of the lower surface, a first portion of the rearward surface, and the second portion of the left surface; and a second part of said bottom section casing includes a second portion of said lower surface, a second portion of said rearward surface, and a second portion of said right surface.

14. The instrument enclosures of claim 13, wherein said first portion of said lower surface comprises a first half portion of said lower surface; said second portion of said lower surface comprises a second half portion of said lower surface said first portion of said rearward surface comprises a first half or said rearward surface and said second portion of said rearward surface comprises a second half of said rearward surface.

15. The instrument enclosures of claim 14, wherein at least one planar surface of said instrument enclosures contains one or more windows that are transparent and exhibit durability that minimize or eliminate breakage of said windows.

16. The windows of claim 15, wherein said windows are composed of tempered glass.

17. A method of providing one or more instrument enclosures that enclose and protect one or more field instruments at a desired location, the method comprising: hinging a hinged section of an instrument enclosure to a vertical support section that is self-standing and/or secured to stand vertically, including a standpipe, located in said desired location wherein said hinging enables said hinged section to rotate relative to said vertical support section between a closed position and one or more open positions of said instrument enclosures such that one or more instruments mounted within said one or more instrument enclosures are also capable of rotation or other position adjustments and wherein a combination of said vertical support section and said hinged section, in a closed position defines an enclosed space that is dimensioned to receive said one or more field instruments and wherein said one or more instrument disclosures are constructed in order to provide a protective barrier between an enclosed space and an external environment wherein said instrument enclosures are located such that said protective barrier shields said enclosed space from one or more environmental elements; and; affixing said one or more field instruments to one or more supporting structures wherein said field instruments are disposed in a desired, particular position within said enclosed space such that said instrument enclosure is attached to said vertical support section wherein said hinged section is hinged to said vertical support section and said instrument enclosures are enclosed within a closed portion of said instrument enclosures.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a sequence of performing said hinging, said attaching, and said supporting includes a sequence selected from the group consisting of: hinging, attaching, and supporting; attaching, hinging, and supporting; supporting, hinging, and attaching; and supporting, attaching, and attaching.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: forming the fixed section by fastening a first part of the hinged section to a second part of the hinged section.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein supporting field instruments comprise performing an operation to provide support from the group consisting of: attaching said field instruments to said vertical support structure, wherein said instrument enclosure defines an aperture configured to receive a terminal portion of said vertical support structure; allowing for rotation and/or other positioning of said field instruments within said instrument enclosures and attaching said field instruments to one or more attachment features of the instrument enclosure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 provides an exploded view of the mounting plate affixed to a standpipe or other suitable standing structure onto which the instrument enclosure mounts;

[0029] FIG. 2 provides a completed attachment of the mounting plate affixed to a standpipe or other suitable standing structure;

[0030] FIG. 3 provides an exploded isometric view of the bottom portion of an instrument enclosure during assembly from a top side perspective;

[0031] FIG. 4 provides a partially exploded isometric view of an instrument enclosure assembly from a top side perspective;

[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates a partial bottom assembly of the instrument enclosure;

[0033] FIG. 6 illustrates a complete bottom assembly of the instrument enclosure in which the instrument enclosure is attached to a mounting plate affixed to a standpipe or other suitable standing structure;

[0034] FIG. 7 illustrates a rear view of the instrument enclosure in a closed configuration.

[0035] The figures and corresponding text disclose non-limiting examples and embodiments. Reference numerals used in different figures represent similar structures or procedures unless denoted otherwise. Features shown may be enlarged or reduced relative to other features for clarity or emphasis to ensure better understanding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, instrument enclosure [100] includes left and right mounting plate sections [101,102] which when joined create the mounting plate [203, shown completed in FIG. 2] affixed to a standpipe [104] or other suitable standing structure onto which the instrument enclosure [100] mounts. The mounting plate sections [101,102] may be made of metal or other suitable material(s). The mounting plate sections [101, 102] are joined by aligned apertures [105-1] using suitable fastening means [105-2], such as nuts and bolts. The left and right mounting plate sections [101, 102] are identical, both having a planar top surface [106], arched recess [107] to receive a cylindrical standpipe [104], and fixed triangular supports [108]. A clamp [109] supports the mounting plate [203] and prevents vertical movement of the instrument enclosure [100].

