Monitoring coupling status with process lockout feedback

Abstract

A monitoring system includes a porthole in a tank or conduit that includes threads on an end thereof. A piece of processing equipment is mounted within the porthole by a threaded coupling collar. The threads of the coupling collar engage the threads of the porthole. A sensor collar is mounted in fixed relationship to the porthole at a predetermined distance from an end of the porthole and includes a status sensor mounted thereto. The status sensor detects a position of the threaded coupling collar to ensure that the piece of processing equipment is properly mounted in the porthole.

1 . A monitoring system, comprising: 
 a porthole in a tank or conduit, said porthole including threads on an end thereof;    a piece of processing equipment, said piece of processing equipment being mounted within said porthole by a threaded coupling collar, the threads of the coupling collar engaging the threads of the porthole; and    a sensor collar, said sensor collar being mounted in fixed relationship to said porthole at a predetermined distance from an end of said porthole and including a status sensor mounted thereto,    wherein the status sensor detects a position of the threaded coupling collar to ensure that the piece of processing equipment is properly mounted in the porthole.    
   
   
       2 . The monitoring system according to  claim 1 , wherein the status sensor indicates a status of improper installation of the processing equipment when the threaded coupling collar is not threaded to or improperly threaded to the threads of the porthole, and the status sensor indicates a status of proper installation of the processing equipment when the threaded coupling collar is properly threaded to the threads of the porthole.  
   
   
       3 . A monitoring system, comprising: 
 a first piece of processing equipment, said first piece of processing equipment including a flange on an end thereof; a second piece of processing equipment, said second piece of processing equipment including a flange on an end thereof for engaging the flange of the first piece of processing equipment;    a clamp, said clamp being securable around the flanges of said first and second pieces of processing equipment to mount said first and second pieces of processing equipment to each other; and    a status sensor mounted to said clamp, said status sensor detecting a clamping position of the clamp to ensure that the first and second pieces of processing equipment are properly mounted to each other.    
   
   
       4 . The monitoring system according to  claim 3 , wherein the status sensor indicates a status of improper installation of the first and second pieces of processing equipment when the clamp is insufficiently tightened to secure the flanges of the first and second pieces of processing equipment to each other, and the status sensor indicates a status of proper installation of the first and second pieces of processing equipment when the clamp is sufficiently tightened to secure the flanges of the first and second pieces of processing equipment to each other.  
   
   
       5 . The monitoring system according to  claim 3 , wherein said clamp is a C-clamp having bolt that can be tightened to change the diameter of the C-clamp, and said status sensor is mounted around said bolt and within the opening of the C-clamp.  
   
   
       6 . The monitoring system according to  claim 3 , wherein said first and second pieces of processing equipment are flanged pipes.  
   
   
       7 . A method of monitoring a process comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a sensor collar to a porthole at a predetermined location from an end of the porthole, said porthole including threads on the end thereof and including a status sensor mounted thereto;    attaching a piece of processing equipment to the porthole by threading a coupling collar to the threads of the porthole; and    tightening the coupling collar to the porthole until the coupling collar actuates the status sensor on the sensor collar,    wherein the status sensor detects a position of the coupling collar to ensure that the processing equipment is properly mounted to the porthole.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the status sensor provides an indication that the processing equipment is improperly installed when the coupling collar does not actuate the status sensor or actuates the sensor an insufficient amount, and said status sensor provides an indication that the processing equipment is properly installed when the coupling collar sufficiently actuates that sensor.  
   
   
       9 . A method of monitoring a process comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a first piece of processing equipment having a first flange to a second piece of processing equipment having a second flange with a clamp; and    providing a status sensor on the clamp;    wherein the status sensor detects a clamping position of the clamp to ensure that the first and second pieces of processing equipment are properly mounted to each other.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and second pieces of processing equipment are flanged pipes.