Surface Mounted Instrument With Adjustable Flange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current room pressure monitors face challenges with complex and inaccurate installation, potential component loss during disassembly/reassembly, and the need for frequent upgrades from analog to digital communication systems, which complicates servicing and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A modular design for the room pressure monitor with a detachable display module that can rotate for servicing, a universal mounting system using a polycarbonate housing with adjustable flange, and interchangeable communication protocols, allowing for easy field upgrades and secure, flush mounting without visible fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current room pressure monitors are installed using a custom fitting mounted to wall studs, then the instrument can be surface mounted and protected from impact damage, but the installation becomes complex and time-consuming requiring precise positioning and paneling work
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument housing is divided into separate components: a mounting flange that attaches to the wall surface and a main housing that contains the instrument. This segmentation allows the mounting flange to be independently positioned and secured to the wall surface using simple fasteners, eliminating the need for complex custom fittings and paneling work while maintaining instrument protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, complex custom-fitted enclosures with simple, inexpensive mounting flanges that can be easily installed and adjusted. The mounting flange serves as a temporary or permanent attachment element that simplifies the overall installation process without requiring professional carpentry or precise paneling work.
2Manufacturing precision
If the custom fitting is not installed precisely, then the operating components become difficult to install and the instrument may not fit flush to the wall, but requiring precise installation increases installation time and difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting flange incorporates adjustment mechanisms that allow installers to dynamically position and align the instrument housing relative to the wall surface. This dynamic adjustment capability enables precise alignment and flush fit without requiring the mounting structure itself to be pre-positioned with high precision, significantly reducing installation time and skill requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If room pressure monitors are designed as assembled devices with fixed components, then the instrument structure is stable, but servicing and calibration require partial disassembly and may result in component loss or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is designed with segmented, modular components including a removable display module, separable housing sections, and independently accessible operating components. This segmentation maintains structural stability during normal operation while enabling easy disassembly for servicing and calibration without risking component loss or damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument housing contains nested compartments and integrated storage features where small components are housed within larger structures. This nesting arrangement keeps components organized and secure during disassembly and reassembly, preventing loss or damage while allowing easy access for servicing.
4Adaptability or versatility
If instruments are upgraded from analog to digital communication systems, then communication capabilities improve, but the entire instrument must be replaced rather than upgraded
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument housing and mounting structure are designed as universal, protocol-agnostic platforms that can accommodate different communication modules. The housing contains standardized interfaces and mounting points that allow analog, digital, or other communication protocols to be interchangeably installed, enabling upgradeability without replacing the entire instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication protocol functionality is extracted as a separate, removable module from the main instrument housing. This extraction allows the communication module to be independently replaced or upgraded while the main instrument housing, mounting flange, and other components remain in place, significantly reducing upgrade complexity and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A surface mounted instrument (20) that is easily installed to seal (110, 120) against a mounting surface (150) in spite of imprecise installation of a standard rough-in box (145) or irregularities in the surface. A cover plate (60) overlays the installed instrument housing (10) without the use of outwardly visible mechanical connectors by use of a pawl (65) that engages the housing. An oversized display (50) is mounted for easy replacement on a moveable display module (45) for unobstructed access to the interior (35) of the housing. Subsurface channels (90) formed in the housing are used to deliver a working fluid from a measured location to a sensor (85) inside the housing.