Modular gauge housing

Claim 2

A housing assembly for carrying a gauge including a cylindrical wall for said gauge, said gauge having a bezel at one end of said gauge cylindrical wall with said bezel being of larger diameter than the diameter of said cylindrical wall, the improvement comprising a first annular section having a pair of spaced integrally formed annular walls with one of said spaced integrally formed annular walls abutting the front face of said bezel and the other integrally formed annular wall overlapping the bezel, a second annular section having one annular wall in peripheral engagement at one axial end with one axial end of said first section other overlapping wall, axially extending fin means integrally formed on said second annular section with said axially extending fin means having one axial end abutting the rear face of said bezel for sandwiching said bezel between said axially extending fin means and said abutting first section one annular wall, said axially extending fin means extending radially inwardly of said second annular section at spaced angular positions for engaging said gauge cylindrical wall to support said cylindrical wall coaxially of said first section one annular wall, means integrally formed on said first section and axially projecting from said first section at spaced angular positions for receipt thereof in said second section at angular positions intermediate the angular positions of said second section axially extending fin means, flange means integrally formed on said second section located within the peripheral boundary of said second section annular wall at angular positions displaced from the angular positions of said axially extending fin means and aligned with said first section axially projecting means, and means formed in said aligned flange means and said first section axially projecting means for enabling said flange means to be secured to said first section axially projecting means to enable said first section to be secured to said second section.

Claim 3

A housing assembly for carrying a gauge including a cylindrical wall for said gauge, said gauge having a bezel at one end of said gauge cylindrical wall with said bezel being of larger diameter than the diameter of said cylindrical wall, the improvement comprising a first annular section having a pair of spaced integrally formed annular walls with one of said spaced integrally formed annular walls abutting the front face of said bezel with the other integrally formed annular wall overlapping the bezel, a second annular section having one annular wall in peripheral engagement at one axial end with one axial end of said first section other overlapping wall, a plurality of pairs of spaced radially inwardly projecting fins inteGrally formed on said second annular section for sandwiching said bezel between one axial end of said fins and said abutting first section one annular wall and for engaging said gauge cylindrical wall to support said cylindrical wall coaxially of said first section one annular wall, a plurality of circumferentially spaced bosses integrally formed on said first section extending axially rearwardly from said first section at a radial position intermediate said first section one and other annular walls with each boss angularly positioned for receipt in a mating portion of said second annular section and between a respective pair of spaced radially inwardly projecting fins within the peripheral boundary of said second section annular wall, a plurality of integrally formed apertured radial flanges in said respective second section each angularly positioned intermediate a respective pair of fins for alignment with a respective boss received between the respective pair of fins, and a threaded member extending through each apertured flange and threaded into a respective boss for detachably securing said second section to said first section.

Claim 4

A housing assembly for carrying a gauge including a cylindrical wall for said gauge, said gauge having a bezel at one end of said gauge cylindrical wall with said bezel being of larger diameter than the diameter of said cylindrical wall, the improvement comprising a first annular section having a pair of spaced integrally formed annular walls with one of said spaced integrally formed annular walls abutting the front face of said bezel with the other integrally formed annular wall overlapping the bezel, a second annular section having one annular wall in peripheral engagement at one axial end with one axial end of said first section other overlapping wall, a plurality of pairs of spaced radially inwardly projecting fins inteGrally formed on said second annular section for sandwiching said bezel between one axial end of said fins and said abutting first section one annular wall and for engaging said gauge cylindrical wall to support said cylindrical wall coaxially of said first section one annular wall, a plurality of circumferentially spaced bosses integrally formed on said first section extending axially rearwardly from said first section at a radial position intermediate said first section one and other annular walls with each boss angularly positioned for receipt in a mating portion of said second annular section and between a respective pair of spaced radially inwardly projecting fins within the peripheral boundary of said second section annular wall, a plurality of integrally formed apertured radial flanges in said respective second section each angularly positioned intermediate a respective pair of fins for alignment with a respective boss received between the respective pair of fins, and a threaded member extending through each apertured flange and threaded into a respective boss for detachably securing said second section to said first section.

Claim 5

In the housing assembly claimed in claim 2, a plurality of circumferentially spaced passageways having grooved edges in said second section one annular wall initiated at said one end and extending to another position intermediate the axial ends of said second section, a tab for each passageway extending from said one end of said first section other wall into the respective passageway, and a panel inserted in any one of said passageways between the grooved edges and located between the respective tab and said passageway other position.

Claim 6

In the housing assembly claimed in claim 3, a mounting assembly including an arm having at one end a pair of spaced walls and an interconnecting wall with said interconnecting wall dimensioned for insertion into one of said passageways between the respective tab and said position with said spaced walls overlapping the interior and exterior surfaces of said second section annular wall for preventing radial movement of said wall relative said arm.

Claim 7

The housing assembly claimed in claim 4 in which said arm projects transversely relative the axis of said interconnecting wall and said interconnecting wall is dimensioned for insertion into said passageway with said arm projecting in any one of four directions from the axis of said interconnecting wall.

Claim 8

The housing assembly claimed in claim 4 in which the other end of said arm has a ball formed thereon engaging in a spherically shaped shell with said arm passing through a slot in said ball, and means for enabling said ball and said arm to be rotated to a desired angular position and clamped in said position.

Claim 9

The housing assembly claimed in claim 6 in which said means enabling said rotation and clamping comprises a threaded ring encircling said shell, a nut threaded on said ring and a crenalated washer sandwiched between said nut and ball in response to said threading for clamping said ball and shell against said ring.

