Adjustable Finned Heater Mounting for Easier Instrument Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid box enclosures for field-deployed instrumentation are cumbersome to maintain and replace due to the difficulty in removing heaters and components from congested spaces, and the complexity of mounting all components inside the enclosure.
Innovation Solution
A hanging bracket system that allows for flexible attachment of a heater body to a pipe stand, utilizing semi-circumferential mounting brackets with adjustable fasteners, enabling easy installation and removal of instruments and heaters without disassembling other components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all instrument components are mounted inside the rigid enclosure, then the instruments are protected from environmental conditions, but the complexity of mounting and maintenance increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid box enclosure is divided into multiple mounting surfaces or attachment points, allowing different instrument components to be mounted separately on different surfaces. This segmentation reduces the complexity of mounting all components inside a single congested space while maintaining protective enclosure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the enclosure is replaced, then updated instrumentation can be installed, but all heaters and components must be removed from their mounting locations first
Solution Approach 1:
Heaters and instrument components are extracted from the rigid enclosure interior and mounted on external surfaces or attachment points. This allows the enclosure to be replaced independently without removing heaters and components, significantly reducing maintenance time while maintaining adaptability.
3Ease of repair
If the heater is replaced or maintained, then heater functionality is restored, but it becomes extremely difficult to remove the heater due to interference from multiple components inside the enclosure
Solution Approach 1:
A mounting bracket or attachment mechanism serves as an intermediary between the heater and the enclosure structure. This intermediary provides external mounting points that eliminate interference from internal components, allowing easy heater removal and maintenance while maintaining heater functionality.
4Reliability
If rigid box enclosures are used in very cold climates and critical applications, then instruments are protected from freeze damage, but the difficulty of component removal and maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
Mounting locations are moved from the internal three-dimensional space to external surfaces or attachment points, changing the spatial dimension of component placement. This allows instruments to remain protected inside the enclosure while heaters and components can be easily accessed from the outside for maintenance, resolving the contradiction between freeze protection and ease of repair.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates easy installation, removal, and maintenance of field instruments and heaters by allowing flexible positioning and attachment to a pipe stand, reducing complexity and time required for maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a heat fin assembly comprising a plurality of heat fins
Implementation Method 2
a heat fin assembly comprising a plurality of heat fins
Implementation Method 3
one or more integrated hooked projections configured to engage the hanging bracket lip
Data Source
AI summary
One or more heater elements are enclosed by at least one main heater body assembly surrounded by and attached to heat transfer fins to provide a finned heater body wherein the main heater body assembly includes at least one or more hooked projections wherein the hooked projections are attached to at least one lateral or at least one medial or both lateral and medial sides of a center portion of the main heater body assembly and wherein the finned heater body includes one or more positional openings that allow for containment of the heater element and concurrently provide a spatial geometric arrangement so that the one or more hooked projections provide an ability for the finned heater body and the internal or external housing of one or more instruments to be hung in adjustable manner from a mounting bracket that is attached to a post or pipe stand.