Field Termination Assembly (FTA) With Quick Mount

Abstract

This disclosure provides a field termination assembly (FTA) providing for ease of mounting to a support rail. The FTA is easily mounted to a base which is secured to a support rail. The housing includes one or more slots each configured to receive a respective adaptor module configured to be inserted into the slot. Each adaptor module may be configured to perform at least one function related to an associated input or output signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for mounting a field termination assembly to a support rail comprising:
 securing a base to a support rail; and   mounting a housing on said base, said housing including one or more slots, each slot configured to receive a respective adaptor module configured to be inserted into said slot, said adaptor module configured to perform at least one function related to an associated input or output signal.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising engaging a loop, using a catch on said housing, on said base in a first coupled position and said housing and said base pivot with respect to each other into a second mounted position. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , further comprising engaging a hitch, using a latch on said base, on said housing in said second mounted position. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus comprising a field termination assembly comprising:
 a housing including one or more slots, each slot configured to receive a respective adaptor module configured to be inserted into said slot, said adaptor module configured to perform at least one function related to an associated input or output signal;   a base configured to be secured to a support rail; and   said housing configured to be mounted to the base, said base including a loop and the housing including a catch that engages the loop to hingeably couple said base to said housing.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the housing is configured to be mounted to the base after the base is secured to the support rail. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the base includes an opening through which a pin extends to engage a plate to cooperatively grip a flange on the support rail. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said housing includes a hitch and said base includes a latch that engages said hitch to mount said base to said housing. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said base includes a recess for receiving a support rail, a groove on a first side of said recess accepts said flange, comprising a first flange, and a channel on a second side of said recess for receiving a second flange of said support rail. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising a field termination assembly, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing including one or more slots, each slot of the one or more slots configured to receive an adaptor module for one or more input/output (I/O) channels associated with an industrial process control and automation system, said adaptor module configured to perform at least one I/O function in the industrial process control and automation system; and   a base coupled to said housing, said base configured to be secured to a support rail, said base includes at least one loop comprising an opening projecting at each corner of said base,   wherein said housing being configured to be mounted to said base.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said base includes an opening through which a pin extends to engage a plate to cooperatively grip a flange on the support rail. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said housing includes at least one catch that engages the at least one loop to hingeably couple said base to said housing, and each of the at least one catch having a position and configuration corresponding to each of the loop on said base. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said housing includes a hitch and said base includes a latch comprising an aperture, wherein the latch is configured such that the aperture engages the hitch to mount the housing in a latched arrangement to the base. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the catch on the housing extend through corresponding loops on the base to engage the loop in a first coupled position. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each of the catch configured to move in respective the at least one loop of the housing such that the housing and the base pivot with respect to each other about the catch into a second mounted position. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said housing includes a lug at a higher elevation and height on the back wall of the housing, than the hitch. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said latch includes a recess track where the lug configured to engage the recessed track to enable the latch to snap onto the hitch. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said base includes a recess for receiving said support rail, a groove on a first side of said recess accepts said flange, comprising a first flange, and a channel on a second side of said recess for receiving a second flange of said support rail, wherein the channel includes one or more lips protruding into the recess from the second side. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the support rail located in a cabinet and integrated into an I-beam with a cabinet flange of the I-beam fastened to a surface in the cabinet. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the support rail is opposed to the cabinet flange and connected to the cabinet flange by a web. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a cable duct nested between the cabinet flange, the web and the support rail, wherein the cable duct includes openings or slots on a side adjacent to the support rail to allow entry and exit of cabling.