Claim 10

In the housing assembly claimed in claim 7 a stud extending through said washer and nut for securing said mounting assembly to a support with said stud located along the axis of rotation of said nut to enable said nut to be threaded while said stud is secured to said support.

Claim 11

In the housing assembly claimed in claim 3, a clip comprising a pair of spaced walls and an interconnecting wall integrally formed intermediate said pair of spaced walls, said interconnecting wall dimensioned for receipt into the passageways of a pair of adjacent second annular sections for location between the respective tab and each receiving passageway other position, said clip spaced walls spaced for overlapping engagement with the respective interior surface of said pair of adjacent second annular sections to prevent movement of said pair of second sections relative each other along an axis extending between said clip spaced walls and the movement oF said clip from said pair of receiving passageways is prevented in response to the securing of a respective first section to each of said pair of adjacent second annular sections whereby a plurality of said housing assemblies are adapted to be secured to each other.

Claim 12

In the housing assembly claimed in claim 9, a passageway in said clip interconnecting wall for enabling communication of an electrical lead between said pair of adjacent second sections.

Claim 13

A cluster of adjacent housing assemblies each carrying a gauge including a cylindrical wall for each gauge having a bezel at one end of larger diameter than the diameter of said gauge cylindrical wall, each housing assembly comprising a first annular section having a pair of spaced integrally formed annular walls with one of said walls abutting the front face of the bezel with the other annular wall overlapping the bezel of the respective gauge, a second annular section for each assembly having one annular wall with spaced integral axial ends in peripheral engagement at one axial end with one axial end of the other overlapping wall of the respective assembly first annular section, means integrally formed in each said second annular section of the housing assemblies for sandwiching the respective bezel between said means and the respective assembly abutting first section one annular wall and for engaging the cylindrical wall of the respective gauge to support said cylindrical wall coaxially of the respective first section one annular wall, axially projecting means integrally formed on each first section projecting into the second section of the respective assembly at angularly spaced positions, radially inwardly extending flange means integrally formed in each second section at angularly spaced positions aligned with said projecting means formed on the first section of the respective assembly, respective means for each flange means and projecting means of each assembly extending through the respective flange means to engage the respective projecting means and located within the peripheral boundary for each said second section annular wall for detachably securing the first section of a respective assembly to the second section of the respective assembly, a plurality of circumferentially spaced passageways in each said second section one annular wall initiated at said one axial end and extending to another position spaced from the other axial end of the respective second section, and a clip having an interconnecting wall inserted in any one of said passageways of one said second section of one assembly and a passageway in a second section of another assembly with said clip having spaced walls at opposite ends of said interconnecting wall engaging the interior surface of said one second section and the other assembly annular second section to prevent movement of said one second section and other assembly second section in a direction transverse to the axes of said one second section and other assembly second section and the movement of said clip interconnecting wall from said passageway is prevented by securing of a respective first section to said one second section and to said other assembly second section whereby said housing assemblies are adapted to be secured to each other.

Claim 14

A cluster of adjacent housing assemblies each carrying a gauge including a cylindrical wall for each gauge having a bezel at one end of larger diameter than the diameter of said gauge cylindrical wall, each housing assembly comprising a first annular section having a pair of spaced integrally formed annular walls with one of said walls abutting the front face of the bezel with the other annular wall overlapping the bezel of the respective gauge, a second annular section for each assembly having one annular wall with spaced integral axial ends in peripheral engagement at one axial end with one axial end of the other overlapping wall of the respective assembly first annular section, means integrally formed in each said second annular section of the housing assemblies for sandwiching the respective bezel between said means and the respective assembly abutting first section one annular wall and for engaging the cylindrical wall of the respective gauge to support said cylindrical wall coaxially of the respective first section one annular wall, axially projecting means integrally formed on each first section projecting into the second section of the respective assembly at angularly spaced positions, radially inwardly extending flange means integrally formed in each second section at angularly spaced positions aligned with said projecting means formed on the first section of the respective assembly, respective means for each flange means and projecting means of each assembly extending through the respective flange means to engage the respective projecting means and located within the peripheral boundary for each said second section annular wall for detachably securing the first section of a respective assembly to the second section of the respective assembly, a plurality of circumferentially spaced passageways in each said second section one annular wall initiated at said one axial end and extending to another position spaced from the other axial end of the respective second section, and a clip having an interconnecting wall inserted in any one of said passageways of one said second section of one assembly and a passageway in a second section of another assembly with said clip having spaced walls at opposite ends of said interconnecting wall engaging the interior surface of said one second section and the other assembly annular second section to prevent movement of said one second section and other assembly second section in a direction transverse to the axes of said one second section and other assembly second section and the movement of said clip interconnecting wall from said passageway is prevented by securing of a respective first section to said one second section and to said other assembly second section whereby said housing assemblies are adapted to be secured to each other.

Claim 15

In the cluster claimed in claim 11, a passageway in said clip for enabling the extension of an electrical lead from the interior of one second section to the interior of another second section.

Claim 16

In the cluster claimed in claim 12, other clip means inserted into any one of said passageways with said other clip means having a pair of spaced walls in overlapping engagement with the interior and exterior surface of the respective second section to prevent movement by said other clip means relative said second section in a direction transverse to the axis of said respective second section, and means secured to said clip means for controlling the angle at which said second section is carried by a support whereby said housing assemblies are adapted to be carried by said support at said angle in response to the securing of a respective first section to said respective second section for preventing movement of said other clip means from the respective second section passageway.