Apparatus for attachment of accessories to processing equipment

Abstract

A temperature-controlled fluid processing system with accessory attachment mechanism includes an accessory annular ring feature a mounting surface and a tapered surface sloping toward a central axis of the ring feature and away from the mounting surface, and engaging components on the primary device, including concentric annular member and rotation plate. The annular member includes spaced apart through holes housing spring biased pins. The rotation plate surrounds the annular member, and includes one or more ramped inner surface(s). The plate is rotatable between an unattached position wherein the ramped surfaces apply no radial inward force to the spring-biased pins, and an attached position wherein each ramped surface displaces a pin inward through its corresponding through hole such that the conical tip of the spring-biased pin engages the tapered surface of the ring feature, thereby immobilizing the accessory with respect to a head unit of the fluid processing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An accessory attachment apparatus, comprising:
 a ring feature fixedly attached to or integrally formed upon an accessory and having central axis, the ring feature having defined thereon a first mounting surface and a tapered surface sloping toward the central axis and away from the mounting surface;   an annular member fixedly attached to a second mounting surface, formed on a device to which the accessory is to be attached, the annular member having an inner surface dimensioned to concentrically face at least a portion of the tapered surface when the accessory is attached, the annular member having a plurality of spaced apart radial through holes extending through the annular member from an outer surface to the inner surface;   a corresponding plurality of spring-biased pins disposed in the plurality of radial through holes, each spring-biased pin comprising a head, a conical tip for engaging the tapered surface, and a spring biasing the pin to resist the engagement with the tapered surface; and   a rotation plate disposed about the annular member, the rotation plate including an inner surface configured to oppose the outer surface of the annular member when the accessory is attached to the device, the inner surface having a plurality of ramps circumferentially formed therein and configured to receive at least one of the heads of the plurality of spring-biased pins; and   wherein the rotation plate is rotatable from an unattached position wherein the ramped surfaces apply no radial inward force to the spring-biased pins, to an attached position wherein each ramped surface longitudinally displaces one of the spring-biased pins inward through its corresponding through hole such that the conical tip of the spring-biased pin engages the tapered surface of the ring feature, thereby immobilizing the accessory with respect to the device.   
     
     
         2 . The accessory attachment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ring feature defines an inlet through which fluids may be received by the accessory from the device. 
     
     
         3 . The accessory attachment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a head unit of a temperature controlled air forcing system. 
     
     
         4 . The accessory attachment apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more stop features formed at an end of a ramp on the inner surface of the rotation plate so as to limit rotation of the rotating plate by preventing a corresponding one or more spring-biased pins from sliding circumferentially past the stop feature. 
     
     
         5 . The accessory attachment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises one of a pipe or a flexible hose. 
     
     
         6 . The accessory attachment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises a temperature controlled enclosure configured to receive a device under test. 
     
     
         7 . The accessory attachment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the annular member comprises a mounting ring. 
     
     
         8 . The accessory attachment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spring-biased pins and radial through holes are equally space around the inner surface of the annular member. 
     
     
         9 . The accessory attachment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ramps has a detent formed therein for receiving and preventing motion of a spring biased pin in the attached position.