[0037] A field instrument [110] can be directly mounted, affixed, or otherwise attached to the standpipe [104] or other suitable standing structure that limits contact of the instrument with the instrument enclosure [100]. The mounting plate [203] provides support to the instrument enclosure [100] separately and apart from the support of the field instrument [110].

[0038] In addition, the illustrated field instrument [110] is attached to process line tubing [111,112] configured to provide a process flow, as well as measurable parameters, to the field instrument [110]. The illustrated instrument enclosure assembly [100] includes a rigid or semi-rigid instrument enclosure [100] configured to be attached to standpipe [104] or mounting plate [203] such that the instrument enclosure [100] encompasses field instrument [110] while permitting ingress/egress for the process line tubing [111,112].

[0039] In one embodiment, field instruments [110] having similar operating requirements can be used in tandem allowing more than one field instrument [110] to be included within the instrument enclosure [100].

[0040] In a further embodiment, the arched recess [107] can be provided in any suitable shape that can accommodate a suitable standing structure other than a standpipe [104] having a cylindrical shape. These recesses [107] may be shaped in accordance with the shape of the standpipe [104]. For the circular embodiment of the standpipe [104] presented, each recess [107] may define a semicircular arc.

[0041] The field instrument [110] can be attached to the standpipe [104] using a single attachment as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, or a double attachment as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3.

[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates the inner assembly of the lower portion of an instrument enclosure [100]. The left and right bottom base sections [312,313] are mirror images and therefore are arranged in a reverse configuration when compared to the other. The left bottom base section [312] is distinct and detachable from the right bottom base section [313]. The bottom base sections [312,313] are connected together along respective L-shaped edges [314-1, 314-2] forming the bottom base [415] (shown completed in FIG. 4). Hinges [403] (shown in FIG. 4) or other suitable attachments can be provided. Hinges [403] may enable top casing [601, shown in FIG. 6] to rotate between an open position as best shown in FIG. 6 and a closed position (shown in FIG. 7).

[0043] The bottom base sections [312,313] may be connected by one or more fasteners 105-2, which may be implemented as hinged fasteners or as any other suitable type of rigid fastener. The bottom base sections [312,313] are joined atop the mounting plate [203] where a portion of the left and right mounting plate sections [101,102] are left accessible under the bottom base [415], as shown in FIG. 4, for the mounting of the left and right bottom casing segments [401,402].

[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates the attachment of the right bottom casing segment [402] to the right bottom base section [313].

[0045] Each bottom base section [312,313] includes a lower planar portion [320] and an upper planar portion [321] that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the lower planar portion [320].

[0046] As illustrated in the figures, the lower planar portions [320] of the bottom base sections [312, 313] are oriented in a substantially horizontal plane while the perpendicular upper planar portions [321] of the bottom base sections [312,313] are oriented in a substantially vertical plane. Each lower planar portion [320] may include or define a recess [107] configured to engage standpipe [104] such that the two bottom base sections [312,313] may be attached to one another while engaging the standpipe [104].

[0047] Each upper planar portion [321] may include or define a lipped recess [322] having a lip [323] configured to engage the top [316] and bottom portal plates [317] having dual concavity sections [318] that when joined form ingresses [416,417] (shown in FIG. 4) that can be used for additional portals for data collection and monitoring. A gasket [319] or other suitable sealing means is fitted within the lip [323] of the lipped recess [322] of the upper planar portion [321] to provide additional environmental isolation between the environment and enclosed space(s) defined when the instrument enclosure [100] is in a closed configuration. The outward edges of the ingresses [416,417] of FIG. 4 are sealed with a transparent or translucent glass or plastic lens [418], that can be planar, convex, concave or otherwise shaped for optimization of the field instrument(s) [110] enclosed within the instrument enclosure [100].

[0048] In further embodiments, the lenses [418] can be made of any suitable material or combination of materials that allows for optimal function and data collection of the field instrument(s) [110] within the instrument enclosure [100].

[0049] The top casing [601] and complete bottom casing [602, which is consists of 312, 313, 401, 402] illustrated in FIG. 6, are substantially triangular in cross section as best illustrated by the substantially triangular side panel [611] of top casing [601] and the substantially triangular side panels [612] of bottom casing [602]. A front panel [613] of top casing [601] is illustrated with an optional window [645] to enable visual inspection of the instrument enclosure [100] without opening the instrument enclosure [100]. A window [645] may be comprised of tempered glass or any other sufficiently transparent and durable material.

[0050] As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the instrument enclosure [100] is in an open position, with a top section casing [601] that includes first, second, third, and fourth edges [641-1, 642-1, 643-1, and 644-1]. Similarly, a bottom section casing [602] includes first, second, third, and fourth edges [641-2, 642-2, 643-2, and 644-2]. The first edge [641-2] of the bottom casing [602] may be hinged or otherwise rotatably-affixed to the first edge [641-1] of the top casing [601] via one or more hinges [403] or other suitable attachment means, in which second, third, and fourth edges [642-1, 643-1, and 644-1], of top casing [601] are in contact with or in close proximity to second, third, and fourth edges [642-2, 643-2 and 644-2] of the bottom casing [602].

[0051] Although the figures illustrate hinging between the top casing [601] sections and the bottom casing [602] sections along first edges [641] of the top casing [601] sections and the bottom casing [602] sections , embodiments of the instrument enclosure [100] may include additional hinging between top casing [601] and bottom casing [602] sections to provide variations of open and closed configurations of instrument enclosures [100] in addition to the open and closed configurations supported by the illustrated hinging. Such additional hinging may include, without limitation, fixed or detachable hinging between second edges [642], fixed or detach hinging between third edges [643], and fixed or detachable hinging between fourth edges [644].

[0052] In the closed position, the top casing [601] and bottom casing [602] cooperatively define an instrument enclosure space within which a field instrument [110] may be located as described in more detail below. In at least some embodiments, top casing [601] and bottom casing [602] sections cooperatively form a cubic or substantially cubic instrument enclosure [100]. In at least some other embodiments, the top casing [601] and bottom casing [602] sections cooperatively form a rectangular cuboid or substantially rectangular cuboid instrument enclosure [100].

[0053] The left and right bottom base sections [312,313] illustrated in FIG. 3-FIG. 6 further include or define notches [315], configured to engage tubing [433] and provide for enclosing power wires [436], and notches [315], configured to engage tubing [434] that also encloses communication wires or fibers [437]. The upper planar portions [321] define corresponding notches [315] configured to engage process line tubing [111,112] such that the lower and upper planar portions [320,321] may be connected to each other while engaging process line tubing [111,112], allowing for process line tubing [111,112] to enter the instrument enclosure [100]. While the notches [315] are illustrated in FIG. 3 as smooth and continuous arcs, embodiments may incorporate grooves and/or other elements to better restrict or engage the applicable pipes, tubing, or other structural elements.

[0054] Gaskets or other type of sealing structures (not depicted) may be employed to provide additional environmental isolation between the environment and enclosed space defined when the instrument enclosure is closed.

[0055] The illustrated instrument enclosure [100] is configured for independent attachment to the support and includes three mutually adjustable parts—top casing [601] section, left bottom casing segment [401], and right bottom casing segment [402], that provide structure for removing and replacing the instrument enclosure [100] for a field instrument [110] attached to the process line tubing [111,112] without detaching the field instrument [110] from the standpipe [104] or other support structure or from the process line tubing [111,112].

[0056] In a similar embodiment, the mounting plate assembly [203, not shown] may include a field instrument column [667] as shown in FIG. 6 that extends from a mounting plate [203, not shown] and further fitted with the left and right bottom casing segments [312,313]. In such assemblies, even though field instrument column [667] occupies volume analogous to the volume occupied by standpipe [104] shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, the mounting plate embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 enables a beneficial pre-field attachment of the field instrument [110] to the field instrument column [667], i.e., attachment of the instrument to the enclosure before the field instrument [110] is brought to the field, thereby greatly easing the burden experienced during installation. In other mounting plate embodiments, the field instrument may be attached directly to the mounting plate [203] thereby achieving the pre-field attachment feature described above for the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, but also potentially enabling an instrument enclosure with a smaller footprint, an instrument enclosure with more interior space, or both.

[0057] Supporting the field instrument may include one or more operations including: attaching the field instrument to the standing structure, wherein the instrument enclosure defines an aperture configured to receive a terminal portion the standing structure and attaching the field instrument to one or more attachment features of the instrument enclosure.